redw18

This is a heavy chapter in many ways. I feel deeply for Mark. No one deserved what he had been through. When Mark pleaded with Julian to let him clean so that he could feel like a person. My heart ached for him, especially during the shower scene, where he felt his body was so dirty because of what Victor did to him and tried to get rid of all the traces of the disgusting man on him. What a cruel and despicable creature Victor was! I completely understand why Mark couldn't tell Julian about all of this. Mark might think he was a coward for asking Julian to run away with him, but I would never think of him as a coward. Mark himself is also traumatised, and he has no money or power to change any of this. Victor had rotten to the core, and Catherine had been complicit long before this event. And he couldn't know how Julian could endure this truth, either. So, I completely understand and sympathise with his decision For Catherine, I was very disappointed in her, and I won't defend her involvement in this mess, especially since she had known about Victor's true nature and could have intervened and stopped this much sooner. However, she tried to stop Victor in the end when she realised she and her husband were hurting the people they were supposed to protect, especially Julian. It was too late, obviously, but I think her soul wasn't completely lost, and there may be a chance for her redemption. I wonder when she first realised about the disgusting "arrangement" Victor forced Mark into? At first, I thought she only really realised about this during the breakfast scene where "her face white and her eyes not on Victor and not on Julian but on Mark. Fixed on Mark." but then Mark previously mentioned, "Catherine is not going to think anything.". That could imply that she had been turning a blind eye to the secrets of the family, but that might not be related at all. So I truly don't know Now, for the true villain, Victor was such a hypocrite. It turned out that he was a nobody and could have climbed to the position he had thanks to Catherine and her family's support and fortune. And yet, he dared to look down on Mark and said Mark would never be one of them, and Mark was a stray? He was also a stray, and he admitted as much. He wasn't as almighty as he thought he was. In my opinion, this detail makes Victor very real. From my own experience, people like Victor are not rare in real life. Some poor and powerless people became cold, lacked sympathy, and looked down on others who were in the same situation as they were when they gained power and money. And this made Victor more terrifying because he wasn't cartoonishly evil, but every real. Also, Victor talked as if he were forced into a loveless marriage with no other option, and Catherine and her money were the foundation for the monster that her is now. Such a ridiculous argument. He could always say no. I doubt Catherine's father wanted a "stray" like him to marry his daughter if she wasn't in love with him and insisted on marrying him. Her family was rich, and he was a nobody. He wanted the money. He wanted the power and the life. Catherine made many mistakes and had many faults and flaws, but she had nothing to do with who he truly was. If it wasn't Catherine, I have a strong feeling that he would have found another rich family and tried to find his way in. And he would turn out more or less like he is now, because that was his true nature (again, from his own words, "You didn’t marry a king and watch him turn cruel. You picked the cruelty. You smelled it at that party and you wanted it"). Haha, sorry for my ranting, Nuno. However, the chapter was so good, and I got a bit emotional 😅. Great work as usual!

Victor and Charles truly needed to attend some classes regarding how to be a father. But, well, I guess it was too late for them already. This chapter makes me feel deeply for Mark and love him more. At least, Julian has a genuinely motherly love from Catherine. Mark has none from his parents. They gave him nothing but coldness and neglect. No wonder he preferred to hang out with Julian's family, because over there he had the love from his best friend and the warmth from Catherine. I think this may be the reason why Mark seemed to have a soft spot for Catherine and always encouraged Julian to bond and open up more with her. Despite all the mistreatment from his parents, Mark sacrificed his freedom, his future, and even his body to help them. Despite his circumstances, he still chose to be a kind and decent person. Did all he could to save his parents, who had no love for him, and kept encouraging Julian to improve the relationship with his mother. I also understand now why he couldn't tell Julian. How could he? Not just the fact that he had to sell himself, but also the fact that his best friend's father is a rotten person and a scrumbag. That would be too cruel to Julian. Speaking about Victor, he is truly a villain of this story. Mark, his only son's best friend, desperately came to him for help. Instead of offering a hand or creating a genuine opportunity for Mark to earn back the money to pay him back through employment with honest work (Mark is a very smart guy; he could add valuable benefit to the business), he took advantage and forced Mark, his son's best friend and the person his son loves the most, into that disgusting "arrangement". What a disgusting and despicable human being Victor was! And that's also definitely not a father. Great work as usual, Nuno!

