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TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO: Avowed (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-01 06:45:01
Imported:
2026-06
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Comments

the btrflyz

Happy New Year!

YeetimusMaximus

HAPPY NEW YEAR SLEYCA. Thanks for the wonderful year of chapters :D

Jeffrey

Happy New Year! Thanks for the soup :)

Neil Abbott

Just when I assumed it wasn't coming!

J

Happy new year!

PeasOfCrab

Haven’t read yet but - happy soup year, Sleyca! Now to dig in.

blinkmouse

Happy new year, happy new soup. Glad I stayed up

Alice YU

Happy new year!

Joshua Flowers

“All being avowed”.. not totally accurate now is it Alden

Glitter Rabbit (C)

I knew we were going into tis sort of arc. Feels good. Next up is Connie, I assume? Then Boe?

Snafu66

I cannot wait until the Joe tat is gone/cleared up

Rise

This chapter was so good, and so not enough its killing me, someone shoot me into the future at least 2 weeks so i dont have to wait. In all seriousness thank you for the chapter, its a great way to ring in the new year. I need more time to digest it because like many other chapters in this story I find this chapter is hitting me emotionally in a way that I was not expecting and will reflect on. Honestly this story is good for so many reasons but I think the fact you can emotionally gut punch me over and over even on re-reads is one of my favorite things about the story

MsMonet

Bah! Humbag

Ploddingpanda

Happy New Year!!! Thanks for the chapter!

Max Dudley

well, it sounds like hes made his choice. Im happy that its heavily hinted so even if he hasn't broached it, its all but confirmed now. Now the question is, how many weeks till it actually happens (with excitement and anticipation)?!?!?! I've definitely been a bit grumpy at the pace, and that is still there, but it finally feels like we have a direction instead of endless limbo, so im content for now and excited for the next few months to see what happens and im especially excited for potential reactions and whos going to be told first.

BelligerentGnu

GAAAAAAAAAH! EVILLLLLL! WHERE IS THE REST OF THE CHAPTER? Seriously, this is beautiful. But if you hadn't said when next chapter was I'd be horribly upset at you.

Andrew Simpson

Man it sure does feel like we're going to get the payoff for literally like two years of buildup soon 🎊🎉🥳 happy new years everyone

Chas Becht

Worth the wait

WhisperOfLife

This was such a great chapter. Thank you for writing and Happy New Year!

Neal Mayne

Thank you for the first soup of the year

Furry Wolf

Now I'm wondering if Alden will tell Stu before or after Stu's affixation.

Jazehiah

I feel a lot of things for Kon. This whole chapter read like a fugue state. Heavy, and dreamy, and not quite real. It's a Christmas full of memories so significant they're barely recorded. The talks with Kon... It's like seeing Alden's future from the outside. Some people would kill for the opportunity. For others, it would be a nightmare. The position might be horribly dangerous, or incredibly cushy. Maybe both. The idea that "Earth's bill" is coming due soon seems significant. Alden may someday become the biggest contribution. The fact that Alden sees himself as an Avowed first... it seems he thinks he knows his place in the universe. What is a knight, but an avowed wizard? I'm rambling. Happy New Year

puppy0cam

> Kon snorted. “If Ignacio’s right about how the future goes, you actually just told me I’m one of the luckiest S-ranks on Anesidora.” > “Ignacio?” > “You haven’t heard his theory? It’s more like his whole family’s theory. Basically, they believe that there’s no way peace lasts forever for powerful Avowed. That Earth’s bill for joining the empire has never been paid, and our generation is bound to see it come due. Sooner or later.” For some reason I'm reminded of the fact that somewhere on Anesidora there is an S rank bridge wright and I can't help but wonder how bridge powers could possibly help in the fight against chaos

Slightly Morbid

Hell Yeah! Alden introducing Stu to Chuck Berry.

Josiah Greenwood

Happy New Year, Sleyca! Your writing is excellent as usual, and you have me on tenterhooks waiting for Alden's next conversation with Stu.

PeasOfCrab

Man, there was some serious momentum to this chapter. 2026 has started with a bang for Super Supportive!

puppy0cam

> Lute was lounging on top of a giant stuffed pig with an adhesive gift bow stuck to its snout. The pig was on top of the nonagon. Someone had parked their car below the nonagon. It was a very Anesidoran scene. RED ALERT! THE PIG IS FLYING!

zetorian
>>198370104

One must never forget the power of logistics! And besides, they're an S rank magic bridge engineer. I wonder how many levels they need before they're building space elevators into chaos worlds. I'm sure its a high number, but its probably a measurable one.

Matt V

Sounds like Alden is heading on a wrapping-up-loose-ends tour. Connie is visiting soon, so he'll have a heart-to-heart with her. He'll need to have an uncomfortable talk with Boe where he will be called a lot of bad words. Then some cryptic messages to his roommates and other friends since he won't be quite certain if he's about to completely drop off the map or not. Can't wait to read it and what comes after.

