I can't believe this story has been updated, I remember how much it fascinated me when I read it earlier.
Poor babies, I can't believe how hard it was for them, especially knowing how much Gourry wanted to be a father.
Hopefully their next baby will be a little more ordinary!

Very glad to see this story is not dead! I initially saw the notification for this chapter back in April and realized I had forgotten many of the details. I decided to start over from the beginning and as of today am caught up. It’s just as good as I remembered it. While there is not a lot of the typical action we expect from a Slayers story, the drama and character interaction more than make up for it. The depth you have given each character is fantastic. I especially love how you have written the romance between Amelia and Zelgadis. What an epic struggle to figure out not only there relationship but their own view on how they live their lives. Love seeing Gourry described so well as well. So much here excited me and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Looks like I'm not the only one still trying to finish their ambitious fanfic projects! :) Seeing the update email and realizing I'm yet to venture beyond chapter 4, I decided to reread the story from the beginning.

I... wish I could say I was having fun.

Before that though, I'd like to stress that your style continues to be incredible. I am insanely jealous of your vocabulary. :) The amazing flow of the narrative simply refused to let me put down the story until after 3 am., and the first thing I did after waking up 6 hours later was to read the last chapter that was left.

After finishing chapter 4, I also reread the reviews I left 8 years ago and your responses to them. Perhaps it's just a matter of our approaches to writing being so very different. The way you describe your construction of the story in your notes and messages makes it feel like an almost half-conscious effort, as if the tale wrote itself through you instead of the other way around. That concept, while not unknown, is utterly alien to me. Of course, to each their own; while I believe in planning at least the general structure of the story well in advance, I also believe that everyone should follow whatever method of writing that works best for them. The only reason I'm bringing this up at all is because, from my point of view as a reader, this method seems to be causing the story, or if not the story, then me, to suffer at this point.

Some of the issues I brought up in my previous review have been dealt with. Gourry's characterization seems more rounded. The pretense he and Lina were trying to keep up about their relationship reached its peak of absurdity in chapter 6, when they were actually having a serious discussion about whether Gourry should sleep with Phil's cousin just to keep the masquerade going, but thankfully that's over now that they've left the palace (at least for the time being).

The main problem continues to be the mystery, which is, well, from what I can see, also the main plot. We readers definitely know more than we did before. The connection of the mysterious village to Lina's condition and the Kingdom of Saillune is interesting. The new, alternative cosmology being outlined is quite intriguing and raises some very unique possibilities. And still, these all feel very much... well, irrelevant to the problems that I believe bug the readers (or at least me) the most: like, first and foremost, what the heck is going on with Lina? Why is she having nightmares? Why is she on what appears to be a personal quest to do... something that she's so hell-bent on seeing through? Why doesn't Gourry, who is supposedly constantly by her side, know anything about what is going on? Regarding these questions, I don't feel like I understand more than I did at the start. It's like I did not get to see the story's beginning, have no idea where it is heading, and thus being stuck with the middle part brings me endless frustration.

Why are these questions more important to me than the rest? Because they affect the characters directly. It's exactly the strength of your writing that makes these issues so pressing, the vividness of detail with which you describe Lina's constant suffering, Gourry's frustration and powerlessness, and their slow alienation from their group of friends. After four chapters, it felt manageable. Now, after seven chapters and over a hundred thousand words, it feels like this incredible, suffocating weight that destroys even the few moments of serenity between the main characters - and YET, despite all of that, it STILL feels like they're going around in circles! The low point of this was the start of chapter 7; it seemed like Lina and Gourry would finally make haste to get back Eshar, which teased some revelations at last - but no, in a move that quite strained my suspension of disbelief, instead of visiting a village only a day or two away, they went on a month-long trek towards the Zephelian border... Argh! :(

I think it is quite telling that Lina's loss during the casting of her spell at the end seemed to be treated almost as an afterthought (at least by her) - the story reached a level of emotional strain where further gut punches (including Luna's appearance) barely register anymore. That's not a good sign in my opinion.

The most enjoyable plotline continues to be about Amelia and Zelgadiss. There's also some mystery involved, but I understand what the characters are doing and why, and I have this feeling that things are moving at a decent pace towards some sort of conclusion. It it thus regrettable that their story thread feels more and more like a B plot that has diverged significantly, if not completely, from the main storyline.

Uh.. so...

The above was more of a rant than I would have preferred, and I considered shortening or rewriting it. I ultimately didn't, because it portrays the emotions your story managed to evoke in me well. Your writing is POWERFUL. Please consider how you use it. And, if you value my sanity :), please also consider planning out what's next to come a bit more. There's only so much of this faint-hearted readers like me can take.

