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Chapter 205

🕑 Added 2023-01-13 20:00:05 +0000 UTC

Comments

Desmond Lewis

Kind sir I subscribed today because I couldn’t wait for the next book! And you have me crying at midnight.

B Sandage

I don’t comment ever normally. But I needed to read this tonight. I lost the most important person in my life pre Covid. I’ve been helping one of my best friends deal with her passing of her father that was her best friend. I’ve spent a week watching what was recoverable from vhs. Cheers and thank you.

Lorraine V

0x0F

You did hide it fairly well. It wasn't till the line about yelling for someone named door that I got it 100%.

C_Mantis

Finally something noticed! Yes, I love SCRUBS. Scrubs, psych!, and B99 are my favorite three shows.

0x0F

So rereading this chap, and I've got to ask, did you put in a Scrubs reference with Healer Cox?

Aegir

100% disagree. Have a little sister, have definitely called her short stack. Maybe it's an American thing? Short stop has worse connotations similar to the short bus. Most of us moved away from baseball references 20 years ago.

MinE

I believe it was mentioned that they aren't thought to be a significant factor in forming intents. The extra time and life experience is what is thought to effect intent formation.

Jamie Trevino

Hey word of advice: // he pushed past her futile defense and ruffled her hair. “No, short stack. Mom and dad had to leave the city quickly, as Aunt Katya went into labor early. And unless you want to get on a six hour train and then spend the next two or more days helping them get settled in, I figured you might want to stay back.” // The term you were looking for is ‘shortstop’, which is an endearing term first for a kid, while ‘short stack’ is a term conjoining short and ‘stacked’ which you should not be calling your little sister

Morgan R. Fawcett

By the gods, I cried so hard my nose ran, and my dogs came in for emergency cuddles. I avoided reading this chapter because of the length and the possibilities it presented. However, the chapter was cathartic, and I appreciate the effort you put into writing it.

Pixelblade

Probably my favourite chapter of this novel. A true delight. Thanks a lot.

Daniel Smith

I could totally see some puffed up politician trying to pull that

Weaver

Can't wait for next chapter and another exciting "What If"

Jude

I wasn't expecting that, I'm glad I read this at home because I've been crying for 10 minutes

Michael

I will admit I wasn't super excited to read a full folded reality narrative, but I really enjoyed this. It was exciting seeing a non adventurer character in the setting.

Clint

I've been assuming it will just be like a 60% version of his in-reflection concept. For this one, "Good Food Takes Time", I guess he'd be able to use his Concept to enhance both the flavor of food and the effectiveness of ingredients, like in Liz's potions.

Rowsdower

he gains new uses for his concept, like Matts mana granting or repulsion force. each new use is ~60% as powerful as his original two because he's Tier 11 going in. Also each of the new uses are based on the concepts of the lives he lives. The one from this chapter will have something to do with crafting according to discussion on the discord.

Obran

I can't remember. Is the reward for this floor another talent? If so when Matt joins the army maybe instead of a fighter he joins as a cook and pulls an "Under Seige" but without being a giant dick like Steven Segal

Clint

I was just imagining that conversation, but in my head it ended with Matt suddenly very unsure that the "real" world was actually real, rather than some kind of fantasy -- he's partnered with a double princess, bonded to Aster, on track to beat Duke Waters' Minkala run... and the numbers on his mana growth can't possibly be real...

Violet

I realize that we're probably not all that close to the party creating their Intents, but how do the Folded Reflections Concepts relate to Matt's Concept and its advancement? Are they alternative bases from which Matt can develop his Intent? Are they new elements that he can mix and match in creating an Intent? Are they entirely extraneous to the process?

Bob Bryan

Curiosity question, if he finds out about the beast blood thing here, does he get off Scott free or do they need to arrest the planet for telling him restricted information?

Aaron

Beautiful chapter. Would have been cool for him to talk to Aunt Helen at his Tier 15 cooking competition and let her know he was within folded reflections and see how she reacts.

adam1

Luna said that there is usually a life where things go very well and another where things go bad.

Shmigit

If you could only do one of the lives in a long form format, I'm super happy it was this one. Such an amazing chapter dude.

Literally Goose

I find this an odd take. Each to their own, but there doesn’t need to be stakes for you to be invested. Hopefully after reading this far, most people are invested in Matt as a character, being an Orphan plays a large part in his character development. Witnessing him getting to experience, however fleetingly / imaginary, a ‘do over’ of a life with family was (in my opinion) one of the highlights of the story to date. I thought there was more than enough emotional context and detail for this to matter. Thanks Mantis - thoroughly enjoyed this chapter, I thought you executed it amazingly well.

Frardowin

Concepts, there are too many cool changes with the same talent. No aster, mana battery matt, no Liz, etc.

Nicolas Maganto

They are supposed to be lives with different talents no though?

