BarkingFrog

There is one thing I keep pondering about: when Shay fought the arbiter he learned the date when the virus appeared on Lucere: February 13th, 2104 (this is a Wednesday, not Friday as you might think 😛) Now how are dates handled across the planet colonies? I think, the earth time scale is being used. The rotation of Lucere will surely not match that of the earth. so, what timescale have they used? Is a year again divided into 12 months? With this keeping in mind, February (Earth time scale) could occur in summer as well as in winter time on Lucere. Have you put any thought into that?? Did I already tell you I loved the chapter again? Shape is building as more light is shed on the background of events. Now I understand Lindani and Kenji a little better. Yugan is getting more and more powerful. He has saved Shay again. How will he relate to Shay once they meet? I do hope they will. What a big advantage for me: I don't get struck by the cliffhangers, the sequel is already there. - wonderful. 🤪

Mira as well as Shay were not able to fight the arbiters. The help of Ayize and Rashid respectively rescued them in the last moment. Just then they gained the full aqumi power enabling Shay to tear the arbiter into pieces. Is there a learning curve still to be performed understand how to provoke aqumi right at the start thus preventing long tiring fights? Elia is quite remarkable not fearing the sharpeling. Interesting how Nyx came to block Elia from killing the already dead sharpeling pulling her out of some hatred or vengeance stance. After that Elia is being called. A new mysterious connection between Elia and the guardian of light. Is he the clue to aqumi? Stellar, I have to be careful now, you start changing me, and I am finding myself being on guard for arbiters and sharpelings. Where will this lead to?

Thanks for your answers. You are really taking care of your readers! 💚

Hey, what a great chapter again - and a relaxing one. I really enjoyed the slow pace and then how Mira and Shay got back together. I liked the atmosphere as Konstantin (almost) returned "home" to Luca's villa in Greece. "It crept on him from nowhere, but this place brought a strong feeling of nostalgia." The conversation between Lucas and Constantine may be the crucial turning point in the plot, as Constantine begins to understand his own new role in the context of defending Earth. "My young friend, I cannot say how I will accomplish this yet," ... "What I can tell you is that I now know where to start. With your help, we can shine a light on their actions." Yugan's return to Mikom reveals his true distinction not only for the Dagenith but for the other planet colonies as well. His bonding to Shay is amazing. Who is the aqumi donor? I am relieved to find that Shay is burdened by what he has done: "They were hurting Mira. They were hurting him and it was wrong, but ... I murdered them." But he is comforted by Ayize. I t wouldn't be Stellar if this chapter wouldn't finish with a cliffhanger: Then, two more. Humans. The slave race, ready for cleansing. Or ... prey. The arbiter drew into itself, minimising its footstep upon the ethereal surrounds. Fading from sight, it shrank into the smallest echo, the barest scrap of a whisper on the wind. The servants had failed. It was time to hunt. This answers my former question whether the arbiter could hunt, too. Now, one final request: Would there be a reference list for all the names having come up in the sequels? Also, I could find help in a reference for TLAs and other abbreviations f.i. MFM, RDA, SDCP and the more.

Ah, that was a good one. I loved this chapter. Mira is just fantastic, a true Jedi. But what happened to the bold girl, Janaya? I fear she has sacrificed herself for Mira. She should be honoured. Will we hear from her again? With the blade-hounds gone, what will be the action of the arbiters? Can they act on their own or do they need some kind of "soldiers" to do the dirty work for them? Many thanks for your writing!

I understand your point but it is hard to yield to brutality. 😢

I would have hoped that Shay would interview his tormentors, confront them and try to turn them around making them understand their devastating moves and repent what they had done to him. He should start building alliances instead of killing. Actually he was dealing with scientists who probably hadn't meant to hurt him. I am afraid hatred will grow in his mind replacing the pure attitude of this sensitive boy. Aside of that I love the scene with the blade-hound being swallowed by quick sand. Now comes the so much loved cliffhanger. How did this blade-hound manage to climb the mesa? Did he bite his way through the stone? Never the less, I guess aqumi will take care of that. Poor blade-hound...

I am thrilled! So much commotion. There seems to be no existing peaceful spot in all the worlds. The only pleasant harbour had been the mason of Konstantin. But even that being abandoned is probably no more by now. Earth seems to be already doomed, Lucere in the power of arbiters now defended by two newborn, re-transformed girls. The remaining beacons are Yugan, Shay, Mira, Nyx and Elia. But how can they fight the evil? Can Konstantin help? By the way, could it be that Yugan already has some aqumi? It is good that I am such a late reader as I am not tormented by the cliffhangers. I just love reading the story!

Phantastin thought of doom: "It was a conclave of lines, a very definite point where the paths converged. They narrowed until every plausible chance, every smallest possibility, had to pass through this single point. Even with the greatest strength and the best fortune, the wayward strands of this creature's life always ran through that place, that same bottleneck in the future." That is so scary. What every you do, what ever route you take, despite of all endeavours, all paths lead through that one bottleneck: death. Congratulations, great plot! Again a breathtaking chapter. Can't stop reading...

Wow, what a story. It took me some time to get things sorted out. It's getting worse than on Lucere now. Will the Arbiter get the two girls Elia and Nyx? I guess, this is all happening still on Lucere. Please keep Shay and Mira bonded together, so they can persevere. I am anxiously waiting for them to appear.

Thanks for forgiving me! 😊

Stellar, I am ashamed. I just couldn't understand why you would kill such a fine boy. Great relief and apologies!

How could you kill poor Mira the finest of all creatures?

For my personal feeling this chapter was a little bit too brutal. Well written though. Where is Konstantin? Is he still alive. Is he retained in the camp as well?

May I add myself to the line of waiters for the continuation of this brilliant story? @Graeme, please help us to stay fans of the NFL/AFL.