a_dragon

And again, thank you.

"this bit" huh? Really - reeeaaaallllllyyyyy - glad to hear it, mate. Congratulations Demiurge The Mighty, on the completion of this, the third arc, in what is without a doubt an unrivalable feat of gloriously delicious, magical, thrilling and heartbreakingly real, unforgettable storytelling. *bows* (any chance you could maybe - if it's in any way possible & the story allows for it, please & thank you - cure Talon of whatever ails him in the next one?)

Hmmm, I'm actually not sure that mr-rightly-executed-unfit-parent-&-traitor will make good compost. Some things just don't, you know? So glad that Wren was able to reclaim himself, not just because I'm really not a fan of the "humanising the monster" trope but also - and more importantly - because he is the centuries old guardian - the only one I might add - of a country that, quite honestly, cannot be expected to survive - never mind thrive - without his devoted stewardship. So yeah, murder monster got a job to do and now, thank fuck, he can get on with it. Ugh, you captured the awfulness of the children being denied - for the last time, thankfully - even the merest thread of acceptance/love/kindness from their sperm donor. Their whole lives have - to larger/lesser extents - hinged on this fool and his inability to take up, never mind embrace, the mantle of fatherhood. They will bear those wounds and subsequent scars forever. But he is gone now and once the grief settles, hopefully so too will the pain. Fuck I love this series. So much. Thank you for allowing us to visit your world Demiurge, and please know that despite our time together being almost up, it (& the memories) will live forever in our hearts.

Well that was fuckin sad... But we were due some generalised angst and a very unhappy murder doll moment. I mean, war isn't exactly known for its happy nice-nice after effects now is it? Wren's situation sucks so much though, spending centuries fitting yourself into someone else's skin only to suddenly have to do it again? Death seems not only preferable but the kinder option. All in all an interesting look at broken people trying to pick up the pieces. Some of them anyway... A gift well used I think, boss - thank you.

"Until nothing could break through and any threats became nonexistent." Silly Sunbeam, that's called being dead... And what's this nonsense of thinking Big Thoughts while your man is balls deep? Focus boy, focus! Aaaand our creepy little deathdoll Wrennykins, rose to the occasion predictably with a lesson on how to really tie up loose ends - bravo little dude, bravo! Reflection indeed... Boss, you have written such an incredible world into existence and honestly, I really don't want to leave. Ever. Which is unfortunate af since we're edging ever closer to the finish line with every word... If you haven't already, please take a moment to pat yourself on the back for a job too well done. And, if you've the time, maybe go stand in front of the mirror & practice your acceptance speech for Best Fantasy Novel of The Year. So.fucking.good... Thanks man 🤘

Sunbeam finally unlocked god-mode, huh? Nice! And look at Talon, thinking it was all over for his #besthusband&dadever ass...smh. Thank goodness he had his glow stick yeah? But the real MVP was of course, our little Meep. Man, that kid rocks! Wren is gonna be so proud!!! So.fucking.good. Boss, you get a gold star! So.fucking.good...

“You seem nice. Why are you doing this?”

