TWO HUNDRED NINETY-NINE: Bonus Points for the Straightforward
Edited (minor, epub updated): July 24, 2026
******
Ploomp wasn’t a speedboat, especially not when she was cruising high in the water with passengers on her back. Alden could have kept pace with her if he were running alongside on the bank, but that wouldn’t have been nearly the excellent experience that this was. Esh-erdi showed off his ability to make an orange fall apart into perfect segments, and they shared it while Alden learned a mix of facts about terackerins and this Rapport.
Esh-erdi knew something about every field, dock, and building they passed.
There was a house that had been empty for most of a year because the wizards who lived there had gone to manage Avowed for an und’h knight who was guarding the planet that provided the Fetuna with most of their food. And not far down the river from that house, a cluster of buildings shaped like squat cylinders were having their exteriors finished so that their sculpted mud walls turned as glossy and wet-looking as the surface of the river itself.
Esh-erdi said they were apartments with no particular owners, kept ready for anyone who might want a place here. Mostly, they were occupied by young adults who wanted to get away from their universities for a while but who had no family in the Rapports. And Esh-erdi said there were older knights and votaries, too, who made use of such housing because they preferred not to settle for too long in any one Rapport.
“Wanderers by nature,” he said, “who don’t get enough of it from their work or who find the wandering the work demands easier if they never stop and grow roots.”
“I can imaging how that would be, I think,” said Alden. “I’ve been very homesick—torn away from deep roots—a couple of times. It can be overwhelming. Mastering more of a wanderer’s lifestyle could be a strength. Being at ease with uncertainty, being someone who can give your best wherever you find yourself and then move on to do it again in the next place. Like…drifting without letting what you’ve left behind distract from where you’re going. Doing that well is admirable.”
“Admirable. That’s a nice observation. Will you aim to become such a wanderer one day?”
“No. I don’t like it.”
Esh-erdi had been shredding the orange peel and tossing it in front of Ploomp every once in a while to see if he could convince her to try it out. He paused with a piece pinched between thumb and forefinger, ready to flick toward the terackerin’s head. “A short and <<adamant>> answer.”
I suppose it is.
“There have been positives to my life changing drastically eight or nine times in less than a year,” said Alden. “I’ve learned a lot. But one of the things I’ve learned is that I really want more solid ground. People, a place, and a purpose that won’t fall apart too easily. I know everything changes, so it’s not like I expect it all to stay exactly the same. But I want—I’m going to build—a home to go back to. I’d rather have a place to miss than be good at drifting.”
“Anesidora?” asked Esh-erdi.
Alden hesitated. “Anesidora…there’s a lot to like about Anesidora. It’s complicated. I’m not sure about the future. Stuff might come up.”
Stuff. I sound like I don’t know what I mean.
All of the specifics that came to mind were unshareable.
He wondered what Esh-erdi would think if he knew Alden had opened a window on his interface just a few minutes ago to start taking notes on Rapport III. It was like the cheat sheet he kept to remember details about all the members of the art’h family he’d met, only now it wasn’t just about not mixing up too many new faces and names.
Stuart deciding that the storytelling class was Alden training a new socialization skill so that they would be welcomed as entertaining company among other knights might be far-fetched. But the idea that the two of them might need to apply effort beyond the norm to get along with people kept popping up in his thoughts.
If, after they had both succeeded at all the things new knights were supposed to do, Stuart was still seen as fragile and Alden as ignorant how would it affect them?
Screw the haters, of course, but it would be much better not to have many among knights. I’m already expecting to be viewed as problematic by wizards and who knows how many other groups of people. After my oaths, which I will totally absolutely be allowed to take and succeed at, I’d like to be liked by the group I’ve joined.
He tried to get along with people anyway, but if putting in more effort could give him and Stuart an advantage, he would.
So here he was using his mental typing skills to record everything he could about Rapport III. His imagination was running a little wild. He’d just pictured himself being introduced to someone called Hn’tyon Vyn-sitha one day and turning to these notes to make a better first impression.
“How nice to finally meet you. I rode a terackerin down the river in front of your house with Esh-erdi a while ago, and he told me about you. The net in front of your dock was completely full of skimflies. Esh-erdi said those were good fried.”
And then, whatever concerns Vyn-sitha has about working with the human knight will evaporate! Because a person who once rode Ploomp past her dock is obviously competent.
Well…he didn’t have to use the notes if the right moment never appeared. Making an attempt to prepare still made him feel better.
Wizardry. Bearer of All Burdens. Language and social ability. That’s all got to be given attention. Plus mental health. Having a panic attack in chaos would not be okay, so I can’t let myself neglect that just because I’m in a brighter mood these days.
Another shred of peel floated by, caught in the current created by Ploomp as she swam. She clearly saw Esh-erdi’s snack offerings as litter.
They were passing a building with rows of jars and barrels out front. Esh-erdi pointed it out as a place of interest. A mildly intoxicating drink was made there from the local bundlefruit. He assured Alden it tasted nothing like the Champagne that had divided wizardkind during their Thanksgiving feast. The beverage was served just across the water in a sheltered pavilion that looked like a smaller version of the summonarium they’d arrived in, although it was full of tables and seating.
“It’s popular.” Alden guessed that based on the number of tables and the dozen people already drinking and eating there.
“It’s the place to go in the evening if you live on this river and don’t want to travel to Wathe to find company.”
Famous drink. Chill place where everyone hangs out together. That’s the kind of thing knights from different Rapports could chat about when they’re bored.
“That’s Moshk nodding at us. In the corner there, stuffing his mouth with bread. We’ll pick up his daughter and deliver her to him.” Esh-erdi raised his voice. “Because he’s too lazy to get back in his boat!”
“I’m giving a knight a chance to serve the Triplanets,” Moshk called back. “Get on with it!”
He had light brown hair, dark skin, and a grin so wide it was easy to make out from a distance as Alden turned around to study him.
Does that comment mean he’s not a knight himself? He’s so casual with Esh-erdi, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out ordinary class if they know each other well. What do I put in my notes?