How wonderful to read another installment from this masterpiece in progress! :) I was spewing joy after receiving a notification of a new chapter for Nightmares. I am so happy to see you continue this story. It's more than understandable that sometimes things creep into our life, pushing aside personal projects/objectives. I'm sorry to hear about the challenges faced at work, but I hope things are going much smoother for you and your husband.

There's so much to say about chapter seven! I admire your ability to not only keep everyone character but your realistic dialogue as well as blending what we know of them as characters from the anime/novels while further developing their complexities. In particular, Amelia and Gourry. I feel they do not often shine in the spotlight when it comes to character growth or depth as Lina and Zelgadis do the anime; so I truly appreciate the dimension you give to them with both their emotions and choices they make. I enjoyed every scene (most notably your ability to keep Lina as an intriguing and gripping main character), but I was particularly intrigued by Phil's visit with the Tesha. If I understood this correctly, does that imply that Amelia's mother came from Eshar? In any case, I am very much looking forward to seeing how things will play out during the trip to Lim and then after.

It may be because I enjoy the exploration of Amelia's character, but I ate up every bit of her impending journey of understanding the depths and reality of love versus that of a fairytale in which she has been sheltered to believe. The fact of Phil loving his daughters but in doing so, hindering their ability to cope with the harshness of reality was a brilliant point to make! And I loved how Amelia is now faced with grasping what it means to take full responsibility for being the next heir to the throne. It is evident she may have to make some sacrifices, but whatever may happen, I hope she and Zelgadis will still have their hearts lead to each other.

Overall, another beautifully executed chapter! Thank you for keeping us on the edge of our seats and continuing to write for this fascinating piece you've constructed. I hope all is well and that everyone stays safe during this pandemic!

[bouncing with happiness] How wonderful you are finally continuing this very complex and interesting fanfic after five years of silence. I am elated!

Sorry to hear about the difficulties you had in career and had to keep up a long distance relationship with your husband for a while. I have done the latter with my husband. It wasn't easy.

Here's hoping it won't take another five years before you add to this! Loss of the child a bad or good thing is unclear. I hope Lina and Gourry can recover eventually and have, perhaps, a less dangerous offspring? There are so many mysteries in this story it is fascinating. Your character development and depiction of your main characters' inner thoughts and conflicts continues to give them dimension.

Thank you so much for continuing the story! I was really happy to hear back from you and to read about what you've been up to these years.

Back to the story, honestly, this is one of my favorite fics and I've devoured this last part in no time. I love how you describe the group and their motivations. They seem to have more layers than in the official show and Gourry is no longer just dumb nor Amelia is just a crazy justice fan. I'll be waiting to read what happens next, whenever that might be. Stay safe in this crazy quarantine times!

I know that you updated this a long time ago, but I would ask you to update. It is a very good story! Sure, it can be a bit confusing at times. That doesn't mean that it isn't worth finishing! The confusion feels almost intentional. Which is great considering the subject matter. Please finish it!

This story, by far, has to be one of the most well-written and intricately laid out Slayers fics out there! You have such immense talent as a storyteller, and I'm so thankful that you've shared Nightmares with all of us to enjoy. _

Our main heroes are written not only in character but are given an extra depth of what they could be if the franchise decided to explore them a bit further. Each of them have their own plights and contribute to the plotline beautifully. The inner struggle/demons they're all facing is so simple yet fascinating to delve into, and I admire how you've handled each character. Not to mention, while Lina is our main character, I feel there is an equal balance of exploration for Gourry, Zelgadis, and Amelia which is something we don't get often in the anime.

I have especially enjoyed your take on Zelgadis- it's refreshing and I can't thank you enough for really fleshing out who he is as a person, and his own personal struggles with being transformed. It's always intriguing to explore was makes Zelgadis tick, and while Kanzaka hasn't provided us with a full understanding of what Zelgadis's body might have undergone and what has been taken away and/or damaged, I appreciate you taking the chance of exploring what he might struggle with while bringing your own ideas to the table. :) His unfortunate lack of sensory/feeling really provides a strong motivation as to why he's so desperate to get his human body back along with being able to fully be with Amelia in a romantic sense.

If there is to be a possible conflict between Amelia, Zelgadis, and Lord Gattwald I must say I appreciate the route you have taken with this, as this does not feel like the typical cliche we tend to see with "love triangles". I'm sure you have some great ideas in mind, and I can't wait to see what is to come with this trip back to Lim! I'm also anxious to discover what is exactly causing Lina's plight. Another prime example of character development!

Plus, the mythos behind the Slayers world and its overall understanding is something, again, not many take a chance at interpreting. I've eaten up Lina and Zelgadis's charts and ideas of the balancing act of their world. So much to hypothesize! I'm looking forward to uncovering how the book ties back to the hidden village and the events in the story!