Lull huh? In the war prep maybe but not the neverending pain. "Sometimes, love, when you dig the hole so deep, it’s too dark down there to see the rope people have lowered for you.” And bam! Talon just hits it right out the park... Yeah, that's totally true. What's also true however, is that sometimes the rope that's been lowered isn't perceived as a way out, but as a noose to hang oneself with. It's understandable that goblin boy was tired. Understandable & deserving of compassion. Suman deserves to be understood & dealt with compassionately too, obviously. But. The problem is him believing himself to have been wronged, which to a point is kinda almost maybe true, but realistically speaking everybody has different limits and nobody has the right to hold someone's limits against them. Loren had reached the limit of his endurance and made the choice that made the most amount of sense to him. It was a personal choice based on the fact that he didn't believe himself capable of carrying on. And the relationship factor, instead of being the reason to live that people felt it should have been (understandable, given the circumstances), was just another nail in the coffin. The sad reality is that just because there exists a person who may truly love another person, it often is not - and simply cannot be - enough. And that's not Loren's or Suman's - or anyone's, for that matter - fault. Both of them need to face up to the fact that, disappointing as it may be, Loren had reached the point where death seemed the best option, and while that truly sucks troll bone, it was still a valid choice under the circumstances and, perhaps more importantly, not a personal attack on Suman. Basically, it's not actually about you bro, so stop trying to make it out to be... Because. Everybody is different and it is unfair, unrealistic and pretty shitty to expect people who are not you - especially people you profess to love - to conform to your personal - specific to you - standards. Folks who've been through shit and made it to the other side tend to say things like "if I could do it so can you" & "don't be selfish, think about the people you leave behind" and while such things can be - under the right circumstances - extremely helpful to some people, neither of those statements account for the fact that a) depending on what a person has experienced & their personal capacity, sometimes there is no 'making it to the other side' and b) expecting someone to endure in the face of what *for them* is untenable/unbearable, for someone else's comfort, is not just selfish af but downright cruel. Abusive even... Wow, that kinda went a bit longer & probably a whole hell of a lot more than strictly necessary. I would apologise but eh, you get what you pay for yeah? "Why we had to explain to a twelve-year-old that he couldn’t participate with us in all-out war, was beyond me." Was it? Really??? I mean, that is your kid Sunshine, should be painfully obvious why, no? Great chapter boss - thank you!

Haha, look at little Meep go! It tickles me no end that Big T thinks he has any say over Eira claiming her place in their fam - she chose you bud, suck it up. Kalian & his "impending doom"...smh. why is he still so impossibly dense? Like, yeah bro, you've got that prescient thing going for you, learn how to use it for the love of fuck... Granny is about as redeemable as mouldy cheese, just use her for target practice or something already. And Anika? Ugh. How many times must her miserable life be saved by the brother she tried to bury under a trauma blanket? I mean, Kal, Kallie, Kalian my dude, you're a peach no doubt about it but man, enough with the "family" crap, 'k? They might be blood but they sure as hell are not family in any way, shape or form. They're compost. Biodegradable & good for plants. That's it. Eon & his deathdoll are still cute though - thankfully. Hope they sort whatever nonsense they've got malingering under the bed ASAP. Would hate for Wren to have de-Lyme Eon... Unlikely that bookworm would survive that and book dude is Very Useful after all. Hey Mr Writer-Lord can't you wiggle your pen a bit & conjure up a love interest for poor old library boy? There must be someone who would pair nicely with a book-based organism yeah? Maybe Nyx. Or is he actually fraternising with the enemy??? Because that wouldn't work then. And Wyn is too young. Also spoken for if my spidey sense is anything to go by... Lyrah is doing a bang up job of queening, really proud of her! Ama seems a bit lonely though, poor sausage...maybe it's time to give her another fish to fry, or is her dance card still full of tigers? Excellent episode boss - thank you!

Absolutely disagree with upstairs, Granny is an abusive bitch who already broke three children so nope, not remotely useful alive. Dead though, she'll make passable plant food. Until then though, she should be kept as far away from the rugrats as possible. In my opinion, anyway. Mr Writer-Dude might have other ideas which, of course I will accept & respect. Because what boss says, goes... Talon & Kalian are a power couple on every level - the way they speak to one another is so bloody adorable & totally #relationship goals, the way they can't keep their hands off one another is totally #relationship goals, the way they understand, accept and support one another - to the point that they step back to reflect on their own selves like actual honest to fuck adults to see how/where they might be wrong/lacking when things go sideways - they've even learned to appropriately apologise! - totally #relationship goals. And their parenting? #best dads ever! And just fyi boss, I know what a bolero jacket is. Had to google it, obviously, but still. I know. Fuck, the level of attention to detail in this story - like all your others - is staggering, and absolutely must be commended & appreciated. You are freaking awesome man, totally. *fistbump*