There was a heap of fabric on the floor beside Moshk’s chair that was likely to be a coat or a robe, but Alden couldn’t see whatever markings it might have. The turtleneck he wore gave no indications.
“A friend?” he asked Esh-erdi.
“An acquaintance I’m fond of. And a good neighbor. Moshk is only a little younger than me. He considered knighthood once but became votary instead.”
“For a specific knight or for the Rapports in general?”
“He’s quite the <<generalist>> wizard for this area. Whatever project needs another wand pointed at it. As soon as I saw him sitting there I sent him a message to find out what he’s been doing lately. He always has the small news. He spent the day helping some of our newest newlings and their mentors set up for camping practice.”
Moshk — a jack-of-all trades votary who has the local gossip. Alden made the note before letting himself be distracted by the other thing Esh-erdi had just said.
“Knights practice camping?”
“You understand that since Welcome End has recently passed, many have just experienced their first binding?” Esh-erdi replied.
“I know.”
“This is a particularly good time to keep those newlings together, focused on their futures, and busy with tasks that don’t require them to use magic. This camping practice will be about learning procedures and familiarizing themselves with equipment they’ll carry with them on missions.”
Alden remembered Stuart showing him the tent he liked that had two different ways of making water for them to drink.
Even if he knows how to use that, what other equipment is there? What procedures?
“If someone misses the camping training because they didn’t time their first binding to match Welcome End in either hemisphere…how do they catch up?” he asked. “Or do they have to wait for the next opportunity?”
“I hope you’re not worrying that the Primary’s son might be allowed to die from improper use of a tent. Because that would be a ridiculous thing for anyone to worry about.”
“That wasn’t my worry exactly.”
“Stu-art’h may have other trouble along this path if he walks it. Such as not having anywhere to stand inside his tent because it’s so full of other art’hs trying to watch over him.”
“He doesn’t need that,” Alden said. “At all.”
Esh-erdi rubbed the terackerin’s back while he considered something.
“A knight can go where his oaths lead him in defiance of others. And he could order his votary parents to step aside. But that doesn’t mean it’s best or easy to do those things. Being his friend and observing how forces push him, it might be tempting for you to push on him from the other side.”
“I don’t,” said Alden. “I just listen to him. And believe him.”
“A friend who listens and trusts,” said Esh-erdi. “That’s good.”
“Actually, can I send him a picture of us and Ploomp?” Alden asked. “I think he’d be surprised to see what we’re doing.”
“A friend who torments with images of leisure while he endures lessons. Even better!”
******
When they reached their destination, they stepped off Ploomp and onto a dock. Then it was a short walk up a staircase to reach a long, two-story house with narrow windows that looked down on the river. Esh-erdi led the way around the side, and Alden followed him until they reached the front.
At that point, he had to pause and stare at the lawn ornaments. “When you said they were studying rocks, you meant rocks.”
There were over a hundred magnificent specimens here if he only counted the ones that were bigger than himself. He was standing in front of a ten-foot-tall ruby red boulder. Maybe it was a ruby. He had no clue how big rubies got if you used magic or dug them out of other planets. And scattered around its base, as if to give it company, were piles of other pink and red stones.
I have a sling in my bag, he thought, temporarily driven mad by the sight of so many projectiles. I could sling awesome rocks at the river all day, and not even put a dent in this collection.
But what if there are some husenots hiding in the piles?
As if that were the reason not to do it. He shook off his surprise and caught up with Esh-erdi beside a towering geode.
A few steps farther on, they spotted a group of children and the elderly wizard who Alden thought must be both the teacher and the owner of the rocks. The class was clustered on one side of a massive shard of purple-streaked gray stone that pointed up toward the sky like a knife.
The kids were younger than Kibby and older than Weset. Still a silly enough age for it to be unsurprising when one of Esh-erdi’s nieces spit out a bright pink pebble she’d had in her mouth, screamed “Uncle Esh!” and almost fell over the pile of rocks in front of her sister as she ran to be the first to greet him.
It’s a more casual kind of lesson for sure, Alden thought, taking in the scene.
There were no learning cushions. The old woman had been telling them about how heat and pressure had transformed the rock in her hand, but she only chuckled as six of her eight students abandoned her in favor of the visitors.
The nieces were twins who looked similar enough that Alden thought he would have known they went together even if they weren’t both hugging Esh-erdi and trying to tell him ten different things at once. Like their uncle, they had dark hair and unusually close-set eyes. One was wearing a peach-colored auriad on her head, and the other was doing the same with a sky blue one. Alden wasn’t sure, but it made him think they might have finished binding them recently and been eager to show them off. A third child was holding an arm out strangely, like they wanted Esh-erdi to see the green one they had on their wrist.
I need to make a huge deal out of Kibby’s when I see her in person. Dalat-orni and Alis-art’h don’t know to brag on her because they think she had one all along.
“You’re tall.”
Such was the power of Hn’tyon Esh-erdi that it was only now that one of the children decided to look away from him to see who else had arrived. Wide gray eyes studied Alden from beneath lavender brows. The brows matched hair that hung almost to the ground.
It must not have been cut since this kid was born.
The mane wasn’t braided either. It was a shiny, untangled sheet.
“You’re tall, and your eyes are green.” This was said in a tone of fascination. “Why do you cast illusions on your eyes? They’re pretty. May I have one?”
For a second, Alden was stumped. Probably because of all the talk about Lute earlier, he misunderstood and thought the little Artonan was asking to hold an eye.
“That young man isn’t a wizard, Zakithee,” said the teacher. The two remaining students were trailing after her as she came over to welcome them.
Oh! Zakithee was asking me to cast a spell that turns eyes green.
“I’m an average height for a human man,” Alden said in a friendly voice. “But I might grow a little taller.”
He’d recently checked his height with the System, and he’d officially made it to 5’10”.
“Some humans naturally have green eyes like me. We also— ”
“You’re an Avowed!” Zakithee shrilled, taking such a large step backward that he collided with another kid.
At the word ‘Avowed,’ every child’s head turned to inspect Alden.
“A human!”
“An Avowed!”
“Uncle Esh, who is the human?”