This chapter is giving me so many emotions. Ok, I'll start with the positive emotions first. I really love Julian and Mark's banters. They have always been funny, lighthearted, and warm. What a joy to read I love seeing Mark being possessive of Julian. And the best part was that he wasn't being negative, controlling, or toxic at all. It was proved by the way they handled the Theo situation, and even Julian thought it was the hottest thing he had ever seen The climbing wall scene made me laugh out loud. It was so hilarious, especially when Julian was panicking about the flowerbed, "extremely dead" 😆. I even imagined Catherine's face the next morning when she saw the flowerbed and realised Julian was the culprit 😆. I love your humour, Nuno! And just like the calm before the storm, those emotions were quickly replaced by the steam room scene. The secret was officially out in this chapter. However, even though I always knew Mark and Victor had something going on behind the closed door, it surprised me a lot. It surprised me because before this chapter, I suspected it was a secret affair between the men. But what I read wasn't a secret affair, but a kind of transaction that almost felt like blackmail. Mark was clearly distressed and uncomfortable about this. It seems like he would even rather flee from that steam room if he had a choice. So whatever this "affair" was, I suspect it was a complicated matter that could involve Mark’s family fortune and definitely not a "love affair" at all. It's clear to me since the beginning that Mark only loved Julian and never had any interest in Victor. But I thought maybe Victor had some feelings for Mark. That thought was thrown out of the window in this chapter. He was really cold to Mark, even when his public mask was off, and he only had lust for Mark. Even worse, Victor knew full well that Julian loved Mark deeply, and he still did it for six months. Again, what kind of father is that? I think it's a bit clearer to me now that Victor is the main villain of this story. What a chapter! Amazing work, Nuno! I'm moving to the next chapter now! See you over there!

I really, really like the way this chapter was being told in two POVs, Julian and Mark. The best part is that their POVs are blended effortlessly and make a very coherent flow for the chapter. It was almost like the chapter was told by one single being. That makes their connections even more special. Jules and Mark were truly made for each other. "Catherine is not going to think anything." - I feel like I will have to revisit this later. At first, I only thought Mark knew Catherine already knew about Julian's love for Mark, but since his voice was darkening, I think maybe Mark probably knew something else about Catherine. I guess the answers will be in future chapters, then. Victor is showing his true face more clearly this time. And that face was full of cruelty. He no longer pretended to see Mark as a "son". Even if the chapter didn't confirm the fact that he didn't make a scene at the breakfast table because he feared for his secrets (which is very clear now that he and Mark were having something going on behind the closed door) to be exposed, rather than being afraid of gossip, I feel his reasons for opposing Mark and Julian sharing a room were very lame. Mark and Julian were best friends. Did he ever hear about "sleepover"? There is nothing inappropriate or wrong about that. Not to mention, the whole staff was his employees. Did he truly believe he could convince people that a controlling and very rich man like him couldn't prevent his staff from gossiping about something ordinary like sharing a big room on vacation between two best friends? Julian couldn't see it because he was upset and emotional, but he would eventually. The guy is smart, and he was steadily realising the things beneath the surface of his "happy" family. I guess Victor's fears were making him sloppy. So it's going to be interesting to see when the mask comes off completely. "with no son to perform the father for" - I feel so sorry for Julian. What kind of father was that? Where was his love for his only son? The way Catherine looked at Mark at the breakfast scene and her tears at the end, I suspect she must have realised or known something about Mark and Victor. Amazing work as usual, Nuno! I love this chapter! 😊