"I would never let him know, but I’d accepted Loren into my family without truly realizing it." Same Kalian, same... Man, the last two chapters were epic! And oh would you look at that, our Sunbeam all grown-up and self confident like, going half-god mode and clearing the decks! Such a helpful lad. Nice twist combining powers again - in exciting new ways especially, and bonus! giving us more secret-headspace time. But wow, that imagery - the golden death thing? Gorgeous. Poor Suman, you really are torturing his skinny ass... But go Talon, look at you being the voice of comfort & retaliative bedroom-based reason! Interesting that Loren chose to die though, especially now when he actually has - seemingly - good reason not to. And those parents... Mom has always been ridiculous but now, being all 'look at me caring for people & shit'? Nah fam, you still suck. Why dad hasn't been made into bonemeal yet is frankly beyond me. I'm assuming it's coming though, since he's just as much of a treasonous traitor as the rest of ye olde time dukey-squad. Hi Anika, welcome back your bitchyness, please try to behave yeah? Thanks. Such an exciting romp this tale is, thank you boss!

*snorts* Oh dear...hope the sailor boys have good insurance... Let's recap, shall we? Sunshine, a dude who shoots - multiple - ultra violent light beams out of his fingers when he gets cranky & can raise the literal dead, has been interrupted in said dead-raising, smacked upside the head & taken prisoner by a bargain basement darkside fiend who, for reasons known only to his own stupid self somehow thinks he didn't just sign his own - and his entire lineage going back three (3) generations - death certificate. Oh and, as if things weren't precarious enough for our dumb little dakside knockoff & his dumb little wannabe warband, the ShadowLord himself is On His Way To Righteously Smite Some Ass. Haha, Kal & T-Man (hopefully moreso Kal) are gonna go full god-mode on their salty asses, and I am so freaking here for it!!! Really nice to get Wyn's POV and a peek into his special abilities btw Oh and boss? You aren't planning on separating the goblin boys for too long, right? Because that would be a terrible mistake... Anyway, enough chitchat, I'm off to get some popcorn & a flag to wave - woo hoo!

"It’s only a matter of time Master Verloren. Dimian will be a ruin when we are finished. All you will have to show for the effort you’ve made is failure. The country will cease to exist and you will fade into obscurity as your peoples’ blood soaks into scorched earth.” Rydian smile brightly and bowed again, lifting his head while still bent over to give us an evil smile before he vanished." So I know he probably thinks he's reeaallly sccary & whatnot but, Darth Vader much, bro? Onward buttercup, there are wars to win! And fuckery to spread...ofc. *passes you a small, inspiration sprite specific cage under the table & whispers* here you go, boss.

Grumpy transporter babes sent in secret to move things along, huh? Why am I not surprised... Note to Talon, that's what leadership looks like - thinking ahead, planning ahead, leaving people randomly dotted around the country like mobile weapons caches/transport services + engineers, and not telling a single soul. Poor Kal, must be hard when you can't effortlessly befriend every toad you find out in the woods. Never mind Sunshine, they'll all die for you in the end. Great chapter, your worship!

This chapter was a riot! Talon, epic dumbass that he is, was absolutely made for parenting. Not in the ways one would expect ofc. But he is trainable. And putty in the hands of small children with cattleprods for fingers, and/or rocking baby seal eyes. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. He deserves it though, in the best of ways and for all the right reasons because - drum roll please - he is actually a really good dad! Whether he likes it or not... As for our party in the woods, well of course it's grown. And of course we'll only find out why in the next chapter or so because as every good storyteller knows, if you can't conveniently find a cliff upon which to hang your audience, DIY-ing one out of nothing is the only way to go yeah? And we, lucky sods that we are - and make no mistake, we are the luckiest of lucky - happen to be in the extremely-capable-probably-wrote-the-damn-manual hands of the supreme overlord of storytelling. Who also, btw, brought snacks and other assorted paraphernalia in order to make our dangle a little less precarious seeming. Nice one, boss! As always, you are the best!!!

