Afterword - Book 2 - Chapter 25 (Patreon)

Chapter 25: Facing Vengeance

(Original Chapter Title: N/A)

And thus the cycle of vengeance comes to a close.

With Ranthia's fury chilled by what she saw in the maid (and just... the passage of time), she could no longer ignore that Cinia was just a person—a girl that was in pain, no less. Fortunately, Ranthia is adept at dealing with regret in the healthiest way possible, by turning it into self-loathing and hating herself until she becomes numb to her latest transgression!

It's weirdly easy to become overly attached to someone that saves you. Lots of media plays with this (usually exploitatively, unfortunately) but it's a very real effect. I've dealt with it too. Cinia's crush wasn't serious (she doesn't even know Ranthia), but it was still the sort of thing that she'll be stuck coping with for a while.

But Ranthia's job isn't done and she's back to the elves!

Did I have Wolfy there just so MoonMoon could meet Kiyaya? Yes, yes I did. Them playing together was a moment I couldn't refuse when I realized they'd all be in the same city, even if it was brief.

But, more importantly, Ranthia finally lets her guard down enough to have a proper heart-to-heart with Awarthril. Here non-BtDEM readers finally learn the woman's motivations (I swear, I try to write for people that haven't read BtDEM too!) and Ranthia gets yet another reason to avoid companion bonds.

Also, Ranthia learns that her horror of learning entirely too much every time she walked through a city is only beginning.

This chapter nearly got a 'Blind' designation, but the weight of what Ranthia learns won't truly be appreciated just yet. Ranthia has been handed some important pieces though—she just needs more time to put them together.

But for the moment, she has what sounds like a party to endure. Glee.