Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Filehaus
Recent
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-THREE: The Other Side (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-04 21:20:37
Imported:
2026-06
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Downloads

  • Super Supportive 273.epub

Missing 1 file.

Comments

Peapod

Woo Hoo

ImNotHere

soup before bed! Thank you Sleyca

Nathan

Thanks Sleyca! Right before bed, nice 🛏️ 📚

the btrflyz

Early soup, thanks Sleyca! Post read edit: Momentous for us, the readers, as well! It's going to be a *long* wait for this Thursday's chapter.

JJ Hunter

*wriggles with whole-body anticipation*

Gaffer

It’s happening!!!

zero

Thank you for the chapter

Rachel Christensen

I love this chapter but I'm so stressed about what comes next. In a good way. Also, Stu's life being an endless series of micro (macro) aggressions drives me crazy.

Glitter Rabbit (C)

I am speechless. These last few chapters have been soooooo gooood. Ugh. Sleyca. The anticipation is killing me.

BrilliantDawn

The time has finally come, dear god

Ploddingpanda

Thank you for the chapter!!! It's happening!! So excited!! Also so heartbreaking for Stuart to constantly be denied by his family and his friends. I hope he finds some solace with Alden, who has experienced the same pain but isn't denying him. Maybe all the rejection from his family/friends will lead Stuart to keep Alden's secret a little longer than he normally would.

Cassie Brooks

AHHHHHHHHHHH YES DUDE!!!

Jess

I just realized Alden is approaching his revelation like a Declared going to his first binding.

Rodmin

Aaaaaahhhh!!!!

Sky23

I feel like something huge is about to happen

SnuggleCat

Aaaaa, this is so exciting! Haven't been this caught up by a cliffhanger in years!

Melissa Kehl

Thanks for the early chapter! I was resigned to not seeing it til tomorrow!

Elo2Coon

Damn… that’s a cliffhanger for sure. A good one tho.

Trotske

ITS HAPPENING

Jonathan Alp

Thank you for another wonderful chapter, good start for the week coming up!

Janny

Thanks for the chapter! I really hope that Stu’s last experience there doesn’t throw off Alden and stop him from explaining his situationz

Faultedbeing

So he’s chosen to spill the beans! Oh holy moly!

PeasOfCrab

Thanks for the chapter! So excited for the reveal! I'm a little pissed at Alden, though, as a Boe stan. Alden's going off on his lonesome again. Not warning anyone, not trusting any of the humans that have known him for a long time with a bit of the truth. Putting myself in Boe's shoes, could I see myself as Alden's best friend anymore? I don't think so. I've been replaced by this alien prince who Alden will be sharing a lot with and putting his life on the line. And my friend Alden has once again chosen to potentially disappear from my life without warning... but at least he left behind a note for me. (big eye roll)

Cole

Woah the plot has left the station, new arc starting

Poiuy

Omg. I’m vibrating with nerves.

Skeleterr

I'm already waiting for the next chapter

Terrestrial_Biped

Oh god, you’ve made the parallels so strong it hurts

Elliote Elanor

I might explode be4 the next chapter. Halp

SinCinnamon

Finally!!!! The Next Arc!

Chas Becht

The tension is palpable

Bemte

I'm not nervous, you are nervous!

Adam Andersson

Holy shit. I need to sleep before work, but now I'm prolly gonna spend the night like Alden. Asay-tor you fucking prick. It's a good thing Stu is about to receive a *yes* from someone whos opinion matters a lot more.

Jamison Lovely

I'm going to be really irritated if after all this buildup Stu's run-in with Asay causes him to not tell Stu his secret. Honestly, I'm also hoping Stu doesn't keep the secret; obviously it wouldn't be great for Alden that Stu doesn't value their friendship enough not to keep it, but the plot of this story really needs to get moving again, and that's only going to happen when Alden actually takes up the mantle.

Mundane

The bookend of one old friend Knight saying no with one new Knight friend who will tell him yes is going to be so wonderful.

aaab1422

AHHHH it's happening

Thomas Todd

So close, it's going to be amazing. I can't wait! I'm imagining after whatever reaction Stu has the first person to be told will be the Primary

FabulousMoose

Is it happening? It’s happening.

Thomas Todd
>>198725250

I actually think that would be a positive reason for Alden to tell him, Alden is the same as Asay, a knight. The only difference is he knows Stu now and has always supported Stu in his choice

Sherbert

Evil Sleyca has me waiting til Thursday

Adamanus

Alden will be the one to finally give Stu confidence. To do the opposite of Asay and say, from the other side, that he can do it. They may only be a squad of 2, but Stu has had so many of the things the other Declared had without knowing. He even showed off his spell to Alden.

Samven

SOUP

zoarian

I hope this substantially shakes things up. I don't think Alden will be totally whisked from his old life but it'd feel anticlimactic if all this build up led to him going back to school, after he's made the decision to become a Knight. If the only difference is that Stu knows... that would be a bummer to me ngl.

Emily Curtis

Next chapter should be a quick look into how Jeremy's doing. Or maybe the postbox. Or the snake. :)

Jim

Tyftc! Two minor edits, missing words: knew by the flick of an eye that -it- no longer wore its ring Her jeans were tucked into the soft boots that she’d said were only for around the house when she bought them a couple of years -ago- because they were too ugly for anywhere else.

Hallow

Thank you for the chapter!

Thomas Todd
>>198724826

To be fair to Alden, Boe is keeping just as much from Alden. I'm imagining both are of the opinion that the other won't understand, plus they don't want to burden (pun not intended) the other with their own choices. Boe because Alden is living the life that Boe wants and Boe doesn't want to screw it up for Alden and Alden because he doesn't want to draw attention to Boe and end up getting him caught

Jeremy Goldberg

it’s going to be a nice symmetry. The discouragement from one ex-friend who knows what it feels like to affix will be countered by encouragement from Alden, who also knows what it feels like to affix. I wonder if Stu is going to jump up and affix immediately after Alden gives him the confidence he needs? I wonder which tree he’ll use? I’m glad we don’t have to wait an entire week until the next chapter!

Sundeki

It's going to happen

Starkly Glim

Thank you for the chapter! And oh my god, Stu, that just hurts. No one, not a single one of his friends and family other than his distant father and an alien, believes in him. It's just such a viciously painful thing. I hope, once Alden tells him - both that he has his Authority awareness and that even with that experience he still believes in Stu - that that will help build his confidence in himself that just everyone else is beating down.

puppy0cam

Great things are about to happen.

FOV

What we have waited for since chapter 59 is finally coming 😭 It is with events like these where I truly appreciate Sleyca’s slow pace as ironic as it sounds. Seeing Alden take his time to account for all of his friends and family is so nice to see. The nervousness being so palpable that while he doesn’t tell everyone exactly what choice he has made, he writes a thank you and goodbye to all of his friends regardless. This chapter is what makes Alden who he is. Thank you Sleyca for always taking the time to add this character depth.

FeelingsandFoibles

Omgggggg I cant wait for Stu to find outtttt. I think he'll be so happy he doesnt have to be alone after he gets over the initial feelings of untruth

Jim

I think this is the first time he has called her Mother. That is so telling.

Max Dudley

Godddsssss yes! And the chapters are coming faster now too! We're eating good again!

Noah James

This is going to feel like a loooooong 4 days. I’m so excited! Alden gets a huge secret off his chest and it’s long overdue.

Krae Z Hand

OH MAN things are HAPPENING he's gonna DO IT

Benjamin Hower

Oh boy. I can feel the precipice coming.

Tarry Higgins

Courage is the willingness to take action in the face of fear, and Alden is still so afraid. And so courageous.

A_S00

So how do we think the initial reveal/reaction is gonna go? - Stu feels excited and supported, agrees to keep Alden's secret, and it becomes a new aspect of their friendship but doesn't immediately lead to Alden getting publicly outed? - Stu reacts negatively to the news and it becomes a problem for their friendship? - Stu wants to share the news with his family, Alden doesn't, and it becomes a point of conflict between them? - Stu wants to share the news with his family, does so, and it goes fine? - Stu wants to share the news with his family, does so, and it's a disaster? - Other ideas?

CB

I physically need the next chapter! Something important happening was expected, but that…. Not exactly a cliffhanger, but the anticipation will kill me all week!

Steffen

ITS HAPPENING!!!

Dax

hell yea. i'm excited!

50cant12

I think I'm starting to understand what that person talking about excited wriggling was on about..

Calum Donaldson

Oh man, half way through this chapter the anticipation started ramping. I knew the meeting wouldn't be until the next chapter but still! Can't wait.

glow

Wake me up when the next chapter hits, I can't wait! This is going to feel like a looong week. I hope Alden doesn't run into Joe on his way to the teleport bay

Sunden

This is the first time Alden has referred to the Artonan Kernal as Mother to himself and internally. Prior to his choice, he always referred to the Artona I Kernal as "her" or "she". Such a fun little detail from Sleyca.

ShyWoah 32
>>198726104

-Stu confronted with the horrors of a human bearing the burden of knighthood, decides to become his votary to guide the fledgling knight along his path.

Catherine
>>198723331

I thought that too! But now I'm so excited I dont think I'll be able to go to sleep for a while

JJ Hunter
>>198723726

*engages in some primal aaaaaaaaAAaAAAaAaaaaaAaAaAaaaAaaaa from excess of feels*

Buddych001

IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HOW CAN I WAIT 4 DAYS WHAT NOOO

Zenty

Omg, it's finally happening!! How am I suppose to wait until the 8th?! T.T

A_S00
>>198726624

Is he referring to her (or addressing her) here, when he says "Mother"? Or is he invoking the privilege (which is also "Mother" on his profile)?

Catherine
>>198725600

I dont know if he has made the decision to be a knight yet. He has made the decision to tell Stu but if Stu keeps his secret things may not change too quickly. That said I can see Stu keeping Aldens secret and still trying to get him to Goldbush for practice fighting demons.

Semtic

Anybody got a time machine? I’d like a ride to Thursday. Jokes aside this was such a perfect chapter for right before it happens. The contrast between Alden and Asay-tor, the double meaning of "the other side", Alden's preparations, and Mother's understated approval. I love it.

JJ Hunter

Asay-tor reminds me of Vandy; trying to enforce rules on his peers that he's not self-aware enough to realize he made up.

Catherine
>>198725608

I agree with the second edit but think that the first is correct both ways depending on whose eye is flicking

JJ Hunter
>>198727771

At least Stu's other former friends collectively realized this might, in fact, be a deeply shitty thing to do especially to someone they once considered a friend and join Asay in following through on this.

Philip

Artonans have a strong claim to a large civilizational advantage over humans. But they are still remarkably gormless.

Philip

Boe’s future is set. He should stay in Chicago and make a fortune as a pet whisperer.