“Did he come from Earth?”
“Uncle Esh, are more of them coming?”
“Hello, Avowed Human Avowed!”
They’d all gotten loud and higher-pitched, but that was because they were excited. Only Zakithee’s exclamation had been alarmed. Both of the adult Artonans had looked startled at the sound of it.
“Zakithee,” said the instructor, “Hn’tyon Esh-erdi has brought Avowed Alden as a guest to surprise you all. He’s traveled here from Earth. Now would be the right time to greet—”
“I’ll be a Knight of the Mother Planet one day!” Zakithee said, turning his back so that the epic sheet of hair was toward Alden.
I’m getting ignored suddenly?
“You’re too young to declare!” half of the children present said so quickly that it must have been the thing to say to classmates who got ahead of themselves by a decade.
“A knight doesn’t like Avowed! Your eyes are green, but they aren’t interesting. Even if you were an ordinary human I wouldn’t notice your tallness. We won’t share wevvi! Not even that! I’ll walk away in this direction now. That’s what I should do.”
The last sentence sounded relieved, as if a bolt of inspiration had given Zakithee an answer to the problem of an Avowed existing only a few steps away.
Just take more steps. Simple.
Esh-erdi thwarted the escape attempt by picking up the escapee and holding them up at arm’s length for an eye-level conversation. “Zakithee-und’h! Where are you going?”
Zakithee-und’h didn’t squirm. “Away in that direction.”
“You did say that. Why are you going away in that direction? Are you scared of Alden? Are you angry at him?”
“No.”
“Then what behavior is this?”
“I’m very proper, aren’t I?”
“Not right now. No. Alden, pardon us for a moment more. Zakithee-und’h, who am I?”
Zakithee-und’h glanced at the twins. “You’re Brim and Droon’s uncle.”
“That’s correct,” the instructor said when Esh-erdi failed to respond right away.
“That’s correct,” Esh-erdi repeated, staring at the child he’d caught. “I’m their uncle. And I’m also a Knight of the Mother Planet, aren’t I?”
“Yes. And you’re Hn’tyon Lind-otta’s, so you must have more to you.”
“More than what?” Esh-erdi asked. “No, don’t answer that. I can guess who you borrowed those words from. Avowed Alden Thorn of Earth is someone I like. He’s been commended by the Quaternary, who’s a knight. He was trying to greet you, who are no knight at all. So whatever idea you have that makes you say knights don’t like him as you try to run away is improper.”
“But I heard…”
“Perhaps you heard something with half your thoughts asleep or an ear turned to a door crack,” Esh-erdi said, setting the child down. “I know all the knights in your house, and they would say hello to Alden. Not, ‘Your eyes aren’t interesting.’ And he recently saved your cousin’s life! He could ask your family for her weight in manyadeeth, but he hasn’t.”
“Which of my cousins?”
“Zeridee-und’h. You might not remember her. The point is that Alden’s a person who wouldn’t say hurtful things to you. And look at what’s in his hands. He’s brought fruit. That’s not someone you should refuse to share your wevvi with, is it?”
Zakithee-und’h looked so unsure that Alden felt a pang of sympathy.
“I don’t want to be hurtful…”
“Of course you don’t,” Esh-erdi said comfortingly. “None of us thought you did. That’s why I stopped you from running to jump in the river. So that you could be proper after all.”
“Hello!” said Alden, deciding a glance from the adults was his cue to try again. “It’s good to meet you all. I did bring Earth fruits with me if anyone wants one. What are your names? Which rock here is the best?”
It turned out all right.
The class soon became lighthearted again, as Esh-erdi must have intended. Seven out of eight kids thought Alden and his oranges were the coolest things ever to happen on the Triplanets.
He had a skill—amazing! He was willing to use it on children who asked politely—even better! He confessed to having a bellybutton—so unique at his age. Respect to his mother!
They showed him the best rocks and pronounced the difficult names of those rocks carefully. Maybe, the children decided as the adults were showing signs of ending their fun, what needed to happen, what almost certainly would be for everyone’s benefit, would be if Alden became a student in rock class, too. So that he could bring them fruit and stories every day.
“What do you think of that?” Brim asked, adjusting her blue auriad on her head. “Zakithee won’t be upset tomorrow. If you were offended by him today, you won’t be tomorrow.”
“I wasn’t offended,” Alden said, cheerful and loud so that his voice would carry to the und’h boy who stood downriver with a net, collecting the pieces of pumice they were all dropping in. “Zakithee-und’h showed me how this pumice floats. He’s been properly welcoming, and I’m pleased we met.”
Zakithee-und’h relaxed visibly at the praise. Unfortunately, he’d be tense again in about a minute. Alden had seen the cycle repeat several times.
Right after their bad start, the boy had briefly disappeared with the instructor before returning to accept his orange and apologize. Alden kept trying to make him comfortable, but now it was like this.
He’s really confused. He heard some grown-ups say something about Avowed, and he learned it. Then when he tried to do what he thought was right, a knight and his teacher let him know he was wrong. Now all of his friends are having a blast with the alien, but he’s not sure how to.
The poor kid was so uncomfortable that Alden was uncomfortable with him.
Despite all my anxieties, I didn’t think someone would come right out and shout, ‘A knight doesn’t like Avowed!’ in my face. Bonus points for being straightforward, Zakithee-und’h. But when I was thinking about haters, I wasn’t picturing one like you.
“I can’t come to this class with you all,” Alden told Brim. “I have my own classes to attend on Earth.”
He saw Zakithee-und’h relax more as those words reached him. He even smiled, no poker face whatsoever to hide how delighted he was that Alden wouldn’t be coming back.
Alden dropped his largest chunk of pumice into the river, making sure it wouldn’t be too far out for the boy to collect with the net when it floated by him.
Okay, little jerk. Cut out my heart and grind it into your pumice collection, then. That’s fine.
There was no way for a child this young and clueless to offend him. But honestly…
“It’s time for us to go!” Esh-erdi announced. “The sun is setting, and I’m sure hot meals and beds are waiting for you all at home. A few of you get to ride Ploomp with us. If only I could remember which children are my sister’s!” He tapped a boy on the head. “Are you my niece?”
