2.2.3
on June 7, 2024
at 3:00 am
Erin’s thesis defense will be rendered very memorable due to it involving the crushing defeat of a primordial force of evil older than the world itself
Aurora
A fantasy webcomic. Updates M-W-F.
Erin’s thesis defense will be rendered very memorable due to it involving the crushing defeat of a primordial force of evil older than the world itself
I don’t normally go for “first” comments, but this is(due to time zone change) my first time catching the release minute of. So, as long as automod remembers me, first!
lol. lmao
If that thesis does not start with “I may be stupid” then he has learnt nothing and I’m sending him straight back to that storm.
How? Time travel?
using the power of “because I said so”
Just smack the rune pedestal again.
“Even we got wind when the Storm disappeared. Unlike Windcrest lmao”
TOO SOON!
HAVE YOU NO SHAME?!
A sleepless Tarren must needs find out
What is this Kendal fellow about?
And the storm, what of it? And why do they flee?
This mess Erin’s hiding, what on earth could it be?
Terren questions why boastful Erin
Is silent about the mage-storm he stilled.
“This mess I’m helping you hide- how bad is it?”
Erin pauses, for a moment chilled.
“It’ll be a fascinating research paper by the time
I’m finished with it,” he grins.
“Fill me in when you’ve got it handled,” Terren says,
Confident that Erin wins.
I guess I’m putting this here this page
“I suppose it’s pointless to ask if YOU got any sleep?” Erin asks Tarren as he makes his way up the gangplank.
“You asked me for seven new inscriptions, Ruunaser!” Tarren protests. “You’re lucky there’s good hotbrew in this port!” As Erin steps onto the ship, Tarren clamps their hand on his shoulder. “Where in the world did you find that swordsman?” they ask in a soft voice.
“Kendal?” Erin asks, watching him and Alinua come onboard. “He’s a bit of a long story–”
“He slung a crate Tess couldn’t lift,” Tarren continues. “If he’s a Shifter, he’s got none of the tells. If he’s a homunculus, he’s the finest crafted I’ve ever seen. The academy will be in fits to know how he’s put together–”
“Don’t–!” Erin interrupts, then cuts himself off. After a moment, he continues, “The news must be running slow this sef. Half of Zuurith could tell you that Kendal is something between a god and an emissary. The Academy has no business with the divine.”
After a moment, Tarren says, “I don’t take much heed of the news, Ruunaser, but even we got wind when the Storm disappeared.” Erin looks at him, emotion. “Odd thing for you to stay quiet about. Odd thing for you to stay quiet in general.
“It’s been interesting, seeing what you think being inconspicuous looks like. I keep waiting for a brag that never comes.
“This mess I’m helping you hide– how bad is it?”
Erin stays quiet. Then, with a look and a grin, he says, “It’ll be a fascinating research paper by the time I’m finished with it.”
“THERE he is!” Tarren exclaims, hitting Erin in the chest with one of their walker sticks. “Fill me in when you’ve got it handled, then,” Tarren says. “I’ll come up with something extra exciting for you to test drive!”
“Lucky me,” Erin mutters, massaging his chest.
Oops forgot that I didn’t know what to put for that so I put “Emotion”
It’s supposed to be “Erin looks at him, pensive.”
(My previous comment hasn’t been posted yet, which makes it seem like automod does not, in fact, remember me. Even if it does, and this is just standard comment lag, it would be incredibly funny if that comment ended up not being first)
Oh, right, the comic itself! Uh… man, this page is purple.
⚠️
TRADE OFFER!!!!
I get: the name Erin
You get: the purple, blue and black dark academia aesthetic
Ah yes, “hotbrew.” I wonder what kind of infusion it is? Bean juice? Leaf juice? Perhaps the plants here keep the caffeine in their roots, and it is root juice. Heck, maybe they’re not even plants. Could be bug juice.
ok so you take cold Bew … AND HEAT IT UP ,BRILLIENT
pretty sure if you heat anything up you can consume it
it may not be edible but it’s still worth a shot
Mushroome.
For mobile readers
alt text: who could have foreseen that the academic would be inquisitive?
image source: academy
Tumblr text: just a casual academic chat
Twitter text: erin’s followup thesis titled “in a fight who would win” is also going well
Oooh, Tarren does know Erin and is very observant.
I really want them to come with the squad, but it does seem so far like that’s not happening.
