Sometimes I wonder how much energy goes to waste in fantasy worlds by making things glow while doing magic.
As if it isn’t silly to apply conservation of energy to a fantasy story
Erin last page: “Kendal will be fine.”
Classic Erin overconfidence, it seems. Alinua’s clearly putting in more than a little effort here. And she’s more than a little worried.
(Also, at Alinua’s foot and knee in panel 4, the grass is getting in on this Life energy action, it seems. Or maybe just responding to it.)
Falst glances behind him at the glowing green,
Where Alinua works unceasing.
Her eyes fill with tears as she whispers to the body,
Her franticness increasing.
Falst places a blanket over her shoulders,
Retreats onto a broken wall.
Still radiant with magic Alinua pleads,
With the body that moves not at all.
“Kendal will be fine” said Erin; how much of that statement was ignorance, hope and/or to keep Dainix calm?
This scene helps hammer home how serious Kendal’s injuries are. From past pages we’ve been accustomed to Alinua’s healing being very quick and reliable, even in mid-battle, almost like video game equivalents. Here, however, she’s pouring her heart and soul into him yet it all feels desperate, unstable and potentially fatal.
There’s a possibility Falst may be feeling powerless at the moment and that’s why he looked unhappy in the last page. But what he’s doing now, giving Alinua the cloak to wear and keeping watch so the others can relax, is very helpful. Fingers crossed someone around the fire lacrima campfire take over his watch soon.
Today is my birthday! And I got… this? It’s pretty tense since normally Alinua does an instant-heal thing, must be really bad if it takes this long to heal.
Also I have a theory and it’s that the Light Dragon and the Life Primordial are the same being, but different. Not dissimilar to a few Greek gods that Red told us about
Oh no, I get it now! Kendal going to the dead Vash-ites wasn’t just him passing out, it’s him being on the verge of death/dead himself! Alinua might be trying to resurrect him.
I just want to note how pretty and well thought out the page is; the glowy green spirals contrast really nicely with Alinua’s skin and hait. Following Falst through the scene was also really cool since he acts as a throughline between the scenes, making the cut not feel random, keeping the flow between the pages, and focusing on his support rather than Alinua’s desperation (which serves as a good tone shift from the Tynan battle). Thanks for another awesome page, Red!
@Evil Tree
An element of it could also be a bit of Stoic philosophy that seems well-suited to Erin’s disposition. Between Alinua’s mastery of healing and Kendal’s incredible physical fortitude, with Falst taking care of surgeon and patient, Erin may figure that there is nothing that he can do that will meaningfully increase the odds of the operation’s success. So, worrying about it accomplishes nothing; therefore, there is nothing that he (and, by extension, Dainix) should worry about. Instead, he focuses on what he can do, maintaining morale and collecting information that could prove useful later (and possibly keeping what he perceives to be a potentially-unstable ally calm, as you mention).
But yeah. Hopefully they find ways to provide more support, including not leaving Falst to shoulder the watch alone.
@Shasskor I think this is just like an eletric heater that glows when turned on. The purpose is to generate heat, the glowing is just a consequence. Maybe with magic is similar: the air just glows with the excess energy being used in the spell.
Also! What @Shasskor said is probably actually true in this case and it’s not just a cool visual! Alinua’s magic usually glows a bit, but is nowhere near this radiant when she isn’t doing something big, like growing that tree back in Zuurith. She’s probably using everything she’s got, so it seems like the escaping energy causing the glow is proportional to the amount of Life magic being channeled.
Before you ask, I am a nerd.
I can’t imagine at this point that Alinua isn’t totally in love with Kendal. The “I can’t do this without you” vibes are far too heavy here, and that kind of devotion often ends romantic. The bigger question now is if Kendal at all feels the same.
@franksands is probably right. You can also see some grass growing by her leg, implying that they are absorbing some excess magic. So the implication is that magic is some kind of exothermic reaction, energy is released
@franksands is probably right. You can also see some grass growing by her leg, implying that they are absorbing some excess energy. The whole thing would imply magic is a exothermic reaction, where energy is released. Glowing and grass growing (Alliteration!) are just side effects
In panel 4, Alinua’s hair is about to be covered by the cape, but in panel 5, it’s over the cape. I doubt Alinua interrupted her healing to adjust her hair, so Falst must’ve been the one to do so. Just another tiny thing to ensure her comfort, and just another tiny thing to make my heart melt at how deeply Falst has grown to care about these two.
Looking at Kendal’s body (not an easy task with all the green light obfuscating it), it’s already fully healed physically. Whatever has got Kendal comatose (or perhaps even dead), it’s not something Alinua can fix. This recovery, if possible, is entirely on him to pull off (unless Vash or his people’s souls are somehow able to help).