With much giggling and dubious claims of blood relation to the erdis, the children were sorted into those who’d be riding the Ploomp bus and those who’d be traveling home in other ways.
“We all rode the terackerin once,” Zakithee-und’h said as his farewell to Alden. “We rode her to the summonarium upstream, and I teleported home from there.”
Alden wasn’t sure why a farewell was happening under the circumstances, but the kid had steeled himself and stomped over here to do it, so Alden would try to make it go well for him. “I’m sure that was a great chance to appreciate the river.”
“It was. I like terackerins.”
“I like them, too.”
The boy stood as tall as he could and looked up at Alden with shining eyes.
Hey, what’s this? Alden wondered as he took in that expression. Are we actually going to connect over being terackerin fans? Thanks, Zakithee. That would be a nice end to it.
“I’m going to find out what my cousin weighs to make sure this is over!” Zakithee-und’h announced. “Thank you for saving her and serving the Triplanets in other ways. I’m honored to make your acquaintance, and I’d give you wevvi if we met again, but we won’t have to do that. Live a long life. On Earth!”
He ran up the bank toward the house, the wind catching his hair and tossing it, his arms pumping to help him get away from the Ryeh-b’t he looked forward to never seeing again.
Esh-erdi had sent his nieces, Moshk’s daughter, and the boy with the green auriad to board Ploomp at the end of the dock. He’d had one eye on them, but the other was watching Alden take his final blows from the little und’h.
“You handled that well,” he said quietly when Alden reached him. “I apologize for making you handle that well.”
“He’s just… ” Alden shrugged. “He’s too young for me to hold any of that against him. Practically a baby. He thought I was a tall, green-eyed wizard, and then he found out I’m an Avowed and that wasn’t…he got bonk-noggined by it.”
Esh-erdi exhaled. “I told you the small und’hs wouldn’t be a problem, but it turned out differently. He’s been eavesdropping on his elders without understanding nuance.”
“What’s the nuance?”
Is there a tiny snap in that question? There shouldn’t be. I’m not mad at anyone here.
“The ones he lives with try to avoid summoning prejudices and emotional turmoil by avoiding relationships with other species,” said Esh-erdi. “They believe neutrality and detachment make them more effective.”
Detachment. Neutrality. No relationships with other species.
He looked back toward the house. Zakithee-und’h was out of sight.
“Are there are a lot of und’hs who feel that way?” he asked.
“Many of them. Some have their own ideals.”
“Better or worse ones?”
“Both. According to me.”
“I understand.” Alden started walking toward Ploomp. “Can I buy some of the bundlefruit drink? When we take Moshk’s daughter back?”
Esh-erdi’s eyebrows rose. “If you want it.”
“I’m not trying to get intoxicated,” Alden explained. “I’m making some notes about life in Rapport III. Since there’s a famous drink, I should taste it. The Contract says it’s mild for humans, and if I take a sip, I’ll be able to tell people from here that I know exactly what they’re talking about if they ever mention the riverside pavilion. ”
“You don’t have to explain your reasons.”
“My reasons are my notes. You know I ended up talking about sermuntha juice with Grand Senator Servin-ith? Little things matter. I’ll taste the food, too.”
******
Comments (138)
I can't seem to find the epub for this chapter
'Stuff. I sound like I don’t know what I mean.' Hmm 'After my oaths, which I will totally absolutely be allowed to take and succeed at' :) '“I hope you’re not worrying that the Primary’s son might be allowed to die from improper use of a tent. Because that would be a ridiculous thing for anyone to worry about.”' >:) '“A friend who torments with images of leisure while he endures lessons. Even better!”' >:) ''LThere were over a hundred magnificent specimens here if he only counted the ones that were bigger than himself.' :O "But what if there are some husenots hiding in the piles? As if that were the reason not to do it.' Heh 'Despite all my anxieties, I didn’t expect someone to shout, ‘A knight doesn’t like Avowed!’ in my face. Bonus points for being straightforward, Zakithee-und’h. But when I was thinking about haters half an hour ago, I wasn’t picturing one like you' Ha Thank you for the chapter :D "“I can imaging how that would be, I think" *“I can imagine how that
bonk-noggined. I assume Alden said this in English and it was translated for Esh erdi. I wonder just how quietly horrifying it would be to hear funny-fake kids-show confusion from head trauma. Like the As-abused word in the other direction.
Stu asked Alden if he were bonk-noggined after waking up, in "To Everything", when Alden wouldn't talk about his skill (due to Ro-den's tattoo).
Checking the kitchen.
Hello to everyone checking comments! I’ve had a much more outline-focused writing week than I expected, and because of that, I’m far enough from the finish of Chapter 300 to already know I’m unlikely to complete it in the next 12 hours. I’ll be trying, but I'm going to be impressed with myself if my pen flies fast enough today. I’d also like to prevent myself from happily and foolishly lumbering through another all-nighter. So if you don’t see a chapter here 12 hours from now, expect to see it sometime the next day. As always, if your sub is expiring today and you’re worried about missing the chapter, send me a message. I’ll be happy to make sure you can still access it when it goes up.
Thanks for the heads up. Enjoy writing as we will enjoy reading.
12th? Are we there yet?
Ploomp isn’t a speedboat. We’ll get there when we get there!
Rereading, I want to say how much I love "I apologize for making you handle that well." I'm struggling to say what it means that Esh feels that putting Alden in the position to need to be mature and coddle a younger child is onerous and hurtful to Alden without sounding like I think Esh is belittling Alden by treating him like a young child, which isn't at all what's happening except he is but with exclusively positive connotations.
Hitting a parentified nerve maybe? Alden is mature beyond his years because he's been thorough a lot and Esh seems to have figured that out almost as soon as they met. He seems to have made it his mission to spoil Alden with fun things Alden wouldn't ask for on his own in whatever small ways he can. Didn't quite work out in this case.
I subscribed again. Blew through a six month backlog in a day. Woe.
Lamentations. Nothing to do now but start over from the beginning.
