Stellar

I wish to point out that those emails *did* have the year present on them, just that they were dated from when the outbreak ocurred, so it is no more illuminating to Shay about the current date. Your comments are interesting and may prove to be predictive and then again, maybe not! I'm glad you are enjoying it and thank you for reviewing There is so much more to comed.

I am sure many readers had their suspicions, but some of the reactions I received after chapter 11 were interesting, to say the least. To touch on what I said earlier in this very thread, I don't believe the author is obliged in any way to gratify his audience through indulging what they *want* to occur; as much as some may yearn the story to go a certain way, the creative license to build a work of art from the words is his (or hers, to be fair) alone. However .. what was not mentioned above was that I believe this freedom must be tempered by a sense of being true to the spirit of what the author is creating. This is something I didn't talk about earlier, because if anyone had really thought too long, they would have realised that it made exactly zero sense to kill him off. By zero I mean .. exactly that. None at all, zip, nada, niente. This is because it goes against the grain of what is happening and serves no real purpose. A good author does not kill a major character for absolutely no good reason! Minor characters? Sure, they are subject to the whimsy of The Tentacles Just Came Out Of Nowhere! and Oops Was That The Trigger? being thrown at them from whatever angle, but a major cast member is there for the longer haul and has that necessary gravity attached to them that shouldn't be removed without a *reaaaaaallly* fucking good reason .. and in this case there weren't any. Furthermore, not only is this the love interest at the very core of the story along with the protagonist, but there were little signs in the story, in chapter 11 mostly, that pointed to there being NO DAMN WAY I was going to do this and that he had in fact survived! The truth is in the smallest details; the story is told, for the vast majority of it, from Shay's perspective, and like anyone, what he sees is simply the world as he knows it and as it appears ... and he does not know or see everything! Hugely important fact right there. This is all a very round-about way of saying that those that reserved judgement and had a bit of faith in Mira's tenacity (and other things besides) were on the right of it. I hoped to emphasise the very things that you mentioned; his will to survive and that synergy you described. Core attributes of his character! Anyone else in his position would have died, because who could have managed that? Normal humans don't possess that quality, and therein, I believe, lies the crux of it. Text wall! To address your last suggestion .. what an interesting concept! That Lucere itself could be 'alive' in some way ... hmmmmmmmmmmm! No comment, because if I say anything, well ... I just shouldn't, should I? All I can say is .. the scope is a little bigger than this. Oh, how it will grow. I am curious though .. a future? Are you suggesting a sequel or spin-off series or something? My, what a thought, in any case! Lastly, on the mention of R&R, I trust you will not be disappointed. Those little steps will continue, though saying how far they travel would be telling.

That is high praise indeed. Thank you very much for your comments, it's appreciated.

As with previous chapters, italicisation has been used (when in an entire scene) to immediately distinguish between Mira's third person (not the normal perspective) and the regular first person perspective of Shay. That also accounts for the difference in language and style used in those sections; third person is the 'eye of God' as such and is expressed differently because it is less impersonal. I can't say I really understand how the writing can overpower the story per se, since it *is* the story and language like this has been use before, just not for an entire chapter. It is Shay's story and the narrative does not normally follow Mira, but as noted elsewhere, this was necessary to explain how he survived. He ended up in Palatus because one of the four imprisoned sharpelings from the previous chapter who went berserk when Shay witnessed Mira's 'death' was embedded with a desire, a command, to save him; so it had taken his 'body' with it when it fled back to the den it originated from, in the nearby ruined town -- Palatus. Mira wasn't dead (obviously) but had very tenuously survived due to his own body's enhanced hardiness and regeneration ability and the healing burst of 'power' Shay had given when he witnessed the stabbing. Forgive me if this information was not clearly enough presented - I did think it was implied if not explicit in the text?

Thank you! It was a surprise, to be sure, but a nice one. Indeed he did. There are not many descriptions that are much more literally "going through hell" than what he he was forced to experience in finding his way back. Extraordinary effort of mind and body is required to survive those kinds of things, but he is without doubt an extraordinary individual and came through it without any permanent damage. The question of R&R? Well I, for one, cannot imagine Shay would let Mira go anywhere covered in a multitude of injuries (physical resilience notwithstanding) and neither can I imagine Mira letting Shay out of his sight for more than a minute .. so what do *you* think is going to happen? Odds are strongly in favour of some alone time

Awww, I'm glad! Really, who truly believed I'd do that!

He sure does!

hey thanks for reviewing me! Glad you liked the beginning Technical skill (spelling and grammar and so forth) has always been a bug-bear of mine, so in most cases you will find it well tended to, though one or two mistakes slip through here and there. The first chapter was a bit tentative, and the characterisation felt odd, probably because I hadn't quite launched into it properly yet. However, this is the basis for the story and it's all there. I hope you enjoy the coming chapters!