Andrew Simpson

Now that we're so close to the various reveals, I wonder what will happen when they occur. I'm a bit worried it'll be the dog-chasing-cars situation the Joker describes in The Dark Knight.

Anthony Lutz

Arjun punched all of the uncertainty out of him. i look forward to seeing how this all progresses. i think only 3 days left until Alden is visiting the Rapport again? just enough to mark some things off his checklist.

puppy0cam

> although it turned out that Kon and Lexi both had good singing voices, and Alden sounded awful. Chapter 53 (The Auriad): > The car started and began to roll. To cover his sigh of relief, he smiled at Kibby. “We need driving music.” > She winced. “Do not sing, Alden. You are not good at it.”

Dervish

Thanks for this chapter. Decisive Alden seems so different from the one trying to preserve all his options. But after the example of (was it Rel-art'h?) a knight whose job is facilitating communication and understanding rather than fighting, and Alden checking up on cat care on Artona, I really hope he is able to choose to join the community supporting Stu. The conversation with Boe is going to be a challenge, though! But I hope Alden is also able to give Emiliana something more that she will look forward to. He'll surely be giving the Informant a lot of surprises! But Jan 4 sure seems a huge wait!

puppy0cam

> “Bunny goes hop, then, ‘Ahhhhhhh! My legs!” said Kon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikmRFcUyfMk

CB

Thank you for the chapter! I liked the goofyness between Alden an co, the magic progress and Kons development! I am also super excited for the next chapter, but I feel it in my gut that it will be a cliffhanger and this worries me deeply.

Kooikerhondjelover

Happy New Year, all! Thanks for the chapter.

BatheticBoy

Happy new year everyone.

Heckate
>>198370039

I think Alden telling Stu will *precipitate* Stu affixing, because he will now know that his best friend will be a knight alongside him, so he'll be confident enough to instantly affix.

BeautifulBusinessBoi

Alden is tying up loose ends on earth to show Stu his magic and Stu is probably going to tell him we need to hide this until you're way stronger dawg 🤭

jg
>>198370089

An avowed wizard...with an unlimited skill

Sean Shivers

I don't see a realistic future where this is a super hero story... Science fiction? Sure... But I have trouble imagining the focus shifting back to earth when it's so consistently pulled away. We didn't even get to see the follow up to arjun's punch in that incredibly interesting scene.

Antony Laporte

Lind biting off Esh's head: "An old woman's jaws are still good!"

jg

Oo it's still possible that walking through doors we don't know for sure which ones. One hint is reaching out with everything.

SkyGold

Australians continue to be burdened by living in the future - thanks for the soup, happy new year everyone!

The Icarus Collective

Thank you for this chapter. Really meant a lot to be able to read this tonight, and to have the next chapter to look forward to in a few days. This arrived at a perfect moment, when it could do the most to help navigate something challenging on the horizon, here. Thank you for this timing, it means more than words can say.

AnonymousBlob

Thank you for the chapter. Happy new year!

Lynnethe

Happy New Year all- may it be better than the one that preceded it.

PhoenixPax

Only three days to soup?! Is the artistic momentum coming back, now that Alden is through the hard decision?

Draken09

Oh Gods. This is playing out just like watching someone who had chosen to commit suicide. In Alden's case, it's not ending his life, but ending the life he has been living. Even knowing that, it hurts and is worrying to see.

zombie

Hell Yeah, helly yeah, hell yeah! We are getting into some knight shit right here, intensity rising with every hour!

Catherine
>>198369342

Connie doesnt arrive until the 28th so a couple more days. We might get a Stu convo first. Possibly

Sherbert

Happy new year Sleyca, thank you for this amazing story, it’s become a part of me in ways I don’t think I can explain. Happy to spend another year living in your world

StenchBench

The Artonans might despise champagne Sleyca, but nonetheless I raise my glass to you. 🥂 SS is my very favorite thing, and I'm always so pleased to be along for this part of the ride... and many more! Cheers

Catherine

Did Alden take the nesi cards to show Stu that he can preserve enchantments? A clue to what skill he has

Spygeneer
>>198372169

It could still be a story about SPACE superheros. But thats arguably just normal scifi with like one extra layer.

PhoenixPax

Anyone else getting the echo of Alden’s hopes for his own future in the speculation with Kon about what life will be like living with knights? (Good food, etc.)

Slightly Morbid
>>198372910

I'm thinking he isn't ending the life he has been living, but the future he thought he would live.

Rodmin

Oh my god! Beautiful chapter and so worth the wait! 😭😭 I feel so emotional and excited for everything!

Trevor Perry

Our Alden is growing up ~Sniff~ I'm so proud. Got his shit (mostly) straightened out and moving forward instead of looking back. I had chills most of this chapter. This feels like the edge of a storm... Or the moment before someone takes a deliberate step toward the unknown or danger.