Having a powerful entrustor gives a bonus to Alden's own authority. If Esh were to entrust Alden with something important, would Alden's foundation points also have a multiplier effect? Would Alden have Brute-level strength? Or does this just make BoaB stronger?
I'm pretty sure it only applies to Boab, although that would be very cool.
I like Zeridee even more after this chapter. She's turned her back on wizardry, knighthood, and social acceptance. That was interesting back in chapter 146, but by itself didn't make much sense. Now, with this Zakithee-shaped window into her family, we see some of the attitudes and beliefs that she grew up with. We can imagine a little girl raised as a vehement racist. Her rejecting that and choosing a life of humble service to the humans on the human planet is courageous and honorable. Although, her giving up wizardry entirely does remind me of some young humans I've known who realized their childhood was broken and fixed it by dropping _all_ of the rules and habits they grew up with as soon as they were able. Wouldn't it be nice if Zeridee found a more nuanced approach to rejecting the awful parts of her culture? Befriending a human wizard might be a big step toward finding her own kind of wizardry.
Unless there is a specific reason she's rejecting wizardry, which seems quite possible given that we know some types of wizardry exacerbate chaos. Or it may be a principled stand against the relative social stations of wizards and nonwizards, akin to a hunger strike.
I am a bit sad that Esh did not bust out the bunny ears gesture for obvious lies
What obvious lies are you referring to? Zakithee was speaking truth as he knew it. Alden in response only said polite fictions about it because a child doesn't know any better, which was also truth.
After the manyadeeth dye comments and Zakithee saying “I’m going to find out what my cousin weighs to make sure this is over!”, I'm getting a kick out of this little throwback from chapter 137 (Waves III): “You’re pretty heavy, Zeridee... You really are pretty heavy.”
Ah, good call. Zeridee was vaguely implied to also have the enhanced bone structure that Stu does. Should mean a lot more manyadeeth for Alden :) I'm with Esh on this. Alden is already rich enough, the look on Zeridee's face will be the most valuable result here. :D
Thanks for the chapter!
TFTC! Looking forward to the next!
“A knight doesn’t like Avowed! Your eyes are green, but they aren’t interesting. Even if you were an ordinary human I wouldn’t notice your tallness. We won’t share wevvi! Not even that! I’ll walk away in this direction now. That’s what I should do.” … “Then what behavior is this?” “I’m very proper, aren’t I?” This reminded me of Stu, especially early Stu, before he & Alden got to know each other. He’s from a knight family & has strong ideas he’s acquired about behaving in the “right” ways, and he’s trying to act on them. It’s just that this family’s beliefs lead Zakithee to reject Alden. Like he’s opposite-Stu. But that awkward, rigid way of trying to live up to ideals just feels so familiar.
I'm kind of interested in how his family would react to his behavior. Would they see his overt rejection as poor manners, or just clumsy? People can get very racist before they have to admit to the fact, and in my experience, closet racists love using a shield of politeness to conceal their bigotry. I remember race-blindness being a big fad when I was a kid, back when a lot of Americans liked to claim racism was solved in the 60s
Esh has a mountain of authority. Alden needs to experience what it's like to be entrusted with a house.
Zakithee-und'h: this whole day has been unbearably awkward, I have been publicly shamed by a person in a position I have been raised to respect, and I wish to shed this mortal flesh in mortification but am prevented by the laws (of physics) of this realm Zakithee-und'h: if I pay you in massive quantities of hot pink dye, will you promise to leave and never be anywhere I might ever encounter you ever again for the rest of our mutual lives, that I might someday forget this humiliation
It would be absolutely perfect if he got a to go cup of wevvi delivered alongside the 50kg of pink dye
“ Zakithee-und’h relaxed visibly at the praise. Unfortunately, he’d be tense again in about a minute. Alden had seen the cycle repeat a few times.” Poor kid. I have had days like that, where I just can’t let something go.
I hope Alden really does get a delivery of 50kg of pink dye to his dorm due to the kid telling his elders about what happened. I need to see Lexi's reaction
Hey DragonRabbit (I forget the actual name), how much can I get for all this dye?
Alden is really (becoming) a great socialite. He is interesting by himself, has useful connections and is a great conversation partner and mindful of the circumstances of the conversation.
*I have a sling in my bag,* he thought, temporarily driven mad by the sight of so many projectiles. This line made me laugh out loud a little. I, too, would be temporarily driven mad by the sight of so many projectiles.
The relationship between earth and the triplanets has always been a bit of a sketchy topic, and things like this make me think the knights are probably a bigger part of it than even they realise. Avoidance and ignorance are not the same thing as neutrality. Alden’s very existence is going to shake things up for them, make them confront hard truths about how they’re behaving. And if I know Stuart, when he starts to realise the extent of the problems, he’s not going to sit quietly by and let the problems fester.
Artonan knights (and wizards for that matter) are in a tough spot. By the time they're old enough to know what's going on, they're complicit in what the Artonan government (and society as a whole) are doing. Plus, there doesn't seem to be an alternative for them. Does this sound familiar to you, in a non-Soupverse way?
oh, that's adorable, albeit foreboding
I like how Sleyca writes children. It’s very believable.
the one quote that sticks in my head is the executioners child asking what humans do. I still don't know how to answer that kid
Fact reminder (ch177): In adults, the navel was minimal if it was visible at all. Cosmetically darkening the spot where it had been was a thing in certain situations Theory on "Respect to your mother": In humans, eating a lot / being overweight tends to make the belly button more pronounced. When Blithe was offering Kon his well wishes after fixing the wand, he said "May your female lovers bear triplets who eat like gluttons!" as though eating to excess was the best thing possible. Does having an obvious belly button imply that your mother was able to provide a lot and was not struggling for food? is it a leftover compliment from the times when the Elders Croak happened when everyone struggled to get the nectar from the thrumming flowers?
I also thought it might have to do with birth presumed to be extra difficult due to the baby's size. I think I said something similar to "respect to your mother" when I first learned that my partner was over 10 lbs at birth. Maybe a bellybutton lasting many years correlates with size/weight at birth?
