Mar 16, 2018
Well then, that's the latest chapter. The first thing I have to say is: it's great to be back. I read about how you had some troubles at the beginning of the year, but it looks like you've recovered from them quite well. In addition, I can see how you've really kept your word, to me and to all of your other readers here. This story just keeps ramping up, and there's no sign of it slowing down. Thank you so much for this, for all of the work you've done here.
Now then, for my analysis of this chapter. You were definitely right, Lucas wouldn't get out of this scot-free, but I feel that this time, Rio was actually worse off. Lucas finally managed to show just what kind of resolve he has, and even bigger, he actually remained kind to her. She may even actually feel that he pitied her just now, and she may be right there. It makes me think about just what that may actually have an impact on her now. Overall, for the entirety of her life, no one has really shown pity for Rio at all. Her family didn't, despite how she was crippled, and beyond them, Rio never actually allowed anyone else, as far as I've read, of course, to develop any kind of connections with her. Then you have Lucas, a boy that she's bullied, that she's beaten, and that she's even CURSED, wiping her own blood before tending to his own wounds? That speaks volumes about how their relationship is now and how it may change. When Rio said that she could clean herself up, it made me wonder. Perhaps because Rio basically rebuilt her own life, and her sister's life almost singlehandedly, she's developed a sense of complete self-reliance, maybe considering pity to be an insult to her as an individual. It also occurred to me that after Rio regained some of her composure, she didn't bat an eye or make a twitch at the transformation she underwent. Perhaps Rio has had more than one previous encounter with her "inner monster". She may not know how to control her new instincts, but she's at least used to it. By the way, the part where Rio basically turned on Lucas like a vampire, I can safely say that that's one of the most creative and the single most disgusting part of this story I've read so far. I'm sorry to say it like this, but still, getting your vitality absorbed, your blood spat on your face, and feeling it run down your cheek? You've already created quite a nightmare with these Renegades, but it looks like you're just getting started. I'm impressed.
Now then, continuing in with the analysis. It looks like now we can see more of Rio's actual form, that being a second eye below her left eye, and obsidian colored skin. Not only that, it appears that I've seen another potential ability of Renegades: regeneration. Rio nearly regenerated all of the skin she lost when she briefly lost herself. Now that makes me wonder about Fenris. When he was first shown, as he was using his powers, his arm was described as dissolving into green goo. I said before that this could be a sign of him completely losing his humanity, but it could also be a sign of his true form as a Renegade. In that case, shouldn't he be able to regenerate skin he's lost? Maybe this ability doesn't belong to all Renegades, or maybe he has lost the ability to do so. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Moving on, when I heard how you described Rio's speech as she recovered as having "dual voices", it made me wonder again. While Rio's 3rd eye was exposed, you said that it moved independently at times. What if the Renegade part of Rio isn't Rio at all, but a separate, feral personality? That may explain the violent outburst, the second voice, and the independent eye. It may also explain why a Renegade's Laws are beyond their control, and how their Influence may work and develop. It's amazing the kinds of possibilities we are seeing right now. I hope wholeheartedly that I will get to see them as I continue to read this story. Wish you well, keep up the good work, and until next time.