Book 4 - Chapter 32 - Embracing Her Choice (Patreon)

Chapter 32: Embracing Her Choice

(Original Chapter Title: Embracing Her Choice)

I've said this before, but choosing what to show and what not to show is incredibly challenging. There's at least as much importance in certain "quiet" moments as there are in splashy action moments, and often the quiet moments are truly far more defining.

But there was no way in Xaoc's glory that I was going to devote an entire book to Ranthia's sessions with the [Mind Healer].

Each session was important, but I chose to focus on Ranthia's progress, rather than the individual sessions. Though I did give insight into certain key sessions—and thus we see Ranthia invoke Avyna's genuine displeasure for once.

Unfortunately, sometimes healing means we have to confront ugly parts of ourselves that we rather not investigate.

Still, like I said at the outset of this, I wanted to focus on evidence of Ranthia's progress. By the end of the chapter, she's unshouldered some of the baggage that she's carried, which manifests in a multitude of different ways. She herself calls out her laughter and renewed fondness for the daily little absurdities of a chaotic life. She and Avyna invite a guest to their bed, with mild regrets that had nothing to do with the acts that happened there. And there's even a sign that Ranthia's long-held anger and fury have started to cool.

But progress is just that—she hasn't been miraculously 'cured' from a lifetime of repressing her darker thoughts.

The other thing I want to touch on is the plot that nearly brought this story to a premature end. The base commander truly had no (intentional) role in the plot, but he was also a piss poor leader—he neglected to consider the power of careless words. He was in a position of power and authority, and due to his carelessness, multiple people decided that he'd given them a direct order and plotted to see his will carried out. His niece, being kin that owed her success to him, was especially vulnerable; his approval (or lack thereof) would shape her entire future.

She wanted to do him proud, and in the process she lost her life and cost him everything.

All because he was bull-headed and negligent.

I never once considered writing an interlude showing what Night did, because the dark truth of the matter is that investigations aren't that interesting. But Crim, you might protest, there are multiple major television shows about investigations! Mm-hm, yes, there are. And most episodes in them devote mere seconds to the investigative process and attempt to fill the rest with interpersonal drama, charismatic yelling, and insane leaps of logic that move to splashy confrontations or omg plot twist moments. True investigations are dull—reading, collating, and engaging in highly repetitive prolonged conversations while you tease additional details out of suspects. Sure, there's some brutal "justice" being carried out, but even that is over in a blink. Odds are, Night spent several days in Remera before anyone learned he was there.

Because people can be rather sloppy, but only so long as they think they're getting away with whatever misdeeds. By the time Night was ready to reveal himself (not like that), he was ready to see things wrapped up in a single... night.