Laura S. Fox

This is so spot on. No, they cannot what happened, but they can understand it so they can use this knowledge in their present.

Just as Jack noticed, too!

Jack and Vince are on it! Although they need to be prepared for so many surprises...

Yep, a little devil he is! (Tasmanian devil, not a devil-devil)

Thank you for the vote of confidence!

I just commented the same thing earlier! Gosh, I should have read all the comments first.

One of the last chapters was titled 'You Cannot Change the Past' - not only because it's a time-traveling rule like Jack suspects. But the present and the future can be influenced. Our heroes need to keep their eyes peeled!

Can't believe I found one such gif!

Of what readers know at this point... these are scenarios to play out. But things will be even crazier. (This is me, and this is the understatement of the year).

Indeed! Jack has no idea!

Yes, that is correct

There's a whole thing regarding that flint...

Chapter Thirty-Four – When We Become Friends Theodore couldn’t understand how his father could be so blind. The two strangers couldn’t have just happened upon their settlement on the day of the Embercasting. Something ill-willed had to be afoot, and the wolves staring at him from across the table, one with amusement, and one with curiosity, were not good wolves. Still, under his father’s stern gaze, he couldn’t say it outright. The wisdom tree had told him not to return the flint, and

Yes, the headphones! Good catch. And that is Viv, wearing the same pair of headphones as Ali. They will be important at a certain moment.

Yes, this Lawrence intentionally translated the Rector's favorite quote this way. And you can keep it as a clue, since I didn't choose this title by accident. I like myself a good puzzle in other words. Bastien... he might seem like such a gentle person now - a kind ruler if you please. But it's good to note how he doesn't care about his circle's attitude toward Lawrence. Bastien also behaves... rather strangely, doesn't he? Lawrence notices it, too. There will a mix and match. He-he... Felix and Ali are two different people. Lawrence didn't notice Felix at dinner because he was trying too hard not to stare at Bastien, and there was also some distance between their tables. Felix sitting with his back to him would be enough for Lawrence not to notice him at first. The same with numbering the people in the library... it's all intentional. Each time, Bastien is to blame for being too much of a distraction, which hinders Lawrence's work as an investigator. But I suggest that readers keep their eyes peeled! There will be clues along the way.

And they work so hard to keep everything clean!

Oh, yes, they are!

Lawrence will navigate quite the maze of dangers... and he will spend a lot of time observing everything carefully.

You are very much within your rights to wonder about Ali's outsider status. Like you, Lawrence will be wondering about the same thing. And it will be explained. Anton... ah, he's my little darling villain... complex in other words. So he's going to be made of many shades (and not only him). Ha-ha, wouldn't it be nice to have a Jack and his cards? A... Jack of Hearts, perhaps, lol. Did you give Herr Becker a moniker?

I know... this is very much intentional. Since I want Lawrence to have his moment when he says to a full room 'I know who did it' - though that might be subject to change (I don't plan my stories in detail, because they tend to drag me in very different directions all the time).

He did forget the heater! Someone else won't Keep tabs on the characters... because even more will follow. Yes, crazy, I know.

Lawrence should focus, yes... but he might get a lil' sidetracked His relationships with Bastien, Ali, and even others, will evolve, and that's a promise.

Rotten and it stinks... Warnings, threats, who's keeping count?

Chapter Five – The Princeps’s Inner Sanctum “Will our esteemed guest enlighten us on the reasons of his enlisting in our school?” To Lawrence’s slight shock, Anton, seated now with his legs crossed, was lighting a pipe. Actually, it was Abelard fixing it for him. With practiced elegance, Anton gestured with the pipe, not bothering to thank his acolyte for doing that for him, as if he expected Lawrence to start blabbing already. “We weren’t introduced,” Lawrence said. Felix had al

And this is where the story gets really, but really convoluted, because my mind just can't stop at keeping a story simple... There is so much more to learn about that day and what truly happened. Stay with me, and - hopefully - everything will make sense!