Is it bad I was hoping Alden would out himself when a young child did an authority tap and he did it back gently out of habit? No, just me? Loved this chapter and a different look at how wizards see at avowed relationships. It makes the world feel very lived in. Also as always Esh is awesome.
Alden's not quite that incautious/idiotic, so I wasn't, at least.
"You have a bellybutton, respect to your mother" has got to be some sort of statement of hilarity on the double-adjective chart. 'Outré-Funny'.
A month later: the double-adjective are (my thought) the end-state of each branch of Artonan minds' processing.
Fast-forward 7 years: Alden, Stu, Lute, Kon, Hauyo, Kibby, and Hazel are getting drinks at a weird little dive bar. Alden: I got drunk here back when they were still frying these little river bugs
Swap Hazel for Boe and Lexi and I can see that :)
this chapter feels like a warm hug from a sloth
Thoughts for the chapter: 1. Alden is one of those teenagers that is always on his system (phone) instead of paying attention and I wonder if Esh notices that he is taking notes on things and what Artonans in general think of that. 2. Zeridee is surely the black sheep of her family. From Und detachment to her chasing down pets in a magical tsunami. 3. I thought Zakithee was a good counter point to Instructor Ash in the preceeding chapters. We call Ash childish as he main lines sugar and only gives his attention to things he finds interesting but he is not forthcoming like an actual child and his viewpoints are nuanced, if ultimately incorrect. Zakithee boldly presents his viewpoints and many of them are hard to deny despite or maybe even because of their lack of nuance. Alden is tall (relative to Zakithee) and his eyes are green after all. We see both Zakithee and Ash run from their problems but Ash is doing so deliberatly, in a premeditated manner, while Zakithee is doing so almost unconsciously and without pre-meditation.
To be fair a VERY famous wizard went that route in earth media.....no emotions, didn't go out of his way to get entangled with other species. Then he met a guy named Tiberius and didn't have a moments peace.....Was substantially better off for it however. Spock pulled Kirk's butt out of the fire with more quasimagic science BS than all the phasers and torpedos launched on that show. Plus IDIC!
Esh sees the fault lines in things and people, right? I think I remember that from when he rescued Alden from drowning… How does Esh see Alden breaking now?
The knights reminds me of the Jedi
Not Alden’s number one hater being a child alien Rapunzel
Man, I just want Alden and Stuart to be open Knights together so they can support each other against this rain of strays.
The becoming-your-skill theme runs right through this chapter. It's masterful! Esh, Expert on Weak Points and Fracturer of Cracks, has found a weak point to attack the und'hs' careful detachment: a child who's absorbed prejudices that he doesn't yet fully understand. The und'h position has a kernel of reasonableness: human militaries keep officers from fraternizing with enlisted troops for similar reasons. But "avoiding relationships with other species" takes it too far. And, while authorities sometimes override parents (e.g., we commonly don't give parents a choice about whether their kid is taught about evolution), Esh is just some other kid's uncle here. So when he drops the most controversial species of Avowed into a children's geology class with no warning, it's a little disrespectful. If someone thought I was raising my kid wrong, I'd want them to come talk to me, not ambush my kid at school. Last chapter the manyadeeth bit was a years-funny joke; this chapter he hands that same idea to a literal-minded kid, well-aware of how it will land. It's definitely disrespectful to the und'hs to do it this way, hardly a years-funny joke. Sure enough, Zakithee ends the chapter vowing to find out what Zeridee weighs. Notice how Alden, Bearer of All Burdens, is the one left carrying Zakithee's discomfort. And Esh knows it: "I apologize for making you handle that well." This is worded deliberately: he's not sorry for shoving his chisel into the crack, but solely for making Alden bear the fallout.
It’s worth noting that Esh didn’t show up intending to change Zakithee’s views; he came here to pick up his nieces. He assumed that Zak wouldn’t have views, even. And even Zak’s parents probably would have found his exact reaction a bit embarrassing.
That interaction was hilarious, even without the knowledge Alden is a knight to be... that poor kid. He was trying to act all grown up and proper but stumbled into every social faux par he conceivably could have, even Esh-Erdi was catching strays! It'll get even funnier in hindsight though, especially the part where he assumed Alden was a wizard.
my dad reads super supportive as well (i recommended it... assiduously) and a while ago he went "you should tell sleyca that esh means fire in hebrew". so here you go. message delivered :p
Extremely happy at the usage of the word assiduously. 20$ word right there
just had an incredibly disappointing orange, and now i'm very worried that some rapport i or iii child is going to get given A Bad Orange because oh my god that tasted bad. somewhere out there an artonan kid thinks humans have taste buds that are completely different to theirs
Well, was the Bad Orange as bad as the cherry gasoline popsicle from Natalie’s class?
Children are just unfiltered, they blurt things out as they see that it is. I like how this emphasises once again how similar in many ways Artonans and Humans are. It's the culture and society that are the large differentiators (and wizards) rather then the basic mentality. That obviously keeps them relateable (?) to us. These are fun, gentle, slice-of-life chapters focused on the Alien rather than Human part of the story and I am very much enjoying them.
Alden must do battle with racism at its most childish...
I would have thrown zakithee’s favorite rock into the middle of the river.
Alden is too precious. Also who hast had their heart ripped to shreds by a well meaning child before
||| He confessed to having a bellybutton—so *unique* at his age. Respect to his mother! ||| Comedy gold, caught me completely flat-footed.
I loved that too. Next time I see someone in a bathing suit I should nod at their belly button and say “respect to your mother” with no explanation.
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
"More than what?” Esh-erdi asked. “No, don’t answer that. I can guess who you borrowed those words from." Oof, if even Esh-erdi has trouble fitting in then what hope does Alden have? He'll being hearing unkind comments and backhanded compliments until the day he dies
I suspect that the adults in his life think Esh is too unserious, just flippant for the sake of flippancy. Which feels odd, because it seems very clear to us the audience that he is joking with a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is just to lighten the mood, which is no minor thing among people prone to dying of despair. Other times it is to tear down things that need tearing down, or to make it easier to speak of something difficult. Still, someone who only knew him from a distance or felt themselves the butt of his jokes on first acquaintance might make the mistake of thinking him shallow.
