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    Cynus
  • Cynus
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  • 11/11/2017
  • 201 Words
  • 2,845 Views
  • 16 Comments
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Rivers of the Dead - 39. 4-8 - Faith

Don't forget to comment and react to this chapter! Also, special thanks to my Patreon Supporters: Michael, Bill, Charles, Amr, Don, James, Joe, Jos, Mark, Mark, Paul, Steve, John, Frank, Sam, Matthieu, Ben, Jay, Scott, Chris, Lachlan, Matt, and Haldon. Couldn't have done it without them. Email me at Samuel.D.Roe@gmail.com to be put on my mailing list! :D

Ethan felt a tremor through the link, and then it was severed. He had felt everything Caleb had felt, had almost been able to see it and hear it. Caleb felt more alive than Ethan had thought possible.

But now Caleb was on his own, and Ethan had to hope he would be all right. No. He knew.

He had faith.

For the first time in his life, Ethan felt like praying. With all the love he still had, he bowed his head, and committed his soul to the universe, giving everything he had left in a prayer to the forces that governed existence.

He prayed for Caleb, that he'd have the wisdom to endure. To overcome the last trial he faced, to overcome the one who bound him.

He prayed for himself, that he would not waver in his faith, that he would believe to the end that Caleb could endure. That Caleb would know that Ethan had never stopped loving him.

And, on a whim, he prayed for Orpheus, for in the moment of pure love he understood. Only a being who had forgotten love could act with so much hate.

He prayed.

And he waited.

Don't forget to comment and react to this chapter! Also, special thanks to my Patreon Supporters: Michael, Bill, Charles, Amr, Don, James, Joe, Jos, Mark, Mark, Paul, Steve, John, Frank, Sam, Matthieu, Ben, Jay, Scott, Chris, Lachlan, Matt, and Haldon. Couldn't have done it without them. Email me at Samuel.D.Roe@gmail.com to be put on my mailing list! :D
Copyright © 2017 Cynus; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Chapter Comments

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drpaladin
  • Site Moderator

Can you get away with a two hundred word chapter in a book? I guess so.

 

Even at the low word count, this was a powerful moment. Evan, the unbelieving agnostic, prays. He has a faith. It might not be the faith of his parents, but it is faith.

 

Something broke the connection. I can only imagine it was the arrival of Orpheus. Will Orpheus feel the pulse of the prayer Evan sent out for him? If he does, it can only serve to help Caleb.

  • Like 2
Cynus
2 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Can you get away with a two hundred word chapter in a book? I guess so.

 

Even at the low word count, this was a powerful moment. Evan, the unbelieving agnostic, prays. He has a faith. It might not be the faith of his parents, but it is faith.

 

Something broke the connection. I can only imagine it was the arrival of Orpheus. Will Orpheus feel the pulse of the prayer Evan sent out for him? If he does, it can only serve to help Caleb.

Art is all about breaking conventions (in my opinion), so I ignored standard chapter length in writing this story. Instead I just wrote what needed to be said in the given moment.

This is actually one of my favorite chapters as a result, though I can't say most people would feel the same way, heh. Ethan throws the weight of his soul onto the scales of luck on Caleb's behalf and hopes for the best. :)

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  • Site Moderator
drpaladin
  • Site Moderator
6 minutes ago, Cynus said:

Art is all about breaking conventions (in my opinion), so I ignored standard chapter length in writing this story. Instead I just wrote what needed to be said in the given moment.

This is actually one of my favorite chapters as a result, though I can't say most people would feel the same way, heh. Ethan throws the weight of his soul onto the scales of luck on Caleb's behalf and hopes for the best. :)

 

Moments of clarity shine. This chapter achieved that goal.

 

In the end, it is all about structure. Can the sequence of words stand on their own? It is the case here.

 

William Faulkner had a chapter which was only five words long. You're in no danger of challenging a record.

  • Like 1
Cynus
31 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

In such a short chapter, you say so much. 

