RuffWriter
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Chapter 598
🕑 Added 2020-06-09 23:43:47 +0000 UTChttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1trEvrp-Dy52e1JEI7IU8TOIpbKsvjiKC6ODIfl4RLnc/edit?usp=sharing
As someone who has experienced more than my fair share of grief, let me just say that there is no normal way to grieve.
Its perfectly natural to grieve, because thats how we respond to loss. Losing your health, your hair, your job, your financial stability, almost anything can trigger the grieving process, and its totally normal. For example, Ive been grieving the loss of my Core and Spiritual Weapons for almost a year now, and Alsantset is still grieving the loss of her home in the village. Mom grieves the loss of her youth, and Grandpa Du is inconsolable over losing Yan, despite living with us in our manor and seeing her everyday. Grief is unavoidable, but what makes it particularly difficult to deal with is that every loss affects you differently. The loss of a beloved friend isnt the same as losing a close subordinate, nor is losing a job the same as losing a home, and because of this, there can be no normal when it comes to grief. This isnt the same as saying theres no right way to grieve, but whats right for one person or situation might not be right for another. Much like the Martial Path, we must all forge our own way through grief, though its always nice to have support to fall back on.
As for me, Ive had eight years to grieve the loss of my former life, and I still havent come to terms with my new circumstances. So even though I have plenty of experience with grief, Im hardly an expert on the subject matter, the same way being an alcoholic with a working tongue doesnt qualify you as a sommelier.
I dont understand, I hear myself say, standing over Guan Suos corpse and feeling as if Im no longer in control of anything. How can he be dead? Hes an Ancestral Beast, a Divinity, a powerful Warrior standing at the pinnacle of Martial might...
Stupid question, but Dad takes it in stride. Death comes for us all, he says, drawing me into his embrace, and I resist the urge to pull away out of pique. But your friend has gone into the Mothers warm embrace, and will eventually emerge a new person to experience the cycle of reincarnation once more. Such is life, trials and tribulations without end, but take solace, for Guan Suo has found... respite.
Reincarnation. Even knowing its real and possible is no comfort as I come to grips with reality, because Guan Suos death sits squarely on my shoulders. He didnt want this, never wanted to be a part of the war effort, but I forced his hand. Not on purpose, but it was still my fault, because if it wasnt for me, hed be back in Ping Yao living the quiet life with Ping Ping, instead of lying dead in the grass at her feet. Yes, hes a Divinity and can make his own decisions, but at Sinuji, he stepped out to protect me, to protect Ping Ping, and maybe even protect the soldiers of the Empire, and for this, he paid the ultimate price.
What makes this so much worse is how utterly miserable the big girl looks as she stands utterly still, her arms cradled and eyes locked on her old friends body, as if she too cannot accept his death and is waiting for him to wake. It breaks my heart to see her in such distress, but theres nothing I can say or do to ease her pain. Truth be told, I dont think Im doing much better than she is. I keep watching Guan Suo and waiting for him to open his eyes and tell me to quit gawking or demand something to eat, but I know he never will. There is a stillness in death that cannot be overlooked, no matter how much you might wish to, if only to give yourself a sense of false hope.
Mom quietly asks me to send my Death Corps away with orders to set a perimeter around the park and keep all unrelated persons away, and I comply without question because it gives me something to do besides fixate on this loss. When thats done, I find myself at the head of a growing crowd, with Rustram and Sai Chou on my left, Mila, Song and their parents on my right, and my parents staunchly standing behind me. Other members of the Protectorate crowd in around us, though it shames me to admit I dont know their names or even recognize their faces, but Sai Chou wordlessly greets each of them in turn as they take their place around us for this impromptu wake, and its all I can do to remain standing as the truth rears its ugly head.
Guan Suo is dead, and I didnt even get to say goodbye. We werent the closest friends, but we were friends, and Id gotten so used to having him around, even when I didnt know where he was. Most days, the only indication Id get of his presence was when Id look down at my plate and find some food missing, which I always thought was both aggravating and adorable. He couldnt just sit down for dinner with the rest of us like a normal person, and I could never figure out why, but thats just how he was. A gruff, cantankerous grouch who preferred to keep his own company.
But he was loved and will be missed, as evidenced by the teary faces in the crowd, and his absence will be felt from the gaping hole in my chest. Not sure if that matters much in the long run, but it is what it is.