Toni continues to make me like her more and more. She is such a good 'little sister' to Devin. "Cancer" (or rather "a tumor") is again used in this chapter. However, this time it is used figuratively as a metaphor. Interestingly, the clever seems to think the presence of Luka in Devin's memory is a disease, and of course, not a disease to Devin, but to their own plans or operations. So they decided to cut it out. And this is a highlight of this chapter to me. Because despite their effort to cut it clean, a cancer can always return without warning and ruin the clever and their plans. Well, a literal cancer was killing the body of an immortal, so maybe this figurative cancer can at least put an end to their machinery for good. The biggest highlight of the chapter for me, of course, is the fact that the parts of Luka's and Devin's souls, which are stored in the tree, are starting to have a direct effect on Theron. Or rather, Theron was feeling the pain and yearning of Luka's and Devin's souls that are calling out to each other. And that pain wasn't Theron's but theirs (his own pain was taken out by contract long time ago). And inhabiting Luka's body didn't do him any favours either Theron is truly wearing the wrong "suit", and it seemed like he was no longer 100% himself either. What an amazing and exciting chapter, Casual! Wonderful work as usual!

The love-making session between Julian and Mark was passionate, hot, and unironically full of love. It's also so heartwarming with Mark's full love confession to Julian, and especially when he called Julian "Jules". This also marked the first time I had ever heard he said that to Julian. Such a lovely scene! I like Mark even more in this chapter, especially when he encouraged Julian to talk to and bond more with Catherine. I found what Catherine said about the fact that a book doesn't always mean the same thing twice, even to the same reader, is so true (at least in my case). Most of the time, I also found some new aspects, perspectives, and wisdom when I revisit books and movies from my own library. This is a very deep and interesting piece of wisdom. Thank you. Having said that, I'm interested to know Catherine's new perspective on the ending of Kate Chopin's book after her second visit or whether she finished it for the second time. Ironically, she also had a hand in creating a cage for her own son, just like the female protagonist whom she had so much sympathy for. Catherine was also afraid that the world would not be kind to Julian, and I have a strong feeling this detail will become an irony that will look right back at her in later chapters. In any case, I found Catherine to be a deeply flawed but very interesting character. Great work as always, Nuno!

I liked that Mark returned Julian's feelings in this chapter, and their love continued to bloom. However, this chapter also marked the first sign of the struggles they are going to endure. I have high hope for them, though. Mark truly considered Catherine as his mother figure, a person who was the first to see him. It seemed like Catherine also cared for him. At least from his perspective. I was so glad for Mark, and thought I liked Catherine more for this until I reached the breakfast scene. The breakfast in this chapter is truly a highlight. It was so tense, tight, and uncomfortable. I was offered a closer and more truthful look at Julian's parents' relationship, thanks to the changes in Julian's perspective after experiencing true intimacy for the very first time. Victor and Catherine's relationship was all performance. No love, that is for sure. I didn't see any trace of genuine respect between them either. What a shame, though! And if they can make an excellent performance like that for their only son for years, then I wonder how genuine they truly were with Mark. Another interesting point in that eye-opening breakfast was that it confirmed more about the relationship between Victor and Julian. Apparently, Catherine was the mother who stood between her loving son and the "force that governs their household" ( not between her son and his dad, nor her son and her husband), even though she is helping to make "the passage between them navigable". Victor should be focusing more on being a dad instead of on controlling. But I guess with the way the story is going, it may be too late. As always, great work, Nuno! Have a lovely day. I'll move to the next chapter now.

I think I like Toni. I hope you have a plan for her. I think she is just the friend Devin needs. Poor Devin, he lived without a big chunk of himself. Luka had been attached to the majority of his life. Removing him from Devin's memory surely left a big hole in Devin's being. No wonder he was miserable. But "fate is a curious thing" (well, according to Brahms from the game Valkyrie Profile). I'm excited for what happened next now that the seal of his memory was started to be unlocked. I also like the way you explained the way how loopholes of scheming (even if the scheming was from supernatural and immortal forces) can happen in this story. It feels so natural and fits the story theme really well This chapter also inspired me to listen to some Fado. In fact, I was listening to some while writing this comment. 😊 Great work as always, Casual!