Sorry upstairs, but Wren is still very much a monster, maybe even more so now than ever before. And I think the only adapting that'll have to happen is other people's. Because floaty, strong, pointy, pale & interesting Wren might've looked the part but cherub doll Wren... actually wait, dolls are fucking terrifying, never mind. Regardless though, I still think it's everyone else who'll have to adjust to the new monster flavour, Wren knows exactly who & what he is... “All will be well.” Meryck’s voice startled me every time I heard it." So I'm really liking the new boy. Like, heartbreaking backstory aside, another capable, take-charge warrior goth (quiet & stoic vs the manic with slight anger issues common to emo goblin boys) is/was definitely needed. That he is also skilled in the way of fortune-telling seems a most serendipitous quirk of fate. And yeah, being good with sharp pointy things definitely helps. Am getting some fairly strong another-stray-joins-the gang vibes too but eh, I'll be good for once and wait patiently. Interesting how everyone gets the same "something's wrong" memo but nobody - except new boy - says or does anything worth shit... The way it must be in order to succeed or something to regret forever? Time will tell, this and more on future episodes of "Wheel of Where-Did-We-Go-Wrong-This-Time, Sunbeam-leads-us-to-our-potential-doom Edition"! Talon has to be the world's most annoyingly chipper torturer. How dukey dumbass managed to last as long as he did is a bloody miracle. And Lyme, poor thing really has been thrown in the deep end. Luckily he seems more than up for the job though (whatever his designated position actually is) - excellent tactical resource, history buff, knows how to make friends & influence people (kinda), walking knowledge repository, and who knows what else stuffed up his sleeves. Talon might want to check his inventory before knocking off for the night yeah? Man, I love this story - so twist much turn!!! Great chapter, boss! Thank you.

Ah sweet, our little monster is actually a little prince (which isn't that different really ha ha). I'm sat here snickering quietly to myself (okay not so quietly and I may have snorted more than once) about a) how disturbed Wren found his new/old hair b) how (one of) the first thing(s) he does is nearly kill Eon and c) how this is a big change and people may need to have a few bones broken before they'll comfortably accept it. I'll be honest, I kinda expected it. Not the blonde hair - that was a surprise - but the human bit. Because our esteemed writer-lord, though a master of obfuscation & misdirection, set it up to be so, imo anyway. Kalian's power is, at its heart, one of life-giving-sunshiny-goodness (despite the whole extra violent rays of doom sideshtick) & healing after all. Coupled with, but having the leading edge on, Talon's shadows there really wasn't any other way for it to go, yeah? Was very relieved though, very very relieved, that our Wren is still such a bad-tempered old goat - perhaps even more so. And I'm fairly sure the claws will come out again soon. The fangs too probably. I mean, files exist yeah? Failing which I'm sure dental is part of the basic assassin healthcare package, and who would dare argue that fangs (unless standard issue monster hardware) are merely cosmetic and creating them from normal human teeth doesn't, strictly speaking, fall under emergency care? Yeah, nobody be quite that dumb. Not twice anyway. And Kalian, darling sweetheart sugarplum, about the whole "can look after myself"? Haha nope... Hadn't even left yet and needed to be saved from the nasty cold hard ground. Fine fine, I'll stop poking His Sunshineyness' blind spots, was just kidding anyway - the boy is an entire Boss and absolutely can take care of himself (as long as hubby isn't too far away yeah?). Also, second kid? Anyone else have that on their bingo card? Haha yeah ofc, this readership is on the ball! Real nice chapter boss, and as always, thank ye ver'mush!

"I did now and I felt like I was throwing my husband to the wolves." Fish is the word you're looking for, ShadowLord, fish. Wolves do not in oceans dwell, even one's of the were variety. And yes, you are. Bad Talon. Ugh gotta love the whole "I'm a big boy and can take care of myself, why can't my husband trust me?" monologue. No Sunbeam you can't. As evidenced by every single time you've had to be saved. Big boy yes. Independently capable of complete and utter destruction yes. Capable of taking care of your own sweet ass? Not a fucking chance. Suck it up buttercup, you're an ambulatory disaster waiting to be rescued. And that's before you get out the gate... Feel free to prove me wrong. I welcome it. As for you, Mr Writer my dude, you (as per your a/n) deserve every standing ovation ever. And a smack upside the head for leaving monsters alone in the dark. For shame. Man, this story has quite literally broken my brain in all the best ways. Dreamt about these clowns last night. And that wasn't even the first time. Never mind that during waking hours I'm constantly rehashing everything I've read so far and getting far too excited about what's still to come. Yup, total goner. Anyhoo great chapter, boss! Thank you.

