[Author's note]

So, I think this is where I'm gonna end the volume.

I know, I know, this can't exactly be called an ending, but I'm making this decision for a couple reasons.

First of all, if I'm splitting volumes, this is one of only two planned story beats where I feel like the split could make sense, and the second is significantly further down the line. Could I get to it within 20 thousand words and still make the cut off? Perhaps. Will I? Maybe. It depends on my second point.

The second reason is that my motivation has steadily waned for a while at this point. My way of writing is heavily momentum based, if I start going several days without writing a chapter it takes a lot of effort to get that momentum back, and to be honest I am very tired. Trying to balance uni, writing and everything else is just not doing me any favours. With all that considered, I decided it was a better idea to wave the white flag and call this my volume ending. I do already have a couple thousand words on the backburner that I could continue on with in the month left to me, but it really depends on whether I can regain that motivation. At the moment, I'm just really not sure.

Regardless, if you've reached this point, thank you, it really means a lot, and I hope you've enjoyed. This story will continue at some point, I just don't know if that'll be sooner or later.

I'm really tired.