Oh, academics <3 These two are fantastic. The final three panels are just the best.
How can every Aurora page be such an unadulterated delight?!
A Thesis titled “Why it isn’t Hubris and I am in fact just built different by Erin Ruunaser”
In other news: Local Academic Shocked Witness to (some) Character Development
Weird feeling to be up late enough to see the page within the hour.
Research paper, singular? Oh, please! As if Erin isn’t brainstorming four-five different papers based on recent events and people he’s met.
News on land about Zuurith traveling slowly? I guess that makes sense with the city focused on rebuilding and guests not welcome at the time. Good news for Alinua mountain-breaker; she’s the hottest topic there and Shrike is far from the only person in this world who’d see the benefits of controlling her. If they get delayed on the crossing to Helm, news of the gang might beat them there. Who knows? It may even find its way to the Archipelago Nimbus and news of a powerful life mage cloud elf could set off some alarm bells.
Yep, I knew Tarren would be suspicious; the storm disappearing, Erin tight-lipped about the whole thing, and with several new colourful companions he didn’t set off with. Tarren is too good a friend not to notice Erin’s behaviour change; I like their line about what inconspicuous looks like. But they’re also such a good friend that they know not to pry too hard and is ready to help clean up Erin’s messes.
Just as well. From their musings on Kendal’s nature, I think Erin’s fears about the academy wanting to keep the dragon, and potentially the other members of the gang, for research is well founded. Galen not above purchasing slaves, Jolon being a graduate, Tarren idly wondering how Kendal is put together; I worry whether the academy, or Asera itself, may become enemies of the gang in later chapters.
Prediction for next week: We look pretty close to setting off; if a missive from Zuurith is coming, which is not guaranteed, it has to be soon. Maybe a couple more pages of Tarren explaining the ins and outs of the ship, prompting that confused math Dainix image Red posted on tumblr before setting off.
Found Confused Math Dainix! That did not take long at all.
https://comicaurora.tumblr.com/post/751507538300829696/some-good-faces-in-this-next-chapter
You are a hero and a gentleperson with mad research skills! (Thanks!)
We know what that other face is!
(Last page if you’ve somehow already forgotten that hilarious face)
Another talking point I just realised:
If news of the storm has reached this far, I wonder how researchers are both exploring the newly exposed Ancient city and, more concerningly, what its disappearance means for the flow of magic in the world. There was a tumblr post a long while back (link at the bottom) saying that Erin wonders if the storm helped calm the elemental winds so humans and elves could walk on the surface, and hasn’t quite contemplated any long term effects from removing that calming effect.
While Erin has had other things to occupy him, I wonder if another mage is contemplating this, crunching some numbers, and potentially finding something that could add yet another problem for the gang.
https://comicaurora.tumblr.com/post/644047447870586880/in-a-recent-ask-you-mentioned-the-elemental-winds
There’s the academy for you
I feel like, by the end of this, Erin’s gonna have the material and outlines for at least 2 or 3 research papers inspired by each individual member of the floof squad save Tess
I feel like by the end of this Erin will have died gloriously due to his affliction. Which is unfortunate because he’s my favorite right now. 8′)
To be fair, a cloud elf life mage probably wouldn’t be that rare. As long as she keeps that tattoo covered up, she should be fine. Then again, knowing the Floof Squad’s luck, if they *do* go to the Archipelago Nimbus, bad things. Then again, then again, if they go anywhere, bad things, so…
I take it back, Erin looks exhausted. Nice to see him being protective of Kendal, in any case. And Tarren is a good egg. Good friend. I love them.
Erin looks just *so tired* when he’s asked how bad it is. Poor guy is really starting to feel it
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: who could have forseen that the academy would be inquisitive
Image source: academy
Inquisitive, yes, but a good friend nonetheless. Tarren is willing to help Erin cover up for the whole Awakening The Sun-Devouring, World-Ending Dragon incident. In exchange for the test drive of another diabolical contraption. Friendship! (Very much what academic friendship looks like tbh).
Damn, Tarren really just sniped Erin from halfway across the city.
Who’d have thought those crutches doubled as rifles?
Hotbrew is this world’s coffee. And wizards are this world’s college kids. I feel seen.
TL;DR: So, old friend… what exactly is going on?
Oh, this? *gestures to floof squad*
The most earth-shatteringly insane research project EVER!
No, like literally earth-shattering. This is extremely dangerous. Do not try this at home.