His survival is due to a combination of factors. The most important is Shay's intervention, which was not intended, but still contributed. There's also the mental landscape that has carried over and developed since he became a human. Not least of all is his body itself, which is rather more resilient and very hardy. A young Wolverine isn't an unfair comparison! Though he doesn't have an adamantium skeleton .. yet! Um, yeah .. just kidding. That'd be silly .......... but kinda cool at the same time. Anyway! Chapter 13 will include that fun part of things: reunion. In fact, that's where it opens.

In an echo of my reply to your review of chapter 11: most people will like it more, I expect. You are a man of few words!

Hahah! Thank you I'm glad too! I could never have gone through with it for real.

You always write far too much for me to answer .. lol! Mira has his purpose in this world and everyone loves him for it. No half measures, no uncertainty .. just him and what he's made for. Boy, is he made for it or what? You and both on the last count. I am very much looking forward to chapter 13.

I didn't reply to your review of the last chapter! My apologies. The miracle is provided! (should I capitalise that or just leave the pun as is?) Well, the miracle was actually Shay's work anyways ... oops, there I am making puns again! Seriously though, this episode sets the stage for the whole what-to-do-about-the-villain part of the plot, not to mention for moving on into a bit more explanation of What Everything Means. We are getting there!

I love stories that are varied and unpredictable, willing to do very controversial and extreme things if it properly furthers the plot. However, Hidden Sunlight was never going to be one where I made a 14 year old boy heartbroken and lost because the love of his life was murdered. It just isn't that story. It's a romance! Not a tragedy. Nasty tragic stuff happens, but have limits on how far I will realistically take things. However, one must not forget that my warning from chapter 11 still exists. Anyone can and potentially will die. I would just at this point exempt Mira from it also. Because he's just that awesome.

Thank you! That's probably the most detailed single glance you'll get inside him, but it comes at a very pivotal time in the story and was 100% required. I try not to be a tease! Did I say that with a straight face? Ah, who am I kidding .. I'm a complete tease! I'm glad you're enjoying it! I can't wait for 13 (btw, your pronunciation is right on the former, not the latter)

The sharpeling hunched in the half-light of the interior. It was shivering, trembling as it sat, mired in a pool of illusions and uncertainty. An audience of peers had gathered, though the sharpeling neither knew nor had a preference, and they watched it curiously as the strange behaviour continued. Certainly, it was unusual to see another of the brood so afflicted, but more of the curiosity centred around the prize that their companion had delivered unto them. So they waited, dubious at the err

Awwwwwww .. it *will* be okay, I promise. I don't write the bad without some corresponding good. Wow, cool. That's awesome, thanks for letting me know

oh wow .. colour me surprised Thank you for such a wonderful review Cassie I'm trying to be faster with chapters I promise, but it's hard work!

Most people won't like them, I suspect The show must go on, however. It certainly doesn't end there! ^^

Indeed, no denying that! That part does totally suck. But at the risk of sounding like an advertisement .. it gets better!

Ah, now that is an interesting way of looking at it. Hartley's motivation and reasons for acting can definitely be viewed in more than one light. Whether or not he was explicitly waiting for something more to occur (or not) is an open question. Keep the faith! Chapter 12 will make things clearer.

I hope not. It is easy to fall shy of expectations. Thank you. I am glad you understand. I trust you will feel better about this once the context of chapter 12 is given. These realisations are something that will be confronted after the events of this chapter have been cleared from Shay's mind. If you read my comments about an author's obligation, then you must also have read the remainder of it and I wish to repeat and emphasize something: "This chapter, 11, is paired with 12. It is *essential* that they are judged together as two halves of this part of the plot." Before you 'formally check out' I would strongly encourage you to read the next part. If you still feel the same afterwards and keep the same desire to not read further, I would understand .. but I need to repeat again the fact that 11 and 12 are linked, and that your final judgement should hold back, just yet.

A day does come when the villain in this story gets his due, I can assure you of that. The reactions are something I am quite prepared for.

I have no problem saying it was rather emotional for me to write. I still feel guilty about this, but as the story unfolds, ultimately you will see events validated. It is safe to say that Shay thinking about anyone else romantically isn't going to happen while he's haunted by this knowledge. Maybe not for a long time. Konstantin and Hartley? Well certainly we shall find out more about both of them in approaching chapters, and further information will be uncovered about the force behind aemfid, Shay's magical 'attributes' and potentially a bit more ancient history

Thank you.