Hello y'all, it's been a while.
Today marks the second anniversary of this fanfic, and I wanted to share some reflections on the journey so far. It feels like I started writing this a lifetime ago. A lot of my original ideas for where the story would go have changed, and some of the plot threads and arcs I planted in earlier chapters have been forgotten, reshaped, or quietly retired along the way. And that's just the stuff tied directly to this fanfic.
Outside the story, even more has changed. The world has only grown more complicated, in ways I never seem able to prepare for multiple wars, sweeping changes to online privacy, "the list" finally being partially revealed to the public, and so much more. On a personal level, earlier this year I was in a car crash that, if traffic had been heavier, probably would have been fatal. Thankfully it was a single-vehicle accident, and the only real casualties were my car and my bank account.
With all of that going on, my already fraying update schedule got completely derailed. So I want to thank those of you who have stuck with the story, kept it in your libraries, left comments asking me to continue, and thrown your daily Power Stones at it. Thank you for reminding me that there are people who value my work, and that not everything I create turns into a meaningless mess. I've been in a dark place these past few months, and seeing people enjoy and interact with this fanfic from an inexperienced noob like me has given me just enough hope not to give up.
It's far from my intent to become one of those authors who constantly promote their other sites and patreon links, but if anyone would like to show support financially... I'm not really in a position where I can afford to say no. I won't be shoving it in everyone's face every chapter, like some authors; the page is on patreon, just add the extention "/Blasopher" and you should find it. Most of what's there is and will stay free to access, with some small extras so I don't feel like I'm ripping supporters off. If you'd rather just keep reading, commenting, and tossing Power Stones (insert Bennett's idle animation here. iynyn), that still helps a lot.
Thank you again for reading, commenting, lurking, and just…being here.
Anyways, look at me, getting emotional over a parasocial relationship with strangers on the internet. Lol, I wont bore you all with more sap, so Cheers, to where the fic has been and where it is going next! I hope to see you all next year!
Chapter 82 will be out tomorrow! Who is the little girl? Why did the treasure hoarders focus on her and not the goods her father was transporting? and how will the group make it past the boarder under the Millelith's vigilant gaze? Stay tuned and find out!