The world building is so amazing Because the child has not interacted with humans, he assumes all avowed are significantly different looking than Artonan (Ligers, Mothra, etc.) It is so much easier to be prejudiced against a group when there are large visual differences than groups that can blend in with your peer group 🎬
For a split second there I expected Esh to drop that Alden is the highest commended human.
"...'But I want—I’m going to build—a home to go back to. I’d rather have a place to miss than be good at drifting.'” 'Anesidora?' asked Esh-erdi. Alden hesitated. 'Anesidora…there’s a lot to like about Anesidora. It’s complicated. I’m not sure about the future. Stuff might come up.'" If it turns out Esh suspects nothing I'm going to scream.
Personally I don't think he suspects. However when he does find out all those little odd things about Alden and his situation will suddenly make sense.
Thank you! Great soup! I wonder what Esh erdi was thinking in this chapter? Alden's determination to fit in is even more obvious when contrasted against a child's prejudice.
Also, just realized that Zeridee, who's family is racist again aliens, decided to live on an alien world and dedicate her time to protecting and helping those aliens. Slay queen. That's a metal kind of rebellion against your family, and I approve.
I get a vibe that Esh might not be 100% on board with Alden being a Knight. When he states his opinion on avowed and how the current system works, it is clear he has a strong opinion and it is different that others around him. However, his choice of words never quite come off as 100% in favor of avowed. Like he is trying to walk some line. This could be a red herring though.
I still think he has a suspicion of Alden’s status which is why he’s going out of his way to do all this
🎶Lore dump Lore dump🎶 🎶Lore dump Lore dump🎶 🎶Got lore🎶 🎶Let’s dump🎶 🎶Want more🎶 🎶Have some🎶
🎶 Zakithee-und’h-erestimates new pink guy, Tall Avowed doesn’t mean Zac thinks high, Height just means more pink dye; raises up his stink eye 🎶
TFTC!
Exploring prejudice through eyes of an uninformed child is such an interesting way to portray the undh family's position. Inadvertently, the child makes a mockery of himself and his family through plump unintended insults and too hasty isolation. It almost satirizes the adults that "taught" him.
Yes, it's hilariously embarrassing and I hope it gets back to them for that reason. He even insulted Esh to his face, on top of the ridiculous shunning of his guest!
The kid didn't take one look at Alden's face and realise he's an alien, which goes to show how similar the two species can look
Which by the way is WILD! Are there theories about this? I mean, what are the odds these two species would be so nearly identical? Down to the number of fingers and toes... Atonans and humans are just shockingly similar and it hasn't stopped surprising me. Especially when you consider the variety we get from other species.
A rather direct demonstration of a fact that Alden’s known for a while but has been able to put out of his mind recently due to Stuart’s acceptance: there’s nowhere in the worlds that Alden will fit in perfectly. Him making the choice to move towards becoming a knight has not actually changed that, unfortunately.
A simultaneously light-hearted and heart wrenching chapter, fantastically written as always. Thank you for the chapter, I look forward to the next one
Since he wants to be a knight seem someone that did the last step. But (in his mind) will never understand the pain or care as deeply for their skill of choice probably matter too. The "his not a wizard" from the teacher could also get a mark under his skin. The MC it just good enough to not even care about thar mark^^.
I like this soup, Another one!
“The ones who he lives with try to avoid summoning prejudices, and emotional turmoil, by avoiding relationships with other species,” said Esh-erdi. “They believe neutrality and detachment makes them more effective.” It sounds like they try not to get attached to Avowed so that they can summon them to battle without worrying about their survival rates or fear losing a friend who gets summoned.
Its similar actually to how the newling knights of rapport 1 are avoiding Stu. They think he'll die and that making friends with him will cause them to destabilise when he dies putting their own survival at risk. Some of them were doing that at the behest of their families too
“Yes. And you’re Hn’tyon Lind-otta’s, so you must have more to you.” “More than what?” Esh-erdi asked. “No, don’t answer that. I can guess who you borrowed those words from." It sounds like the Undh's don't like Esh either. I wonder if its personal or if they don't like knights who aren't from the rapports.
Given what we’ve seen of Esh, I’d imagine that knights who try to be traditional & proper find him a bit horrifying. He’s such an independent spirit.
Tune in next week when Alden tries to trade a person sized vat of pink dye to Tuck and Yinyou for store credit.
I love this idea! Think of the new trend they'd start. I'm not a big fan of pink, but I'd totally buy a pink hat or scarf made with alien pink dye. Alden gets into such interesting business opportunities.
I'm fascinated with Artonan society being seemingly post-scarcity (at least everyone seems to have their basic needs met), so it makes me think more about the role of Avowed. Clearly there is a camp that feels they are not needed at all, one explanation is from human experience which is racism/xenophobia and so on, but maybe there's a different motivation there. Also, remembering from an earlier detail, expanding the contract helps against chaos as well (am I remembering that correctly?), so wouldn't be more Avowed be good? Either way I'm loving this, I feel like we'll know more as Alden becomes better at understanding this alien society, its fun to learn along with him
I wonder if it’s a common view among the Artonans that it’s selfish to have the avowed? It honestly seems like they really try and bombard their resource worlds with wealth and technological advancements almost like they are trying to make up for dooming them to an existence of dealing with demons.
Probably not a racism. Rapports didn't want new world as responsibility. They want to keep impartial and indifferent attitude towards avowed. If they start to play favorites it will create conflict between colonies as well. Kid just got wrong ideas and represent them in wrong way.
Eh. Deciding to deartonize your colonials/property-soldiers so you don't feel guilty about sending them to their deaths—or biased in which ones you send to their deaths—is pretty racist to me. And it's even been a topic Stu and Alden have talked about: how should a Knight choose avowed to die? A commander, even of a different class or type from their soldiers, refusing to acknowledge them as people generally doesn't lead to optimal outcomes. Especially for the soldiers, but also for the war.