Robert Mullins
>>198373695

Alden wouldn't be able to use them for that purpose specifically. He's not allowed to intentionaly hint at anything that could reveal the true nature of his skill. I suspect it's more of a 'just in case' stock pile. So that he still has some to practice with if he isn't able to come back to earth for a while

Yorion

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Robert Mullins

Sleyca's comment about anesidora time makes me irrationally hopeful for a kibby scene since she last had a scene in a chapter called "07:15, Anesidora Time."

zoarian

I hope we get some quality time with the rabbit mafia girls.

Insomniac

I think this is one of my favorite chapters yet.

Thomas Todd

It's happening!

funktorial

every chapter feels like gingerbread cookies on christmas, so this is fitting

Not_You

Ahhh! I’m freaking out right now!

Francis
>>198371196

Unfortunately, he looked up the costs for owning a cat on Anesidora. Your version would have been way more exciting

Clint

Great, great chapter. All the feels plus the aftermath of the Decision. Such an Alden way of dealing with his uncertainty by helping a friend who’s sort of going through the same thing. Happy New Year. 2026 is the year Alden Thorn comes out as a hn’tyon!

Demitas

I'm really enjoying the more introspective, thoughtful Alden

Jo

What exactly has he decided?

Gregory

I really do wonder how much Esh-erdi knows. If he knew Alden was a wizard, would he keep quiet? Probably, because it would be really funny eventually. So it’s hard to tell.

JJ Hunter

I wonder if Kon will get introduced to Porti-loth (and vice versa) as potential future colleagues at some point? Curious what they would make of each other. Olorn's hope that Kon would find his cup a comfort in his future travels appears to already be born out. Alden clutching his Traveler's bag has a similar vibe to me; Mother gave him that gift knowing the likely outcome of his choosing season, and they're already bonding so closely now. This is such a liminal chapter gifted to us at such a liminal time, the threshold between one year and the next year. Like Alden, I feel like the transition stretches like taffy. Many things that were previously fixed feel up for grabs; other possibilities are already gone or so faded I barely look to them at all. There is a kind of magic to leaning into a decision and letting that new course's changes cascade down all other priorities and hopes and dreams. Wishing the year ahead be full of the magic we make ourselves, and gifts of kindness to each other. May we all build our courage to be the heroes of our own stories.

JJ Hunter

On reread, there is a definite joke possibility that Kon could have the secret identity of '(Bicycle) Repair Man' a la Monty Python. (Does Monty Python still exist in this branch of the timeline?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq_xTeWiv6I

JJ Hunter
>>198379618

Synopsis from the Monty Python wiki for those who don't click through: "A narrator (John Cleese) follows F.G. Superman (Michael Palin), who lives in a city full of other Supermen (with American accents), but holds the secret identity of superhero Bicycle Repair Man. When he learns that a bicycle nearby needs repair, he distracts the other Supermen so that he can change his clothes to become Bicycle Repair Man and goes to tend to the bicycle. As he repairs the bike, a collection on sound-effect placards are shown in the manner of the Adam West "Batman" television show as the Supermen witnessing the repair comment overdramatically on the repairs. The bike's owner (Terry Jones) asks to repay him, but Bicycle Repair Man says there is no need and it is all in a day's work for him."

Hugh Jass

Gods, you can't make us wait four more days for the next chapter 😭😭😭

The Icarus Collective

...oh, THAT’S why Esh was staring so hard at the Floor Potatoes...

JennP

Good chapter

Hallow

Aaaaaa, somehow the tension just keeps raising higher. Thank you for the chapter, I really liked it. I really hope the next chapter is the one where Alden speaks to Stu, I keep worrying that Stu will affix before Alden can tell him

sebsebs

Happy new year ! Alden went ahead of us with his New Year's resolution(s) I see. I'll strive to be as brave and kind as him in 2026. Thank you for the chapter and for writing this amazing, beautiful story.

PatienceHoney

Worth the wait! Thank you Sleyca!!

PatienceHoney
>>198370127

I was thinking Prince - I have had Purple Rain playing in my head on an endless loop for half a day now.

PatienceHoney
>>198372392

Really good stories are wonderful in that way. They reach out to each of us differently and interact with the world and time we live in. A year from now we could read this same chapter and come away with something different because 1) the story has progressed and 2) we have progressed in our own lives. Such good Soup!

M
>>198378449

I don't think any Knight would find it funny to discover an Avowed had developed an authority sense. Even more so for a young Avowed they like. For Esh the pain of affixation isn't a joke; it's a very vivid suffering he'll live with until he dies. Finding out someone fell into that unprepared.... even Knights like Esh and Evul wouldn't find that funny

JJ Hunter

You know, we've been speculating that Stu's interpretation of his oaths would require immediately disclosing Alden's secrets, once shared, with more people. Consider, however, the inherent comedy and drama in Stu being informed and desperately trying *not* to let on to anyone else. Alden and Stu on more adventures with Emban and squadmates, with Alden enjoying the serenity of finally expressing the yell in his throat and not being rejected, while Stu sweats buckets every time the topic of Alden's belonging or not belonging with this group of newling knights comes up.