Matt

It's been a while since we've heard about Hazel. This would be a fun time to shift back to her perspective to change things up from the Alden/Stu plotline.

Skull Leader

Never have I wanted another chapter to be released than this moment. After all this time and built up, Alden has finally decided what the next door he needs to step through. Somehow I doubt that Stu will be disappointed by Alden answer to Stu own chances. A thousand No do not matter when it comes down to that ONE yes from someone that gets you.

Baumlaus
>>198728184

I feel you might have an angry mob on you if this actually happens. xD

Robert Mullins

I'm glad that asay-tor was here to help Alden feel better and more resolved about his decision immediately.

LordJJJ

GAH I CANT WAIT 🙏 TY FOR THE CHAPTER!!!

Hyrum Reed

I've read books where characters end the world with less tension than this decision! Mastefully done! I can't wait for Thursday!

Jazehiah

Could you imagine if this were the last chapter?

PatienceHoney

Super Soup! I got this chapter right as I was pulling up to the gym to do my cardio. Felt like the universe was saying - you go girl, get fit! And here is something to read while you are walking up a hill... slowly - cause, you know, I'm reading. And now I am on a stationery bike for some extra cardio so that I can read the comments and type on my phone... Sleyca is good for my health!!

Frozen

Thursday! Ahhhh! I think the asay conversation nicely sets up Alden to say yes as someone also on the other side. I don't think Stu is going to reveal to others, but Boe might accidentally get his note early . . .

Robert Mullins

Alden has finally acted like a true knight. And by that I mean he is finally using the planetary wide contracts with fiercely debated resource expenditures to teleport at his own convenience. He is finally ready, this was the true last step of his choosing season

PatienceHoney
>>198728860

Nothing like the asshat of an old friends to make your new friend look 10x better!

Dan

The 8ths my birthday and I'm SO STOKED!

ImNotHere
>>198725453

Good Seyca who will give you the next chapter (imagine if she stops here and leave it to our imagination)

Robert Mullins

Asay-tor exactly one day after affixing: "A question Mother, it says here that my favor balance is negative. Is this part of the first affixation I wasn't aware of?"

Skull Leader

Good news Winston, it seems that your ~~rival~~ ahh totally unimportant useless rabbit classmate might be too busy in the near future to show you up in Gym Class! Rejoice your prayers have been answered.

Francis

Shit, that first bit gave me the heart palpitations again. I KNEW what that knight was going to say and I just wanted to stop it.

Eva
>>198725847

Alden's support for Stu's choice will suddenly gain a lot of weight!

Cliff

So mad on Stu's behalf. So excited for next chapter!!!

ImNotHere
>>198729114

last chapter? as in no more? Ha! impossible. I started necromency to avoid that.

C. Adkins

I CANT WAIT UNTIL THURSDAY! SOMEONE KNOCK ME OUT AND WAKE ME UP WHEN THE NEW SOUP IS READY

Calibri

The way the tension slowly built throughout this chapter was incredible. I’m on the edge of my seat and am super duper looking forward to future events.

Francis

Nice to see how much Stu needs Alden. Alden had to make that choice otherwise Stu would have died just because he had no one supporting him. The way Stu was treated in this chapter made me think a lot about how our society treats neurodivergent people - as if they are "less" in some way.

PatienceHoney
>>198730160

I'm the ever hopeful one who thought, maybe... but I should have realized...

ImNotHere

About Mother early teleport: 1) It might spoil the news as no one not even grand senator can teleport in the rapport without being invited. Alden would have been invited by Stu, it was already decided but the invitation was not made. 2) Did she agree also for Stu so that Alden could help him when he needed it the most?

Francis

I see Mother is willing to spend some extra resources on Alden. She, of course, knows what Stu is going through and must be pleased that Alden chose to tell Stu. Hence the extra privilege of a better teleportation.

Zachary Sloan

Feel like this is going to come at a good time for Stuart - basically getting the approval from someone who actually has been through the same thing. Don't envy having to write this upcoming chapter. Feel like it'd be hard to get it "right."

SFGuru

I wonder if Quinyeth will abandon Asay-tor and become Alden's votary?

WhiteToaster

I told myself to wait to read this chapter till there were a few more released yet here I am. Cant wait for the next one

C. Adkins

Okay, few things I’ll probably post separately, but what really sticks out to me is the Asay/Alden dynamic. Asay, a brand new knight, with all the benefits of Artonian society and biology, is suffering more than he could ever imagine, and telling his old friend (a friend so long ago, Asay did not even consider inviting him to his last spell event (and not out of meanness or trying to isolate Stu) that he should not be a Knight. That Stu cannot handle it. On the other side, we have Alden, a young knight, sure, but already multiple affixes in. Alden, a human, with no structured learning of magic, suffered a literal world ending event, with no ability to split his focus, who thinks of Stu daily, who strives to know him at the deepest most sincere level, has been saying Stu, I believe in you. And then there is Stu. He has had the benefits of magic school, of learning at the feet of those who came before. But is burdened by his mother’s last wish, that restricts his attention lest the perfect world consumes him. Unlike Asay, He has suffered and is suffering.

J Reynolds
>>198730335

Goddamn it, Donut! [I'm reading through Dungeon Crawler Carl. IYKYK]

zetorian
>>198729411

Now he just needs to command Earth to stop being so stupid about U-type restrictions and learn Boe's secrets!

C. Adkins
>>198731877

I know I rambled, but seeing these three Knight cases back to back just had me going. Alden and Stu represent a single minded focus on their goals that comes from the trauma of their past. Asay and the other knights represent almost the ideal thought of a Knight in our own culture. The Knight in shining armor, willing to sacrifice everything because he’s just that good of a guy, who will always win because that’s what they do. And Asay’s version is just not realistic. It’s not seeing what being a knight actually is, which I think is why so many knights cannot take it. Why they have to look for so many other ways to help them not die young. I think Alden and Stu will end up perfectly suited to Knighthood, because they have already known pain, what is a bit more going to do that hasn’t already been done?

Eva

I was thinking how Aalden went through all those doors of past decisions with Mother that time. He really benefitted from that and has taken the metaphor and run with it! I am mentally preparing for this to take a few chapters. Thanks for such an awesome build-up, Sleyca! Please don't hesitate to release at this time of day again 😅

Keifru

I feel like there is a really good mirror being setup here where Alden comes in as someone who *has* bound, and has become friends with Stuart *now* and is able to be a positive, supportive voice that Stuart so very much needs and is not getting from anyone around him. Gods... this chapter feels like we're tying up a lot of loose ands and bringing the hammer up- the anticipation of what happens when the hammer falls next(?) chapter has got me looking into timetravel to read it NOW

Peter M

Omg Thursday may be the greatest day of my life if this is it!!! 😍😍😍

C. Adkins

And final thought based on another comment, what if Asay is causing Stu to affix this very second. Suffering through it alone. And then, he feels an authority hug from the one peer that has always believed in him. When he wakes up from affixing, there is Alden, the Knight, welcoming him as a brother

zetorian
>>198728144

Honestly, I think Boe could be really happy being one of those animal trainers who lives on a ranch somewhere. Its not that dogs and cows and horses don't have emotions, but theyre a hell of a lot more straightforward than people. Train a few seeing eye dogs a year and just live in the wilderness otherwise. Wouldnt even have to use Skill #2 on a healthy animal for training, just knowing how they feel without question would be immeasurably helpful.

Kemlion

Cries.

David Bailey
>>198728661

I fear the initial reveal is NOT going to be that smooth. Stu is (rightfully) going to be horrified.

Jack Slash

The tension this chapter was delicious, and the pacing between Stu and Alden's POVs felt perfect. Can't wait for the next chapter already, thank you for the chapter!

ImNotHere

And on Asay: 1) he call Stu "Sina Stu-arth": where the f*ck is the "declared", you are full on disrespectful 2) [It’s different because I’m a knight], hey buddy did your affixation made you forget who is family is? The son of the Primary, nephew of the Quaternary, brother of the one you see as your most important mentor? And suddenly your thousandth no should be important?? Stu was slighty wrong, Asay is not a prick but a pompous prick

Dervish
>>198731634

Join the club. I know I should wait, but the siren call of Stu becoming Alden's Votary* keeps me reading more! *Yes, that's intended as a joke. But who knows, it *could* happen! ;)

puppy0cam

> The scarred orange cat gave Alden a perfect look of annoyance as Alden pulled him out of his carrier. “I missed you.” > He’s thinking of biting me. > Victor pressed his head into the back of Alden’s hand for a greeting Chapter 9 (Gorgon): > But Victor just sniffed Gorgon’s ankles and moved on. Alden crouched down toward the cat, and Victor raised his hackles. > “He has not forgiven you for confining him,” Gorgon said. > “Yeah, I know. He’s not used to the carrier.” Alden had only stuffed the half-feral cat into the thing once before, to take him to the vet. > He reached into his bag for a can of tuna. “Peace offering?” he asked, levering up the metal tab and peeling the top back. “It’s your favorite.” > Victor padded a step closer. > “See? He’s a pretty forgiving du—OW! Shit! Victor, you brat!” > The cat had lunged, quick as lightning, and delivered a combo attack of bites and scratches to Alden’s right hand so fast that he barely felt them before the furry villain streaked away to stand under Gorgon’s chair. > “What the heck, man?” Alden said in a wounded voice, looking down at his hand. There was a burning claw mark welling with red droplets and at least four puncture wounds bleeding freely. “I bought you the good tuna.” Character progress!

Milan Seyed Mahmoud

I think that spacing out these important chapters is a brilliant narrative device. How else is the audience supposed to feel something of that ever-present, unignorable pain that a hn'tyon would? I welcome the end of this anticipation when we finally get to see the payoff!

Whisper

My deepest hope is that he reveals himself to Stu with an authority tap. Ass-ey was all "I knew you before I bound and you're far too fragile". Alden will be "I've gotten to know you since I bound, and you are strong"

Npf

I think one of the biggest consequences of the reveal is that Stu will know an authority-bond between the two of them could be possible someday. I am excited for this to give Stu the confidence to affix, but I would be unsurprised if Stu decides to wait for Alden's power to catch up to his own first. I don't know if he'll mention the possibility to Alden any time soon, but I can't imagine him not thinking about the authority bond at all. And that's huge, when they are so close in other ways, and Stu is at such a disadvantage when it comes to getting close with other knights declaring around the same time as him. And I think a lot about how much Alden liked when Stu gave him the authority boost for his water shield. It felt good to him. That sounds like it could be a small example of authority-compatibility. I'm so excited for them to have an authority relationship after this! And it seems so likely that Stu would teach Alden spells and basics of wizardry that he's missing! Which would also be huge!

