P.S he’s wrong by the way everything will be fine. He’s gonna get so to be so happy and old.

I just want to take second and yell about Qifrey and the star and the silverwood maiden. His identification with the silverwood maiden is such a powerful re-contextualization of (arguably) the worst thing that has ever happened to him and an affirmation of his will to live. Obviously Qifrey has been exhausted and tempted to give up before, but there has always been a deep sense of gratitude. Olly not only literally keeps him alive but he also gave him his only (remembered) period of uncomplicated happiness. We know there have been times in his life where he has kept going only to keep his promise. But there had to be times after the pact and before the girls he experienced something wonderful and was reminded that he only got to because one boy loves him so much that he sawed off parts of himself so that Qifrey could live, so that he could have these exact moments of joy. It’s easy to see why Qifrey would think of think of Olruggio as the star, probably for years on end probably giving the end of the poem little thought other than to remind himself the purpose of magic, to share it with the people who need it. Then he takes on the girls and he loves them so much and they need him and that is revolutionary for him. He can step out of his role as lifelong recipient and into that of the giver the needed the bestower of gifts and suddenly he’s sure that despite making to this point subsisting on the pain and sacrifice of his star it was worth it because this is who he is now. He’s the giver it’s his turn to light up the world for someone, show them a path forward, love them unconditionally.

P.S. Qifrey will end this story blind and free and happier than he’s ever been I’m 100% sure and I can’t wait. I’m manifesting a new support system and joy for Custas as well

On the other hand I doubt Olruggio has outright confessed before. I feel like we’ve seen that he mostly expresses his feelings through actions. I feel like Qifrey has probably never heard him say it out loud. This pattern definitely feels significant though, he asked him in chapter 40 and when he treed for the first time and even before that when he didn’t know that he was a silverwood host. Idk what the payoff for this is going to be but I know it will be feel like taking a bat to the face(positive)