JJ Hunter
>>198385909

Alden is great at keep secrets. He can lie or conceal with a straight face if he has to. Stu, on the other hand, tends to squirm and grapify when secrets are involved. Everyone seems to know he's a terrible liar.

PatienceHoney

I just looked back at where we were in the story a year ago. Ch 206, Herdcreatures IV *** Alden’s body gasped for him, and finally, he could see the picture clearly, though there was a thin quality to it. Like if he looked too hard he’d pop it, and the experience of chaos that hid beneath its surface would pour over him once more. *** Alden has taken the mental leap through that thin lens and decided to be himself with Stu. To stand on that island in chaos and protect what he holds dear. Nice bookends to the year.

PatienceHoney
>>198378045

I am not certain what Alden can do in the next year of our time. Last year he was standing in front of a painting in the upper library and it was December 2nd. Twenty-four day have past in Alden's time over the course of our year...

Unnatural20

Hey guys have a song that reminds me of soup "courage - nostraightanswer"

Cliff

Ahhh!!! It's all these lovely moments punctuated by this creeping sense of heightening tension. Beautiful chapter. But ahhhhhhh

Aspiring Moth

I didn't even register that this wasn't a snow chapter anymore. so snow really was the death of the part of Alden clinging to keeping every possible door open, rather than actively choosing what's important to him

Kemlion

The car parking under the Nanogon, which is under the pig, which is under Lute….

Kemlion
>>198381911

I have that same worry; it’s been bothering me 🥺

Kemlion
>>198376488

*Insert fire drill meme from “The Office” OH MY GOSH ITS HAPPENING

Kemlion
>>198369675

I’m sure binge re-reading the snow arc and what is being released now will feel a lot better than having to wait a week between chapters; I definitely plan to do that to make sure there is nothing I missed in the story

Torason

I have no clue if im super excited with the overall plot seemingly moving forward, and I already envision Alden going to leafsong, as I love Sleycas writing and would be happy with a year more of huntski lodge bros and weird MPE session where atlast Jeffrey would get to run through burning buildings. Im still trembling a little from reading this chapter. So awesome and so exciting. What a year 2026 is shaping up to be!

Kemlion

Did I just read every comment? Yes. Yes I did. This chapter was so good that reading everyone’s reaction was also a requirement. Happy new year and TFTC!

Tarry Higgins

I loved the first paragraph of this chapter. So appropriate for the one who will bear all burdens

Cassie Brooks

Welcome to the lodge Ham Nutmeg. We hope you and Sunny get along.

Clint
>>198393274

I’d imagine that Alden won’t leap straight to a full public declaration of everything… Secret identities are a big part of any superhero story. I could see Alden being a simple student on Earth, while also studying magic and catching up on all the cultural and practical training of a knight-candidate on Artona I.

Leonhard R.

Great chapter. Really enjoyed it, thank you.

Christine

So, it's the 25th of December today in-story (or really the 26th since he's flying around after midnight). Connie is coming for a visit on the 28th, as per the visitor pass gifted by Fragment. Do we know if Alden is visiting Stu-art'h before then?

MWF

So we did wind up getting the Christmas episode right around Christmas. Well there we go, springing for patreon was totally worth it. And what a great time of year for a revelation about the desired future, a strong desire to cherish present loved ones, and a visit from the past in the form of Arjun. That'll do pig, that'll do just fine.

Jeryd Greer

This was worth the wait.

Soupport

> “I decided,” Lute announced, as Alden summoned the vehicle over and hopped on. “Ham. His name’s Ham.” > “I was on edge waiting for that decision." Alden was on *nine* edges. Honor the son-whose-own-mother-forsakes-him with some specificity!

Npf

The first line of this chapter reminds me a little of his discovery in the Here-to-There. "In between the choosing of a major door and the act of walking through it, there was a moment to be lived." "There can be a moment in between... There could be this determination—this activation of his skill through commitment—and then the moment of preservation." - ch 224

Jeryd Greer
>>198400271

That came out dramatic as if I’ve been waiting longer than I was, but this story is in my head everyday all the time, and just thinking about this and I was checking every day since the 27th. Not Sleyca’s fault I’m just antsy and in love with this work of fiction.

