I'm from the UK. I love anime, manga, stories, music, films, reading, languages and singing. I post mostly about manga and anime, especially what pairings I like.
"You're not leaving me." you mumble against his hair, letting your breath gently blow at them as you exhale.
Valko doesn't move as your hand wraps over his body, the other cushioning his neck from behind as it slips into his hair. Your nails brush just a bit at his ears, and you hear him gasp, not to mention the subtle lean of his head back against you. So, you scratch gently at his ears, before pressing a kiss there.
"I wasn't planning on it," he says, almost teasing you, but he quickly drops it when he realizes you're not in the mood. Instead, he straightens up, clearing his throat.
You've been strangely quiet lately. A small change, but one he noticed. Gloomy was the word he'd use to describe you, watching you barely pay attention to anything around you.
Except when your eyes landed on him.
Somehow, whenever they did, the color of your eyes seemed to brighten just a smidge. The weight that pulled at your lips lightened too, making him wish that whatever you saw in him, you'd see it in everything else. If only to see anything other than that depressing look on your face.
His worries didn't waver when you suddenly pulled him into bed earlier, but instead of him holding you, you were insistent on the reverse. Bringing him into your lap at first, before you seemed to grow antsy and dragged him up to lay against you instead.
". . . What's brought this on?" he dared to ask, his voice soft, probably the most vulnerable you've heard it. For now.
No words leave you while you continue to kiss at his hair, almost desperate to feel his warmth. Whether it be in your hands, against your chest, beneath your lips, whatever it was. You just needed to have him here.
"Just say it." you finally whisper, the hand over his chest now cupping his chin, turning him to look at you. If you hadn't, he would've thought you were ordering him around.
Yet the look in your eyes looked far too heartbroken to be anything more than a plea.
Part of him wants to push. Wants to interrogate you, to ask why you were acting this way, but he doesn't. Whether it was a demand or a wish, he would fulfill it if you had asked it of him. No matter what.
"I'm not leaving you." he relents, and he can feel the slightest slouch of your hold, before it goes back to that maddening desperation.
But he still doesn't question it. Not when he can see the relief flooding your every being. Not even when you lean forward to kiss forehead. He'll interrogate you at another time, for now, he's content to simply be the one you lean on.
đ· NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
Take care of yourselves guys. Please be respectful when sending your emails, protesting, etc. Everything sucks right now but don't contribute to things.
Also side note, the scheduled release for this week might be pushed back. I don't want to work on that while I'm upset. I'll try getting it out before the week ends but no promises, I'm sorry guys :<
In light of recent events, seeing this loading screen today really stung...
It seems "Linkon is a very inclusive place" unless your name is Valko. Then you get run out of town just 8 days after your arrival is announced. To say I'm heartbroken is an understatement...
Guys.. you canât just DELETE A FUCKING LOVE LIFE BECAUSE BRATS ARE THROWIJG A TANTRUM. Weâre NOT getting a new chapter ANY time soon because now they gotta rewrite a whole storyline that correlates with previous events, all the hard work from so many workers are thrown in the trash and the rest of the world (not just Chinese players) are devastated because unlike those players (not all, this isnât about you stfu) we actually were excited. This is also unprofessional on Infoldâs end. Wdym you delete months and maybe even years worth of hard work because you couldnât handle the hate. Youâre a company making millions, if not, billions of dollars. Youâll survive.
disappointed is an understatement for the fact that a vocal minority of parasocial liars essentially throwing a week long tantrum is whatâs finally stuck.
im extra disappointed from a game standpoint because i know there was going to be a lot of lore added and explained with his introduction bc of his position that weâre now missing out on, and the potential delays in already long awaited updates that re-workshopping this change will cause.
also just genuinely surprised because at the very least, from a business standpoint, all the sunken cost for him alone feels like it shouldâve been the last resort for them to do this and not the first solution, since theyâll never make any money back on him now.
last but most important, not only are the players impacted here, but this widespread tantrum and attempt to strong arm a company over a game is having real life impacts on the writing team that was hired for Valko, all the voice actors and cosplayers and motion capture actors for him, and an entire design and animation team Iâm sure. so yay, you nuked the real world just to get your fake world to be exactly as you want it âŠ
Everything that could go wrong did, and by the time you drag yourself through the door youâre exhausted, drained, and on the verge of tears. You donât even get to kick your shoes off before two strong arms wrap around you from behind, pulling you back against a warm, solid chest.
Valko doesnât say anything at first. He just holds you, chin resting on top of your head, tail curling gently around your leg like heâs trying to wrap you up completely.
âBad day?â he finally murmurs, voice soft.
You nod, leaning into him. He doesnât need more than that.
Without another word he scoops you up like you weigh nothing (which to him, you donât) and carries you straight to the couch. He settles down with you curled in his lap, your face tucked into his neck while one big hand rubs slow, soothing circles on your back. His other hand gently scratches the back of your head if youâre feeling extra sensitive, or just strokes through your hair.