Protected

How exciting to finally be here after two hundred and seventy three chapters. The blades of the fan are spinning menacingly! The shit is soaring majestically through the air! A collision is inevitable! Things will never again be the same! I imagine the Artonans' relationship with the whole planet Earth is about to change a lot. A bunch of scheming characters that have been seeded into the story but have been sitting in the background for a while are probably going to Do Stuff. Still have no idea about whether Stu becomes a Knight. In the short term, there are a lot of ways this could go.

Whisper
>>198727609

Medically induced coma? Ooo properly metered sleeping pills, we'll get there! Lots of ways to skip forward in time, going back is the hard part.

Jazehiah

Thoughts: Alden had Victor brought back to Anesidora, instead of asking Boe, Jeremy, or Connie to care for him. Was that because he thought it would be suspicious if he just bounced? Was it because he trusted his Anesidoran friends more? The gift money was interesting. How much of his remaining savings was that? That's what? 60,000 Argold plus however much for Victor's care. I'm pretty sure this is the first time Alden addressed the Artona I system as "Mother." That alone was a large step. He asked her for very little, and she gave him something better, much in the way a good parent might. I wonder if the location Mother drops him off is influenced by Stu's state of mind. Stu will totally think Esh had something to do with his early arrival. Anyway. I have more thoughts, but those were the ones still rattling after steppih away for a bit. Heck of a cliff. Decent place to pause reading for a bit, too. It leaves Alden's future open and ambiguous.

PatienceHoney
>>198733723

Authority fist bump would be ideal! The "I feel ya bro!" Wizard to wizard slang.

Darth Xaim

Holy Hell! Alden is gonna tell Stu!!! Freakin' finally...

KB

This was so good and perfect! My favorite sound is Asay screaming as he falls to the ground! So ready for Thursday! Also, ugh! What a beautiful sentence: "The grass had grown long, and the ground was gifting the sky hundreds of tiny red flowers on fragile stems that brushed against the wide legs of Stu’s pants as he headed toward the new knight."

Quivo
>>198729902

Bad news: The Rabbit will be there in spirit for a long-ass time if he ends up mysteriously disappearing yet again only to reappear at the center of some seriously awkward, fraught political stuff about Avowed.

Lady Kyhira Tenti

I thought Boe was going to pop out the cat in the early morning because he knew Alden was off but I guess he can't really control the when. I thought he was going to be apart of the stu/Alden Goldbush group like he was having his own choosing season in the background, 1 layer adjacent. I feel so sad about Alden in Connie's relationship. A death, especially a child's can definitely mature a person. This feels like it's ending soon and I was hoping for another 300 chapters. If it does, I need a Boe, Kibby, Marciel , soeren or Object Shaper Side stories.

Niffers

i knew i should have waited til i had Thursday’s chapter in hand aiiii

JJ Hunter
>>198733215

Yesssssssssssssss. Also amused that Natalie's Appeal appears to work on cats too, not just humans.

Elijah Overland

IT'S HAPPENING! CODE RED! QUIET RABBIT ARC IS OVER!

Dervish

Thanks for another chapter I'm going to be obsessively rereading for a few days. My only hope is that (for Alden's sake) nobody discovers his good-bye notes before he returns. For the strange speculations department: Stu's father may be horrified (at first) to hear that Alden - Stu's human friend - has already been through the first affixing and survived, because it's likely to encourage Stu to make that choice. That feeling may be enough for Alden to reveal the secrets that Ro-den had locked away...

ImNotHere

If the books come with illustrations, [Alden becoming the guy who rained hundreds of markers down on Apex.] must be one of them!

Frozen

Asay is so familiar in his actions. He reminds of someone back from their first semester of college, or just out of bootcamp, or just having read their first Atn Rand novel. He is Wise and knows best now, and his perspective must be heard, nevermind those who had his experience and more who have said the same thing already.

Ploddingpanda
>>198735053

Oh no, I now have the fear that Victor will unearth the letters. Everyone knows cats always get into impossible places they're not supposed to

JennP

SUCH a beautiful chapter. I can make it a few more days... maybe

J Reynolds

Alden is about to cross the Rubicon. Bits of dialogue from next chapter: STU You mean that you'd literally come from your binding to the house here. Like, only a couple of hours passed. What the heck? ~ ALDEN Not going to lie here. Having a skill and being able to sense your authority is bad in ways. Painful as it's happening. Once the initial pain passes, it's uncomfortable at best. You know all of this, though. You've got to remember: it's also awesome. I have a skill that perfectly matches my personality and goals. It fits me like it was painted on with a brush. I'll have to get Mother to tell you how I got it. You've selected your skill. It will match you perfectly. Keep your eyes on the good. Respect the bad. Hang out with friends. And prepare for a hell of a ride.

J Reynolds
>>198726032

The air is filled with the scent of burning bridges. Sometimes bridges have to be burned, though.

Matt DiMeo

Join us next Thursday, as Alden totally chickens out :)

11037

I think the part that a lot of people don't understand about Asay and the other's like him is that I think they aren't particularly worried about Stuart. They're worried about the Primary losing his beloved son. And really, I can see their concerns. Stuart's odds of long term success seem dim when he's signing up for a lifetime of pain, and has a tempting, built-in escape route from pain built into his head. And who knows how his death or mental collapse will affect their planet-destroying trump card? I guess I'm saying that the people around Stuart have reasons for what they are saying, and aren't all cruel psychopaths. But at the same time, it's true that they are not his friends.

denatured

I'm unusually dreading the next chapter. Stu's in an awful state of mind. I don't know for sure what Alden's walking into but whatever he envisioned for his magical coming out isn't going to be what he gets.

Elle
>>198734865

Exactly my thought as soon as I read this.

JJ Hunter

All drama aside, I can't BELIEVE Alden only got Stu three clusters of grapes (presumably each a different kind of grape). Alden got Emban eight kinds of bananas! I can lay my hands on more than three types of grapes in my local grocery store, surely Anesidora has more options for grapes than that!

J Reynolds
>>198733830

It's not so much a shit hitting fan moment. It's more the F5 tornado hits the sewage treatment plant.

Andrew Khitry

I literally put on a timer targeting 8th of Jan

Rodmin

Asay-tor is struggling with his own binding, that's why he can't imagine Stu being able to do it. And some day we will see Asay-tor going to his last sacrifice because he can't take it. That will lead to Alden helping Quinyeth through her grief and Quinyeth becoming votary to the Alden/Stu/Ryada squad!

SnuggleCat
>>198736614

Yep, not his friends but pretending to be. Gaslighting at it's finest, for a "greater good."

Bloodorange17

Could Alden use his wish from Mother to break his secrecy tattoo to be able to talk about his skill with Stu? Or if he's going to have to go public anyway, could he ask Stu's family to pressure Worli Ro-den to agree to remove it? Or have I forgotten something that would mean this isn't a possibility?

Ploddingpanda
>>198724357

> Alden’s own gift basket from Aulia had arrived along with Lute’s. It was full of premium event tickets he hadn’t bothered to look through yet. Is Aulia bored and looking for more entertainment? Trying to train Alden's ability to burder others at different events?

Robert Smart

Oh maaan. The build up, the build up!

Insomniac
>>198736906

On the other hand hearing the exact opposite from Asay-tor would be one heck of a way to lift his mood. Here's another semi-Knight, well past his first binding, who has nothing but "yes" for Stu.

Лили

Alden's words to victor "We'll be alright no matter what happens!" mean so much knowing Alden was preparing for life changing actions. I cried. i feel like I grew up alongside Alden

The Icarus Collective
>>198738616

Use the MOTHER privilege to override his contract with Ro-den, you mean? Yes, that's our own current leading theory, speaking just for ourselves. Putting pressure on Ro-den from the art'h household is also a good option. We've also considered that he might get a hn'tyon uniform from the Wardrobe, and just show Stu-art’h the logogram for Bearer that's embroidered on it. A few interesting ways this might go.

Benjamin Collins

I feel like this is building up to an anticlimactic moment

Desidia

Thank you for this chapter, and thank you for planning a new chapter so soon!!! A lot of foreshadowing and sorta cliffhangers.

Yorion

Can't wait

Tim Gonsalves

If your goal was to make the reader as stressed out with anxiety as Alden, then it's perfect! So good.

Matt V

Mother has to be pretty pleased with Alden's timing, after seeing Stu's friendships further deteriorate. Even if Asay was the only one there, he made it clear that others were at least considering joining him in confronting Stu. It's sad that no one in his life seems to be able to see him as he is now. All anyone seems to see is the broken boy he was when he was first brought to the rapport. They all act as if this is just some whim of Stu's that they can talk him out of - as if Stu hadn't spent years coming to his decision. Asay acts as if Stu hasn't heard from dozens of hn'tyons already - why would the word of a freshly affixed boy make anything different? Especially a supposed friend who had completely abandoned him already. I like Alden's approach with the letters. Even if he thinks it likely he'll be back, he knows the pain of being left behind with no word. Having a contingency in place just in case makes sense. I can't help but wonder what his plan is with the early arrival. Will he wake Stu? Or take a walk in the woods? I suspect not a whole lot will change for Alden immediately. I don't think Stu will be obligated to tattle on Alden - I doubt Mother would hang Alden out to dry like that without any warning - and I don't think Stu would make any big decisions for Alden given the way everyone has been trying to make his decisions for him ever since he declared. But Stu will finally have someone in his corner who knows what he will be going through and can talk through it with him and commiserate and all that good stuff. I can't wait to see how Alden tells him and Stu's reaction. I kinda hope he just gives him an authority pat to start and goes from there. Also, I hope Alden remembers to give instructor Kibby her proper dues.

Insomniac

I think there is a decent to good chance that Stu will not feel duty-bound to expose Alden, or enforce a decade of training on him that, clearly, should rightfully be his. I'm much less confident in his ability to not march straight into the Artonan Congress and tell them to feel their shame for the way they set up skill selection. A Hn’tyon, his woven friend, with a PEST CONTROL skill? No. I also fear for just about everyone who has been a prick to Alden. Stu is going to strut around, head held high, looking down on all those who should cast low their gaze and be ashamed.

Elle

Okay this is such a good chapter, but such an awful place to stop! I hope Stu gets to see the other side in the next chapter. Thursday is too far away - it’s time for a reread! I was planning to reread Snow anyway, so I guess that’s what I’m doing now.

Yorion
>>198740277

How do you think Stu will react? Will he be overjoyed? Frightened? Stunned? I imagine it will be a mixture of the three, primarily the first. All this time, Alden has been a close friend, but will "never understand the shades of suffering" of Stu-art'h's chosen path. To have the knowledge that Alden's support comes from personal experience rather than simply trust will surely strengthen their bond and Stu's desire to become a Knight. I can't wait for the following chapters.