I love the slow burn when Julian gradually realised he had been in love with Julian the whole time. The way he expressed his love confession to Mark through music was so powerful, touching, pure, and romantic. No wonder Julian could break through Mark's mask and touch his heart. It proved that he loved Mark wholeheartedly, and the love is so pure and yet passionate. All of this exploded in the passionate kissing scene at the end of the chapter, where Mark returned his feelings. The piano subject, which continued from the previous chapter, and the dinner scene made me think that deep down, Julian desired to break through the golden cage his parents designed for him. Maybe not consciously yet, but definitely unconsciously, he wanted to be his own person rather than to be a talented "pianist" like his father wanted, among other expectations from Victor. Speaking about Victor, I feel like his fatherly love for Julian is quite conditional and very cold, too. The coldness here is not just the result of my comparison between Victor's love for Julian and the motherly love that Catherine had for Julian. It's just plain cold. In my opinion, if a person is a loving, warm and understanding dad, his children won't ask him the question "A favour or a request?" like it was some kind of business transaction or a "favour" from the company's CEO. But again, that is just my opinion. This chapter also describes the main differences between Victor and Julian. Julian may be a younger version of Victor, but he is a person whom others trust (or can trust). While Victor is someone others obeyed (or fear, in my opinion). I really like this comparison because I think it is very important, especially for Julian's growth as a person, who is foretold to be very different from his father. Great chapter as usual, Nuno!

This chapter is an interesting opening. It's beautiful and sad at the same time. A lot of foreshadowing, but not really just foreshadowing from the storyteller. It felt like Julian's memories. Or rather, Julian was looking back on his memories, to what he believed was the start of the chain of events. To analyse, to understand, and to try to find what he missed or what he should do instead in those moments. Maybe because of that, I felt a sense of grief and regret in this chapter. Because whatever event shook and changed Julian already happened, and now he has started to look back and find out exactly the signs or things he could see but refused to do so. I think besides Julian and Mark, Catherine will be my favourite. And I agree with @VBlew, I think Victor and Mark have been sharing a secret affair, or at least, only Julian was oblivious at this point. However, it's also interesting that Mark clearly only loves Julian, and he showed no interest in Victor, in the sense of romantic feelings or interest. I think I will have an emotional ride with this story. Great work, Nuno! See you in the next chapter!

This is a wonderful ending for an amazing and emotional story. I love it! Well done, Nuno! Marina blew up her second chance, and that is exactly what I expected. Based on what I read, I think she only thought her fortune diminished because she lost the court case/battle to Liam and his team, not because she was wrong. Because of that, she never changed and kept falling back to her old ways of management and treating and trying to control her clients like a tool, intead proving them true guidance and protection. And obviously, she blew her own second chance as a result. And I think this reflects real life really well. The birthday party is truly the highlight. I love the banter of everyone. It's truly fun to see the nerdy side of Liam when he was talking about art. And it's absolutely a joy to see his relationships with his friends have got even stronger throughout the year. Not only that, Liam, Hudson, and their friends are also doing their best to make such positive changes to the community and working environment of the entertainment industry. I'm glad they are gaining huge success with their mission, too. The biggest highlight, of course, is the final scene between Liam and Hudson. It's simply a chief kiss. I know it's late, but congratulations on this wonderful story, Nuno! And thank you! 😊

"Guillotine" - A word I don't see too often, but it is indeed the outstanding word within this chapter, in my opinion. The word that inflicts fears, terrors, horrors, coldness, and brutality on anyone who has ever actually seen it, and most of all, those who suffered its blade. And yet the metaphor that it represented is truly what Marina deserved. A fitting fate for a heartless villain. I'm so happy for Hudson's and Liam's success and achievements in court and their professional and personal lives in this chapter. Their love is so sweet. I love it. I really love the friendship Liam and Mateo developed naturally throughout the year. Think about it, Mateo must be Liam's first true platonic best friend. I'm so happy for Liam. He truly deserves a great friend like Teo. Their banters were really natural and funny. And it's so good to see Teo is now Liam's manager. I have always known the guy has a talent for management and crisis control. It's a good career path for him. This chapter also inspired me to name my own house, too. Such a good idea! Thanks, Nuno, Liam, and Hudson! I'm so excited. It's going to be real fun 😄! Wonderful chapter, Nuno!