Thank you. :)

31 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

 

Moments of clarity shine. This chapter achieved that goal.

 

In the end, it is all about structure. Can the sequence of words stand on their own? It is the case here.

 

William Faulkner had a chapter which was only five words long. You're in no danger of challenging a record.

Ooh... I see a challenge in there somewhere. :P Thank you for the compliment! I'm glad it worked. :)

23 minutes ago, Benji said:

B).................. Very surprised at the short chapter, however you set the stage for the finale.  Looking forward to the conclusion.

It'll be done by tomorrow! I may even post another chapter tonight. It depends on how other things play out, but right now it's probably 50/50.

18 minutes ago, glennish said:

Nearing the end when all questions should be answered.  Ethan's faith and love for Caleb is the true power the Mage has.  If only Ethan had felt this at the beginning  we would be where we are, (and wouldn't have a story either).  Looking forward to last 2 chapters and the end of the story.  Thanks for an epic tale. 

Isn't it interesting how many stories could unravel that way? 'If only' seems to power an awful lot of stories, many of mine included, if not all of them. Of course, all our personal stories are filled with plenty of 'if only's, so maybe it's just a fact of life, eh? :D

Thank you, to everyone, for coming along on the ride. It's been wonderful, and I look forward to your comments on the last two chapters. :)

  • Like 2
Cynus
2 minutes ago, glennish said:

Why would we hate you?????  All stories come to an end......  As much as we would love for the story to go on, where is the fun in a never ending story.......  That would be a great name for a movie or book......  HHHHHHHMMMMMMMMM!!!!!

Perhaps this isn't the proper place for me to say such things, but I generally operate on the default assumption that I am disliked. Whenever i do something which could be seen as unfavorable (such as posting a chapter in a serial which is only 200 words long) in the eyes of the audience (whomever it happens to be), I just brace myself for the anger.

Lately I've had a lot of experiences where I can't seem to win, every action I take is offensive to someone. I can only hope to please more than I offend, since I can't seem to get to the point where I don't care at all (not for lack of trying, mind you).

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  • Site Moderator
drpaladin
  • Site Moderator
7 minutes ago, Cynus said:

Perhaps this isn't the proper place for me to say such things, but I generally operate on the default assumption that I am disliked. Whenever i do something which could be seen as unfavorable (such as posting a chapter in a serial which is only 200 words long) in the eyes of the audience (whomever it happens to be), I just brace myself for the anger.

Lately I've had a lot of experiences where I can't seem to win, every action I take is offensive to someone. I can only hope to please more than I offend, since I can't seem to get to the point where I don't care at all (not for lack of trying, mind you).

-

I'm beaming some good karma your way.

  • Like 2
Puppilull

I don't think a link like that can ever be severed. It survives most anything. 

 

And someone will always be offended. But you know what? It's their problem, not yours. They should bear that burden, not you. If they take the time to explain their experience in a respectful way, you could listen. But you are not obligated to make it right. (Since I very much doubt you ever set out to offend people.) People need to learn how to deal. 

Cynus
43 minutes ago, BlindAmbition said:

Luckily I know you’re writing. This is not a chapter. 💋

As I said on the previous chapter, I would've structured this differently if it had been written for serialization. Maybe adding this to Ethan's part before and adding the two parts of Caleb and the image of Death together.

 

On 11/11/2017 at 3:54 PM, Puppilull said:

I don't think a link like that can ever be severed. It survives most anything. 

 

And someone will always be offended. But you know what? It's their problem, not yours. They should bear that burden, not you. If they take the time to explain their experience in a respectful way, you could listen. But you are not obligated to make it right. (Since I very much doubt you ever set out to offend people.) People need to learn how to deal. 

I'm kind of glad I ended up here reading this today (btw, apologies for not responding to this sooner) I needed to read it now, though.

On 11/10/2017 at 8:44 PM, drpaladin said:

-

I'm beaming some good karma your way.

Thank you! I think it has helped! :D

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