Hey, been a minute.

  There's not a great way to say "Sorry I never got around to finishing this story." so in lieu of that, regardless of how life has changed for you in the past couple years (Me personally, it's a hell of a lot.), I just want to say thanks for reading this story, and all the support you gave to it.

  Whether you gave it a follow, or were an active commenter, or one of the patreon supporters who were far too kind for what you were getting out of it.

  Whether you currently have an interest in my work anymore, or whether your tastes have matured far past my inept scribblings, thanks.

  If you're reading this, it means the world that however little I was able to impress upon your life with a half-cocked story, a random pop-up after almost half a decade wasn't ignored. So that impression must have been on the positive side, on the whole, even if you don't like the novel (or the genre, or even just my work) anymore. Affirming stuff, that.

  Now, if you have no interest in anything other than my thanks, depart with them gladly assured, my word (whatever that's worth) on the matter.

  For anyone who has chosen to remain; beware. I'm shamelessly self-promoting.

  Genuinely, none pressure to continue onwards, but if you're interested here it is:

  I have a new work, called Hard Won Magic

  (Also in the pre and post chapter note, if this link isn't working.)

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  I don't want to just spew the blurb at you, but I also do actually want to give you an impression of what the hell I'm even asking you to take a look at. In the description, I surmise the beast as being Gravity Falls meets 1984. And I do think that juxtaposition is a fair one, but it deserves an explanation.

  In a world with bizarre magic, alien gods, titanic forces, eldritch beings, and etc. and so on, what would be a societies reaction? How quickly would the fear of impossible danger, danger that you can't build walls to stop, not really, make the trappings of authority all the more dangerous? How quickly we, or elves, or dwarves, might come to desperately cling to any and every method of control, no matter how immoral, because of the insanity which constantly surrounds and threatens?

  How we might just begin to accept those shackles, because while perhaps you shouldn't trade freedom for safety, when your children wander into forests and come out as things, when the entire population of a town can just have their skin turn blue overnight for no apparent reason, and when those who chose to fight the system as it stands all conspicuously vanish, it seems we're willing to accept quite a lot.

  So, naturally, the question becomes; How does a regular person, someone with a story of triumph and heartbreak make their way through this flawed world? Absurd magic abounds beyond their ability to grasp or understand, and yet the authorities seem to have created some level of normalcy, but for many, those same authorities are the greater threat.

  How to find that line, between fighting against what you know to be wrong, and accepting that things can be flawed and still be ok? That sounds like some sort of perceptual paradox.

  Certainly a question to put to your local wizard, see if they've got a spell or an incantation or something for it.

  All my guys told me the same thing thought, that particular piece of magic is hard won.

  (Eh? Ehh?)

  fin

  If you do check it out, and enjoy it, a follow and a rate would go a long way. Any and all criticisms, once they're not, y'know, hatespeech, will be accepted, though the constructive varietal has preferred status.

  PS: Thanks again for checking-in, if you're not interested in the new work, no worries, it's going to be my main thing for the next while, and it certainly isn't a promise, but I would like to revisit this work, it's just not in the cards at the moment. Chances of this work being picked up and finished: Never say never type ish.

  o/