âYou did so good today,â he whispers against your temple, pressing a soft kiss there. âIâm really proud of you, sweetheart.â
His tail thumps steadily against the cushion, slow and comforting. He keeps you wrapped up in him, warm and safe, occasionally nuzzling the top of your head or giving you little squeezes like he can physically push the sadness out of you.
When you finally relax against him with a tired sigh, he smiles and tucks you closer.
âIâve got you,â he says simply. âYou can rest now. Iâm right here.â
You fall asleep like that wrapped up in your giant boyfriend, his steady heartbeat under your ear and his tail curled protectively around you. The worst day doesnât feel so heavy anymore.
Valko stays there as long as you need, content to be your personal heater, weighted blanket, and safe place all in one.
I get the issue people are having with there being unequal amount of content for the already existing lis, but I think completely removing Valko from the game if anything just feels like its punishing everyone over infoldâs own mistake
Imagine being so freaking weak as a company you delete a character which begins to be loved by so many players. And imagine being so miserable you feel the need to hate so much that a character gets pushed out even before his release.
I have this theory that Valko hasn't reincarnated and is very much the original guy but he's either an ancient wolf guardian, spirit or sage, half-human half-wolf demon hybrid or cursed werewolf whose clan dates back to an age in this universe on Earth in the distant past.
It would make a nice change and could imply that his MC might have had earlier lives on Earth. That could form his lupine origin story and be part of one of his myths, whether it's the standard one or his limited one.
Though I get the feeling we'll still get a myth where Valko's Philos is unveiled. Correct me if I'm wrong but every LI thus far has had their own version of Philos which affects their story.
It would be interesting if, were I to go with one of my theories that Valko is an ancient spirit or guardian, his memories of previous ages on Earth were vivid for some things but fragmented or vague for others due to how much time passed and depending on if he was in spirit, human or wolf form. I theorise that he might have periods of hibernation or dormancy, his power waning and flourishing with the cycles of the moon and the seasons which affected the ancient woodland I presume in this scenario was his home. Either that, or he had periods where he underwent a process of transformation or rebirth during these intervals, perhaps having times where he was stuck in spirit, wolf or human form.
As for Valko's relation to MC, my theories are: he could have known her in one of her earlier lives on Earth (as previously mentioned), he could have been one of the survivors of earlier experiments Ever did (or he knew said survivors) and they met through that or they've been strangers who have almost crossed paths several times over the years perhaps due to undercover missions, EonCore Tech's business dealings, technology conferences or the like which may mean Valko knows of MC thanks to her being a prolific hunter but doesn't know her personally.
â On Phainon's debating skills and the brilliance of the Citizens' Assembly scene in showcasing his character development.
In response to @stickyspeckledlight âs questions. I've been a regular academic debater for about six years now so, I can't put into words how special Phainon being a debater (and such a good one at that, which we'll get to shortly) is to me. So thank you for giving me the chance to properly yap about this. My original reblog got too long so I had to make a separate post orz. Explanation includes spoilers for HSR 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 Trailblaze quests.
To be honest, listening to that debate for the first time was incredibly nerve wracking for me. It was, as you say, a gamble and it could've gone horribly wrong anywhere.
Something crucial to realize about debates is that, they're less of this rigid exchange of counterarguments and more of a performance. Sure, the validity of your logic matters but, you're also graded on auxiliary things like body language, eye contact, enunciation, idiolect, fluency, manners and how well you can keep your audience hooked.
It is often said that how you make your point matters more than the point itself â because, even the judges won't be listening keenly to what facts and data you're presenting sometimes.
When you accept that debates are like performances, it becomes easier to follow and bend the rules. As well as to have fun. This is something that Anaxa â our Great Performer â understands very well. I bring Anaxa up because I'm pretty sure it was him who taught Phainon this tactic, as mentioned by Phainon in the 3.3 quest, âIn the end I remembered a lesson from one of my teachers: In battles where words are weapons, outrage and blind passion often overpower reason.â
Anaxa also says something similar before casting his vote, âYou've done well, Phainon. Given the circumstances, delivering a rousing speech to stir up emotions was a prudent move.â
This isn't all made up for the sake of creating drama by the way. I've seen this tactic being used in parliamentary debates, at least in my country. The goal is to stir emotions among your audience (including the judges/jury) in the hopes of securing support, doesn't matter if it's sympathy, rage or something else. This should be in harmony with your logic.
It's... fascinating to watch when executed smoothly. Personally though, this tactic peeves me because, often it's used to divert attention from the fact that your argument isn't strong. It can also feel like an insult to the motion. And straight up calling your opponent irrational/overly emotional in response is classless and can even have your score deducted (which is why I mentioned manners as a criteria). So, you really need to be careful with how you respond to that.
Which brings us to the matter of Phainon calling the Council of Elders âverminâ.
I will not lie, it was incredibly satisfying. But that satisfaction of mine lasted for one glorious second before I became worried. It was the biggest gamble of the entire ordeal. As we later learn in Aglaea's letter to Phainon in 3.3 that a similar call-out gravelly weakened people's faith in Aglaea during the first debate.
