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New chapter tomorrow! Sneak peek to tide you over!
🕑 Added 2024-06-07 12:28:37 +0000 UTCArt AND text sneak peek! Who could want more!
WIP above is one of two alt covers I'm putting together for some special Stormweaver merch/special editions we're gonna be doing to fund a comic/manga adaptation! Bout time certain characters get a bit more love than they have been ;)
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SNEAK PEEK:
Rei felt his face warm, his mind suddenly scrambling to clear itself of his jumbled astonishment and emotions. Meeting Carmen Laurent—Aria’s father—had been bad enough, but at least he’d had a minute to gather himself for that particular encounter. This, somehow, was worse—way worse—not the least because he happened to know that Aria was still close to her brother and sister in a way she wasn’t with her parents.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever felt more awkward than in that moment, standing before this particular gathering of Users while his top worries were hovering between regretting how long it had been since he’d gotten a haircut and hoping he was standing straight enough to make a good impression.
His trepidation clearly wasn’t missed, either, because he went stiff as Kalus Laurent’s attention flicked briefly to him, lingering just long enough to feel—if only in Rei’s own head—like an appraisal.
Luckily, that was the moment, Aria managed to find her tongue again, have been standing for a good several seconds staring in disbelief at her brother.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, taking a tentative step forward, like she wasn’t sure whether to approach the man or not.
“That—” Kalus told her, not moving from his place as he glanced sidelong at the two women next to him “—is a story. Maybe one for another time. But as you can see—” he gestured down at his combat suit, pale green vysetrium in the dark red band of his CAD gleaming “—I’m here to help.” His sheepish grin grew a bit more roguish, and his eyes flicked to Rei again. “That and obviously I was keen on meeting a certain guy someone can’t seem to shut up about every time we chat.”
Rei’s cheeks only burned hotter, and Aria’s one hear that he could see turned almost the color of her hair.
That was the moment, mercifully, that the last of the strangers decided to interrupt them with a cackle of laughter,
“Holy hell, look at their faces.” The woman—probably in her late 20s with green-streaked grey hair and matching eyes—guffawed in a carrying voice that was in total opposition to her slender frame. “Kalus, you couldn’t ease into it? You’re gonna put the poor kids in therapy!”
In answer Kalus Laurent scowled at the woman. He was of a height with her, maybe 6’3” or so, but with wider shoulders and more muscle on his arms. Shaken a little out of his shock, Rei was also able to see that—while the man’s eyes matched his sisters pretty much to a T—his long hair—straight and reaching almost to his shoulders—was darker than Aria’s, more of a burgundy, like the accent Rei recalled their father sported in his own.
This recognition—and reminder—of the familia tie did nothing to help his heart rate.
“And what was I supposed to do, Jay?” Laurent was grumbling even as Rei worked to find his voice. “Make a sign? ‘Hello, boyfriend! I come in peace!’?? Just how much of a weirdo do you think I am?”
“No comment,” ‘Jay’—who’s name clicked recognition into place in time to send Rei into another tailspin—answer with her hands on her hips, sticking her tongue out at Aria’s brother. “I’m just saying maybe a heads up would have been nice.”
Laurent grit his teeth, clearly frustrated. “I couldn’t do that and you damn well know it. Or were you not under the same gag order as—?”
“That’s quite enough.”
The interruption was smooth and polite, but as unyielding as steel. Aria’s brother stopped talking immediately, and Jay—Jay ‘Jetway’ Wainwright, Rei knew now—snapped up straight and at ease. The instantaneous response was completely understandable, of course.
What else were you supposed to do when someone who could probably sneeze you through a steel wall told you to get it together?
There was a second of silence as the gaze of the speaker slid first from Laurent to Wainwright, then back again, the warning clear. The woman might have been tall once, maybe nearly as tall of either of the Users on either side of her in fact, but time appeared to have taken its toll on her in the way it came for all eventually. She stooped slightly, both hands firm atop the plain wooden cane she was leaning into. Her hair—braided into a flat plate behind her head—seemed to have been allowed to got naturally grey, and her face was worn with age, her wrinkles matching the lines and pocked skin of her bare limbs. By all rights the woman should have looked out of place in her black combat suit, old as she appeared.
On the contrary, Rei wasn’t sure he’d ever come face to face with anyone with more imposing a presence.
Not even Carmen Laurent.
Comments
Dungeonborn
Not sure how accurate the earth academy part is. She did request a transfer.
K.Impossible
Yassss!
Iron Akela
Yeah I assume Kalus presents as Saber too
Flusspferd
I know Kalus is an A-Type, but in the chapter where he destroys the monomolecular „switch“ his mom paid for, he does so by frying it on the Vysetrium of his blade, so I assumed a manifestation similar to a Saber‘s. This might be wrong of course.
Gama
I was under the impression that they were getting the Gatecrasher to be Rei’s brawler instructor. Especially since Rei has modeled quite a few things after him.
Xien
anyone know who this is?
Iron Akela
I considered brawler, but in my head ‘Jetway’ made more sense for the fastest type. You could definitely be right
Xien
I'm 50/50 on the anticipation. I really want to be video cam in the room when the parents get the memo...
Xien
Come innnnnnn cleannnn Grandma! It's time to work! The Prince has a shield show him how it's really used!!!!!
Linn G
Really looking forward to this! Both how the artwork will look in the end and the new chapter. The sketch is already so detailed, you can already see where it’s going.
Devin Jaros
I think this is the chapter I’ve been most excited for!!!!
Brandon King
So....the Ivory Shield seems to be back in "Grandma" mode. I wonder if/when she will go through another transformation like at the end of her previous chapter 🤔
Lyn Shirley
Thanks so much. I am so looking forward to tomorrow’s full read.
Heather Herren
So awesome!!! Thank you for the sneak peak and wonderful drawing!!
Raymond Lenihan
No, Jet is clearly a current or former SCT pro, whereas Rei's sister is named Sarah and is a 2nd year at an Earth academy
gratch42
Let’s go check Rei’s collection of body pillows. I did search the other books - no mention of Jetway. Wainwright only mentioned in that Jasper looks up that file at the end of B2.
TruckWick
This is going to be awesome.
Tr Da
Is Jet the sister of Rei?
Matsc
Kalus is an A-type, though we don't know what form it takes yet.
Scott
have we heard any previously about Jay? The name is not ringing any bells
Brandon King
Yes. Yes, yes, yes!
Marie H
Amazing sketch... loving this
gratch42
Ah so Jetway Wainwright - think that’s the first mention (other than Jasper bringing up the Wainwright file). Can’t remember if we know Kalus’ type of Atypical- does that tie to the artwork? (Err no alt cover would be external winged Dent?)
Flusspferd
I would assume he is a brawler, given that the sponsorship is primarily for Rei. With the other two being a saber and a phalanx, a Brawler would complete his three „forms“ so to speak.
Lyssa
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I’m so freaking excited!!!!
Iron Akela
This one is gonna be epic!!! Don’t recognise Jetway, but I’m gonna guess Duelist based on her field name.
Tim Kilgore
I am going to absolutely love hearing the audible narrators take and read on these chapters. It’s going to be phenomenal. All I have now is a stupid speech synthesizer. Lol.
Mike Frenkel
I feel Rei in that last sentence. Considering she can probably snap her fingers near him and the shockwave would slam him into a wall, I completely second the sentiment.
Dell
You are such a tease! I love it!
K.Impossible
Aww man, aww man... can't wait! Thank you, thank you!
Kirivina
Omg! I can't wait!
