Holy shit that was deep... Man you have hit me right in the feels... Well Done!

Hello again, After reading this story a few times over the years, one thing has finally made me comment. You predicted Alchemy Machines before Dark Dawn made them real. Nice job!

Well, this is a very nice ending indeed. Makes it all worth the read, though I really wish you hadn't made the rest of this read so tedious. Your explanation for Karst's survival is quite a bit more compelling than the one you used in "Of Fire, Ice, and Stone"(not that there was anything wrong with the one you used there).

But of course, it's your handling of their reunion and their feelings for each other that is truly exemplary. This is not a "just cause" romance; in "Power" you showed very clearly why Karst is in love with Felix, and here you establish why Felix is in love with her. Her being for three years the only person who cared about him at all, even if it was in a negative fashion, being the basis of their love might be considered depressing by some, but to me it's only the seed for very sincere feelings, and that's just how you painted it. Good show.

In fact, there's more beauty to their reunion here than the one in "Of Fire, Ice, and Stone" - because here Karst doesn't need Felix, and he doesn't need her. They fight for their relationship because it's what they both want, not because there's an emotional emptiness that will kill them if that relationship fails. There's no emotional shotgun prodding the two of them together; they reach for each other on their own.

And going backwards, the epidsode with the "dream" Karst was also fantastic in a totally different fashion. Nice bit of surrealism that ultimately fits in with logic, as Felix pulls Karst free by the most unusual means of his own guilt.

Finally, though a lot doesn't really fall into place, overall I rather liked the answer to the whole mystery of this tale. It's certainly not a generic, predictable answer.

So, as I've said, the ending really pulled this whole thing together. Rather drawn-out fic as it stands, but certainly the most subtle handling of Duskshipping that I've yet seen from any writer.

Can't find much to comment on with these two chapters. Mostly more of the same type of stuff here, though I'd say they're among the better chaps of this fic. Seems to be some actual progress in the plot, which is good. Most of Felix's most important thoughts are hidden from us, which is not so good; mystery is nice, but too much of the content here is thoughts and behavior that can't be understood without knowing what's going on. Of course, that problem may go out with the wash once the solution to this mystery is unveiled.

On a minor note, I liked the bit about Sheba and Ivan speaking in unison. A natural result of their mutual psynergy abilities that one wouldn't normally think of - nicely done! Will finish reading this fic soon.

Well, this is what I call a bit of an improvement. Initially, chapter 5 is too heavy on description as well, such that I eventually found myself skimming. However, the subtle way you worked Felix back into Mars Lighthouse was plenty riveting, and well-worth the read for his reactions. Indeed, of itself the heavy description of chapter 5 isn't a problem, only that after the tedious descriptions in earlier chapters, they feel like an extra-large dose of the same instead of a striking contrast.

Chapter 6 is much less meaningful and eventful, but a smoother read at the same time. And at least there was some meaningful interaction between Felix and the other characters.

The writing here continues to be rather abstruse, particularly the endless reflections and debates on the war between the four different elements, which really feels quite fake to me. It would be the height of absurdity to speak of such a war in our own world, and I don't see how the existence of psynergy would change that.

However, stirring moments like Felix's conflict with his memories of Mars Lighthouse bring up the interest level around that writing. I look forward to seeing where this goes. Hopefully Karst will show up soon - partly for Felix's sake, and partly because I just plain like her.

A SHOWER! You have got to be kidding me. ...Chapter 4 has a lot of typos too, including some embarrassing ones like "shaman's" instead of "shamans".

Anyway, at the risk of being relentlessly negative, larger problems manifest in these two chapters. First, the plot is completely uninteresting, less because there's so little at stake(a few people getting sick in one of the less memorable towns of Weynard) than because the protagonist has no personal involvement at all. This quest is explicitly a way for Felix to kill time, and the only thing he has to lose is his pride. In the first two chapters you made up for this lack of interest in the plot by setting Felix on a sort of search for self, but in these chapters that inner journey is completely abandoned, leaving only a simple quest that I just can't maintain interest in.