The difference is that Aglaea, quite understandably weary from their schemes after all these years, did so in the heat of the moment. While Phainon purposefully used that word and then proceeded to lay out exactly why those people are deserving of being called vermin.
There is a hope placed behind this approach ; even if it upsets a large group of people, it'll leave an impression. And from that impression, people will subconsciously start to think. They'll compare Phainon's argument with their own experiences and from there on, the chances of them voting for the Flame Chase will increase slightly.
The greatest challenge of that arena was the fact that Phainon had to deal with a huge crowd. Making sure they're listening to you is one thing (which he did splendidly by the way) but, getting them to think, in the heat of the collective influence? That is infinitely more difficult. Which is why I concur with Anaxa, using this tactic for this situation, was indeed a prudent move.
There is another important development in Phainon's character that blossoms through this debate. The quality of Phainon that Aglaea has always complimented him on is his ability to sincerely connect with everyone in a way that she can't. However, this was also the quality that he'd struggled to wield.
See, Phainon doesn't really trust himself. And his lack of trust in himself unknowingly contributes to his doubt in others. Why? Because when you can't trust yourself, you'll constantly second guess your choices and your potential. You won't be able to believe it even if the people you look up to compliment you. As such, you won't be sure about your decision to lend your trust to someone.
Which is why, there is so much emphasis on Phainon vocalizing âunshakable faithâ, and resolutely trusting his comrades and the people of Amphoreus in 3.3 instead of him gaining new powers or something.
That quality is what makes him worthy of World-bearing, separates him from other heroes and brings him closer to the image of Deliverer envisioned by everyone. We see glimpses of him starting to understand this during the debate.
First of all, the beginning. âAs you (citizens of Okhema) look upon me, so too do I see you.â
This is an excellent opening. The words used are simple, echo easily and do not clash with each other. They include the audience, acknowledge their attention and establish a primary connection between the speaker and the audience all in one sentence.
Then, he stops people from thinking about the fate of the world and implores them to really think about the gravity of their situation. But he doesn't just explain why the Black Tide is dangerous, no no. He talks about his own, personal experience with the Black Tide, baring his heart, for the very first time in front of so many people.
The strongest connections are forged in shared vulnerability. Even if people can't empathize or offer sympathy for him, they'll still be reminded of their own experiences, or perhaps the experience of someone they know. Strengthening the primary connection.
When a citizen objects to this by asking why Okhema still remains peaceful, it's as if Phainon had been expecting that question. He uses it to not only defend Aglaea but to also present the corruption within Okhema and to drop that bomb.
It should be mentioned that Phainon does not include mind blowing new information in his speech, he only reiterates the truth that most citizens had forgotten in a concise manner.
And he closes his speech with great humility. It's obvious that Phainon really thought it through and had a mental roadmap of his speech (since we can clearly divide it into sections) but, I don't know why, perhaps it's the voice acting on this section, I felt like the ending was improvised by him.
As in, you get this feeling that he finally understood what exactly his role was within the debate and changed his closing to that of a promise at the nick of time. Not to mention the roundabout way Phainon asks Anaxa this question before he steps onto the stage, âIs Aglaea making the right decision by entrusting the fate of the world to me?â
To which Anaxa answers, âFlip your perspective and ask yourself this instead: What should I do to ensure that the world doesn't stray from the correct path?â
And Phainon does figure out what he should do, which isn't wrestling with words to gain votes by the way. It's having the backbone to trust the people he'll lead. And I think you can feel this shift in thinking within the speech itself.
The tonal shifts throughout the speech is perfect as well. He starts slow, lets people adjust to his voice and until that citizen poses that question, maintains an empathetic tone. He goes from reminiscent to distraught when mentioning his past but does not break into tears. The frustration and the disdain when he talks about the Council of Elders isn't out of control, even if it may seem like he was momentarily swept up in those emotions. As he was able to circle back to the tone he used in the beginning to close his argument.
But of course, this doesn't work like magic against all of those people, as the number of votes received by both sides were equal until Anaxa broke the impasse â which I think is very realistic. Had Phainon not taken the risk, the Flame Chase would've most likely seen a shameful defeat.
This whole performance was incredibly difficult to execute for Phainon, not only due to the dire circumstances but also because I suspect that this isn't his usual style. We have some crumbs about how Phainon performs in academic debates from memory fragments.
As you can see, he's very quick to catch loopholes and traps, he's also not reckless and does not hesitate to play it safe if he has to.
But in the debate against the Council of Elders, he had to be reckless and he couldn't play it safe. He was out of his comfort zone in more ways than one and yet, he managed to perform excellently. This showcases the versatility of Phainon's character that was only mentioned by a select few thus far.
In conclusion, Phainon is an excellent debater, orator and public speaker precisely because of this flexibility of his.
Honestly, we must applaud the writing team, translation team and the voice of Phainon (I've only listened to the English voice-over so I'm unsure if all these subtleties are still observable in other languages) for bringing this scene to life. Especially with such limited movement and facial expressions. Even I didn't know there was so much to talk about until I began writing this.
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