For long minutes, no one speaks as everyone gets in place, and I recognize a few other faces in the crowd. Yan and Grandpa Du are here, as is Kyung, Luo-Luo, Lin-Lin, and Guard Leader, all standing off to one side in sombre silence. The adorable old wolf is also present, with no sign of Huu or Ghurda to be seen, but its nice to know the old codger bonded with Guan Suo over their dinner time arguments. Mama Gam, the Bull, and the Rhino Ancestral Beasts are also present, looking sombre and subdued over the death of a peer, though Ive no idea how they knew hed be here or why they didnt bother trying to help him fight. Fu Zhu Li stops by, looking almost none the worse for wear save for a minor slump of his shoulders and a slight quiver of sleeves which hide trembling hands, signs of fatigue from overwork and no doubt self-recrimination for his failure to save Guan Suo.
I dont blame him though, or if I do, I blame him less than myself. He did what he could to save Guan Suo, while I steered him to his untimely demise.
The crowd holds many unfamiliar faces and a disproportionate number of unique demi-humans, some clearly from the Protectorate and others whose clean, embroidered outfits and tidy appearances stick out like a sore thumb. It belatedly occurs to me that many of these mysterious demi-humans might actually be Ancestral Beasts, and I lower my eyes on instinct, not wanting to draw the attention of another Divinity for reasons I dont entirely understand.
Its terrifying, standing beside someone who can kill you with little more than a thought, especially now that I know I have little chance of surviving while standing at ground zero in a clash between Divinities. Instead, I turn my attention to studying Guan Suos body and do what little I can to try and process this loss. He does look peaceful, with the wrinkles around his eyes more slack than ever, and I can almost make out a smile, though its probably just his jaw muscles growing stiff after death. Thats my biggest problem when it comes to grief, my inability to simply let things be coupled with an incessant need to dwell on the cold, hard facts and immutable truths. Sure, Ive got memories of a past life, but how do I know Im not just insane? Besides, what warm embrace of the Mother? Ive no recollection of that, only fear, confusion, and panic after waking up from a death I cannot remember.
Will that happen to Guan Suo in his next life? Will he also forget everything that matters from this life? Will he remember Ping Ping and the bond they shared, or will he just have an underlying fondness for turtles? Will he grow up in a happy home with a family who loves him, or is he doomed to a bleak existence in a desolate land, fighting for every scrap and morsel he can get? Will he even be human? Or a red panda? Or capable of cognizant thought?
Does it even matter? If were all reborn after we die, whats the point of doing anything at all?
The Penitent Brotherhood had one thing right. Life is suffering, but death? Death is easy. Guan Suo has found the ultimate peace and will no longer be troubled by pain or suffering. His fight, his struggle, his war is over, for he has been given the peace of the sword, and no longer needs to concern himself with the trials and tribulations of this world. Dad is right; Guan Suo has more than earned this respite, and I wish him all the best in whatever might await him.
There are no speeches given or anecdotes shared at this wake, and this silent farewell feels lacking for a man who gave his life to save tens of thousands of strangers. I dont think Guan Suo would care for any thanks or applause, because he only did what he did to save one, cherished friend. Then again, it occurs to me that if Ping Pings safety was all he cared about, he could easily have dragged me away with her long before the second battle for Sinuji took place. Hell, he couldve demanded I stay in the Northern Province in exchange for his help, and Im sure the Legate and whatever powers that be would have happily sidelined me without a second thought, but Guan Suo didnt do that. Instead, he requested to join my retinue and lent me the aid of his Protectorate, followed me out on patrol and watched over me from the shadows. Ill never know why he did that, or how much he truly helped me, because he never bothered with taking credit, but having seen how comfortable Enemy Divinities are with skirting the Treaty, Im positive I owe him my life several times over, because his mere presence was probably enough to keep them from trying anything too overboard.
And for this fallen master, a veritable peak existence in this world we inhabit and reluctant hero of the Empire who saved who knows how many lives, all we can spare are a handful of silent minutes before the crowd disperses without ceremony. Only my family is left behind, as well as Sai Chou and Rustram, who exchange a few quiet words with Mila before slinking off into the night. My parents expect me to leave soon after, but I shake my head and gesture towards Mila and Ping Ping, indicating I dont want to leave either of them alone. Neither one has really moved since I arrived, and Im not sure Im handling this any better than they are, because theres a part of me that wanted to kick and scream at all those Divinities for not doing more than they did, for leaving Guan Suo, Gang Shu, and the Abbot to fight their battle unaided. Another part of me wants to howl at the Heavens for allowing this injustice to stand, while most of me just wants to sit down and let the numbness sink in.