I'm so glad Hudson not only got the promotion he so well-deserved but also gained a work dad. The promotion wasn't just a promotion, but a recognition. Hudson was being seen and recognised not just for his talent but for his hard work and honesty. I'm so happy for him. Mateo is still the best diva. The love scene between Hudson and Liam is very hot, fun, and passionate. What a joy to read! I really like the way you keep things suspended and create high anticipation from readers in your writing. A simple "I lost...everything", which was paired with the context of the present timeline, made me a bit worried. However, luckily, I was reading this story after it was finished, so I didn't have to wait for so long. I really can't imagine what I would feel if I read this story while it was still in progress 😅. I would be very nervous for this chapter to be released Amazing work as always, Nuno! 😊

I really like the parallel perspectives of both Liam and Hudson in this chapter. In many ways, their struggles mirror each other. Both were blacklisted in their respective fields because of vile machinery. However, they were both offered a new beginning/chance by honest people who saw them as fellow human beings and refused to cave in to the heartless and cruel demands from that machinery. I guess the message from this chapter is that as long as good people stay true to themselves and do not give up, there will always be good people in society who are not afraid of tyranny and will either find them or give them a chance to start over again. This made me feel warm 😊. Great chapter, Nuno! Enjoy your weekend!

I really love the confrontation Liam had with Marina. I have a strong feeling this is also a big turning point for him because Liam could witness the whole truth through his own eyes, not through the words of a third party, like Evelyn, for example. For the first time, he saw the real Marina, for what she truly was. He saw that the warm mother figure in front of him was an act, and Marina was a great actress. But with that rotten personality of hers, who actually wanted to be a fan, right? 😆 The apartment and Mateo continue to be my favourite highlights. I had a big and good laugh when Mateo "nearly ascended to heaven" because of Hudson's "slightly over-salted popcorn" 😆. And the ringtone - "Some hyper-pop remix that sounded like a robot having sex with a disco ball" - I also had a lot of fun trying to imagine it. If there is any sample or sound similar to it in real life, I'm interested in listening to it. Maybe I will have another good and loud laugh again 😄. Another great chapter, Nuno! Have a good day! 😊

Since everyone already covered what I thought about Marina and her character, I'm not going to repeat it. So I'm just going to add this. The tragic between Liam and Marina's relationship is that, until this chapter, Liam still thought she raised him with love and care, or at least that was what he wanted to believe. In any case, he truly considered her as a mother figure or his legal guardian. He had always known she was controlling, but I guess I just simply thought she was like an overbearing mother, and despite her controlling tendency, she genuinely loved him and cared for him. Just to be betrayed like that, it's not only brutal but heartless. I really like the contrast between Liam's mansion and Hudson's apartment in this chapter. Even though Hudson's place is just a run-down apartment, it offered warmth and felt like an actual home, even to Liam, while his own mansion is now so cold and denies him. Well, it's not the mansion's fault, but the contrast is just so interesting. The apartment even offered me light-hearted moments that made me smile, like "a throw blanket thrown like someone had collapsed under it and lived to tell the tale". So good! 😆 Mateo continues to increase my fondness for him. Such a good character! Great work, Nuno!

