《Exhuman》Author’s Afterword
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Wow.
If you made it this far…just…wow. Thank you, sincerely, for taking the time to read all of Exhuman.
The chapter count is a little misleading, but all told, there were exactly 500 of them. Almost 5.5k pages. And you read all of them, you absolute beast.
And now this. The last page. The story’s already done, this is just…I guess…me wrapping it up a little. A little more.
See, I’ve been writing Exhuman for about two and a half years now. Maybe two years of that, I was writing full-time, I quit my job so I could focus on writing. I can’t say it was a profitable venture, but still a rewarding one. Now that it’s finished, I’m planning to set my sights even higher: to write something and get traditionally published, and see if I can make a living at this sort of thing.
I’ve put in this time to improve my craft and my discipline, and hopefully, I can say I’ve done so; releasing four chapters a week for 26 months. There were some stumbles (like when I dropped my Chromebook), some chapters I’m not quite proud of, certainly. But overall…damn, I did it. And you did it!
And while I usually try to have a discussion in the comments, here I won’t be responding to criticism in any way. A published work needs to be able to stand on its own, I won’t have the chance to explain myself further in comments moving forward. So say whatever you’d like, absolutely, and I’ll take it as it is.
With that call to action out of the way…oh hey, speaking of calls to action, and seamless segues, for the absolute last time, I’d like to plug my Patreon — if you enjoyed Exhuman, please, please consider supporting, even if for a short time. I won’t patronize you by explaining how money is important, but I will say that spending years making very little of it is…uniquely stressful. Your support helps more than you know.
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Last time onerously grubbing for cash. Feels good to be done.
If you’ve got any, (like how the timeline in-universe just doesn’t work, or what was with Moon’s backstory that was always alluded-to and never revealed?) I’m happy to answer questions about Exhuman, the process, or the future. Or just to give you a big ol’ e-hug for reading my whole story. Thanks again for doing that, by the way. Have I mentioned how great you are?
Well you are. Thanks.
And I guess this is goodbye. Until next time? I guess we’ll see.
I hope Exhuman made your world a little brighter. I love you all.
–Zoe
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Small Chests Are Fine Too
It is an undeniable fact that good things come in small packages. More often than not, it is necessary to trim the fat in order to bring what really matters to the forefront. Having extra bulk may seem like a good idea, but in reality it is merely a crutch that will one day become a hindrance, as it is no substitute for personality nor ability. Indeed, often times it is the small things in life that brighten up our daily lives and constantly remind us exactly why we do the things we do. However, it is important to keep an open mind, for while bigger is not always better, there are also times when it is. This holds especially true when it comes to hopes and dreams, which have been known to require a suitably large container from time to time. And while dreaming big could potentially lead to massive dissapointment, one will never truly reach fulfilment if they think too small. A truth that one small woman with meager aspirations is about to find out. DISCLAIMER: This is a spin-off/side story of my main series, Everybody Loves Large Chests, which is also mandatory reading to understand this one. It runs parallel to the main plot, branching off from the chapter titled Upheaval 2, so there will be spoilers for anyone who hasn't reached that point.
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“Your first death is always the hardest.” Miguela was the third-born child of a well-off merchant family and knew from around the time she could speak that her life’s path was already decided. She was to become an Orator, as was Xandran tradition. However, Miguela had an affinity with the magikal arts and somehow found herself studying at the Academy. She did just enough to keep up with her studies but never found the motivation to apply herself and “reach her potential,” as her instructors often said. It was not that Miguela was uninterested in the arts. Rather, she knew her time at the Academy ultimately did not matter. Whenever Miguela returned home, she would become an Orator, and that would be that. Or so she believed until, one day, an opportunity appeared that would change her life. Miguela was offered the chance to join a research team tasked with a mission of the utmost importance to the future of the Five Kingdoms. She could not turn down the prospect of regaining control of her life and finally finding a purpose for herself. Of course, Miguela might soon discover that offers that appear too good to be true are usually fraught with lies. Welcome to Five Kingdoms of Cordizal! Question: What is the Five Kingdoms of Cordizal? I often get asked this type of question about my stories by friends, bloggers, and potential readers. The Five Kingdoms of Cordizal is a high-fantasy epic universe that is the setting for most of my stories. The foundation of the universe is its multicultural, multiracial setting with several sentient races attempting to carve their legacy and survive. The world is fully fleshed out and vibrant with a rich and mysterious history not based on Tolkien mythology. This brings me to magic. To me, magic is an essential part of the fantasy genre, so, of course, there is magic in the Five Kingdoms universe. However, one critical part of the Five Kingdoms universe is that magic is an abundant commodity that is a part of everyday life and not some plot device used to drive the story. In short, the Five Kingdoms universe is the setting of epic fantasy stories with deep characters and world-building. I try to tell as many different types of stories as possible in the universe, and hopefully, you can find something for you in it.