Adamanus

"Cat to Anesidora" is also code for Boe coming there and not remaining Unregistered

Tenmosu

I don't know how to feel about this Christmas. It good, it interesting, so many end in on go, but Alden feel so neutral with it. It a good thing, I'm happy for Alden but it feel like something is missing in him, which he did let's go of. So I feel sad for him, he's too young to have to do that. It like being hopeful for the future while getting crush by your own apathy toward yourself in the moment. So many sacrifice and so little time story wise. I don't know if this chapter make me happy that Alden is walking toward is future on a stable road or sad about the cost of letting go. It a good chapter I just feel empty, I will reread it with 271 together with the next chapter 273 this way maybe I will have a better sense of everything.

maledei

I enjoyed these last two chapters. Alden can now move on and walk his own path.

WannaBeATree

Alden's earmuffs comment could be interpreted onto activities in Kon's current life. By implications on Alden's current life as well. From his girlfriend, to his plans and even life goals. A compromise making everyone else happy with a chance of changing one's own mind.

March Parabola

Well, things are definitely moving along. Things for Alden have stopped being about the fundamental fear of not choosing or choosing wrong, but merely accepting some of those fears may end up happening. Alden wondering whether Kon and Everly's relationship can last feels like a straightforward parallel to Alden and how his relationship with Anesidora and humanity might get fractured from being too involved in Artonan matters. "Does it last, or not?" At the same time, there is... something of an upside: if he hadn't made his decision already, Kon sharing Ignacio's family's theory might have rattled him. Instead, knowing that Earth might be called on to help fight chaos... well, perhaps he can take solace on how he's not going to be the only one who will do that.

Anthony Lutz
>>198399400

No, Connie will visit during the day, then Alden will go to the rapport in the evening like he always does on fridays/weekends. When in doubt of dates, keep this bookmarked https://coral-sheree-56.tiiny.site/

Kim Enteiu
>>198386907

So many emotions. I’ll be rereading this chapter on Sunday before I read the next one.

Alex Scriber

I think I would enjoy this chapter more if it came before Alden making his decision. As it is, we know that Alden has made his decision and are just waiting for him to tell us. If it was before, it might contribute to rising tension. As it is, for me, this chapter just feels like it is diluting the tension by stringing it out and delaying the reveal for no reason. The chapter is good because it wraps up a plot thread, so I’d enjoy it in isolation, but not so much now when all I really want to know is what decision Alden made last chapter. I think it’s obvious what decision he made, but won’t be satisfied until its explicitly stated.

Ano Ano

It's funny that Kon apologized for thoughtlessness and then put his foot in his mouth again saying Alden wouldn't have a far off future. He's a rabbit! Spending a lot of his time far away from Earth is definitely something that could be expected. Also, interesting potential foreshadowing that what happened to Hannah is she got information that led her to throw away her old life in order to be unregistered.

Robert Mullins

What's left for Alden's 'getting your affairs in order' arc? Definitely: Talk with Connie about her new family. Talk with Boe about wizardry, risks, and Boe's future. Probably: Update his Will. Setup messages to be delivered automatically in case of extended absence. Maybe: Letter from Ryada. Talk with Maricel. Discuss career and class schedule with the school.

Gannon

With as much time Alden and the others spend on the nonagon, I'm very surprised they haven't decorated it with something silly

KB

Thank you for the chapter! I love the detail about Haoyu's clothes getting messed up.

happypotamus, The Bearer of All Bananas

Alden watched him head into the building. *Well, you know, Kon… I'll be on the Sydelis Branch too... ~~for, um, meta-story reasons~~I have this suspicion it's my destiny.*

Quinton Phelan

Things are finally happening woooohooooooo

Philip

If Lute is going to have a rideable pig, it needs to fly - ideally with him mounted. Is this a chance for the MPE class object shaper to step out of the shadows and claim an identity? Everly Kim can cut down to one name to free up one for him. 😀

Robert Mullins

I wonder if Alden will approach the situation with Stu with appropriate consideration for Stu's mental state? Because if he just authority pokes him without context Stu is going to be certain he is hallucinating. Alden needs to do some grounding first and prep Stu for the idea that he's about to hear/see something unbelievable first if he wants it to go well

Norrim

oh shit, it's happening! I hope it goes well.

Shweta Narayan
>>198441286

new worry unlocked! Though to me it seems like the kind of thing Alden would remember & be careful about.

Dog City

“You make it sound like you’re the one with the faraway future. I appreciate it. Night, Alden.” I appreciate it, Knight Alden

PatienceHoney
>>198443226

Patreon would only allow to add one heart below. Here are the rest. 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Robert Mullins

Sleyca, are you aware that you wrote an artonan supervillain origin story for Kibby? Consider the facts with dubious artonan reporter's angle: Young child raised in a demon research facility and mentored by a morally dubious wizard. Ordinary class member determined to gain the power and recognition of her superiors. Just 'happens' to be the sole artonan survivor of a tragic chaos event that killed most people within many miles of the research lab that she blows to smithereens soon after. Uses her political connections to force an option for remote learning and then twists those same privileges to trick a human avowed into becoming her personal knight. Tricks her way into receiving the personal tutoring of the quarternary's personal attendants then uses that positioning to steal enchanted jewelry from a museum right under their noses. Who knows what she'll do next.