Because theres a tiny, minuscule, insignificant portion of my brain wondering what would happen if I tried to Devour Guan Suos body. Would it be like Devouring Demons? Probably not, but I really should try, because when will I ever get another chance to? If I could, I would lobotomize this specific part of my brain, because I cant help but try to justify it. Would it be wrong to benefit from his death? Thats not Guan Suo, its his remains, an empty husk that will rot away in time, so what does it matter if I make use of it? I mean, who knows, maybe Ping Pings just making sure Guan Suos really gone before chowing down on his corpse. Maybe Mila and Husolt are fitting his bones for new Spiritual Weapons, or those other Ancestral Beasts were thinking about making a play for the body themselves, who knows? If someone is going to benefit, then why not me?
God I hate myself sometimes...
Thankfully, I manage to keep my questions to myself, because Ive already caused Guan Suos death and have no desire to desecrate his remains, nor would I be able to ever forgive myself if I did. After some time, Mom and Dad usher everyone else away and leave me alone with Mila and Ping Ping on the field underneath the starry night sky. As if on cue, Mila begins to talk, telling me about her conversation with Guan Suo before his death, and despite her listless, droning narration, I can tell how much it hurts her to know how he felt about her, how he thought they were both better off without one another. And then he told me to tell you to look after Ping Ping, Mila concludes, the pain evident in her voice, if not her expression. Those were his last words. Said to bring her away and let the Imperials fight their own battles, and thats it. He didnt apologize, didnt wish things were different, didnt even claim he wanted to be different, just... I couldnt keep you, because I couldnt stop wanting to kill you, and thats that.
Its hard not to wince as Mila vents her frustrations, unable to come to terms with her sorrow and anger which pains her so. Shes hurting because she so desperately wants to believe Guan Suos death doesnt mean anything to her, but its not that simple. Like it or not, he was her father, or her progenitor as she prefers to call him, and its human nature to want that to mean something.
And its human nature to want your kids to live long and happy lives.
I dont think thats what he meant. Speaking before I think better of it, I wrap my arm around Milas waist and gesture at Guan Suo. From what I can tell, it sounds like Guan Suo wanted you to understand why he couldnt raise you himself, which sounds like regret to me. Mila sniffles, but doesnt say anything as she leans into my embrace, which I take as a sign to keep talking. I cannot imagine his struggles, nor can I know what its like to lose so many loved ones over the course of one lifetime, but... what he said, about wanting to love and cherish your beautiful smile, he meant it, but his bestial half wouldnt let him.
Then why not find me when I was older? Milas innocent tone and dismal expression punches me in the gut, and its all I can do to stay standing. Why didnt he tell me he was my father? Lots of Ancestral Beasts seek out their children when theyre older. Look at Gang Shu and the Gams...
The answer comes easily, though I can see why Mila cant see it. Because, my love, his human half wouldnt let him. Stepping closer so I can hold her in both arms, I hug Mila tight and pray for her safety and longevity, because I dont know what Id do if I lost her. He told you about his parents and his first wife, about how hed forgotten their faces, but I guarantee you the pain and sorrow from losing them is still going strong. I should know. I cant remember the faces of my parents from my first life, but my heart still aches when I think of them, which quite frankly, is absurd and unfair. Multiply that by however many years hes lived and relationships hes lost, and it adds up to a whole lot of pain and suffering. Look at how he lived all this time weve known him, alone and without companionship. I dont think he did it because he hates people, but because hes afraid of getting hurt again. Thats why he never sat down for dinner with us, and thats why he stayed so close to Ping Ping and founded the Protectorate to look after her, because she is one of the few friendships he can have that he wouldnt outlive.
...And even then, he revealed himself to me. Trembling in my arms, Mila whispers, The first day I arrived in Nan Ping, he showed himself unprompted after I greeted Ping Ping. I always thought it was so he could laugh at my ignorance, but he told me everything he felt I needed to hear then, and only repeated himself today. At the end... he said he envied us demi-humans, because he truly believed he was less than human, and that his children were better off without him. Her tears slide down her cheeks and mingle with mine as we mourn and pity this poor, tortured man. How terrible it must have been, to live so long believing himself a monster...
