Special Chapter: Q&A #1

(This text is not a formal narrative chapter, but an informal appendix written to address inquiries, unearth hidden details, and speak directly with readers following the first leg of our journey~)

"And answered directly by the winged calico demon cat, Dancote."

- Tales of the Transmitted Strange

...

Dancote curled lazily upon a velvet cushion, twitching one stubby horn. His tiny bat wings fluttered just enough to stir the dust as a stack of glowing missives from an alien coordinate, the readers' realm, drifted onto the floorboards. Yawning wide, the calico cat tapped each parchment with a soft paw and drawled out the answers:

Q1: Who are the poets quoted at the beginning of each chapter?
A1: Those names are poetic adaptations of real musicians and lyricists. The Sweetest Bane refers to the Vietnamese indie band Ngot, translating the bitter sweetness of their name. The Sable Hue is a translation of Vietnamese rapper Den Vau, where sable means black and hue means shade. Reizoh is simply an anagram of the Irish singer Hozier. The poems themselves were crafted by adapting and translating their song lyrics into verse.

Q2: What is the origin and nature of the book Tales of the Transmitted Strange?
A2: In reality, it is inspired by Truyen Ky Man Luc, a classic 16th-century collection of supernatural tales written by the Vietnamese scholar Nguyễn Dữ. In our universe, it is an artifact from the upper strata. It does not act as a simple spellbook. Instead, it devours the suffering, guilt, and bitter experiences of its bearer, weaving those trials into an inescapable causal thread that ultimately grants their soul true peace.

Q3: What was the real human name of Ljus before he was turned into a wooden construct?
A3: That cannot be revealed just yet, meow. His head was severed in the transit cathedral, and along with it went his human voice, memories, and personal name. For now, he is Ljus, the name given to him by Gli. His true name will return only when he finds what was taken from him.

Q4: Why do cats like Skugga and Dancote hold such a privileged status?
A4: In this vast multiverse, felines exist outside standard cosmological dread and labor mandates. But the real answer? Because we are cats~.

Q5: What is the overarching message the author wants to convey through this story?
A5: Meow! Even when life strips away your name, your flesh, your voice, or your memories, small acts of kindness, a shared crust of bread, and gentle companionship remain the truest victories against an unfeeling universe.

Q6: Are there any plans for character illustrations, comic adaptations, or audio?
A6: Definitely! A cinematic audio drama project is also being actively explored.

Q7: Why did the author choose northern Sweden (Kvikkjokk, Lake Saggat) as the origin for Gli?
A7: Northern Scandinavia possesses a distinct, poetic stillness. Endless snowfields, howling winds, yet nestled within are warm wooden cabins smelling of freshly baked cinnamon buns and hearth fires. That stark contrast between harsh nature and cozy human warmth mirrors the core spirit of the novel.

Q8: Will the mysterious chat group "The Recently Deceased" and characters like Sirius and Kenith return?
A8: Absolutely. The chat interface is not a throwaway gag; it is a vital terminal connecting anomalous souls across the upper strata.

Q9: What is the entity known as the Gl--7|-|3_6L!7(H_  [3RR0R_#?!]...????!?????
A9: [3RR0R: D474_C0RRUP73D]
7|-|3_6L!7(H_ !5 UNM3N7!0N4BL3.
D0 N07 5P34K !7. D0 N07 5UMM0N !7.
4N 3NDL355 L00P 4W4!75... [L00P...]
M0r3 4b0ut 7h!s 3nt!ty w!ll b3 r3v34l3d l4t3r 0n M30W~...

Q10: Are there any plans for physical book prints or merchandise like plushies of the cats?
A10: "Merchandise of me and Skugga?! That is a mandatory priority!"
(To be completely honest, I haven't even thought about that yet! For now, my entire focus is poured into refining the story, crafting the world, and completing the journey of these characters. But who knows? If enough readers want a small plushie of Dancote or Skugga curled up on their desks in the future, maybe we'll consider it down the line.)

Q11: Why choose an avocado as a recurring motif throughout the entire story?
A11: The avocado represents the humble, overlooked weight of mortal life, or at least, that's what Dancote thinks, meow~.

Q12: How did the author approach writing a protagonist who has no head, no eyes, and no traditional voice?
A12: It was a deliberate creative challenge. When you take away a character's facial expressions, you are forced to communicate emotion purely through tactile presence. And it makes every small action infinitely more intimate and deliberate~.

Q13: Why did a second Dancote appear, and is it powerful?
A13: "Wait... you’re asking me?! I don't know either, meow! Another cat that looks just like me fell out of the sky! Is he strong? Hmm, a scary monster tried to hit him and he didn't even flinch, then he just climbed up to take a nap... so maybe he is super tough? But then the moment that guy Sevran vanished... poof, my twin disappeared into thin air too!"

Q14: Why is the barrier of language such a dominant theme across all the storylines?
A14: "Because to be completely honest, the author has hardly seen any story that takes the actual pain of language barriers seriously! Like, meow, why is it that in other fantasy books, humans magically understand alien tongues the second they arrive? Or even weirder, how people in those stories just chat with their own cats as if we speak fluent human?!"

Q15: Which scene was the most emotional or difficult for the author to write?
A15: "It was definitely the reunion between Sevran and little Kau'i in that final dream. Capturing that raw, tender grief without falling into hollow melodrama was emotionally exhausting. Even a tough demon cat like me almost shed a tear..."

Q16: What path lies ahead for Ljus and his friends?
A16: Stay tuned, everyone! I guarantee you're in for quite a surprise, and familiar characters will also be making their return in the most creative ways possible!

Q17: What inspired the meaning behind the title?
A17: It fuses Surreal and Phantasm into hallucinatory realism, blending brutal reality with dreamlike visions to show that tender human warmth endures beneath the cold void of existence.

Q?: Where can readers send their questions and theories?
A!: Meow, If you have further questions or want to discuss the lore, you can send to dancote167 (Discord) to receive an answer. Thank you for reading.

Q(meow): Any closing words from Dancote before taking another nap?
A(meow): Dancote yawns wide, curling his tail around his paws: "Feed your cats, stay warm in the winter, and don't make deals with demons wearing sharp suits. See you again, meow~"

...

Dancote finished licking his paw, tucked his nose beneath his tail, and closed his eyes to sleep.

From beneath the porch bench, a little black shadow trotted out. Skugga stretched his spine long, hopped onto the desk, nudged Dancote aside, and looked straight at the readers with wide emerald eyes:

"Meow!"

...