This chapter is truly emotional! Oh my Luka! Such a brave and beautiful soul! I was so sad for him, even though I had already foreseen what would happen to him since chapter 4. Anyway, I have decided that I'm still going to be very hopeful about all of this, especially since part 2 is coming. 1. So I guess the one that escaped from Mezenga's body was Theron's hunger. The entity that was given to him by Mister D. The one that helped him to see the light in others. There was beauty in it as the story described. 2. So now is my theory, that hunger was once a seed of light. Mister D was once called the Light Bringer. He was supposed to bring the seeds of light to humans, but he changed. As a result, this seed that he was supposed to care for is also corrupted (it wasn't supposed to look like a demon at all - an angel-like form was probably its original form). It was morphed into what it is now, and instead of producing light, it took or stole light from others and trapped their soul in the process. Or at least it was supposed to produce seeds of light, and Mister D was its caretaker. That was probably the reason why Mezenga was able to produce a seed that grew into the Soul tree over 500 years ago after accumulating enough light. 3. In this corrupted version, the entity produced an imperfect/incomplete Soul tree, as evidently it was hollow and lacked a true core. Luka and Devin's light and love gave it a core, thus making the tree complete, or at least bringing it closer to its intended original version. The one that should produce light and help souls transcend, instead of stealing light and trapping souls. 4. The Soul Tree is also a physical manifestation that represents the state of a corrupted seed of light/the hunger. Since the tree was lacking a core, in the shape of a human heart, the entity has to consume one and reside in the heart's location of the new vessel after migrating to it and become the vessel's new heart. 5. Another point I forgot to mention in the last chapter is that Luka's and Devin's light types are also quite special. One bright and one anchored. They are not the bright and the dimmed, or the fuel and the furnace. They complement each other. As anchored light, Luka became a safe place for Devin to grow and not be pulled or swallowed by the dimmed ones or other forces. In return, Devin's warmth and brightness shone on Luka and gave him happiness and peace. And they gave the tree their special type of combination as a core. And that made me feel really hopeful, not just because this is just my wishful thinking. 6. I really admired you. In a scene that could be quite terrifying, like the ritual scene in this chapter, you can still make it so erotic and hot 😆. Well, tbh, I wished it had happened in a very different situation where Luka would be safe, since he really enjoyed it. I think even Mezenga wished they could go at least another round 😆. Great work, Casual! I can't wait for new chapters of Futile Devices: The Hollow!

I understand. Thank you for your insight 😊

I think I would have thought the same as you regarding the part where Mezenga actually valued those thousands of souls he harvested over Enzo's if it wasn't for the following part of the previous chapter. """ They will be erased. All of them. Plus, of course, you.” “But Enzo lives.” “For a time. Yes.” “Or.” “Or,” Mister D said, “you perform the harvest. You give it what it wants. You continue. And Enzo,” he gestured upward, “joins them. Permanently. Held intact. Pulsing in his own flower. Available, in the long centuries of your existence… for whatever solace such a presence might continue to offer.” """ This is the part that convinced me that Mezenga wasn't worried much about the fates of those poor souls. He only truly cared about Enzo (at least more than he cared about the oblivion the souls are facing), and he was afraid of the eternal separation from Enzo. At that moment, Mister D hit that weakness of Mezenga by presenting him with an attractive option. But then again, this is just my opinion.

This is a very interesting angle. From my angle, Mezenga was no longer scared of death because perhaps he had lived for too long now, and he really loved Enzo. And if his death could spare Enzo, he would do it. Mezenga wasn't worried about those poor souls, as he was with the fact that if he died, he wouldn't be united with Enzo because Enzo's soul would move to the afterlife, while Mezenga's soul would disappear forever. And that scared him, and that's why trapping Enzo's soul became a very attractive option, which he chose eventually. I think these details are where his love for Enzo is quite different from Luka's love for Devin. While with Luka, he didn't even stop to ask Mezenga whether his soul would be able to move on or be reunited with Devin's when the time comes if he died. Not only that, I believe giving up on our own life is never an easy choice, even if it will save someone we love dearly. That is our lives after all, and we only have one each. So, I don't think Luka was given an easy choice here. And I think what made it feel like an easy choice to the readers was that Luka valued Devin's life and safety over his own. Luka didn't weigh his options; Mezenga did. And that is also one of the main differences between the two men, even though they were put into similar situations, in my opinion.