Which ironically proves just how human he really was. A real beast wouldnt care, they simply do what they feel is right, and then move on with their lives without remorse, because remorse is a human emotion, one beasts have no time to indulge. The fact that Guan Suo never realized this makes his death all the more tragic, and my guilt weighs heavily upon my shoulders, but now is not the time to succumb to my pain because Mila, strong, stoic, dependable Mila, needs my support.
Having said all that needs to be said, we stand together and cry while Ping Ping quietly mourns the loss of her friend. Mom soon returns with blankets for me and Mila before retreating without a word, and in time, we make use of them and sit down next to the big girl. Im not gonna lie, it kinda stings that Ping Ping wont let me sit inside her arms and even forcibly nudges me back when I try to press the issue, but I guess shes feeling protective of her oldest and closest friend. This doesnt stop her from checking in on me every few minutes, lifting her head to peer over her arm and see if Im still there, which eventually leads to us tentatively moving over to lean against her shoulder. Finally reassured of my constant presence, Ping Ping goes back to lying next to Guan Suo while I brainstorm ways to help her come to terms with her loss, but Im not qualified to help people cope with their grief, much less animals.
I mean, I dont think this is going to be a long term problem, as Ping Ping will get over this in time, but if theres anything I can do to speed along the process, Id do it just to save her the heartache. I cant even imagine what itd be like to have a relationship spanning so many centuries, or however long it takes to go from beast to Ancestral Beast, much less how I would react if it ended abruptly. I do know that animals understand death though, and are more accepting of it than most humans, so hopefully, shell bounce back from this loss and go back to her cheerful, chipper self soon enough.
As for Mila, Im not worried about her in the slightest. Ill be here to support her as needed, but shes a strong girl with a family who loves her, and she knows it. Before I even know it, my fiery wife is fast asleep in my arms, her expression troubled, but not tortured, which is better than I could manage in her stead. Or in my stead, considering Im handling this much worse than she is. Not only do I feel guilty for getting Guan Suo into the mess which got him killed, I also have survivors guilt and a slew of other doubts and conceits about what I could or should have done to prevent Guan Suos death, not to mention my long list of personal psychoses to deal with. On top of all that, I cant get the idea of Devouring Guan Suos body out of my brain, and I feel like Ping Pings behaviour proves that she believes that its possible. Why else would she keep me away from Guan Suos corpse? I dont want to think too hard about it though, because it makes me feel like a monster, doubly so since its something Ping Ping wouldnt like, so I simply close my eyes, do my best to ignore all my intrusive thoughts, and wait for peaceful slumber to arrive, all while quietly humming to maybe soothe Ping Pings nerves.
So worked up by my atrocious grieving process, it doesnt even occur to me that I might end up in Ping Pings Natal Palace, but thats exactly where I find myself the next time my brain kicks into gear. One second, Im drifting off with Mila in my arms, and the next, Im here in Ping Pings river of happy fun friend time, except its feeling a little light on the happy, fun, and friends. Colour too, as if the brightness, contrast, and saturation settings have all been taken down a few notches. An appropriately human response to grief and mourning, but surprising when coming from a turtle, as Im not entirely certain if turtles can even see colour.
Usually, the diminutive Natal form of the big girl greets me at the same mud bank every time I pop in to visit, but today, she jumps me directly to the grove of red pandas, where she sits mournfully in the embrace of Guan Suos fat panda form, lying there dead as he is in real life. For some reason, seeing him like this just makes his loss all the more poignant for me, and I cant help but break into tears at the sight, especially since all the other red pandas are absent too. In fact, theres no life at all in her normally bustling Natal Palace, the significance of which escapes me as Ping Ping rears her head and lets loose with a piteous squeak of mourning as she looks to me to fix this, but I cant.
Im sorry Ping Ping, I begin, already sobbing from her sentimental display of affection. Hes gone, and I cant bring him back. Out of some misguided sense of empathy, I unleash my Aura to share my grief and let her know I understand, but this only makes things worse as my anguish compounds her misery and her wailing squeaks redouble. Realizing my mistake too late, I try to think happy thoughts and share a more comforting emotion with her, but to do so would require I feel a more comforting emotion, and were locked in an echo chamber of misery. My misery made her more miserable which in turn is making me even more miserable, and now theres nothing to do except be miserable together.