This is exasperated by the way you've stretched the plot out with the writing. There's a lot of unnecessary descriptions in these last two chapters, and some pointless reflections. For instance, the passage "a tell tale sign of how repetitive this sort of thing must be becoming in the village, that, or he was just taking the more dramatic steps out of boyhood", which tells nothing Ivan didn't already say with his five little words. As a result, we're four long chapters in with very little having happened in a very uninteresting plot... I hate to be dire, but if I hadn't read your earlier works, I would be dropping this fic now.

As it is, I'm still hopeful that you'll pull something out of your hat before this fic is through. Sorry that I can't offer praise for any of these two chapters. They're not all bad; it's just that I don't feel I got anything out of them, and I'd feel odd picking at them for things to praise.

I have to say that I don't care for the writing style of the prologue and chapter 1... It's a bit abstruse and plodding; I found myself stumbling over some of the complicated descriptions rather than smoothly taking them in, and at points in chapter 1 it's difficult to tell who is speaking.

The actual content, mind you, is very good. I like the post-game setup you've made for the characters, excepting only one or two small details. The trading company idea is a unique yet fitting vocation for a bunch of RPG heroes, and you've characterized Isaac with just the right amount of pompousness and Garet with just the right amount of clumsiness.

And the writing in chapter 2 is much more appealing. Still slow-paced, but a much smoother read, and with details that draw me in to Felix's experience rather than confuse. His first conversation with Owen is especially worthy of note. It's a wonderful little paradigm, and the way you write it managed to make me feel Felix's sense of freedom right along with him.

Mainly, though, it's Felix's perspective that makes this such an excellent bunch of chapters. He's a far cry from your typical post-game hero, rather than adoring all his comrades, he is critical of their shortcomings and of his own. And he styles himself not as a leader but as a lone wolf, without any pontificating about how he prefers to be alone.

Very interesting piece of work so far. I'll be reading on through the rest.

I'll have to go back and re-read this one sometime. I liked what I could understand of the ending, but I think I haven't read your stories for so long that I lost track of how to read your style. I could hardly tell what was going on in the last two chapters...

None the less, while details escaped me, the full picture was intriguing and generally awesome. Dusk shipping is the only way to go.

Later,

Rex

Wow. Just wow. I thought I would never be able to read this, but I proved myself wrong in a single setting.

It was a bit confusing in places and deeper than a bottomless cavern (*groan*), but perfect all the way through. The ending caught me by suprise though (and made me cry a bit too :().

I also really liked the way you portrayed Felix. I agree that he's a 'gritier' hero than Isaac and I'm happy that's how he came out, though you showed he also has moments of tenderness and supreme guilt.

You are truly an inspiration Sunny. I wish I could write as well as you.

You really are an exceptional writer, Sunny. I owe it to you for getting me into writing properly (and that was four years ago now!)

And this is no exception - a wonderful development from beginning to end - you've made Felix more multi-faceted than ever.

The Epilogue particularly really resolved all themes and ended wonderfully - beautifully, even. The fact that I felt all of those emotions running through Felix then, shows that this is a success of a creation.

(On a side note, I have to point out that it's 'Deus' Ex Machina, Deus meaning God).

_

I truly enjoyed the epilogue. It tied all the ends together really well.

wow...thats all i can say, and this chapter completed it nicely, i believe...Maybe a sequel is in order? Like karst and Felix show back up in Vale...and what if Alex survived also? You have near endless possabilities for a sequel if you look.

The Darkness embracess all

New Lord of Darkness

Great edit. I understand what's happening now :D (The prior chapter left me very confused)

Looking forward to the next one!

So, let me get this right, Karst is alive...but only because of her Psynergy? and she is a ghost? Then how did she end up in that prison when she died in Mars Lighthouse?

While I suppose a sad story every now and again is something called for, I don't feel like there's enough Felix/Karst to justify any tragedies... I suppose this isn't one technically but meh...

In any case, it's well written and an interesting story. I'd still like to see something more than a pining Felix, but I don't suppose I'll see that now will I? Regardless, I await extensions.