#improvized flow

Okay, so, to start - we end up (once more) at the boarder of the N109 Zone, but in an area we don't know. Not only that, but a dead zone that Sylus has created a while ago.

And when he shows up, he's in FULL BOSSMAN MODE, and I'm here for it. I feel like we haven't gotten enough of this side of him.

We also get him training us again, which I have always found interesting. I think that whatever happened in that interstellar arena have scarred Sylus in a way he will always be a bit fearful we will be alone and be taken away again. He's always trying to prevent that.

I also think that Sylus, at some point, trained us at the arena. He never hesitates when teaching or using things as a practical lesson. Even when we first re-meet him in the main story. (More on this a bit later, too.)

MC also properly surprises him with tricking him in revealing himself. This just feels like something to note.

However...this line

This line - this line gives me pause. Because up until now he has been very direct with MC and those around him. So, are we actually being lied to at all? (Personally, I still don't think so. But I think he might be lying to others.)

Later, he also says

Which (to me) fits what we know about him thus far.

Moving on! Something I did get excited for, though, was that we were getting to see more of 'Before', which was briefly hinted at in the church during Alternative Darkborne.

He agrees to show MC these places, but even he admits there's too many to cover in two weeks. This man was b u s y.

MC says "I'm not greedy. We'll go as far as two weeks allow."

And Sylus doesn't correct her. This is odd. Every time, up until now, he has encouraged MC's greed in whatever way it appears. He loves spending as much time with her as possible. So why doesn't he correct her here?

Now, we only see five proper places - the auto shop (which confirms what many of us speculated about his newest chapters), the road he loses people on, the field, the greenhouse, and the festival - and those are still just glimpses. There's not much detail given outside of the auto shop.

And the auto shop was interestingggggggggg. Sylus is clearly comfortable around Hank. I can't help but wonder if Hank sort of took Sylus in a little. That line about noticing that Sylus' bike had been tampered with, so he stopped the race between the two of them was...interesting.

It may be there to also humanize those in the N109 Zone, too. I think most think of the entire area as villains.

But then, of course, Hank hands over a pannier (a bag for a motorcycle - I had to look it up lol) filled with a month's worth of supplies. Odd for a man traveling for only two weeks.

The music changed, too, which I found interesting.

And I know what you're thinking - Kaits! Later he pulls out heating pads and instant hot drinks for he and MC to share in the greenhouse!

Correct. He pulls out specific things for her to see. He doesn't show her the rest of it. I just gave you part of the truth.

We then never bring it up again. Odd.

Now...the conversation in the Greenhouse.

I done did about lost my mind.

"...the night is more pure this time around." "...It's pure because we're the only ones here."

This is one of those lines that sounds cute but feels like there's a deeper message there.

And then this little exchange:

"It's natural to be afraid of the dark. Overcoming that instinct is difficult."

"What about you? you were never scared even when your back faced the dark?" (Odd phrasing...usually it's back faced the wall...)

"The darkness of the N109 Zone isn't something to be afraid of."

He's dodging again. We know this because he got oddly specific. The darkness of the N109 Zone isn't something to fear. But something in the dark is. Another type of dark is.

But what kind of dark has he faced that made him afraid?

MC specifically asks about the area at this point, and it's brushed off with a comment on how he learned to pass time in the dark.

Not that he wasn't afraid. That he learned how to cope with being in it.

Off we go to the little foggy bog, and we have another interesting conversation:

Now, we know that Sylus and MC were in this arena together long enough to know each other...and many of us seemed to translate what he had said originally as they were partners during that time as well...

But, Sylus never had a chance to work on teamwork. MC implies she's also used to working on her own.

And then that line "Someone once told me...When you're forced to turn your back to the dark, you need someone you can truly trust."

I think this is a nod back to the arena days.

Then we get to the festival (where the loose connection to the rest of the story is that it doubles as a place for small deals, which I have no doubt it does, but I just found it silly.)

And these two nerds 🤣🤣 they stay the whole festival, and then EVERYONE LEAVES AND THEY DO THIS ALONE! I find that too funny. This man goes that hard for just MC. I love him. 🤣

"Besides, I have a new priority now. I need to make you happy."

Then we get our dancey-dance and our smooches (bless those making Illuso edits - may both sides of your pillows be cool).

I really don't have too much to add here, as I have already pointed out what I've noticed with the dance here.

The backstage makes me so happy, though, because there's no longer this hesitation we see with Nightly Rendezvous (our consent king). He knows he's wanted just as much as he wants her.

Although that aether core flaring up still has me suspicious...

Then, as all must, the night comes to an end and the sun rises. Sylus brings MC out to this field where they watch a satellite cross.

We get this again - because this man is trying his absolute darndest to get us to move in with him.

But it was this that made me pause again:

He's willing to drop everything for her. Which, as we know, he's said a million times. This has always been for her.

Okay, but the satellite though. Sylus just causally mentions that he and Onychinus are just causally being tracked by the satellite passing through. And then we get this weird series of moments.

Yeah, Kaits, everyone wants to take him down. So what?

It's a military satellite. So who is actually chasing down Sylus? The story chapters and the new World Underneath tell us that Astra clearly is, Ever clearly is, and who do we know connected with the military that also happens to know that MC was in the N109 Zone?

Odd how all that lines up...ain't it?

And, again, we just casually move on.

Until we hit another just 'casually thrown in there line'... Pray tell, Sylus, what goals might those be for a man who's aether core also contains the power to destroy worlds?

There's also a lot of talk throughout the whole card about MC getting used to the dark, and how they're becoming more alike. To me, this card feels like MC finally willing to fully admit to herself how similar they are and what she actually feels.

This moment made me squeal. It's adorable and comfy and homey and aklsdjf;aklsjdf. We finally got there, y'all.

This was the cutest way to end the card, and I did love it.

So...yeah, I'm pretty sure we have more questions than answers...still... but it does keep me wondering what the third myth will be about. Will it be the arena, and if so, how does that line up with MC being a child when she finally gets to earth?

If it doesn't end up being the arena, when will we get answers about it?