My absence and plans moving forward.

The short version.
I had started a new job and was adjusing to the change of pace and schedule, and experienced a severe health issue which left very little time for writing. Worse, after recovering, I was incredibly out of practice and struggling with creative writing. Which led to frustration and more writers block.

Conditions at work changed, for the better, allowing more time for me to decompress. Making it easier to write in my free time.

I 'could' have uploaded Part One about a week ago. However, I wanted to prove to myself that I could still write consistently, and that the previous chapter wasn't just a single burst of creativity before another bout of writers block.

I'm doing much better now and I want to thank everyone for their patience. Especially while I was in media blackout mode.

Moving forward.
The two chapters I just uploaded, and any I complete in the meantime, will be restricted for paying members for the next couple of weeks and then made public.

I want to change the payment structure for membership. Specifically, I just want it to be support for my ongoing writing efforts, rather than for specific benefits. I'm perfectly happy with people unsubbing. I actually wanted to remove the tiers outright in a scheduled phase out, so anyone resubbing is making a fully informed choice, but Patreon doesn't allow it while people are subscribed.

I'll also be reposting to Royal Road again. Most likely after work tomorrow/today.

Regarding the two chapters released just earlier. I am aware that they could be 'better' but I just need to get the gears moving again. A part of that process is me needing to accept that things aren't going to be perfect. All the same, apologies.

I also still intend to finish Mana Soul. But that will need to come after Ogre Tyrant. As the formatting for MS is rather time intensive, and I don't want to take on more than I know I can handle. Lesson learned.