May 29, 2025
This chapter comes in swinging with mystery, melancholy, and a main character who’s one bad dream away from unlocking a tragic anime backstory. You’ve got cryptic worldbuilding (heaven and hell doing a cha-cha slide), a narrator with selective memory (same, bro), and a protagonist named Jace—probably not his real name, but close enough.
Jace is a quiet kid with above-average skills and below-average social life. But what hits the hardest is his bond with his mom—it’s tender, believable, and makes me terrified for what’s coming later (because nothing good follows a "he’d burn the world for her" line 😭).
There’s a dream sequence that's weirdly vivid, haunting, and leaves you going “huh??” in the best way. It’s not clear what’s real or symbolic, but that's part of the fun. Also, the IHCE sounds like the perfect place to hide from your responsibilities—or your destiny.
It leans into nostalgia, fear of isolation, and an eerie sense of fate. And somehow, it still makes time for pond water, Elina, and emotional trauma served with a side of metaphysical angst.
TL;DR: This is the chapter where you know something’s brewing—and it’s not coffee. Dreams are sketchy, vibes are off, and Mom’s the MVP. Plot’s got potential, and I’m here for the chaos.