I suspect Erin is fully aware how badly hurt Kendal is and that is his confidence on the last page is a coping mechanism (plus not wanting to worry Dainix)
that is so, so nice of falst. this page stunningly beautiful, not in just an artistic sense, but because you can see how this has effected everyone on the page. let it be known that alunia is a saint, falst is an absolute bro, really looking out for alunia. these characters are great, and this page in particular really makes them feel alive.
Beautiful scene of caring and worry! My take is that Kendal’s soul is wandering elsewhere (the underworld perhaps?) to learn something or complete some task and Aliuna can keep Kendal’s body working but not get his soul back in his body. I hope that Vash can keep hidden Kendal’s existence from the Collector or she will go destroy Vash’s connections to the world of Aurora.
A bright glow engulfs the young mage,
as she attempts to heal her friend her tears nearly turn rage.
A magical overload brightens the scene,
as Falst silently watches,
merely unseen.
He approaches gently to comfort her,
and lays a cloak just beneath her hair.
Headcanon: when transitioning between different media of varying magical “density”, some of the energy of the magic is shed, and takes the form of a glow. It also “polarizes” the medium in question, creating a channel that focuses the lost energy, resulting in shapes that act vaguely like a cross between a lightning discharge and iron filings aligning along a magnetic field. This, of course, cheerfully ignores the fact that A) if it was energy in the air, that much plasma nearby would scorch anything nearby, and B) it makes no sense for Void.
Basically, something between lightning, plastma, and Cherenkov radiation.
remember in chapter 8 when Erin was complaining that Alinua was using all the “ambient life magic”? it must (at least for life magic) have something to do with the ambient energy. I wonder if using life magic takes from the life magic in the other plants and things nearby
I know Red has talked about how she loves paragon heros and I knew Kendal fit that, but these last two pages are the first time that’s really sunk in- just how much everyone is here because of Kendal
Falst is SUCH A GOOD BOI! Everything about this page makes me want to squeal! Wether that is in delight or axiety depends on the panel…. It’s mostly axiety, BUT I AM NOT FOCUSING ON THAT
@Kekkles You’ve seen Red’s videos, right? I’ll have a hard time believing that any relationship is meant to be romantic unless exspressly stated. But then again, I have blind spots in these areas.
@KipOfTheMany
Yeah, Kendal and Alinua’s relationship looks exactly how Red has described how she feels about her own close friends. I agree with you. Alinua cares so much about Kendall because she’s a caring person, and he was the first person she’s successfully been able to attach to without fear of hurting him. They’re really, really good friends.
Adam, Anonymous, and TheFullestCircle:
Falst likely adjusted her hair after putting the cape on her. It’s the only logical conclusion, considering that Alinua almost certainly wouldn’t stop channeling magic in this situation just to do something small like that.
I’ve been trying
Trying so so so so so SO hard not to ship Alinua and Kendal.
RED. STOP MAKING IT HARD. Because I’M FAILING
My cis female hyper romantic heart wants to SHIP THEM SO DAMN BAD.
https://comicaurora.com/aurora/1-2-32/
I just wanted to remind everyone of this time when Alinua promised Kendal that she wouldn’t tie. We’ve come a long way. The party is much bigger now.
Because of the angle change I thought for a second that she mounted him in that final panel. It was only after I did a double-take and looked over it again I noticed the obvious Falst cloak thing. I need to go to sleep.
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: this seems fine
Image source: cant
i am so concerned but that is ok! im sure falst is fine! im such alinua’s doing great! im sure kendal is perfectly ok!
Aurora Question #2.) If you could choose 1 Magic to be proficient in at an average strength, which one would you choose?
def Life, its the most versatile
Fire!! Don’t know why I like fire
I am a sucker for “Person A covering Person B” trope. Good job, Falst.
@scorch :] Ye-es. Everything is fiiiiiine. Nothing is going wrong here at all.
That’s some grade A trauma she’s got cooking
Nooooo ???
Aww, he put a cloak on her
Erin: Oh, sure, she’ll Heal him no sweat.
Alinua: Aaaaaghhhhhhh!
So next scene we get to see where Kendal’s unconscious mind has gone, yes? The creepy hands explained?
(Oh, when do we get the sibling chat? *rubs hands together *)
Aww alinua nooooooo
Sometimes I wonder how much energy goes to waste in fantasy worlds by making things glow while doing magic.
As if it isn’t silly to apply conservation of energy to a fantasy story
Erin last page: “Kendal will be fine.”
Classic Erin overconfidence, it seems. Alinua’s clearly putting in more than a little effort here. And she’s more than a little worried.
(Also, at Alinua’s foot and knee in panel 4, the grass is getting in on this Life energy action, it seems. Or maybe just responding to it.)