Terrestrial_Biped
>>198731128

I think everyone will just assume someone else sent the invitation early, and Alden will let them. It’ll be a repeat of the first time Alden showed up at the Rapport with no particular invitation.

Terrestrial_Biped
>>198731359

Might be one of those Sleyca has been writing in her head for years now, though, so it just flows into the paper like the Chainer chapters did.

PatienceHoney

*** She held onto him and demanded that he drive the nonagon like they were at a theme park. *** Does this mean he finally got to do a loop-de-loop!?!

Kimberley

Good thing I checked the comments first lol. Will probably wait to read together with Thurs. Was sooo suspicious why this and the next chapter is up so fast which made me think things are happening. And my patreon is ending next week. I keep debating where should I stop to stockpile the chaps without too much soup hangover and guh. Omaigosh. I am so anxious from the previous chap, all the comments and my imagination 😆 I don't think I can stop myself from reading til the end. But I suspect it will be torture to wait my self imposed rule of months after what looks to be The Consequences of Alden choices. I WAS planning to wait a whole year until Christmas 2026 to binge it all like for 2025. But guh. The anticipation. The holey heck my anxiety Ahhhhh 😂

Gregory

Interesting that “cat to Anesidora” wasn’t code for Boe, based on the new years gift. I guess he just thinks Victor will have better care on the island if he can’t return. I think it is unlikely that we’re going to leave behind all of the characters that we’ve come to know on Earth. But also I think things are about to change, dramatically. We’ll see how those 2 beliefs reconcile, if they do.

PatienceHoney
>>198737678

I agree that Asay-tor is struggling more than he thought he would. Like maybe his drive came from a place of ego rather than a stronger foundation and that ego is fragile snd tearing Stu down in order to build himself back up.

PatienceHoney
>>198736356

I am waiting for him to say, "and let me introduce you to 2am pinball and football (soccer) games."

Gregory
>>198731275

She also knows that this path leads toward Alden as a knight, which she very much supports (in his own time). Look at the resources Esh-erdi uses - he teleported a couch for a humor bit. Look at what Mother has already put into Alden - given everything we know about the contracts, the false profile must be very expensive, plus her fixing his shattered self. Mother is invested in Alden. And Stuart. And indirectly this is good for the Primary and more as well.

PatienceHoney
>>198735535

Your description of him (which I agree with) reminds me of this scene from Good Will Hunting Source: YouTube https://share.google/U1BYy0uC585vTWEMQ

Christine

So, timeline for Alden's arrival, as best as I understand it: ***Stu POV*** This was the first morning of his weekend ***Alden POV*** Stuart was expecting him to come over tomorrow. Noon Alden’s time would be around dawn at Rapport I. [...] He woke up at four in the morning anyway. [...] Nobody saw Alden leave Earth. Nobody saw him arrive in Rapport I.  But he hoped somebody would welcome him soon, here on the other side of the door. ***End of excerpts*** Alden was supposed to arrive at dawn on Rapport I if Alden left at noon Anesidora time. But he is leaving at roughly 4am Anesidora time, so he will arrive at the Rapport 8 human hours before his planned arrival. Hence, he will be arriving the evening/night of the first day of Stu's weekend.

Christine

*** Nobody saw Alden leave Earth. Nobody saw him arrive in Rapport I.  But he hoped somebody would welcome him soon, here on the other side of the door. *** So, this quote could be read as purely metaphorical, since Alden has been symbolizing decisions as doors in his inner monologue. But it could also be both metaphorical and literal - Alden could've been teleported to the hallway outside of Stuart's door! I hope that is the case, because the parallels to Alden's first visit to the Rapport would be lovely~

Anthony Lutz
>>198726051

Yes, but Bravery is the better word, per Quinyeth in herdcreatures “It’s not brave if you’re not fearful.” Quinyeth turned her head to look at his commendation. “As you know."

Alex Scriber

I think it’s a good sign that only Asay went through with his selfish plan. According to him, he discussed it with lots of people, and all of them (eventually) had the good sense to realize it was a bad idea.

Peapod
>>198742497

It was code for Boe on his mind map at least. He wants to talk to Boe about it and find out why he won’t come. Do we all not ask our friends hard questions? Both Alden and Boe need to be locked in a room and talk about all of their issues with the weight of the path on them so they can focus on the truth and not on their emotions and excuses about not sharing.

Riandisa

Alden, I appreciate all the time and thought you've put into this step through the door for yourself, but oof, you're going to give Arjun a fresh set of stress when he finds out that the kid he has infamous ties with went poof a few days after asking him to show him a hit at full strength.

Shining Moon

I think I need to learn to jump through time so I can get to the next chapter sooner 😂 Awesome chapter! 💕

J Reynolds
>>198740802

I can see Hn'tyon Alden asking for at least one Jatonan pest control mission. "What the heck, I should see how these temper spheres work when they're used for their actual purpose."

zdm

Oh damn oh damn oh damn oh damn

Maximus

Hm, on the one hand, I really, really appreciate the speed. On the other hand, this chapter felt rather disjointed and swift, that is not to say rushed. I'm rather conflicted. I think I like it though since it seems, it's finally time.

Gojisoar

HUH?!?

puppy0cam

hey guys does anyone have a spare black hole on hand so I can sit next to it and speed up my relative time for a few earth days? Thanks!

Julien

IT'S HAPPENING !!!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL !!!!

Julien
>>198748721

A lot of POV in this chapter, and I think Alden is rushing, now that he made his decision

Julien
>>198746392

They didn't have the courage to do it themselves, but they were willing to throw Asay under the hypothetical Stuart-bus to do that cruel talk for them

Whaler Whaler
>>198725734

I feel for Stu, I truly do, but I can't help but empathize with those around him too. We have read the pain and fear Alden goes though, and he just recently felt his authority. Imagine a being that has lived with it being free their whole life, especially one that seems so "close' to their's. Even his family that aren't knights live with/around those who are, they see the trials they go through, and now here comes a boy with magically-induced schizophrenia, wanting the most painful sacrifice their kind practices.

Dalton Vieira

I'm so amped! It's finally coming!

puppy0cam
>>198742175

I reckon next chapter is gonna be the start of an arc. If I were to hazard a guess, the arc is likely to be at least 3 chapters long. Probably more, but we just came out of a long arc (Snow) so it would be odd to dive into another long arc right after it.

Jazehiah
>>198745373

I took it to be metaphorical, but I guess it could have a double meaning.

Armo

This chapter is very emotional for me, for some reason. Thank you for sharing it. On the topic of Asay: I think it is shameful that he has practically ignored Stu but now has come to demand something so intimate as forgoing binding from him. I can understand behaviour like this, certainly, but only in certain cases. From close family, perhaps. But Asay distanced himself from Stu (or maybe the other way around). Why did he think about Stu again, after all that time? And only think about him in the context of trying to downright demand Stu not go forward with a choice he has made? Despite how shitty Asay’s behaviour is, I hope Asay is and will be fine. I still remember people, including me, ragging on Bithe before we knew more about his situation. It feels to me like Asay is far less fine than people think. This attempt to protect Stu comes across as being borne out of desperation. For what, we can only guess - I can only assume it is because he is struggling to cope. I also wanted to say that it is very interesting that Asay seems to be reaching out to Stu now of all times. Many people have burned bridges with Stu to prevent themselves from being hurt by his decision to bind. Why is Asay trying to stop Stu from binding rather than keeping his distance to prevent himself from getting caught in the blast radius? The regular explanation may be that Asay does care about Stu. The more depressing explanation may be that Asay has already realised that he will not survive for long with his affixation, and so Stu will outlast him regardless - so the personal risk is nonexistent. Asay may have chosen to do what he can to help others with what time he has left - and that seems to be to dissuade Stu from affixing at all costs.

Cloud

I miss the days where Sleyca would do a double post just so we could avoid the really painful cliffhangers 😭 right about now would be an AWESOME time for a surprise chapter or two. We need more soup ❤️

The Icarus Collective
>>198747503

While time travel can certainly be a quite useful skill to affix, keep in mind that it does have its downsides, just as any skill does. Do think carefully, and consider all your options, before committing to a build centered around a time travel themed skill. That said, do of course follow your heart first and foremost, and choose the skill that will fit you best. Good luck!

Kim Enteiu

Thursday. I can make it to Thursday. I can be as patient a stone for four days. I can be as patient as two stones.

Pete Magnuson

I think there's a typo in that top line, could you edit it to Next Chapter: Monday January 5th please 🙏

Furry Wolf

Great chapter.I don't think Alden will be seized by the Rapport immediately, if Stu tells, after this since he is still on break. And I don't think Stu will reveal this fact either for now since he knows Alden wishes for a not shitty, mostly joyful life for now. I think it will be Alden refusing a contract tatt this time around instead of Stu.

Chris

Love that we now know why Victor was getting tubby on the diet kitty chow. Lots and lots of treats.

PhoenixPax

>>> Asay waited for him at the very top of the stands that surrounded the field. >>> Stu made the climb up. >>> Stu’s hands landed lightly on Asay’s shoulders. He could feel the enchantments on the coat, subtle but strong. >>> There was no wall up here. Stu could see all the way to the edge of the forest. >>> Stu shoved Hn’tyon Asay-tor over the bench. He shrilled as he fell. >>> Asay hit the ground lightly. Stu didn't just shove Asay over a bench. He actually shoved him off the top of the bleachers.

PhoenixPax
>>198754239

Based on the way Asay said it, he forgot Stu existed when it was time to send out the invites for his last spell.

happypotamus, The Bearer of All Bananas

It feels like there's a reasonable chance we get teased more before Alden actually tells. Maybe a multi-chapter Kibby interlude next? I'm not sure I can appreciate Alden's revelation while I'm wondering about what zany adventures Kibby and Kraaaa have been having.

CentaureHeart

That one was heavy! Thanks :)

CentaureHeart
>>198747223

I would hope he left Arjun a note. Because yeah otherwise that's going to be quite a blow.

Frozen

I feel like I should put a timer on my phone counting down to the next chapter on Thursday, but, if Sleyca at any point feels confidence in the next scene, they should post right away and not worry about waiting for the agreed up on time.

Gaffer

Asay is Stu’s parallel to Boe telling Alden to not out himself - giving advice, yes, but really projecting their own fears onto their friend’s situation.

Tifer

It's happening!

puppy0cam

Alden has prepared many presents for Christmas to give Stu. among them is a ball of clay with a piece of Stu's foot buried inside.

Casey
>>198762823

Or... Alden keeps it forever and at a critical moment freezes Stu from far away to save him from a death blow.

puppy0cam

As they say, the only way for 2 people to keep a secret is if one of them is dead. Stu has a reputation for being bad at lying. Hopefully he can keep his mouth shut for this one thing.