Fantastic chapter! I have a few (and probably long) thoughts 1. It's interesting and quite ironic that Mezenga is suffering from cancer since, in most cases, cancer cells are biologically immortal, and they are killing the body of an immortal 2. The conversation between Mezenga and Luka is a mirror of the conversation between Mister and Mezenga in the previous chapter. It's a powerful scene to watch. The scenarios are similar, but the choices were completely different. Both Mezenga and Luka were informed/promised that their lovers, Enzo and Devin, respectively, would be spared and have a chance to live happily if Mezenga and Luka chose to disappear/cease to exist from the world. Mezenga ultimately made a selfish choice to trap Enzo's soul against his will because the option where he lived while having Enzo next to him, even though it would condemn his soul to prison forever, was so attractive and convenient. However, by doing so, he put himself and his own happiness over Enzo's happiness and well-being. On the other hand, Luka immediately chose to trade his life for Devin's freedom, well-being, and happiness without any hesitation. A choice that was made so fast, so easy that it even took Mezenga by surprise. Luka didn't even care about questions that others normally and understandably would ask, like whether the migration process is painful or long. Because if Devin could leave safely and stay alive, those questions are irrelevant. He even asked Mezenga to erase him from Devin's memory. Although the previous chapter never stated outright, I think Mezenga couldn't bear the thought that Enzo would no longer remember when Mister D said that, eventually, Enzo would think his time with Mezenga was just a distant dream if he was not harvested and allowed to leave. This scene is also powerful because it offers the readers what unconditional and healthy love looks like. This also emphasises the stark contrast with the selfish love of Mezenga in the previous chapter. 3. The lovemaking scene of Luka and Devin was both hot and tender, and it makes me feel so sad for what is about to happen. However, what they produce as a result of their union gave me hope for a miracle. 4. Speaking about what the tree absorbs. I have a strong feeling that this event altered the tree forever, just like when it desired Enzo's light to survive. However, in this instance, Luka and Devin's light flowed into the tree and resided in its core, the core that became hollow and now their soul's imprinments are now the tree's core and very essence. They gave it an actual soul and identity. This gave me a personal theory that the upcoming migration of Mezenga won't be an ordinary one, and Luka's soul won't be erased completely (if not at all) because his soul is already a part of the tree's identity and core. 5. Another detail that I found interesting is that the space which housed the combined light of Luka and Devin is the same size as a human heart. It’s interesting not only because it seems like they gave the tree a heart, but also because the migration also requires a heart. And that makes me feel hopeful (at the very least for Luka) Anyway, I'm so excited for the next chapter. I know it will be very emotional and probably quite sad at one point, but I feel strangely optimistic about Luka and Devin's destinies, no matter what will become of them 😊. Great work, and have a good weekend, Casual!

This is an interesting take. If sociopathic or psychotic conditions are symptoms of underlying mental illnesses or disorders, should the wills of people who are suffering from those conditions be considered free? Or are they (or their true selves/wills) prisoners of their own mental illness or disorder? Especially, some mental illnesses are hereditary. I actually don't know. Those are just my genuine questions.