First of all your art is incredible, second of all AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA DAMNIT IM INVESTED IN THESE CHARACTERS HOW DARE
Falst glances behind him at the glowing green,
Where Alinua works unceasing.
Her eyes fill with tears as she whispers to the body,
Her franticness increasing.
Falst places a blanket over her shoulders,
Retreats onto a broken wall.
Still radiant with magic Alinua pleads,
With the body that moves not at all.
He was kind enough to lift her hair out from under the cloak, I see. The passage of time between panels is forever a mystery…
Awwww, Falst you secret sweetheart!
Comforting Comforter is the trope, for anyone interested.
Alinua: Nobody dies for me. Not ever.
Me: WELL HOW THE TABLES TURN.
“Kendal will be fine” said Erin; how much of that statement was ignorance, hope and/or to keep Dainix calm?
This scene helps hammer home how serious Kendal’s injuries are. From past pages we’ve been accustomed to Alinua’s healing being very quick and reliable, even in mid-battle, almost like video game equivalents. Here, however, she’s pouring her heart and soul into him yet it all feels desperate, unstable and potentially fatal.
There’s a possibility Falst may be feeling powerless at the moment and that’s why he looked unhappy in the last page. But what he’s doing now, giving Alinua the cloak to wear and keeping watch so the others can relax, is very helpful. Fingers crossed someone around the fire lacrima campfire take over his watch soon.
Today is my birthday! And I got… this? It’s pretty tense since normally Alinua does an instant-heal thing, must be really bad if it takes this long to heal.
Also I have a theory and it’s that the Light Dragon and the Life Primordial are the same being, but different. Not dissimilar to a few Greek gods that Red told us about
Oh no, I get it now! Kendal going to the dead Vash-ites wasn’t just him passing out, it’s him being on the verge of death/dead himself! Alinua might be trying to resurrect him.
I just want to note how pretty and well thought out the page is; the glowy green spirals contrast really nicely with Alinua’s skin and hait. Following Falst through the scene was also really cool since he acts as a throughline between the scenes, making the cut not feel random, keeping the flow between the pages, and focusing on his support rather than Alinua’s desperation (which serves as a good tone shift from the Tynan battle). Thanks for another awesome page, Red!
Sana sana colita de rana, si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana 🙁
@Evil Tree
An element of it could also be a bit of Stoic philosophy that seems well-suited to Erin’s disposition. Between Alinua’s mastery of healing and Kendal’s incredible physical fortitude, with Falst taking care of surgeon and patient, Erin may figure that there is nothing that he can do that will meaningfully increase the odds of the operation’s success. So, worrying about it accomplishes nothing; therefore, there is nothing that he (and, by extension, Dainix) should worry about. Instead, he focuses on what he can do, maintaining morale and collecting information that could prove useful later (and possibly keeping what he perceives to be a potentially-unstable ally calm, as you mention).
But yeah. Hopefully they find ways to provide more support, including not leaving Falst to shoulder the watch alone.
@Shasskor I think this is just like an eletric heater that glows when turned on. The purpose is to generate heat, the glowing is just a consequence. Maybe with magic is similar: the air just glows with the excess energy being used in the spell.
he stronk
kendal
you are stronk stop it
my guy
Also! What @Shasskor said is probably actually true in this case and it’s not just a cool visual! Alinua’s magic usually glows a bit, but is nowhere near this radiant when she isn’t doing something big, like growing that tree back in Zuurith. She’s probably using everything she’s got, so it seems like the escaping energy causing the glow is proportional to the amount of Life magic being channeled.
Before you ask, I am a nerd.
I can’t imagine at this point that Alinua isn’t totally in love with Kendal. The “I can’t do this without you” vibes are far too heavy here, and that kind of devotion often ends romantic. The bigger question now is if Kendal at all feels the same.
Alinua crying and telling Kendal “No!”
Falst gets her a coat, the turns to go
No limerick today: I couldn’t possibly be heartless enough to make a limerick about Alinua’s distress.
@franksands is probably right. You can also see some grass growing by her leg, implying that they are absorbing some excess magic. So the implication is that magic is some kind of exothermic reaction, energy is released
@franksands is probably right. You can also see some grass growing by her leg, implying that they are absorbing some excess energy. The whole thing would imply magic is a exothermic reaction, where energy is released. Glowing and grass growing (Alliteration!) are just side effects
In panel 4, Alinua’s hair is about to be covered by the cape, but in panel 5, it’s over the cape. I doubt Alinua interrupted her healing to adjust her hair, so Falst must’ve been the one to do so. Just another tiny thing to ensure her comfort, and just another tiny thing to make my heart melt at how deeply Falst has grown to care about these two.