Philip
>>198424313

That arc starts with chapter FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR: Liftoff.

Jack Slash

I know I say this every chapter but it's worth saying each time -- what a good chapter! The slow pace of it all really adds a lot to the weight of the thoughts and decisions made. Like yeah Kon might spend a very very long time in space -- can't you feel how long this chapter felt despite lasting like a day? (I'll admit I'd read several chapters of Kon's space adventures, but we'd get the luxury of skipping to the interesting ones)

RiverJ

Not only did Køn forget that Alden knew Hannah, an avowed that disappeared and is presumed dead. He forgot that Alden was one of those presumed dead avowed!

Dervish
>>198371164

I really like that we've been seeing examples of knights whose job is not so much fighting chaos as supporting those who fight chaos. Super jobs!

Gorane
>>198412652

I think it is realistic and shoes how sometimes after a major decisionx you have the awkward mundane life to get through

MWF

Random question of the day, because I guess this chapter makes me wonder: would Super Supportive be classified as solarpunk? Because I go back and forth about it, leaning more towards yes than no but it seems to depend on some secrets that have yet to be revealed.

Bob Smith
>>198458063

Cant say yes at this point. If the theories about chaos being basically magic pollution are correct then def no.

Trin

If Esh gets decapitated and this was foreshadowing I'm gonna be upset

Tekbox
>>198475737

Just stitch it back on and be done with it. I'm half joking, but also we have been told that if two Artonans did this whole breaking thingy like Esh and Lind did, then their partner can hold them alive even if they should be dead at least for some time. So as long as it's a clean cut I can imagine that it's actually possible to just stitch it back on.

Tekbox
>>198451057

There's a difference though. In Aldens case the system said he's probably dead. That's not the case for the people they talked about. Those just one day vanished with the system not saying a thing about it.

puppy0cam

Once Stuart gets past his initial shock, he's going to be remembering Alden's faith in Stuart's ability to survive affixation with the new context that he actually fully understood what he intends to go through. He's totally going to choose to affix right then and there.

Tekbox
>>198404460

He's basically getting his affairs in order just in case and that kind of stuff doesn't generally leave much room for celebration.

Snugglebadger

It's finally happening!

Shimelton
>>198420255

The nonagon’s mother has already forsaken it… let’s not risk the father as well.

Schuh

Imagine Alden shows up and wants to tell Stuart, but then the conversation leads him to believe it to be a hint for his skill, so the contract doesn't allow it.

Tekbox
>>198371979

Huh yeah, now that I think about it, that could indeed be one interpretation of the oaths knights give. If Stu sees major future potential and benefit to Artonans and their effort to fight chaos in Alden and also sees a risk of Alden being snuffed out by the extremist factions if they catch wind of him, then he could theoretically decide that hiding it is more important over short term benefits.

Anthony Lutz
>>198482856

I expect one small speedbump in that plan, Stuart will try even harder to pick a skill for Alden first... just incase. I dont remember if its been mentioned if other wizard/knights are expected/needed to be present for someone to affix, if yes i would assume the family will try to leave Alden out of it. That will be when we truly have our loudest rabbit moment when he requests his knight uniform from Mother so he can attend and support Stu.

J Reynolds
>>198489702

I've been wondering about that very thing. How if he gets in a sufficiently bad headspace, Alden could think that /any/ contact with Stu could lead to discovery. Getting Mother involved would be the only way, I think. She wants Alden and Stu to be friends, and the lesser contract cannot override the greater.

Catherine

That moment when Kon says he got out of his sleeping bag and where it says the place whre he family is staying, not living, is a stark reminder that they lost their home in the floods.

J Reynolds

It's very obviously a major taboo for a wizard / knight to ask an Avowed what their skill is. Joe had to ask Alden just to confirm - and we know how much he regards rules. Esh is studying Alden in order to find his skill. Stuart is asking about how Alden's skills make him feel / experience. Neither simply ask "hey, what's your skill, man?"

JJ Hunter

Interesting to consider that what Alden is doing for Kon here - ensuring Kon gets informed of key information about the future being planned for him - is very much what Worli Ro-den did for Alden after the Primary gave him the vaguest of heads up that Alden would likely interact with him again someday.

JJ Hunter
>>198513440

I wonder if Ro had reason to believe Jeneth would use Alden heavily ('endless misery on the horizon') due to Alden having Bearer specifically, or if any human Avowed who affixed one of the original 300 would be in similar straits if the Primary knew what kind of skill they affixed?

JJ Hunter

You know, if Alden confides he's a wizard to Stu and shows Stu his auriad, that might start the dominoes to expose Kibby's crime against educational materials back in chapter 101: "A couple of hours later, when they left the Museum of the Empire, she had an auriad in her pocket. It was real. She’d been a little afraid that it wouldn’t be. What if she’d been wrong, and they were much too valuable to be left out on tables even in an important educational location? "What if instead of a real auriad, it had been a fake, like the one she’d left in its place?"