Don’t like the cloudedness of those goggles.
ifjdehiufjruje the smirk
once again I am reminded why I am so normal about erin
I feel sad whenever Erin has to mask his true self with bravado.
Anime glasses Tarren anime glasses Tarren
Also smug Erin smug Erin
Fantastic! We’re sailing away and no one has slept. This is ending in a Pirates-arc or a Sea-god-arc or a Dream-god-arc or something
“The Brag that Never Comes” is the title of Erin’s Bond Movie, I think.
I think something’s going to happen that Tarren is pitched into the boat as they’re leaving, and has to go with them perforce; some attack on the shore that they can’t go back. What’s-her-nose-Collector will be there after Kendal soon. I feel like she must have a name, not just a title, and if they knew her name they’d know a lot more about her from making connections to other things in history. At least, Erin and Tarren would know more.
Great poems, you guys. I like them.
Hotbrew is from jellyfish poison, calling it.
She told Vash that she had a name but forgot it because her mind was consumed by her goal of freeing Life after she invoked her Truename. I could definitely see Erin finding a historical account of a powerful and mysterious life mage and putting two and two together, though.
How did I not see this before?!? The collector was the creator of the Ferin! Probably!
No wait I think you’re right! It seems so obvious now, I can’t believe I didn’t make that connection!
The ferin mage was 1000 year ago and the collector became immortal 300 years ago.
I wouldn’t think that, mostly since making people into Ferin doesn’t really help her accomplish her goal of freeing Life in any meaningful way. I’m not quite sure where Snakesight got the dates from but that might be another reason against it. It is Red’s comic; she could just retcon the dates (I think she said that anything on her Tumblr or Discord were subject to change/possibly non-canon) and make up a reason as to why it does actually help her free Life. However, I don’t see her doing that, since that’s really out of left field and I just don’t think it’s quite her style to do that.
Can we take a minute to appreciate that Erin FREAKS OUT at the very hint of knowing how kendal is put together? Because that kind of thing always puts my back up since it implies a level of dehumanization of the person you’re talking about, but the fact that Erin was the one to snarl over it rather than indulging in mad-scientist fascination? Beautiful, just beautiful.
I have a feeling that somewhere down the line, Erin may have to choose between the academy and keeping the dragon out of their hands/protecting his friends from inquisitive scholars.
I really like Tarren and Erin’s friendship. Tbh i like the way the friendships in this comic are written in general.
Hah! I was waiting for this kind of scenario — although I thought Tarren might catch a glimpse of Erin’s new “art” and wonder about it, as opposed to Kendal being what got their attention. It never occurred to me that Kendal might also be of interest to the Academy…but Erin’s immediate protectiveness suggests it’s occured to HIM.
Tarren’s lack of pressure — they don’t need details, they just go ahead and help Erin anyway — is heartwarming. I think they’re concerned, but know Erin well enough that pushing him for answers won’t help.
But I’m wondering if Erin’s line about the research paper isn’t also another dodge. From the beginning he’s tried to keep people at arm’s length when dealing with the dragon, and I wonder if he isn’t trying to put Tarren at ease so they won’t go digging, even out of a well-meaning interest to help.
And as others have commented…Erin looks so tired. He’s made himself the lynchpin of this part of the plan: he knows how the boat works, he’ll probably have to charge the lacrimas, he has most of the gear and knowledge that they’ll need on Helm. I’m afraid he’s trying to cover too many bases, and that that on top of the strain of keeping his “passenger” under control and under wraps is not going to end well.
Tl;dr: Tarren’s a dear, Erin’s in trouble and won’t admit it, and Yay Boat!
or its triumph
Here’s some food for thought. What would happen if you inscribed an empty lacrima with commands to discharge all 6 standard elemental energies, and left it in a cave for, I dunno, a hundred years? Perhaps it would passively charge with void to the extent that a normal mage could spellcarve void spells with it.
That’s a really interesting idea; I can’t think of any clear reasons why it wouldn’t work. Now I want void lacrimae to appear later in the comic, though as you mentioned it might take a long time to charge them so that might not happen.
Whoops, this was supposed to be a reply to Muffle
we’ve got the same party trick!
Oooo, research paper. Good save, Erin.
I love their interaction. Can’t we take Tarren with us?
one of my favorite moments so far
I’ve noticed that when we get shots of Erin in the background he almost never has eyes (panel 8)