Or so I believe, right up until Ping Pings squeaks culminate into a plaintive shriek which shatters the Natal Palace around us. Gone are the clear, flowing waters and verdant bamboo stalks, the fluffy white clouds and the warm, inviting sun, the playful, chittering animals and curious, friendly observers. In their place is nothing but the bleak emptiness of the Void, with darkness stretching out in every direction save for Ping Ping, Red Panda Guan Suo, and myself.
No, thats not true. The darkness of the Void surrounds us, but something lurks within, writhing and wriggling almost invisibly against the darkness. Ping Ping pays no attention to her surroundings, and instead is wholly lost in wailing and mourning her friend, but I can see the Void closing in around us. There is no sense of motion, only magnification, as if neither group is moving across the Void, but rather the Void is drawing us closer together. Ive seen this before once, and soon, it becomes clear who waits at the other end, as the disembodied Spectres come into view, teeming and swarming in unbridled excitement at the prospect of new life and succour.
Mahakala called them itinerant souls whove broken free from the cycle of Reincarnation, ones who seek nihility for all, but I never agreed with his description. For starters, Ive seen a Spectre birth first-hand, and unless Jorani is walking around without a soul, theres no way Spectres are souls, not to mention the fact that they seem more eager to rejoin existence as Demons rather than end it for all.
Act now, theologize later, dumbass.
Driven into a frenzy from hunger or whatever they feel, the dark mass of Spectres push and claw at an invisible barrier, which I assume would be the outer surface of Ping Pings Core. Once in, they wont turn her Defiled, because as an animal, she lacks the nuanced mind for Defilement, which is really nothing more than a pit stop to total Spectre takeover. Being a simple-minded animal, Ping Ping wont be needing any stops and will jump straight to Demonization, at which point I will lose the poor girl forever and be forced to end her misery, preferably before the Demon she become grinds me and Mila into meat paste.
Way to fuck things up Rain. Between Emotional Aura and Natal Palace deep-diving, you just whipped up a quick, two-step recipe to full Demonization.
Without stopping to think, I turn and leap onto the grieving Ping Ping. Clutching her close, I push aside my fear and misery and reach for the only weapons I have: love and happiness.
The first memory that comes to mind is the first time we met, when I woke up from my meditative bath and found her hanging around outside, looking so curious and adorable with Lin-Lin on her head. I was scared, but also delighted, especially once she let loose with her dainty little squeal, and I remembered hoping that this would be the start of a wonderful friendship.
It was. And Im not ready for it to end.
Next comes my first visit to her Natal Palace, when I saw how tiny and cute she was, and how my heart sang as she scampered around snuggling and tippy tapping away. I remember thinking how restrained she must always feel, having to tiptoe carefully around people and tiny animals, but her kind, considerate nature wouldnt allow her to do anything less. Here in her Natal Palace, she was free to be as wild and rambunctious as she pleased, and even had the elephant sized Red Panda Guan Suo to snuggle with, not to mention a whole host of furry, adorable critters which she so adored.
That visit proved what Id known all along: Ping Ping loves floofs as much as I do, which makes her a kindred spirit.
The memories flow through my mind at rapid speed, like the first time she drank my bathwater, our first swim in Nan Ping Bay together where she played with the quins, when I shared what I learned from my second Awakening, or her darling reaction to the giant rubber ball I had made for her. All of these memories evoke a torrent of emotions, and I share them all with Ping Ping as best I can, praying I get through before its too late and snap her out of this downward spiral of depression.
And it works. Her squeals soon die down and her eyes go wide with surprise, shocked that shes no longer in her comfy Natal Palace. Unsure what to do, she goes into battle mode and looks to me for guidance, but not only do I not have a solution to share, I wouldnt be able to convey it to her if I did. Yea... I drawl, knowing there are probably better uses of my time, but unsure what they might be. I was kinda hoping youd be able to... you know... mind magic the spooky Spectres away.
Eyes wide with fear and panic, Ping Ping shuffles her feet, huffs once, twice, then darts over to give me a quick nuzzle before the Void disappears around me. Coming to with a start, I find myself back in the real world with Ping Pings arm at my back and Mila in my arms. Struggling to get up from under the weight of my wife, I yell, Mila wake up! Combat ready!