Zy

Thanks, the end was a beautiful

Cryptic_Reality

Critical strike right in my feels!

JoshCalmick

...this chapter was phenomenal. Thank you, Mantis

Jordan

Darn Ninjas and their onions are back.

Wraith

That was amazing. Thank you so much for the extra long chapter!

Jhaded

I'm not crying, you're crying.

J

My assumption is the cups and teas represent the lives. Cups may indicate family status (and maybe culture/Great Power), the tea itself maybe the general "tone" of the life? This was the plain earthenware mug with honey tea (known to be common in the Empire). If earthenware = middle-class family where the honey tea is a calm, sweet life that would make some sense. Then it's mostly taking guesses at what the other cups/teas mean. Spiced may mean exciting/fast-paced (in a good or bad way), caffeinated may be similar. One tea is mostly defined by color (and that it doesn't exist now), and the other is an odd jasmine tea. The last is a "cold brewed green tea". Maybe cold means he doesn't have many family/friends (cold life) or it's just a bad life in general...or maybe not. I don't really drink tea, so I'm not familiar with what the tastes of e.g. jasmine, green, white teas might hint at. I'd imagine the fancy cups are born into wealth (maybe royalty), which doesn't necessarily mean a good life. I'd imagine at very least the bowl is a different culture/Power (since it's a tea Liz likes, maybe in the Empire's Beast Kingdom or the Monster Collective?), maybe the sharpened-lip mug, ornate cup and saucer, and potentially porcelain tea cup as well. I could also be totally wrong, but I'd imagine they're definitely connected in some way and we'll find out as we go through the lives.

Gray Fullbuster

At least he got the closer on his parents deaths he really needed it to grow beyond his beginning to longer be held back

TheAverageNerd

While not my parrents, i very recentlylost both my grand parents(grandfather few months ago and grandmother on Christmas Day) who played a big rule in raising me... really felt this chapter

Mario Morales

I wish we could get this much on all the lives of everyone in the party. So many people dislike these extended "rabbit trails" but I always looked at this as a feature of the web novel format and not a bug.

Mario Morales

I'm at work! Had to make those tears dry up before anyone could notice.

Exchao

This was just fantastic.

Gjim

I like the pay off at the end for Matt. Not many stories make room for healing or catharsis, bravo. Looking forward to the exciting lives of Matt and what cool concepts he will get next, hopefully it will be a wide range from utility to combat prowess.

David Stifter

Same here man

David Stifter

Wow this was epic. Missing my dad. My thoughts are with all of you and hope we dream of one more day with our lost loved ones tonight...

James

Fuck, I’m not ashamed to say I cried a bit.

Sam Joy

That was perfect and made me ball my eyes out like a little kid. Thanks for that it healed a little something in me too.

Obbu

Edit Suggestions: I just got out my delve and saw that Jacque hired a new employee.” ->I just got out of my delve and saw that Jacque hired a new employee.” After saying goodby one last time, ->After saying goodbye one last time,

John Smith

Speaking as someone that changes Patreon subscriptions relatively frequently, i have to say that chapters, story building, and characters like this are why PoA has been the only constant on my Patreon for a while. Great Story.

Nimps

Yeah I cried, I was holding it in until I read your note.

Andrew Pritko

Beautiful chapter. The raw emotion and flow as beautiful from beginning to end. Thank you

WigglesDoomius

At my level of business, that kind of publicity is worth its weight in Tier 50 mana stones?? Ideas weigh nothing.

Rowsdower

From discord we're getting 12 more lives, 3 for each Matt, Liz, Aster, Queen. Also i thought Duke waters got his intent at 16 or 17, his Aspect was at 23

Daniel Smith

For what it's worth is fairly well worth written, just like I said it's not for me

Daniel Smith

To be fair I was watching war movies when I was far younger

C_Mantis

No worries. Thats why we wont spend too much time on them.

C_Mantis

yeah the others are much shorter. 2k max I think. otherwise it be an entire novel about the lives and that woudl slow us down toooooo much

Fred

In the pre-chapter note, it says: "This is the only life in 'long form' like this." So I think the description of the other lives should be much briefer.

Seiryus

I think this is easily the best chapter I've read in this story. Maybe in the top 10 of all stories.

Shaun McNally

this was an amazing chapter! honestly my favorite so far and made this series all the better!

KingGoomba

I honestly wasn't sure how these lives were going to go based on the note from the last chapter. This is such a great chapter and I completely understand how you lost yourself in the writing. I understand cutting some of them short but i'm glad we got this one.

alex bozdog

I'll be honest if this is the kind of Folded reflections we're getting I'm not sure how you're getting through even Matt's 6 in 25k words... never mind hinting the other 18 lives, since I assume they are all going to get some detail to explain the Concept effect they get from each one. Now I'm just torn between wanting all the details of the Folded reflections and getting to the end of Minkalla and seeing the massive boost happen. P.S. we were told Duke Waters got his Intent at Tier 13, so I assume as soon as he came out of Minkalla, will they be working/getting their Intent before T15 or is that just Duke Waters being an absolute monster and not something they will be doing?

