Afterword - Book 4 - Chapter 22 (Patreon)

Chapter 22: A Multitude of Reunions

(Original Chapter Title: Dreaded Consistency)

In which Ranthia continues to be well-adjusted with few to no problems.

I actually like the original title of this chapter, but as fun as it was, it felt... ill-suited. Ranthia's nightmares and some frustrations aside, there wasn't much dread in the chapter. Instead, it focuses on the passage of time and what's happening during that time.

The first major event was perhaps the most inevitable. Avyna tried to hide her birthday, but Ranthia is a very stubborn woman—it was kind of inevitable that she'd convince Avyna to tell her. Instead, she got to overhear Avyna complaining about it!

It's kind of funny that Ranthia's stealth kit, a lesser aspect of her [Warrior] build, mostly just gets used for mischief and playfulness. Fitting, but amusing.

Ranthia is (at least supposed to be) hobbled by the Legion's chosen strategy and most shimagu seem to be content to play along, but here we see that at least one twin is ready to indulge in his bloodlust instead. Ranthia isn't a fan of that, nor can the Legions just ignore a twin while he slaughters their people. Instead, Ranthia puts an underutilized part of her kit to use and hunts him down.

...I really hope nobody needs a clarification of the wound she inflicted on him. It wasn't me being squeamish or anything, it just felt... juvenile to spell it out? I enjoyed the effect of the blatant taunts and innuendo more than just writing the actual injury. Especially given that Ranthia isn't celebrating it; she's pissed that he survived!

Remera isn't truly under siege, but unsurprisingly there's a dearth of supplies coming into a base that had a large enemy encampment right outside of it. Sure, [Starship] flybys happen, though something seems to have the Coalition's attention focused elsewhere; especially since Remera isn't truly at risk of falling. The base is close enough to self-sufficient that they can get away with minimal support, at least for the grade of threat that the shimagu present.

Not that this helps morale, but the Legion's leadership is kind of blatantly not the best.

But hey, it seems like things are about to pick up!