Looking at Kendal’s body (not an easy task with all the green light obfuscating it), it’s already fully healed physically. Whatever has got Kendal comatose (or perhaps even dead), it’s not something Alinua can fix. This recovery, if possible, is entirely on him to pull off (unless Vash or his people’s souls are somehow able to help).
Have the cloak been put over or under her hair?
I suspect Erin is fully aware how badly hurt Kendal is and that is his confidence on the last page is a coping mechanism (plus not wanting to worry Dainix)
How did the cloak get under her hair
that is so, so nice of falst. this page stunningly beautiful, not in just an artistic sense, but because you can see how this has effected everyone on the page. let it be known that alunia is a saint, falst is an absolute bro, really looking out for alunia. these characters are great, and this page in particular really makes them feel alive.
Beautiful scene of caring and worry! My take is that Kendal’s soul is wandering elsewhere (the underworld perhaps?) to learn something or complete some task and Aliuna can keep Kendal’s body working but not get his soul back in his body. I hope that Vash can keep hidden Kendal’s existence from the Collector or she will go destroy Vash’s connections to the world of Aurora.
TL;DR: Shhhh, there’s (unsuccessful so far) healing going on over here.
A bright glow engulfs the young mage,
as she attempts to heal her friend her tears nearly turn rage.
A magical overload brightens the scene,
as Falst silently watches,
merely unseen.
He approaches gently to comfort her,
and lays a cloak just beneath her hair.
Headcanon: when transitioning between different media of varying magical “density”, some of the energy of the magic is shed, and takes the form of a glow. It also “polarizes” the medium in question, creating a channel that focuses the lost energy, resulting in shapes that act vaguely like a cross between a lightning discharge and iron filings aligning along a magnetic field. This, of course, cheerfully ignores the fact that A) if it was energy in the air, that much plasma nearby would scorch anything nearby, and B) it makes no sense for Void.
Basically, something between lightning, plastma, and Cherenkov radiation.
Coma trope? Coma trope. Journey through Kendal’s subconscious as he regains the will to live let’s gooooo
(Also thank you Falst for giving her at least a small bit of comfort my poor girl needs some sleep and a hug ;_; )
i love the joy of a successful battle! 🙂 nothing wrong here!! :)) nope, no sir, just some good old-fashioned fun!!! :)))
remember in chapter 8 when Erin was complaining that Alinua was using all the “ambient life magic”? it must (at least for life magic) have something to do with the ambient energy. I wonder if using life magic takes from the life magic in the other plants and things nearby
So did the cloak phase through her hair or what
I know Red has talked about how she loves paragon heros and I knew Kendal fit that, but these last two pages are the first time that’s really sunk in- just how much everyone is here because of Kendal
She’s gonna kill him when he wakes up.
Falst alarm, no tempted fate this page! He was just peeking at our starting duo.
Kendal, just wakey wakey, godammit!
Falst is SUCH A GOOD BOI! Everything about this page makes me want to squeal! Wether that is in delight or axiety depends on the panel…. It’s mostly axiety, BUT I AM NOT FOCUSING ON THAT
As this is one of the few times that I am not on mobile, I wish to thank ZerO Wolf!
@Kekkles You’ve seen Red’s videos, right? I’ll have a hard time believing that any relationship is meant to be romantic unless exspressly stated. But then again, I have blind spots in these areas.
@KipOfTheMany
Yeah, Kendal and Alinua’s relationship looks exactly how Red has described how she feels about her own close friends. I agree with you. Alinua cares so much about Kendall because she’s a caring person, and he was the first person she’s successfully been able to attach to without fear of hurting him. They’re really, really good friends.
Adam, Anonymous, and TheFullestCircle:
Falst likely adjusted her hair after putting the cape on her. It’s the only logical conclusion, considering that Alinua almost certainly wouldn’t stop channeling magic in this situation just to do something small like that.
I’ve been trying
Trying so so so so so SO hard not to ship Alinua and Kendal.
RED. STOP MAKING IT HARD. Because I’M FAILING
My cis female hyper romantic heart wants to SHIP THEM SO DAMN BAD.
Falst just keeping an eye on everyone is what I needed this week.
No one’s going to be able to grow so much as a cactus within a three mile radius after this healing.
May I introduce, Fire’s Chosen!
https://comicaurora.com/aurora/1-2-32/
I just wanted to remind everyone of this time when Alinua promised Kendal that she wouldn’t tie. We’ve come a long way. The party is much bigger now.
I don’t know if i’m reading into this too much but they’re either really good buddies or we are expecting a romantic subplot. I hope for the last.
Because of the angle change I thought for a second that she mounted him in that final panel. It was only after I did a double-take and looked over it again I noticed the obvious Falst cloak thing. I need to go to sleep.