Look at you torturing your poor readers. Almost like you and that freaky little emo goblin boy share a bond or something... Talon as leader? Bwahahahahaha no. Look, dude's got a lot going for him power & experience-wise and sure, he's at least as smart as Wyn thinks he is, but leading - especially the covert ops branch of a slightly less than cohesive government - requires a hell of a lot more than power & smarts. And our esteemed writer-lord knows this. So imma say nah-uh he's just a seat warmer. Or table warmer, as the case may be. As for the double-dealing dukes? The problem with pulling weeds but leaving root fragments is...well, regrowth. Something Wyn might be adept at curtailing were it up to him, but Eon is (deliberately?) overlooking. Talon, as much as it pains me to admit, is correct - kill the lot. Sooner rather than later. Double-dealing dukes strung along the ramparts will serve as an effective weed repellent. Until Wyn grows into his power and eradicates them at the spore level anyway. Glad Kal is getting a good rest, having lasers for fingers is going to come in pretty handy soon enough. And yeah, I'm with upstairs re: dream training. Cue montage... Hope you've got Wren comfortably stashed away in his bed (and not still on the courtyard bench, sorry chaise, exposed to the elements you feral fiend you) while he frolics in the space between doorways... I mean, I can do more questionable things to your wine supply you know. I must say though, you really fucking know exactly how to keep your audience poised ever so deliciously on the knife's edge. No complaints from me though, obviously. I like edges, especially sharp ones . A lot. Cheers for the T-Man deep-dive, boss - really nice change of pace. And just in case you had any doubts, I absolutely freaking love this story. So.fucking.much. Thank you for sharing your world with us, man. Like, entire planets of thanks. Galaxies full of gratitude. A whole-ass universe even. Maybe 2.

Whoops almost forgot! I enjoyed this chapter, in particular, immensely. Not just for the peek into the tenuous relationship between T-Man & FireBoy - or the moments of genuine depth & trust displayed between Wyn & his dads - but especially for the new wheels it set in motion. Your set ups are legit next level, man. And the play outs always exceed expectations. Five stars.

Man, so dramatic... And still my Wren languishes in the arms of the wrong reaperman. Hope you enjoy drinking naught but air, my dear Lord of Fish&Shadows. (that's you, boss, just in case you weren't paying attention ) And you're wrong Talon my dude, fixing everything for everyone is Kalian's job & responsibility. Looks like, so far at least & long may it last, my Ama related misgivings were misplaced. I proceed with caution but also hope. Excellently sad chapter! And a very fitting setting-of-the-stage for what is to come. As always.

So obviously I don't need to wait, being the future and all, but I want it on record that writers block or not this is an absolutely stellar chapter and, you are beyond awesome. And in serious trouble if Wren isn't fully restored by the end of the next chapter... (by trouble I mean your wine will suspiciously disappear. By suspiciously I mean directly from your glass as you go to drink it) Also, the compassionate manner in which you explore the darker aspects of the story, the characters' natures & their resulting experiences is to be commended. Highly.

Well fuck, that was A Lot. And so freaking good! So our boy finally lost it. Can't say I'm surprised really. Dad-bro Kalian is on a whole other level after all and so, apparently, is his majik. The exchange between Lyme & Eon and subsequent near-choking of emo goblin boy plus bros bickering was brilliantly done. As was forcing Kal to intervene. I mean, obviously he's not going to allow the children to break useful objects. But having to stand against both his husband and his brother? On behalf of a more-than-questionable emo goblin boy? Absolutely brilliant. Talk about breaking point... And haha another dead king. You realise this means that the false accusation of Kal being a king-killer in a previous arc was actually foreshadowing, right? Absolute banger, my dude... Too good. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are a master of your craft. And we are beyond privileged to be allowed to read your stories. Storytelling King. Man, so freaking good... And on that note - and a bit of a cliffie for me because it's past 4am and my bed is calling - I say "thanks for the fish boss, see you on the flipside". 🤘

@Demiurgeit would be an honour. Like seriously, anytime.