To her credit, my normally groggy wife leaps to her feet and reaches for weapons which are not there, which only slows her for half a blink as her hands curl into fists and her lips curl into a snarl. Unable to properly appreciate the fearsome and fetching sight, I turn to Ping Ping and find her enormous form rippling and shimmering, not glowing with light per se, but undulating in ways that have nothing to do with her physical self.
My throat closes and stomach twists as Ping Ping raises her head and shrieks, not the cute, adorable squeals she so often gave, but a sharp, inhuman, unreal scream which cuts to the very core of my being.
She knew what was happening.
And she sent me away.
Instead of doing something to stop the Spectres or letting me die in there with her, she saved my life. She even took the time to say goodbye, and now theres nothing I can do except watch her die as a Demon takes over her body.
...
No!
The word rips out of my throat as Ping Pings dark form pulses and shrinks, and I run over to look her in her still-recognizable eyes. Stop this! Grabbing her rippling head in both hands as thousands of bugs crawl beneath my skin, I scream, You cant have her!
But still it continues, the world warping as the Spectres take form, and I watch as Ping Ping fades away and the Demon takes control, but I will not allow this. This cannot be. Some lines cannot be crossed, and I will die before I let it happen.
This is not how this ends.
The world goes dark.
Coldness seeps in.
And instinct takes over.
There are no questions, no doubts, no confusion or hesitation.
Only one goal, and a mind to accomplish it.
Mother in Heaven, I pray that it is enough.
Comments
Aaron Martinez
Switching off Rain.... If something this important happens entirely off screen... I think that would be bad for the story. Obviously there can be good reasons to switch away and come back but if we come back with a time skip, that might be very bad.
Aaron Martinez
It's the obvious path forward, which is why I doubt it. Not that it would be bad if it did go that way.
No no no no.. please not pingping. I swear I'll turn defiled if Pingping dies too.
Rene Christensen
I'm going to guess that Guan Suo saves Ping Ping. Or rather, Rain uses the power from Guan Suo's body to fuel Ping Ping's ascension into a new type of ancestral beast, one closer to human because it is guided by a human mind. Saving her in the process as Guan Suo would undoubtedly have wanted while also freeing her from being trapped between two worlds as he was. From death springs new life.
One of the best chapters
Archit Goel
Brilliant. Please release the next chapter soon. Lovely suspense!!
Jabari Lambert
Ohhhhh. Okay so that would be great so by that logic rain is a half step to divinity his natal palace (core as well) is shattered now he just need to shatter the void
CentaureHeart
Re-reading the chapter : maybe with Rain's help Ping-Ping can shatter the void and Ascend. Making her the first non-mammal Ancestral Beast. Just need to Shatter it like she Shattered her Natal Palace. And then Rain Shatters the void as well and kills all the bad guys and everyone's happy except Rain cause he'll have almost nothing to complain about which is his real goal in this reincarnation.
Marcus Österberg
Great chapter
Tycho Green
Ong 😂
CentaureHeart
Oof that's a steep one. Great chapter again! I wish that this experience will give him some insight to fix his core
Slim Dakhch
y'all nigga done fucked with the wrong turtle.
Slim Dakhch
finally time for the slaughter
Slim Dakhch
god
Slim Dakhch
my
Slim Dakhch
oh
BadSnake971
since the chapter with the painted dancer, I get the impression you balance more effectively floofs, epicness and infodumps. It's a really good job, I like it ! (even if I have a tied up little boy in my head crying "MaKe rAin Op PleAze)
Arnon Parenti
Booyah 6th wife! Take that on your grouchy face LinLin!
Other two? Abbot and GangShu? Abby is still touch and go, while GangShu should be okay
Gardor
are the other two dying during this time?
SugarRoll
Divine beast, ancestral beast, or demon? Place your bets now.
terrance smith
Shid!
I actually stopped to make sure this wouldn't be the last chapter before the 19th. Thought I had 2 or three more to write and release on RR, but it turns out no, no I don't.
Zach Collins
Cried alittle for this but now want a divine ping ping pls
Alric Good
God dammit ruff that cliff was evil esp if ur not gonna close it next chapter QQ. Lol can't wait.
Andrew
Thank you!
jack
He's going to have a hard time explaining this.
I feel compelled to warn you all that this cliff will not be resolved in the next chapter, as we will be moving away from Rain for Plot Purposes.
EndlessTurtle
First half hit me right in the feels
Thransk
Oh shit!