PatienceHoney

50 (ish) hours til there's more Soup!!

The Icarus Collective
>>198511612

The English names for skills bear only token resemblance, if any, to the names Artonans know them by. The Systems intentionally generate skill names in an Avowed's native language that provide as little information to Artonans as possible about the true nature and origin of their skills, as a matter of Artonan policy to protect Avowed privacy. So directly asking an Avowed what their name for their skill is provides little if any information to Artonans, by design.

JJ Hunter
>>198522121

[Edited: alas! I was led astray by the internet; a longer interval to Soup as you list above is more likely than the timezone I thought Point Nemo was in]

JJ Hunter

Oh hey! Alden is feeding the disgruntled ducks in F this chapter. Does that mean he's going to follow through on taking their photo and displacing the Shrine of the Line again? Recall 201: "[...] and others thanking him for putting “The Shrine of the Line” back into its rightful place on top. Emilija was occasionally posting under it in a mix of Lithuanian and English, thinking up ever more obscure ways to say that Alden was a hazard to poultry. "The next time he was in F, Alden was going to feed the ducks and take their picture just for her."

JJ Hunter
>>198541462

Chapter 173, Sleyca's character notes: "Emilija — leaving the following message under a photo of pigeons walking in a straight line: 'Alden Thorn can’t be trusted around birds. He probably fed these to wizards after he took their picture.'"

VP
>>198521556

Imagine someone had already done Kibby's heist before

Torason

If SS isnt done by the time on my death bed, ill write to Sleyca and i expect to be send all future chapters promptly in advance, as im sure i wouldnt rest easy otherwise

J Reynolds
>>198556587

"I promise to finish this before you die. You have to promise not to die."

JJ Hunter

“The Contract only forces affixations on Avowed in uniquely dangerous cases or as a last resort" (39). Is this what creates Uniques? Situations where, say, unbound people who haven't been Selected start to change (chaos potential become chaos actual?) and the Contract has to force an emergency affixation to stop the changes and stabilize them?

JJ Hunter
>>198558629

Same chapter: "'Eventually it’s going to force me to do it, right?' “'The key word there is eventually. It doesn’t want to take that route. It’s absolutely horrible on the budget, and it’s considered morally monstrous by far more Artonans than you would expect. So the System isn’t allowed to force an affixation until it’s exhausted all other possibilities.'" Which suggests that the Contract forcing affixations on Avowed in "uniquely dangerous cases" is an emergency last-ditch procedure and "absolutely horrible on the budget". These uniquely dangerous cases are to be avoided if at all possible, because they are both dangerous and very expensive to patch.

Flopmind

Sleyca, I have had the wonderous adventure of catching up from herd-creatures to this very chapter in a manner of weeks. I cannot express how much I have enjoyed Alden and Stuart's bonding throughout it all. Thank you.

Joseph Collins

My boys! They are such good boys!

Desidia

Funny, I noticed that Alden only mentioned Esh-erdi and Lind-otta in private message when he was near a postdrop. You can never trust a postdrop to keep things private.

JJ Hunter

If Stu proceeds with his planned affixation with Alden sitting vigil by him, will it mirror Stu's concerned monitoring of Yenu performing dream surgery on Alden? I could see Alden talking to Mother about how much Stu means to him as he tries to hold to staying in his spot.

JJ Hunter

What you are all doing while the next serving of Soup is simmering? I'm making soup myself. (Yesterday I roasted a chicken. Today I'm making stock from its bones. Tomorrow will come chicken rice soup with carrots.)

puppy0cam
>>198592362

I've only just finished my usual end of year rush. people's birthdays being near Christmas is just the WORST for everybody involved. So tomorrow I'm just gonna go to my favourite bar and relax on my own because I am just completely done with socialising for the next few weeks.

JJ Hunter
>>198590132

Every now and then I think about Stu's sense of Emban's anxiety re: asking Ryada to deepen with her and worry that many people find Ryada charming and might ask her first, and then I think about Stu's discomfort with his classmates finding Alden "delightful" and gifting him gum angling for Alden's attendance at the "real" party (read: orgy) after the obligatory one, and I do wonder if their apparent shared family temper is expressing itself a bit dragon-like trying to curl protectively around the one who is their current centermost joy. Are the art'hs such a big deal in Artonan society because they are the family of the current Primary, and/or because historically they were the original family of knights (descendants of The Woman of Power, perhaps?), and/or because they had such infamously bad tempers they dominated the rest of Artonan society and bullied any rivals into submission? We keep getting oblique hints that some of Stu's ancestors were fearsome and not necessarily the most moral people, and I really want to know more about that. Were they once the lineage of kings of Artona or something?