Andrew Simpson

Jesus h Christ it's finally happening

puppy0cam

Chapter 208 (Normal Teenager Matters): > He’s so damn fucking impossible to live up to. If he somehow manages to find another person just like him in the hero program and they hit it off, they will lead each other straight into early graves.

Dominik H

Thanks for the chapter! Is there like a super patron to get the next chapter as soon as it is in your head or something? I need it

Topher

"Stu, lets say a human avowed gains magic. What would be the proper way to declare their intention to be a hn'tyon?"

Guus van der Borg

Warning, lots of rambling incoming: This chapter made me wonder something. Because I see something happening in this story that is very interesting to me from a writing standpoint. Alden is obviously thinking he won't be returning to Anesidora anytime soon, and yet, there were quite a few 'plotlines' left there that Sleyca was obviously putting some effort into, and a few things which she has claimed that she still wanted to write about. Just to name a few in no particular order: Olive's inferiority complex, the gym maintenance, Zeridee-und and the new ambassador, Odin's Revenge, whatever's going to happen with Joe, Gorgon. Now I'm wondering if Alden is just plain wrong, and if he'll be returning to Anesidora soon. But I'm also thinking that it's kind of a brilliant meta thing to show all the things that Alden decided to leave behind. (Frustrating as severed plotlines might be to readers invested in them...) It really shows the impact of the decision. So this leaves me with a few thoughts. The most interesting ones to talk about probably being: 1. If Alden really 'severs' the Anesidoran plotlines to build a new life as a knight at the Rapports, I think it's really time to retire the 'slice of life' descriptor for this story. This completely and utterly removes the story from the 'everyday life' type of story and, in fact, absolutely tanks that part of it and, in all honesty, probably alienates the people that were reading this story for those parts. (I, for one, would be pretty disappointed if it happened. If Alden now builds up a new life in the Rapports with, presumably, his new squad and builds up a new 'slice-of-life' style of story I will care less about it because I now know that the author is completely willing and able to get rid of it all and not give it any satisfying payoff.) 2. I didn't think it worth entertaining a thought before, but now I think it might juuuuust be possible enough to merit mentioning. This chapter once again felt the need to show us how incredibly frustrating life is for Stu at the Rapport. At this point I think there's a chance (not a big one mind) that Stu, out of sheer frustration and a little bit of spite, is going to flip the script on Alden. That Stu will get so frustrated with his fellow artonans that when Alden tells him about his knighthood, he'll gain the confidence needed to affix, and then decide to spend the recuperating period on Anesidora with Alden. (Or not even affix just yet, but decide that his buddy needs help with his knighthood away from the Rapport where people might not react well.) This will keep all the Anesidoran plotlines going, but still shake things up well enough to be very interesting. (I don't think it's the most likely thing to happen at this point. But I do think it's an interesting idea that is actually possible enough at this point to merit a mention.)

PatienceHoney
>>198765456

I'm imagining this Patreons content. A picture of a sheet of paper with random notes on it. And we, like Alden, will stare at a beverage stain for minutes wondering about its meaning in the upcoming chapter.

PatienceHoney
>>198759794

Umm... Hey @happypotamus, I think you may have stayed on that stairmaster too long - you are sounding a little touched in the head... Please come quietly so that we can get you the help you need...

Martin Banks

The suspense is killing me this moment has been building for so long I hope this goes well though I suspect there will be a few bumps

Norrim

I'm so excited!

puppy0cam
>>198767223

I've also considered the idea of Stu running away to Anesidora by way of having Alden preserve him while teleporting back. I'm not sure if Stu has the appropriate permissions right now to be on Anesidora (alas, Sleyca retracted the textual evidence when she killed off Yookee). But if Stu affixes first, then the problem of permissions becomes significantly simpler and Alden's role becomes closer to just carrying Stu to make the teleport painless for him.

Gorane

It will be New Years Eve in a few days in universe. If the telling stu goes well, maybe stu will eant to visit earth and they can spend time together. I am sure there is a lot of symbolism here, ie stu is now visiting a knight with no support to support them, mirroring what Alden has been doing. Also it would symbolise that the small power dynamic has changed between them, ie they are even more equals

Marcia McGinley

I've been rereading to use up time until Thursday and I found this: “It is a problem, then? Like…legally?” “It’s not illegal for you to have it. Or use it. Or learn magic. It would deeply gratify some to know you are pursuing your course. And it would mortally terrify others. It’s not something you should reveal lightly if you want to enjoy book clubs and live on Earth for a while longer.” A while longer. “You don’t think I can keep it a secret?” “Not for your entire life,” she said. “And even in the short-term you would benefit from assistance.

Marcia McGinley
>>198773541

Which would explain why Mother was so helpful if she thinks Stu can provide assistance. And it can only be a partial reveal because in the same chapter Mother explains that knights need a single, powerful ability, and Alden can't talk about meeting that requirement until Joe lets him off the hook. Stu might even more appalled to discover that Alden is a wizard who has affixed to what he regards as a substandard skill. All the pain but none of the power. It's going to be interesting.

Catherine

I've been rereading like some of the others here to pass the time until Thursday and it occurred to me that trying to work out which skill Alden has would be a good way for Stu to distract himself after first binding. He enjoys researching skills for Alden to use so if Alden can clue him in that he already has an 'odd' skill then Stu can have fun trying to discover what it is.

Aspiring Moth
>>198732418

an authority bump after straight after affixing would feel like being stabbed in the eyeball

Frank

I’ve been holding off on reading since the start of snow and I came back right at a cliffhanger that’s been built up for over a year.

denatured

Asay-tor saying it's too dangerous for "someone like you" contains layers of awfulness. He means "specifically, you," but tries to soften it by making it less pointed. But honestly, who else is like Stu? So he is minimizing Stu's uniqueness *and* othering him at the same time that he's talking down to him. 0/10, diploma ablated, go back to school.

J Reynolds
>>198773915

That is a super good idea! Alden should say (or get Mother to say since he won't be able to) just that. Alden was exited. "Finding out what my skill is will be a research project that will tax you to the utmost. It's a perfect task for you while you recover from affixation!" Stuart looked serious. "Your skill is Bearer of All Burdens, isn't it?" "D'oh!"

suo

I love your work. Can't wait for the next chapter!

maledei

My poor baby Stu. But Alden will be there, arriving right when he needs to, just like Stu called right after Alden had the call with Connie. It's like Poetry, sort of. They Rhyme. (Insert George Lucas meme here) One issue I forsee is, Stu is probably going to get punished for his attack on his former friend. The 'rents will have another tool in their box against him to get him to back off - see you're too unstable, how can you be a knight with that temper, etc...

J Reynolds
>>198759815

"There's that word again. 'Heavy.' Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?"

J Reynolds

My hypothesis is that the Boe storyline is about to get a big advance. Stu knows that he can't keep a secret. Boe has a secret he'd like to share with Alden. Sounds like it's time for some secrecy contracts! Stu-Alden and Alden-Boe. I'm sure Stu knows how to make a secrecy contract. Or can figure out how to do them quickly. Road trip to Chicago incoming!

Steffen

Alden, I know you're really busy with life-altering events, but could you quickly teleport over and freeze me until Thursday? Thanks!

Markus
>>198784380

I really hope this wont go the secrecy contract route. I feel like that would break something both in universe but also for us the readers. For Alden an Stu there has never been any contracts. Remember that Stu has gone out of his way to make sure Alden is not bound by one to keep Stus secrets. Even though that is what "should" have happened. Alden dont even have a contract about Matadero. For us readers so much time has been spent on this decision. Simply hiding it beind a secrecy contract feels like backtracking simply to continue status quo.

Ian T Hathaway

Sleyca. Fuck. You can't leave me like this, oh my god.

JJ Hunter
>>198779252

It also has connotes of proactively rejecting working with Stu as a knight even if Stu does survive his first affixation. To go through that door and endure the trial of self-forging only to find continued rejection on the other side? What a grim and heart-crushing prospect; he!: basically saying no one will support you on this path if you persist, because we all think we know better than you what kind of life you're 'really' suited for.

Jared

I wonder if there is a program on Anesidora that will hold on to and distribute letters like Alden’s for you if you go missing for “x” amount of time. Seems like something that would be popular and preferable to just hiding stuff and hoping people know they can go rifling through your things if you disappear for a bit.

Tarry Higgins

When Asay-tor sees Stu, he sees the more fragile, younger version, not who Stu is today. All the other Artonan's who knew Stu still see that younger person, not who he has grown into. People grow up, it's hard to see that when you are close to them. When Alden sees Stu, he sees who Stu is, not who he was. That's the big difference in viewpoints here. Of course Alden never knew the older (younger) version of Stu, only the current version.

Insomniac
>>198801866

It's ironic because that's how Alden was seen much of his life as well. The poor kid from the Body Drainer incident. Not the person he had become. It's incredible how alike these two really are.

Swinter

I'm always annoyed when Alden interacts with Mother or the Earth system. Is it painful for him to be a bit polite to the god-like entities? xD This time it's understandable at least. What with him being nervous as hell. But that doesn't excuse all the other times he interacts with them.

Sam
>>198807719

... do you say please when you type something into google? The systems are artifical. There has never been an indication that they think like people do. In fact it would probably be quite detrimental to their job if they did.

John Koor

Soon Alden will discover that he's not the first human wizard, and that several others who disappeared while summoned have not returned to earth for that very reason. I always found it strange that so little effort was put into finding the lady that rescued him as a child.

Aspiring Moth
>>198772054

I want this to happen, but I mainly want to to see completely mundane scenes like Stuart playing Mario kart with people from the lodge. Kon is invited too

Aspiring Moth

I'd just like to note that Victor being on anesidora means that Boe doesn't have any easy method to smuggle himself to anesidora after reading Alden's new years letter

PatienceHoney
>>198800441

It might not be THE system for it, but I kind of expected him to use Leo for this. Ask him to hold the letters if he didn't communicate with him for X number of days.

glow
>>198815530

I assume he is the first human with the ability to use magic. Way back when Alden had his big chat with Mother after Thegund she told him hes so far ahead of a group of people they're not even in the race

DAK
>>198754336

Of course, once one of those chapters was something like: “It hurt a lot”.

Deadly Grape

I wonder how long it takes Lute to find those letters. I wonder if he even waits more than a few hours after he wakes up.

ImNotHere

each new reading is harder on Stu: [“Is he well?” Stu asked. “I thought he’d call me for his last spell. I was sure he’d call before he went into the woods, at least. I even thought he might write a letter asking me to keep vigil for him that night.” Instead, Stu had heard about Asay completing his first binding from others. Quinyeth fidgeted. “He’s doing very well. A little sad, but not too much. Everyone has faith in him.”] Quinyeth fidgets because she knew that Stu was not invited and probably actively (she might have bring him in the convo just to be shut down) And she adds [Everyone has faith in him], to Stu who is facing a wall of 'no', it stings. And then poster boy goes [frOm THIs sIdE, HavINg BEEn bOUND And Being bOuNd], eyes down most green one, you've affixed a couple of days ago and know nothing The only better thing is realizing that Stu pushed him before he finishes [“A wha—?”]