8 98 - In Serial12 Chapters
AI's Champion
The planet Earth no longer holds any resemblance with the beautiful blue sphere depicted in photographs of the past. Instead the clouds in the sky come in only brown and various shades of gray. The ocean still holds blue waters but they are rare pockets, coveted by world and therefore guarded even from viewing. The planet is dying, or more accurately was dying. A boy forsaken by the world works to save it and mostly succeeds but in the process loses the life he had. What happens when he is given another chance in a world of magic and cultivation with the AI he built in his previous world as his patron deity? Image is not mine and was taken from the following site: https://becominghuman.ai/five-major-disruptions-that-will-define-the-next-decade-35f1208905d1 If they wish for me to take it down in the future I will do so.
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RETURN, A Dark Lord story.
Return, Synopsis In the Triangulum Galaxy, one of a number of galaxies controlled by the Empire of The DARK LORD, JENNA OF CHRISTOS finds herself on the run after she killed a patrolman. Becoming pilot on a pirate craft, several years later she and other pirates are devastated by attacks of the Imperial Legion and are now trying to regroup. Seeking funds that will help them hide out for a time, their leader THURGOD DRISTA and JENNA meet with a PROFESSOR of galactic history who gives them information, a map and an ancient artifact described as a singing stone. He tells them that this could lead them safely to a legendary treasure trove, called THE DARK LORDS HOARD, on the forbidden planet TRILLA. The hoard is supposed to belong to the ruler of the empire who vanished close to one thousand years before and is presumed to be gone. The treasure is believed to be hidden in a tunnel accessible from the planet surface but no one who has gone into the tunnel has ever come out alive or sane. Leaving the pirate hideout immediately after the meeting and avoiding a major attack by the legion, the pirates travel to the galactic rim for supplies and to leave a false trail. With them they take the PROFESSOR and ILISA, a serving girl. However CAPTAIN TRASKA the commander of a Legions task force called Detachment T, has guessed the pirates intentions and tracked them to the rim. The pirates leave on their next leg to TRILLA unaware that CAPTAIN TRASKA with his force of heavy cruisers, is already there and lying in wait for them. Allowing the pirates to land, including an unexpected second pirate ship, CAPTAIN TRASKA sends a force of troopers to capture both craft and their guards. Before they can do this, THURGOD, the PROFESSOR and others, numbering thirteen altogether and led by JENNA entered the tunnel complex. JENNA, warned by ILISA that she must be the one to hold the singing stone, carries it in the hope that it will guide her and her companions past the many dangers in the tunnel. Shortly afterward, VIS VISTRICER the Legions overall commander travels to Trilla in an armoured planetoid, a spacecraft as large as a moon. On his arrival at TRILLA, VIS VISTRICER meets with CAPTAIN TRASKA but before they can do much, they are both surprised by one of the LADIES OF THE CIRCLE who is waiting for the outcome of what is happening in the tunnels. In the tunnels, JENNA leads THURGOD and the rest of party through many dangers and tests. Four are killed in the tunnels but the rest finally come to their goal where, to their surprise, in a cavern they meet the DARK LORD who is alive and very well. He has been waiting for them so he can return to the Empire. JENNA finds out that the patrol officer is alive and that she and many others have been manipulated all this time by the DARK LORD. She also finds out that ILISA, whose real name is JURA, is a member of the CIRCLE OF LADIES and was sent to teach JENNA many years before on her home planet of Christos. The DARK LORD restores and fulfills a promise to release JURA from her service as a LADY. He next has each pirate declare their own fate and takes them to the surfaces of TRILLA. There, at their election, he executes two of the pirates while JENNA is pardoned and some have the death penalty reprieved. The rest will face the courts of the Legion. VIS VISTRICER is raised to the rank of STAR COMMANDER, the highest rank in the Legion while TRASKA becomes a COMMODORE. The DARK LORD returns to Tihab, the administrative centre of the empire. There he takes up his residence in a surprised and disconcerted imperial palace. JENNA is returned by COMMODORE TRASKA to the planet Christos where she is welcomed by the planets rulers and her family, some of whom were aware of some of what was happening.
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Keyla is a streetrat with a penchant for picking pockets and locks. She intuitively knows where to stand in a room or crowd to go unnoticed. The techniques came naturally to her and are enough for her to get by, if not make a true life for herself. When the church gives her an opportunity to commit such sins for money, it's too much to refuse. What she discovers in the course of the heist will challenge her perception of right and wrong, and the very beliefs her society holds dear.
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Book of Suicide Poems
This is my way to say goodbye.Warning: the poems might be triggering. If you believe you cannot stand reading depression and sucide poems because you might be triggered, please, for your own good, don't.
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