I have thoroughly relished reading all the chapters, and if you still plan on updating, I look forward to reading more in the future! Nightmares is surely my favorite Slayers fanfic and is definitely a page-turner that keeps me reading. Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication to this story. It shows, and you definitely deserve more praise and reviews for this working masterpiece! :)

This is truly an amazing story with a great depth, intrigue, and development. This is a beautiful work of art that I could not stop reading; I hope one day I'll be able to read your complete work.

I love your story. The plot is unbelievably intricate and gripping!
I really hope you find it within you to finish it! All the best

Wow. What a work of art! You've wonderfully woven in intrigue, suspense, a great interpretation of magic and the workings of the Slayers universe, along with a Gourry that seems perfectly in tune with who he is in the manga and novels. The ending letter from Luna(?) ups the suspense and was a great way to end the chapter.

Your description of Lina and Gourry's relationship seems perfectly in tune with the novels. I look forward to the next installment.

Pls dont put this fic on Hiatus is soo good

Although I write and post them, as a general rule I don't read a lot of fanfics (because I am a terrible person). I have started reading them now since I've started writing again. Yours is actually quite good-it doesn't make me want to weave a mobius loop of "nope" to wear as an infinity scarf (I use it to shield my eyes from purple prose). The fundamentals are there (pacing, plot, etc.), and they work, and the fact that you have all of the main characters interacting on the regular (outside of the original story) doesn't bother me like it normally would (even really good friends will drop off each other's radar completely as they get older and their lives continue on their individual, divergent paths-it's crappy, but that's how life works). Both the interpersonal dynamics and the plot are equally and individually interesting, which is a difficult balancing act. They also work together and don't feel tacked on to each other, which is also an achievement. I hope you finish, but I know how these things go. Take your time, don't rush it, especially since you are so close.

I don't care if canon characters are OOC, as long as their thoughts, words, actions, and interactions read authentically. It seems as if no one in this fandom can agree just what, exactly, Zelgadis's "condition" actually entails, what his lived experience would be. So it is fascinating to see what people come up with. Not having a conventional sense of touch is an interesting way to frame it-it works, and it's almost obvious, in hindsight. However, since you (as well as many others in the fandom, myself included) have decided that this character is something of an artist, not having a conventional sense of touch would profoundly impact that. I'm not trying to be poetic or make some flowery metaphor either. Artists work with their hands (whether they are musicians playing an instrument, a sculptor, painter, welder, or carpenter fitting a perfect dovetail joint). As much as art making is a craft and an applied/learned skill that is in many ways reliant on muscle memory, it is also an intensely emotive and sensual practice. This connection is what separates the true artist from the hobbyist. Any artist, whether they can articulate it or not, knows the "feel" of their medium, beyond how it is supposed to work. They know the weight and grain of wood/clay/stone/canvass/paper, the taste of linseed oil, the viscosity of "slag" beading off a soldered joint and taste the butane on the back of their palate as they ignite their welders, the high-pitched "squeak" of porcelain clay as they knead it. They understand the grain of wood or stone as soon as they lay their fingertips on it-they are not just coercing their shapes and designs on the material, they understand that the material cannot be forced into shapes that it cannot be. They can roll different materials in their hands and tell the difference in quality and grade. Musicians can feel the imperceptible indentions of their fingers and hands on their instruments, as do artists with their tools (which is partly why some refer to a period of "breaking in" new gear).

So I don't really buy Zelgadis as a wood-carver in this story, if touch is an actual physical problem for him-at least not a good one. Oh, it's extremely compelling conceptually, and I'm not saying it that it and art are mutually exclusive. It would've, for example, been compelling character development if say, he wanted to carve something and struggled with this limitation. That he could make something technically good, but could tell the difference between what he wanted to make and this thing he created that is excellent in only a mechanical way. That he would continue to try, just to get that feeling back. You explore the same concept beautifully in terms of him trying to reconcile this with his amorous feelings. It just seems, conceptually speaking, like you took the idea only as far as the most obvious plot point without really considering the other implications of it, and I don't think this is what you meant to do. The idea by itself is complex enough to warrant its own story, because I see you are juggling many elements here (successfully most of the time), and this is probably beyond the scope of what you intended to do. If any of that interests you, there are essays by Francios Lyotard (SP?) about the body and its role in cognition that are frequently cited in A.I. studies. Just something to consider.

:-).

Wow. You don't dissapoint! Another excellent chapter. You raise so many questions but I can see it all eventually leading up to a big picture. I assume it was Luna who penned the letter. And although canonically she has written Lina in the past I also assume that this time, Lina's life might seriously be in danger if she heads back home... I can't wait to read that chapter if you go that route...