Traytray

Do you want this reveal beginning and ending as a simple heart to heart and Alden goes back home with Stu keeping his secret? Or do you want something crazy to happen and blow up his life? Intensity 4 or Intensity 99? Personally I am hoping for something on the lower end like Intensity 15 since Alden is still so young and needs time to get stronger. But the foreshadowing in those goodbye letters is scaring me!

The Icarus Collective
>>198835599

Intensity 75, Alden is cleared to return to Earth and continue with his education there, for the time being, supplemented with intensive magical education and hn'tyon oath preparation at Rapport I. Most of Alden's cats are fully out of the bag, to the entire art'h siblinghold and his CNH instructors at absolute minimum, and very possibly many of those cats also out of the bag to the general public. Actual full knighthood still months or years away, yet still definitely on the way, with the art'hs doing their best to help manage and navigate it all in as smooth a way as possible under these circumstances.

Eva

From after that meeting with Arjun "Alden Thorn hit the floor and lay there. He was thinking. Accepting. Being dead, like so many others before him, in an arena that was utterly silent and full of snow." This one hits harder now, somehow. Or I can place it better.

GryphonKnight

I predict a huge spike in Patreon memberships when this chapter goes live on Royal Road

puppy0cam
>>198839750

Yeah, this is the biggest cliffhanger we've had in quite a bit of time.

GryphonKnight

> He refused to let a single tear fall on the way back home. This hit hard

Dervish
>>198744850

I think the time for Alden to arrive was noon Rapport time - dawn on Anesidora. Impatient, Alden has arrived at least a couple of hours early, but still during the Artonan morning. Fortunately, Lute (at least; probably several others) knew Alden was going to Artona, even if he might have been acting oddly (in retrospect?).

DAK

I don’t like how long it took to get here, but I love the emotional clarity that Alden has finally come to. It feels right. He’s not going to get sidetracked, he knows what has to be said/done/revealed, and it is as if it is fated and written in the soon-to-be-present. It is inevitable enough that he didn’t even have to really tell Mother what’s happening. She knows. The Universe knows. Soon Stu will know. But Kibby already knew, and that is why she is truly the MC.

Lyssur

Asay-tor is showing some bad signs. He bound himself- he refuses to regret it, and tells everyone he's fine, but his actions don't speak the same. He thinks he's saying- I am seeing clearer than ever before, and will tell you from the perspective of one who just bound himself that you will suffer more than you can handle, so am reaching out. He's saying- I'm suffering more than I can handle and trying to do at least one good thing because I can't think about whether I can survive this. He's pulling away from Quinyeth, his closest companion, to the point she imbedded something that sounds like a slave chip into her face- it causes pain?!- to try to convince him to stop. He's acting independently from other new knights, who are deciding to not meddle with non-knights. He tells Stu that if someone like him is struggling so much, Stu would drown- a clear projection. It's an indirect cry for help. Maybe Rel-arth might see something and reach out, if they truly are close as mentor and student. But I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Asay-tor makes the final sacrifice sometime in the future, and maybe Quinyeth becomes a knight in his honor.

Lyssur

Looking forward to Alden telling Stu about his wizardry, and being more honest and able to support him in his knighthood! It will be so good for their friendship! Am seriously doubting that Alden's potential knighthood will be revealed, though am willing to be pleasantly surprised!

DAK

Alden will be at existential peace. Not yet needing re-affixation, but maybe now is the time. Stu will have thoughts, but his father said “go when you know it’s time”. I imagine this will be it. So is it combo affixation/esvulgivnas? If so, is it like the shotgun version? Just 12 hours to notify a few friends, or not even that? What about the Chekov’s Bone Chunk? It feels like it and the potential link to the Universe’s only known Miracle Broker doom Stu’s first attempt to utter disaster. Maybe it’s just the Red Herring Bone, but it’s making me nervous…

Clint
>>198845193

One crazy possibility for the bone chunk: Alden eats it. And then consumes a bunch of Stu’s authority, using it to cure Stu of his hallucinations. As a bonus, this could reduce Stu’s authority to a level where he abs Alden can esvulgivna each other without Stu’s authority swamping Alden’s.

Alex Scriber

Several commenters have floated the idea of Stu running away to Earth. Presumably he’d want to join Alden’s classes, at least the gym part. I imagine that if Calibri could conceive of something like that happening, the thought of all the resources the Artonans would invest into the school for Stu’s sake would keep her up all night with incandescent glee. If, you know, they don’t just threaten to cut off all funding unless the school forcibly “returns” Stu.

Casey
>>198855135

Forcing Stuart to return might piss off the Primary... Also, I am curious to see if the Earth System gets a separate Rapport... Earth System may be rooting for Alden the most...

Julien

Hello it is the 8th for me please don't forget to publish the chapter, thanks :D

Zelosh

Stuart was SO close to figuring out the tattoo issue a few chapters ago, so it really seems like this will all coincide all at once. Asay's timing could not be more perfect to be one upped by a human who also is on the other side and is going to tell Stuart "Yes". I'm going to die waiting for this next chapter, but I get the feeling it will be hard to write so I will try to be patient. Utterly brutal cliffhanger.

Julien
>>198752204

Except a small 5 chapters interlude about Kibby having fun at a Here to Here :p

Bob Smith

Stuart's family is right about him.

PhoenixPax
>>198827384

That would require it to be normal for Lute to snoop in his roommates' closets.

puppy0cam

Chapter 252 (A Sharp Break): > “The obscuration of origins prevents several types of abuse,” Lind said. “And the self is more private than a skeleton. I seem to remember you voting on many occasions to limit summoner access to exactly the sort of information you want now.” > “Yes, but I want to pry into him for the right reasons.” He pressed a knuckle to his lips while he stared at the material displayed in front of him. “This is awful. I don’t have time to go through all of the horrific possibilities. I might ask Mother.” > “That’s too much. Let him grow his current abilities normally.” > “But what if they’re poorly designed or depressing?” > “He can still make something of his own out of them. And you said you liked it.” > “I did like it! He used it to deliver an und’h to me. And hot and cold food. But what if he has been bound for the rest of his existence to a half-considered graduation project created by someone from a bad school?”

Matt DiMeo

Stu’s response to this is gonna be so Stu. Like the Stu-est he’s ever been.

Clint
>>198757947

I like the parallel — Alden refusing a secrecy tattoo because he trusts Stu, just like Stu and Esh both refused to require a secrecy tattoo from Alden.

Baumlaus

So... i always get tuesday and thursday confused. And despite having looked it up a dozen times, i keep hoping that Thursday is "Dienstag". T-T

JJ Hunter

Every now and then I remember that all the way back at Alden and Stu's *first meeting post-Thegund*, Stu felt so connected to and encouraged by Alden during that surprise hangout that by the end of it he decided he'd rather invite *Alden* to be his (sole?) witness and companion to celebrating last spells with him than attempt to reach out to his former Rapports I friends and be rejected yet again, or invite his shallow LeafSong companions and endure the sting of their discomfort and disregard for the serious path he's committing himself too. 131: “I was hoping to show you what I want my skill to be. And I wanted to explain to you that I will use it to make a universe where there are fewer places like the one you survived on Thegund. I hoped you’d be…not grateful to me…<> by the knowledge that I’ll dedicate my life to this path. And I hoped you would think my skill was cool. I thought it would be encouraging to know you a little better and tell you about myself before first binding. It has been more than encouraging.”

JJ Hunter
>>198862599

Stu's father is right about him? Stu's other caregivers are right about him? Emban is right about him? Evul? Stu's family has more diverse opinions about Stu than may be apparent to Rapports I gossip.

Aspiring Moth

we're probably going to get the next chapter from Alden's pov because of narrative tension, but I would love to read it from Stuart pov

Saaski
>>198783250

Thing is, I don’t think that they can actually stop him. They would need a way to block the mother from reaching him, and given that the Primary has given his blessing, I don’t think She will be inclined to refuse Stu on the behalf of everyone else.

Chainer
>>198879272

Not sure how dien came from tyr but thur = thor ~ thunder = donner is hopefully easy to remember

Kim Enteiu

Today is Tuesday, January 6th, 2026. For breakfast I had watermelon, roasted hazelnuts, a cheeseburger, a hotdog, a salad, and a mandarin orange. Still no soup in sight. I can be as patient as a stone for two more days.

MWF

Eep. I genuinely don't know which way Stu is going to jump. On the one hand, we all agree Alden is an awesome wizard rabbit and Stu should be suitably impressed. On the other hand, this is a guy whose friends and family are systematically trying to discourage him from achieving his dream and he's under a lot of stress from those strained relationships. Finding out his best friend was hiding a pretty monumental secret with enormous personal import to him is uh...probably going to stir up some feelings. And to quoth the oddly resonant Disney quote: people make bad choices when they're mad or scared or stressed.

Julien

Next chapter need to be about Jeremy and Boe’s interactions in Chicago please, an entire arc if possible

J Reynolds

Survey time! Upvote the scenario you think will happen.

J Reynolds
>>198909956

Alden decides to not tell Stu anything. Status quo is maintained. (Included for completeness. I think that the chances of this happening are 0%)

Jazehiah

Stu, the person who refused to let people heal his leg in a timely manner so he could better contemplate pain and stuff, fails to grasp why someone might get a devotion chip.

PatienceHoney
>>198905040

But he did warn Stu in Chapter 258, The Lucky 57 *** “There are some choices I have to make before I know what friendship oaths I could swear to you. Is that all right?” Stuart had taken a seat in the chair beside him. “What kinds of choices? And of course we don’t have to rush. We shouldn’t. I’m enjoying learning about you.” “I’m not even brave enough or honest enough to tell you what the choices are,” Alden said. “I’m sorry…I’m enjoying learning about you, too.” Stuart laughed. Quite merrily. Alden frowned. That’s not the right response. My stomach is in knots from admitting this much. Stuart met his bafflement without an ounce of concern or distrust on his face. “Then it must not be something you need to share.” Alden blinked. “I’m sure there are some things you might like to know that I haven’t told you yet.” “I’d like to know many things about many people,” Stuart replied. “If it’s something I need to know, I believe you will tell me.” “Don’t believe a thing like that just because! I want to be the best friend you’ve ever had, but I just admitted aloud that I’m not as brave and honest as you. I have secrets.” Stuart’s smile faded. He was serious now. Yes, that’s right, Alden thought nervously. I’m trying to tell you I’m hiding things that aren’t minor. And whatever you’re imagining…it isn’t big enough. “I want to be the best friend you’ve ever had, too,” Stuart said solemnly. He started patting the study journal in a satisfied way, like he was ever so pleased with it. “You’ve either positioned my character too high or your own too low if you don’t think your bravery and honesty are enough for me.” *** So, I think Stu will be fine with the secret and now that he is coming to understand the issues between Artonen and Earth on a personal level, I think he will be properly discreet.