Oz

could just be irl memories bleeding through

Derze

gotta say, the ending made me cry. thanks for the experience.

Daniel Smith

I personally found the chapter to be kind of mah, it's kind of hard for me to become emotionally invested when I know none of it is actually going to matter

Thomas Todd

So from what's been said on the discord the life will seem a bit disconnected from him and the information won't be completely his own yet. It will be more like he observed someone for that length of time both in the effect the life will have on him and what he learned needing to be actually used and practiced to become truly useful

C_Mantis

The lives are like dreams once he leaves. Tho they are put in a 'box' that he can review at will so he doesn't lose it and it wont fade. But he wont directly get the experiences like being a better cook.

VerethragnaD

Damnit, I wasn't expecting to shed tears while reading today, but you've outdone yourself Mantis. The chapter was beautiful, I honestly thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience it.

yannick schwende

Thank you, Mantis, just ... Thank you ☺️

Serran

Beautiful chapter. And a good reminder that we should treasure the people we have when we have them. Now, sorry to take a sudden left turn, but is Matt going to be able to take what his Chef self learned and apply it? Suddenly gaining Centuries of Life experience (Matt is in his early forties) might also have an impact.

Revan694

Please leave the authors note from the end of the chapter in the books.

C_Mantis

fixeed

C_Mantis

Lol now thats a good question. whoops

BlodWedd

and Matt could follow and actually help the him with his job ** lol either 'help the man' or just 'help him'

Hydrabogen

"from every military movie Matt had ever seen." Why is a Seven-year-old watching war movies o.o

C_Mantis

Thats actually how I 'fixed' it lol just added the healer noting it

Jessica

Yeah, that was perfect. Thank you!

Disclancer

Totally thought that was deliberate 😅 7 year old maths and all that!

TDMC

Ah yeah, the undead rift meant the Junipers were put on the chopping block before they could have the rift break event

C_Mantis

Its hard to get over, and partially where I channeled this chapter from. In fantasy land even this is possible. Hope you are doing well yourself.

Thomas

The author's note pushed me over the edge to crying reminding me of those I've lost and wish to have one more conversation with.

C_Mantis

should be fixed

C_Mantis

More that there was never a undread rift in his OG life which then changed everything else.

Clint

Great chapter, thanks! "give our patients time to accumulate" --> acclimate

zenot funr

Well congratulations on being the first ever story out of hundreds to make me cry

Will Saye

probably hands down one of my favorite chapters so far. you set the bar pretty high for the rest of the FR chapters.

Barkeep

God Dang matt. Stop cutting all those onions into perfect cubes around me when I am trying to read. Your Making my eyes tear up.

Wendell A. Poole III

Teared up for sure, and the footnote made me literally break down. Lost a parent when I was 15 and...

Eric M

That one turned into a real tear jerker. Appreciate the In memoriam comment as it hit home for me as well. Very fun, interesting and oh so different life he got to experience! 😂

Anonymonous

Does his life diverge from his actual life when he remembers the stinky from school?

Josh

Do they share the other lives will one of Aster's life match Matts?

Cora

Oh wow. That was just...

C_Mantis

whoops

Tim Johnson

dammit Matt, why are you cutting onions in my room!!!

TerrestrialOverlord

For real I feel Mantis drinks a cup and just writes whatever happens in the alternate life...this story is so good...like suspiciously good 😏🧐👽

C_Mantis

fixed

C_Mantis

fixed ty

C_Mantis

fixed

C_Mantis

na it was more last minute cutting of dialogue. Should be more clear now

Archie

Agreed. What a wonderful piece of writing.

Uuds

Typo?? Nore did he ---> Nor did he Thanks for the chapter

Amelgar

I'm going to really surprised if there isn't mana battery matt life

Gerald

That was, maybe...my favorite chapter in this whole saga... beautifully done.

Matthew Dauber

excellent chapter. made me cry <3

Rielgesh

"upa" should be up, and "reputual" should be reputable

TerrestrialOverlord

Error "accumulate" should probably be "acclimate"

SilasDrekken

I think these paragraphs are out of order(should probably be 3,1,2): After she once more reminded him to give more detail he added, he repeated and spelled out the entire list of words trying to annoy her but it didn’t seem to work. “Rough, grudge, stunt, thumb, once, another, does, trouble, cousin, began.” After describing how he went to school and the path they took, Matt shrugged. “There were a lot of people going in. I only knew Christie Miller and Rodric Sales, though. After I went to my classroom, Miss Aberdeen taught us math before giving us our spelling test.”