Furry Wolf

Unrelated to this chapter but after rereading the first few chapters, I was reminded by one character. Has the bottle pisser guy (during Alden's trading phase in the Consulate) been shown after Alden got to Anesidora? Is he related to Lute's shoe pisser? XD

denatured

I found video of Ella-Clara's figurine running on all fours. https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/1pf1sez/robotics_engineer_posted_this_to_make_a_point/

MWF
>>198641630

Cool and terrifying. Also kinda interesting that engineers seem to find it easier to make them quatrepedally with the right angle "knees" like crocodiles rather than under the body like cows. I wonder why.

JJ Hunter

I do think Alden will be returning for the next quarter of Talent Dev, and it's interesting to contemplate whether he might be considered one of the emerging 'top performers' offered an early slot in an advanced class. Recall the CNH faculty's plan for how to ensure all S-rank students get one additional class more of gym time compared to their (non-Elite) S-rank counterparts at the other hero schools: "'Special classes that the S’s are all automatically admitted to, plus slots in them for other top performers to make it seem less like a rank-based perk than it is'" (217).

JJ Hunter
>>198650603

I bet Ella-Clara will definitely be admitted to advanced class as a top performer. (Wonder if she'll also be coming to the Adjuster club as an honorary member like Alden will during the B list club hiatus?)

puppy0cam

if Alden talks about the gremlin to Stu, he really should explain the yovkew.

zetorian
>>198664059

I'm honestly VERY interested about how / if the gremlin will be revealed. The gremlin is such a strange bit of magic. I'd love to know if Stu has heard of anything like it before

jmc1

Not sure if this has already been pointed out in a comment, but I think the reason Esh knows Alden is referring to Kon instantly is the floor potatoes incident in CH 177, which is a neat callback.

Marcia McGinley

So it is currently 4.30pm on Sunday here in Melbourne. Can anyone tell me what Anesidora time is?

Matt
>>198667088

Pretty sure it is 9:39 PM Saturday. It looks like it should be on UTC-8 or possibly UTC-9.

GryphonKnight

I love the name Ham because Lute is in the preforming arts field

JJ Hunter

I'm rereading the Here-to-There arc, and Excited Stu who near immediately pivots to Concerned About Alden's Wellbeing Stu in 220 has my whole heart. I expect we're going to see an even more emotionally intense version of this sequence when Alden reaches out "with everything he has" to Stu, and Stu reflexively reaches back. Surprise! Joy! Confused! Horror. Worried. Happy? *Worried*. Joy joy joy! Like when Stu realized Alden had been teleported into the trees a few miles from the siblinghold, and what that meant for how near Alden came to becoming a chaos-spewing monster instead of having a successful emergency affixation surgery: "Stuart’s fairly neutral expression underwent a rapid transformation, shifting through several different emotions so quickly that Alden wasn’t sure he caught them all. Shocked, worried, confused, *worried*…happy?"

JJ Hunter
>>198679259

Excellent catch! When pigs fly and/or take over being the ham radio operator for broadcast...

Glitter Rabbit (C)
>>198683078

I desperately anticipate the moment when Stu properly *understands* what it means for Alden to have an authority sense and what it means for their friendship and his own affixation. I also hope Stu won't feel too betrayed...he shouldn't. He is starting to see all the cracks that avowed have to deal with. He knows things aren't perfect.

puppy0cam

Alden and Stu will be competing with each other to tell surprising news. Stu is going to suprise Alden that he figured out his skill and worked out that Ro-den's secrecy contract has something to do with it. And Alden is going to reveal his authority sense to Stu.

CB
>>198684892

I like that theory, Stuart figuring out Aldens tattoo prevents Alden from sharing insights in his Skill is likely, but I bet Alden will reveal his Authority sense after Stuart became a knight.

Fabian

For reference, Kon's trigger event was Here-to-There XII. https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/63759/super-supportive/chapter/2453379/two-hundred-thirty-two-here-to-there-xii

J Reynolds

A commenter on a previous thread said something I found funny. "Stu, I... can sense my authority!" {demonstrates auriad skill}. "Alden, what a jokester you are. If you really had an authority sense, I'd have to turn you in for a big reward. It's lots of money. I mean -lots-. You'd be sent on a certain-death mission. "Good thing you were just joking, yeah?"

Catherine

What a wonderful Christmas present for Stu. Alden was trying to find something that would matter to him and last; not just food. What better gift than the gift of Alden's trust and the knowledge that a knight believes he can be one too.

JJ Hunter

Next chapter predictions in haiku, or otherwise? Connie Claus brings gifts Victor, laptop, antlers, hugs Lodge bros all love her

JJ Hunter
>>198705669

Sarcasm Meister Boe sharpens wit with worry Alden worries too

PeasOfCrab

You ready for soup?

Flopmind

SLEYCA THANK YOU!!!

Neil Abbott

That last line broke me.