«“A knight doesn’t like Avowed! Your eyes are green, but they aren’t interesting. Even if you were an ordinary human I wouldn’t notice your tallness. We won’t share wevvi! Not even that! I’ll walk away in this direction now. That’s what I should do.”» based «“I’m going to find out what my cousin weighs to make sure this is over!” Zakithee-und’h announced. “Thank you for saving her and serving the Triplanets in other ways. I’m honored to make your acquaintance, and I’d give you wevvi if we met again, but we won’t have to do that. Live a long life. On Earth!”» But keep to your station, navel-ape 🤣
Navel-ape 😂
I wondered if we might see Alden's Birth Tree, looks like a no then.
Still very possible. I’d expect it to be either at Esh’s house or some dedicated grove of important trees with a caretaker.
“I can imaging how that would be, I think,” said Alden. It should be ‘imagine’ instead of ‘imaging’. At the word, ‘Avowed’ every child’s head turned to inspect Alden. -> At the word, ‘Avowed,’ every child’s head turned to inspect Alden. I think there should be a comma after ‘Avowed’
It seems Esh-erdi's skill may be as handy in the kitchen as Alden's
We are slowly being introduced to Natalie’s future squad one member at a time. Lexi for whipping cream, Alden for pickles and dish cleaning, Foe Cooker…
Edit Suggestions: After my oaths, which I will totally absolutely be allowed to take and succeed at, I’d like to be liked by the group I’ve joined. -> After my oaths, which I will totally absolutely be allowed to take and succeed at, I’d like to be liked by the group I’ve joined. (Remove Double Space)
What is proper when there are conflicting models for propriety? Older people than Zakithee-und'h have struggled with family setting one example and teachers and honored community members setting another; seeing it so transparently in a kid makes it clear how much this isn't really about Alden all at, though Alden is the one being immediately hurt by his blunt and unexpected rejections.
Esh does such a good job of walking Zakithee through his muddle, shifting through different frames of how to assess and understand. When is it appropriate to run away from someone talking to you, and did one of those happen here? (No.) You said knights don't like Avowed to Alden, but here is information about multiple knights including me liking Alden, and also you aren't a knight yourself. As a person, here's someone who wouldn't say hurtful things to you offering to share his world's fruits with you, so why are you refusing to share your world's fruits with him, etc? I'm sure you didn't mean to be hurtful or improper, so I'm helping you stop and work it through, I believe you can do better. It feels like such a small thing that Zakithee tells Alden he would share weevi if he meets with Alden again even if he hopes they never do, especially when he's trying to solve the 'I don't know how to handle my family having an ongoing relationship with you, even one of obligation' by trying to met the obligation with the reward Esh says Alden didn't ask for so the relationship will stop. But getting from won't break bread or share drinks to will share rituals of hospitality is the key foot in the door that enables the possibility of more: that small step is a big step.
"No, don’t answer that. I can guess who you borrowed those words from" Dang it, Esh. Let the child finish his unintentional exposé on prejudice!
Good soup ദ്ദി（• ˕ •マ.ᐟ
Poor kid, being taught that he shouldn't like other species. I guess their parents were one of those that thought they should never contact earth, huh?
Alden is so good with kids. Boe really had him pegged; he'd make a great teacher. I think it'll be a long road to get there, but I hope that's where he eventually ends up. Whether on Anesidora or maybe in one of the rapports, I'd love to see this series eventually (in the distant future) end with Alden settling into a teaching role.
Kids say the darnedest things
Great chapter. Its great to see Alden getting a view of knights that isn't from our favorite nepo-baby. > |“I can imaging how that would be, I think,” said Alden. “I’ve been very homesick—torn away from deep roots—a couple of times. I think this should be "imagine", but there's a way to make the gerund work as well :)
A cartoon gerund: https://millroadcemetery.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Molesworth-gerund-cut.jpg
Esh persistently trying to feed Ploomp oranges reminded me of his efforts to give things to Alden, to do things for him, when they first met. It struck me in a few ways. First, in opposition to his skill, Esh tries to make connections. And as with his difficulty with healing, making connections can take him significant effort. Second, even when his attempts are evaded or rejected, he’s not one to give up. He’s the epitome of persistence. It’s very endearing.
Throwing peanut shells all over Welcome End. I think hes a litterbug
Alternate title: Alden suffers a racism.
But what happened to the orange peel litter? Some knight of the triplanets…
It's biodegradable, it's fine. Though it is alien biodegradable material... I can picture an irate wizard downstream complaining about his river bank ritual collection site being contaminated by alien fruit peelings.
I like this depiction of the awkwardness of dealing with a child prejudiced by his surroundings/loved ones. Thanks for the chapter, Sleyca.
This poor kid keeps taking hits.
Alden realized once again that his path of knighthood would be brimming with hardship and prejudge.
“I need to make a huge deal out of Kibby’s when I see her in person” was such a thoughtful note from Alden. Love it. Thank you for the chapter.
It's been a few months in the story, and I really hope Kibby comes back from Thegund and can be a regular part of the story again soon, rather than just an occasional mention.
It would be funny if Alden searches for a place to build a house at Rapport III and Esh-Erdi accidentally catches him. Explain that please
Rapport III is uncomfortably hot for Alden even at night. Rapport I, wich is viewed as a cold and and joyless land by the other Rapports, is just the right temperature for a human.
*wriggles with excitement*
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS But JESUS... that kid. Painful to listen to. I hope it embarrasses his parents, regardless of their views on avowed.
Not sure if Sleyca was up until 8 am on a red bull and writing binge or fell asleep at the desk and is now panic posting.
This is a well-honed chapter that lands its beats exquisitely. There may be a few minor word tweaks before RR posting, but "panic posting" does not square with the author's obvious care with her craft.
“Ploomp wasn’t a speedboat…” - don’t be dissing our new best bud like that!
Team Ploomp assemble!
Thank you !!!!!! I knew it was a good idea to go on an extended dog walk🐶
Lovely writing as always 💖 it makes me happy whenever i read it
Woo! Just in time for a pre-sleep read for me.
Ty
Thank you for the chapter 💖