This chapter gave me so much clarity and emotion. Even Mister D is very emotional in this chapter. I'm sorry in advance that this is going to be a very long comment 😅 1. Based on my guess, the choice Mister D told Luca about won't be just about being the potential next vessel for Mezenga, but it will probably mirror the choice Mezenga made regarding Enzo's fate 2. Mezenga and Enzo's love story is a tragic one. But I felt sad mostly for Enzo. Just as Mezenga said, Enzo gave his love and his whole being to the person who did not deserve it in the end. Mezenga made a very selfish decision. And it's not just about killing Enzo. Mezenga didn't even give Enzo a choice or the freedom to consider. He just straight-up decided that being trapped or imprisoned by the tree is the fate Enzo must endure. That, for me, is an ultimate betrayal. Mezenga betrayed the only person that love him genuinely the most. I think Mezenga or Mister D could have argued that Enzo would still do the same to save Mezenga and stay with him forever, but they never consulted Enzo. That is the most important thing. If they did, this is still selfish on Mezenga's part, but it is still Enzo's choice, and it wouldn't be betrayal. Sadly, that wasn't what happened, and I feel really sad for Enzo 3. Mezenga's love for Enzo is quite toxic in my view. He lived for a really long time, and instead let his lover a chance to live fully and multiply his light through the life of his children if he decided to have them, he kept Enzo's soul trapped forever without the chance to move on. That is, if what Mister D said was 100% true. 4. I think Mister D had a big hand in this tragedy, particularly. He acted like a neutral party, an observing role. However, he manipulated Mezenga, not just this event, but since Mezenga was Theron. Mister D, in my opinion, is a true master manipulator, and his art of manipulation is just way higher than Mezenga's. Mezenga was ready to die. He was even considered to let the tree and him perish to save Enzo's life. However, Mister D just know the right thing to say, the right truth to share, the right suggestion to give. And as expected, he just pulls the Mezenga's selfishness to the surface effortlessly while making it sound like Mezenga made all the decisions with his own free will. I think there is no doubt that Mezenga made all those horrible decisions by himself, but that is not total freedom or without influences, no matter how many times Mister D said: "Free will is preserved". 5. Moreover, with Enzo being trapped in the tree, it would give Mezenga even more motivation to continue the work so that he can protect the tree and keep Enzo's soul safe and next to him. Intentional or not, this is a brutal and devilish move 6. I don't discuss religion in a public space. Not just because it is a sensitive topic, but also because I respect different beliefs, and I want to walk in harmony with people around me. So I won't have any comment on Mister D's creator or their relationship, even though this is a fictional version of them. However, I have a feeling that Mezenga, Luka, and Devin are the only ones to be tested. Maybe Mister D is also the one who is being tested, and a message or a lesson is waiting for him, too. And his whole journey of accompanying Theron is just a part of it. Anyway, this is just my own speculation. 7. And I think there is no coincidence that Mister D and Mezenga were led to meet Luka and Devin, whose names mean "Light" and "Poet" (well "Poet" is just one of the meanings). That is quite foreshadowing, especially since light has the main role in this story, and Mezenga/Theron has a special connection with poets. In fact, Pheon was the one who made that prophetic poem about Theron's fate 8. This chapter also confirmed what I always knew, that Mezenga didn't care for Devin at all since he used the chamber to harvest Devin's light. For him, Devin is just like others, so Devin would receive normal treatment. And his bedroom is only reserved for the one he truly loved 9. Another mystery is how Mister D could convince all of the people he chose as vessels for Mezenga to agree willingly. Interestingly, even Mezenga has never known how Mister D could do it, even after over 2000 years. I'll patiently wait for more revelations in the next chapters. 10. I think I have a clearer picture of how the event/story is going to unfold in the current timeline. Luka is probably going to be at a forked road, and I hope he will make a better choice than Mezenga when it comes to Devin. Having said that, I don't know what fate is waiting for Luka and Devin, so I'm rooting for them. Fantastic chapter, Casual! I, honestly, cannot wait for the next chapter!

Amazing chapter, Casual! It's so ironic that Theron was harvesting the people who mostly either have no family, like himself, or those who don't have loved ones that care enough about them to see the change immediately. In other words, those are the people who came from less fortunate backgrounds just like him! As if their unfortunate lives weren't bad enough, they had their very light/essence stolen away from them and made their lives even worse. This is the part that I don't think I can sympathise with him. Even though I felt sorry for his past, he has already lived for a really long time now. Indeed, Theron is also a prisoner willingly, and he chose his own cell, but I truly hope his poor soul will be finally released along with all the poor souls that have been imprisoned by the tree and couldn't be moved on. By the way, the tree makes me think of the Erdtree from Elden Rings This chapter also answered the mystery of how he controlled Luka and seduced Devin. Apart from using the meal, he also used his mind-reading to say what Devin wanted to hear, and his mind-control to freeze Luka or make him say what was not in his mind. Very dangerous and deceitful! So it seemed like Mister D was already over 2500 years old before meeting Theron, and the way he revealed knowledge to Theron, it seems like Theron has predecessors, or he isn't the only active collector/harvester. Anyway, this is just my silly theory It's clear now that Luka is chosen to be the next vessel. That's why Mister D was talking to him about the choice he will have to make. But love was foreshadowed in the last chapter, and in this chapter, it is a warning. So I guess love will be the key, and Luka is in love with Devin and Theron/Mezenga is hurting him. I'll make another guess that this migration will contain an unpleasant surprise for Theron. Luka was also drawn to the tree as well. I can't wait to find out more in the next chapters! Anyway, those are just my speculations! Again, amazing chapter! I can't wait for the next! Great work, Casual! P/S: But thinking again, maybe it won't be an unpleasant surprise since it's quite clear to Mezenga and Mister D that Luka is in love with Devin, so maybe this could be in their calculation, too. I don't know! And that's why this makes me even more excited for the new chapter as well 😄

Edit: It's a nice but tragic beginning!