Jazehiah
>>198886729

What about Kibby's perspective? Alis-art'h: Kivb-ee, is there something you need to tell me?

its_raven!

patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue patience is a virtue

Soupport
>>198912773

> “Why? Nobody does that anymore. Doesn’t it hurt?” > “For Asay to see…but he told me to have it removed.” If she told him that it was for her own education, her own contemplation and self-improvement, I think he would have agreed with the sentiment and encouraged it, if not this particular way of going about it. But doing this as a sign of her devotion, where, if Asay shares Stu's assessment, the real issue is her age, might seem to be a hasty and misguided decision. But it's one that he doesn't argue with or discourage her from, further than asking. Maybe because he knows that he doesn't know her well enough to judge. *Ahem.* Asay. 😅

Jason Harpster

Pity stu's fam is lame....even on the other side.

Npf

I wonder what the next chapter will actually focus on, out of the many questions we have. Any thoughts? For example, it could mostly be about Stu's emotional reaction, or the question of how much of a secret this can or should be, or Alden's future (i.e. knighthood or not or when), or their respective affixations, or Alden's hopeful wizard training, or the possibility of an authority bond, or the Artonan politics with humans/Avowed, or the history of Avowed with authority senses, or...

Lyssur
>>198938032

Before it can focus on any reactions, it has to focus on the telling- what Alden chooses to say, and how. Where, even. If he shows anything. I have a feeling it will not be a short contained scene.

JJ Hunter

Doing a reread, and am feeling whalloped all over again by Jeremy's insights in 238: “'This is cool,' said Jeremy. 'How is this not cool?' 'You don’t know everything that’s going on with him,' Boe muttered. 'I’m sure he tells you things he doesn’t tell me. But I think you’re worrying so much about what could happen to him that you can’t be happy when he shows signs of moving away from that…I think it was like a *desperate survivor* headspace he was in when he got back. It’s natural. He almost died. But it must be so hard to live in that mode. I hope he appreciates not dying by doing more stuff like what you wrote here. I hope he figures out who he wants to be now, and life lets him have it.'”

JJ Hunter
>>198943978

I think it would do SO MUCH for Alden to come visit Boe in person so Boe can feel for himself how much better Alden is doing. It has to be utterly freaking Boe out not to have that assurance after so many years entwined in Alden's feelings as inseparable best friends.

JJ Hunter

Speaking of gems from rereading, I just realized one of Stu's roommates was the one who used to be tucked in by an ewtwee Ryeh-b’t every night. Last update on that situation was in 239: “'She obviously thinks you’ve been influenced by LeafSong. I’m your strong-looking, Artonan-speaking decorative guardperson. And every night, a ewtwee comes to freshen your pillows and tuck you into bed.' 'Bayab-oth received admonishment for lack of study in our toolless casting class, so his family no longer sends the ewtwee Ryeh-b’t to <> him like that,' Stuart said. 'Now we must endure his << sullenness >> during what should be the most restful part of our day.'"

Jason Harpster

Who is this Quiet Rabbit, and how dare they take my teleport slot!!!! -V

Matt DiMeo

Boy, I’m glad I signed up for secret double patreon so I know what happens next.

Matt DiMeo
>>198968324

Also, everyone who’s rereading to pass the time, go reread the aimi velra kidnapping scene. I forgot how funny it was.

Npf

How will Alden tell Stu? Wrong answers only

Npf
>>198977165

Gets Hoayu to mental text it to Stu ( involves Haoyu finding out too)

puppy0cam

This meta knowledge is pissing me off. I'm the original Starwalker

Catherine

I have never been so anxious for Thursday to arrive. Well more likely Friday morning for me. But I keep checking the day on my phone even though I know it hasn't changed!

Elle
>>198986084

Have you ever tried walking on a star? It hurts. The gravity really pulls you down. At least it's warm though.

zero

Are we there yet?

Deadly Grape
>>198761094

I've been thinking about your comment for 2 days now. It is hands-down the best comment/argument/creative reply that follows this chapter.

Rodmin

It's crazy how full of afrenaline and anxiety I feel for days already because of this moment in a story. I can't wait to read it all happen! 🥹

Matt DiMeo

“Hey Stu, based on what I just told you, should I anticipate ‘endless misery’ in the future?” “Yes….” “Stay right here while I record a video message to your dad.”

AFK37115

I was imagining a crossover, what would happen if the artonans found the dc dimension and tried to gather world leaders (including justice league or they will notice and come save the world leaders) to greet them and offer them the contract and the drama that will happens, two human worlds vastly different yet alike, new aliens, new magic and powers, I was imagining an avowed explaining the abbreviated history since the contract to batman and others, to just realize that "argold" is "artonan gold", it is so obvious but I never thought about it. anyway, amusing imagery, clash of power systems aside.

Tarry Higgins

It’s Thursday 00:00 and no soup! Yet. Perhaps if I wait just one more minute soup will appear…..

Bob Smith

Is argold like magic bitcoin, just fiat or do they have vaults full of gold somewhere?

puppy0cam
>>199071864

It's probably an unbacked fiat. the idea of moving items of physical value across dimensions just to ensure you can cash out sounds like a pain in the ass.

Andrew Tobin

tfw you remember your Thursday isn't Sleyca's Thursday. In my defence, it would be Thursday on Anesidoria (or are they on the other side of the 24 hr timezone? I'll have to go back to the post that said where it is at)

Andrew Tobin
>>199044497

I should have read and appreciated your entire post, but all I got was nananananananananananananananana bat-gold.

David

I know you promised us the chapter on Thursday, but I think I speak for everyone here when I say that if it’s ready, we won’t be disappointed if you release it early

PatienceHoney
>>199079606

Anesidora is at Point Nemo located in PST zone or -8 UTC. Sleyca tries to post before midnight PST... so about 26 hours [not 14 like originally posted] from the time of this post... whatever time that is for you... [My sleepy brain said a day was 12 hours long... and in my need for Soup, I was like "Yeah! That sounds amazing - and absolutely correct"]

Julien

I drank juice this morning, it made me think of weevi, and about how Alden and Stu will have a level headed discussion around some of it in the next chapter. This is speculation though, since the chapter has not released yet. If you release it now you can refute my statement Sleyca I won't mind.

Julien
>>199082919

It's been the 8th for almost 8h for me but no chappies yet, I don't know how to process that. I'm obsessively drinking juice and try to convince myself it is weevi. I'm okay. I'm okay.

The Icarus Collective

General Content Advisory Link for the authors of this comment: https://glowfic.com/users/2759 Our current reread reached Ch. 205, "Herdcreatures III", tonight. This quote seems relevant: *** On top of that, Stuart had been saying some things before Noh-en’s arrival had interrupted him that Alden was going to need to approach with a clear head. /What if there really is a path for me that’s just easier than everything I’m scared of? One where shitty summons don’t happen. One where I never run out of refusals because I get mostly normal jobs./ /A path where keeping my head down and being a quiet Rabbit, doing a better job of it than I have been...works./ It felt like a distant possibility without Stuart standing in front of him saying some version of, “Literally, you dumb human, you’re going to have to beg summoners to let you do anything more dangerous than wielding a butter knife from now on.” /What he said made sense. It just doesn’t feel real./ He wondered if he should ask Yenu-pezth to spend some time during his upcoming inward path session focusing on his inability to shake the gnawing sense of doom that had only gotten worse after the Submerger crisis. He blinked down at his bag of dehydrated fish. “One thing at a time,” he told himself. *** Notably, Alden could only conceive of a path other than "Quiet Rabbit" once he'd both begun visiting the inward path with Yenu-pezth, *and* Stu forcefully confronted him with the idea that he could in fact have that future, after all. Since then, he's spent, what, a few short weeks at most considering and then, briefly, exploring that possibility for himself? @Terrestrial Biped, help us out here?* He's reached closure about that dream really impressively quickly! Well done, Alden! Now to finish rereading that chapter... * We can be addressed as "@Collective".

Aspiring Moth

the normal schedule is Sunday Wednesday, but that ends up being Monday Thursday in my timezone. I didn't even register that when Sleyca said Thursday it would be Friday for me, so I've been counting down to now only to realise there's a day to go still. its so over

Baumlaus
>>199090808

Jup. For me it is mostly Monday and Friday Morning. Right, when inhave to go to work. I see the notifocation and have to let it sit there till breaktime. ToT

deez

I don't know if anyone else has already brought this up or I'm reading into it too much, but I think there's (slight) foreshadowing on what's going to happen now that Alden has stepped through that door. Before he leaves his apartment to head to Rapport I: "He stepped through and pulled the door behind him. Alden left it slightly cracked, in case Victor wanted to get into his room, but it felt like he closed it with a slam. He allowed himself to imagine all the others that must be slamming with it." Alden has completed his choosing season and made his decision (symbolized by him stepping into the room & closing the door behind him). And although Alden *feels* like he's slamming the door closed behind him by making this choice (leaving his life on Earth behind), the door is actually still slightly open. Alden will have the chance to come back to Anesidora. While we can only speculate as to what his non-Intensity level 4 life will look like, I think we can be certain his choice will not remove him entirely from the relationships he has built on island. I predict that Alden will get Knight school but will continue to go to CNH just with (some) people now knowing that the art'h family are personally supporting his education. I can't wait for this next chapter to come out

CB
>>199093913

I think your interpretion is spot on! Alden can come back to Anesidora and maybe even attending CNH, but definitively not as an unassuming low intensity pupil.

JJ Hunter

For the eager Soup-seekers, have some poetry of our own world while we wait for the near perfection of this last day of simmering: https://350.org/rise-from-one-island-to-another/ I wonder what Artonan audiences would make of it - would they also think it was very good stuff?

Genoshock

is there a scheduled time or area of the day the chapters come out? Also what is your timezone so I can calculate and control my hype?

Clint
>>199100701

If you’re in the western hemisphere, you should assume that a “Thursday” release means soup for breakfast… on Friday.

Clint
>>199036088

It’s disturbing how long I spent staring at “afrenaline” and trying to work out if it was a deliberate portmanteau of friend and adrenaline.

Vitor Bosshard

To pass the time, let's make up reasons why everyone already knowns about Alden, and we're in for the most anticlimatic "reveal" ever. I've already made the case for Esh-Erdi and Alis-Art'h in previous comments. Here's some more: - healer Yenu She has surely helped many knights. Some of Alden's behavior, while seemingly unique from his PoV, is stereotypical post-affixation angst from her PoV, standing out like a sore thumb. - the informant He has his own code of ethics about gifting privacy to the people he ~~creeps on~~ thoughtfully observes, but that doesn't apply to himself. Alden just used his authority publicly and at full power. Same as Yenu above, for someone who has observed hundreds of wizards and knights over the years, Alden could unknowingly be behaving in a way that just _screams_ magic use. We know the informant is on the hunt for magic, so he will be looking for this kind of thing, especially when it comes to a teenager who is spending suspiciously much time off-planet. Yes, matadero itself is outside the reach of infogear, but random wizards might well be commenting in public about Alden's frequent, non-summon teleports to Artona. Then there's fragments of info being spread by Alden's roommates. Finally, there's very public evidence like the here-to-there (random Anesidorans might fall for "art project", but the informant presumably knows what a real ritual looks like). In the real world Wal-Mart can figure out a woman is pregnant based on her shopping behavior. Yes, really! So surely a magical AI will be able to do something similar in-story. - Stuart He is playing five-dimensional self-deception chess with himself, to avoid his perceived duty to inform his dad or other knights. He has trained for this his entire childhood. Deep down, he knows. - The Palace of Unbreaking, and by extension Lute The comment about what a worthy friend he made weren't about the commendation at all. Actually, Gorgon is a member of the Palace, and the Palace's reaction was about Lute befriending Gorgon's successor. Even if none of that is true, the palace might find out about Alden's authority through magic shenanigans involving the opposite stone. Think about it. Mass surveillance on wordchains isn't superficial magic. It goes deep into a person's essence, their debt, their very spot in reality. It isn't innocent either. The opposite stones are tools of oppression. - the Artonans behind Gorgon's imprisonment Ok, let's say Gorgon is not with the Palace. But maybe he isn't as good at working around his bindings as he thinks. Somewhere on the triplanets, his behavior triggered a giant spotlight on an otherwise uninteresting teenage awoved. - Joe One of the few people who is confirmed to have at least half the puzzle pieces. But let's dig further into his motives. He must know what following his advice leads to. Yes, the chaos helped, but maybe delaying affixation on its own is enough to awaken your authority sense, and Joe knows this. He could have been secretly working towards exalting humans to equal status with Artonans from the very beginning. - Gwen-lor (Kibby's teacher) We never got confirmation how exaclty Kibby got her Auriad replaced. Sure, there was a "plan" that a reckless child came up with, but it's way more likely that she was caught and the adults handled the situation discreetly. Seriously, do you expect that in a world where 20% are wizards, no-one will notice a fake auriad in a museum? - Drusi-Otta (Esh and Lind's votary) Was invisibly present in the gym, doing bodyguard / spy stuff. Anyone else I'm missing?

zetorian
>>199109204

Olorn-Art'h: Stuarts mom and the one who made his earing. She's an incredibly well respected crafter and enchanter and was all up in Alden's business when she made the earing. Not that that garuntees she'd know, but I bet she had sufficient opportunity to check if she'd chosen too.

PhoenixPax
>>199098969

I wonder what Earthlings would think of it in this world where all of Earth is a minor "resource" world.

its_raven!

the more time that passes, the more i’m convinced next chapter about to be an interlude

Faultedbeing
>>199115993

I can already see it, there will be time he spends alone since he is early, then time spent dealing with Stuart’s mental state due to the betrayal he just suffered, and only then will we get to his admission. I fear the first two things take up the entire chapter

SnuggleCat

Let me just put my body on automatic and time skip my mind to when the chapter releases, thanks

MeYouIt

Oh my fucking god. I feel like we stopped right after Alden jumped off a cliff. Not even a cliff-hanger, more like a cliff-fall ✋️😫🤚

JJ Hunter

Next chapter predictions, in haiku or otherwise? Alden bolsters Stu Stu celebrates Alden's choice Next: cottage of oaths?

Chainer
>>199135401

Not sure I've tried to make one of these since primary school nor do I believe this will happen but: Overconfident A burden of enchantment Wasted ten thousand

JJ Hunter
>>199127466

I bet Alden finds the wind lifting him to the sky where he feared plummeting to his doom. Like paragliding, the moment of running for it and rising.

General

Aight, imma take my meds and sleep. Healthier than waiting for 2-3 hours and reading THE climax half-asleep

Terrestrial_Biped
>>198764982

That’s what secrecy contracts are actually good for: Making sure you don’t *accidentally* ruin your friend’s life.

Nedardo

Alden asked Mother out loud for a favor, while in an apartment with a nosy roommate who has super-hearing.

Joel Wells

After reading the chapter multiple times and anticipating when Alden’s abilities are revealed, a few fun thoughts popped into my head. If Alden does become a Knight, how will this reflect on Joe… Will this improve his sentence as him sending Alden to the moon led to the emergent of another Knight? Or maybe possible worsen it. One of the funnier scenario I’ve thought of is Joe being forced to teach magic to Alden as penance. Joe will never escape from being associated with Alden.

Kooikerhondjelover
>>199153461

Well, Ro-den will have to adopt Al-den, won’t he? By the way, was it not mentioned that all of Rodens contracts with his students were made obsolete after he lost his distinguished title? Why not Aldens contract?

PatienceHoney

I was just rereading Chapter 251, The Second Blossom and I thought this section was particularly poignant and may give a sense to how Stu will receive Alden's news. *** The answer to the question, ‘What will I do?,’ could only be the woman’s answer. The storehouse had begun to burn while she watched over children who would need the food inside to survive the coming winter. She had already done what she would do. Their oaths were to be found in the witnessing of it. And in the way they came together here to understand what they all valued, what they would protect, and what they could afford to cast aside. Once a woman had wept at her own frailty while she tried to move a heavy bag of grain, never knowing that in this room, so many generations away, some of them would weep with her. *** Alden has spent his abbreviated choosing season coming to understand what he valued, what he would protect, and what he could afford to cast aside. And I feel that Stu will feel similarly to how he felt when speaking to Yaril, "You won’t embarrass yourself. I was thinking about how I wished I could tell you all—the ones hoping to succeed at your first oaths today—how glad we are to have you here."

MooMoo195

I can just imagine Alden giving Suart a pat pat in order to convince him he has authority control

11037

I could have sworn it said release "noonish", but no. That was from the previous chapter. I guess today's likely a late night release then.

Clint

Just got to 84: the French Sauce in my rereading and it’s hitting hard. All of the drama about Boe keeping his power a secret from Alden and what it means for their friendship. So much foreshadowing for /parallel to the conversation Alden and Stu are about to have. “Lying in bed with your wombat plushie and wondering if maybe your best friend doesn’t think you’re his best friend because he’s been keeping a secret from you.”

11037
>>199164380

That sounds nice and wholesome, but that could be a mistake. We've learned that those can potentially echo in a large radius.

Robert Mullins

Should be less than 10 hours until the Hazel interlude arc begins.

Norlum
>>199167744

Please, stop saying that! My poor heart can't take it!

Glitter Rabbit (C)

I am going to do the sane thing now and close Patreon for a few hours.

VP

We are at 666 likes :3 it's evil time

JJ Hunter
>>199171335

Dreams are also an acceptable offering for the wordcahin of soup summoning. May you rest well, and wake refreshed!

Kate Yen

Imagining all the ways Alden could tell Stu yes is fun. If Asay is anything to measure by, the art'h family probably tries not to say that they think Stuart is weak - not directly. Instead they say that the path isn't for him, and he has other duties he's better suited for. But by dancing around it, they say it louder than any words could. When I ran cross country, I often encountered the notion that "failure is not an option." Distance running is something that requires resolve; to win, you must choose winning, despite the pain, over and over until the race is finished. I found that thinking "failure is not an option" made losing inevitable. After all, in a distance race you will lose focus, you will lose resolve, it will hurt badly and you will question why you even want to win in the first place. And if failure isn't an option, you haven't prepared for that kind of doubt. They'll cascade and destroy your resolve. It was, for me, only by expecting doubt to creep in and my resolve to break, that I was able to run my best races. When I expected it, doubt wasn't race ending failure, it was just another hurdle I was prepared for. Alden directly addressing the mind-trap and the risks it poses would probably be better for Stu's confidence. Yes, it will be an obstacle for him to overcome - how could it not be? But Alden believes he is strong enough nonetheless.

Kate Yen
>>199174156

I also think Alden is well-positioned to tell Stu that he deserves to choose his path even if he might be too weak for it. Naturally, Alden himself is in an uncertain position. Affixation is worse than he could have imagined and it still makes him physically ill to think about. But that doesn't mean he regrets his choice. He chose his path for well-considered reasons, and if he fails to endure affixation and steps off that path, that doesn't invalidate those reasons or his choice. Or would the Art'h family say so about Sina-art'h? Did she fail to serve the Triplanets by choosing her rest early? Would she have done her duty *better* on a different path? The things that Stu's family and friends say to him are frankly disgusting from this perspective. It's only acceptable if I assume they are addled by fear for Stu's well-being, and just barely.

JJ Hunter

I hope Stu hears back from Yaril (the outsider Declared he met in 251, 'the Second Blossom') soon, if he hasn't already. Unlike Asay-tor, she directly told him she was planning to bind in the next few days, and asked about sending him a message after. This is the kind of thing Stu was hoping Asay might do, and was hurt when Asay didn't. Building connections among the Declared and newling kinghts from outside the Rapports seems like a much better route for Stu to find a compatible squad than trying to overcome recent bad history with his childhood peers. Stu should get to make his own first impression on his squadmates instead of gossip and rumor getting there before him.

JJ Hunter

Next chapter preview: "'You’re here! How did you get here?' The amount of delight in Stuart’s voice as he dashed across the art’h summonarium toward Alden was ridiculous considering how recently they’d seen each other. It made Alden glad he hadn’t waited until tomorrow morning to come." (252)

PhoenixPax

SOUP! This is not a drill. SOOOOUP!!!!

Memoryofgold

NOOO my timing... I caught up..

Tjai

Holy shit, it’s actually happening

JJ Hunter

On reread, did Alden finally do the loop-de-loop on the nonagon at Connie's urging? That is so indescribably delightful, and I am amazing that Connie's phone was the only item lost.

JJ Hunter
>>201918849

Did you mean to leave the comment on the next chapter? No spoilers on this one please, RR will get access to it when this chapter gets released there.

Yorion
>>202613644

Nah there’s no way Alden looptylooped the galleta with Connie on board. How does the stroopwafel work again? Is it only the driver who gets stuck to the scone or can everyone adhere to the biscuit if they want? RIP Connie’s poptart

Tarry Higgins

On a reread of this... Mother answered directly, to Alden on Earth. Previously Earth conveyed the request and the response. Alden now belongs to Mother, not to Earth any more.