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June 29, 2021 keii4ii 17 Comments

I’m working on an intermission to be posted at the end of the chapter. It will explain various types of Dokkabi powers, and the difference between a specialist and a generalist. In the meantime, feel free to ask questions and/or to speculate!

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17 Comments

I see that Lushaka’s feet don’t have that purple coloration. Has he been cured of the foot curse/illness?

He was cured when Lu met up with Danbi’s mom and the other Elyeo.

Welp. Time for Ethan to become a tree hugger.

He’s got big arms, perfect for some trunk hugging!

I’m sure that Ethan, being offered a way to fundamentally contribute to the existence/ continuation (and/ or even expansion?) of the Outside, is very willing!
Even without it being ‘packaged’ as counter-effort for allowing the *dangerous* presence of ‘the horned boy’.
As reasonable as the old master makes it sound, still a ‘bargain’ that makes me go a bit…. hmmm…

So recovering from the ‘eye-blood’ (just went back to look it up: out of it for ‘a night, a day and then some’) means our gentle-giant survived dragon toxins!
But now he’s ‘Halfway’.
I dread to think of the danger involved in the next part of transitioning to Arbonist powers. Official ‘Tree Hugger’ ;-)
Something tells me that that part of the journey is *not* going to be a free ride, either….

That is if he agrees. Or: if Lu will let him…?
Next to Ethans wide-eyed ‘oooooh’-expression at the pretty little demonstration, colourfull magic ‘hand-fumes’, his *does* look rather sceptical!

And -unrelated-
Danbi looks peacefull, fully absorbed in his duty. Previous page he looked so at ease, spending time with his mom. Good :-)
After his ‘transition’ in the cave he was so shocked, so down-trodden…
I just realised how surprisingly little story-attention was payed to their reunion. It sort-off just ‘fell in place’.

Arborist – not Arbonist…

Ethan’s survived one major danger, indeed, with the poison. But you’re not the only one who’s sensing more dangers ahead… Lu is definitely suspicious!

Exactly what I meant!
I picked up on that, because of your v e r y skillfully drawn, exellent facial expressions.. ;-)

My saying ‘if Lu will let him’ may be a bit rich (not *his* decision, after all) but Ethan w i l l very much value his opinion.
Not just because he’s more knowledgeable about Keol and it’s magic, but moreso because Lu is *the* most important person in his life right now!
– whether he fully realises that yet, or not…

Hmm, maybe it’s far-fetched, but I’m curious as to whether there’s a connection between the tree representing Ethan’s inner world and the trees of life that seem like they might become an important plot point in the coming chapters.

I’m not sure that Ethan will accept this proposal so readily, since it implies that he might have to settle down in this universe for the rest of his life, a decision that might require further thought and reflection as to what he really wants and what he’s (not) ready to give up.

It’s true! Ethan may or may not go for this (assuming there are no obstacles that he’s currently unaware of…), but even if he just goes for it, there may be regrets later…

Does becoming a specialist mean you don’t have access to certain powers, like teleportation? I’m just wondering how limiting being a specialist is. In DnD rules a specialist mage doesn’t have access normally to just one domain of spells (if I recall right), but in real life being a specialist isn’t always so limiting since you can still have general knowledge of other areas. Like focusing on medical biology to become a doctor doesn’t always mean you don’t cover other parts of biology while getting an undergrad biology degree. Knowledge and some skills are more dependant on the amount of time you have to study and how much your brain can remember than how some fantasy skills are set. Though there are some skills that require underlying understanding of basics to understand. For example of the complexity of the differences I am talking about, in organic chemistry, you have to have an understanding of how reactions work and other processes to be able to create a new compound from scratch, but it is possible to hard memorize a specific reaction with a specific desired end result that was already made by someone else without the hard underlying understanding. Basically the understanding to be able to create a new formula (which requires a lot of teaching) vs just using an already made formula (which requires a lot less). I’m just wondering where the powers fall on that spectrum. Thanks.

Suyori skills are attained via knowledge and practice, and can be learned by almost anyone. So plant manipulation powers have a lot of similarities with how non-magical expertise works.

But Dokkabi powers are different. No amount of practice can turn you into a Dokkabi. Practice/study and personal aptitude can improve the Dokkabi power(s) that you have, but you gotta acquire the power(s) properly first. And there are only two known ways to do that… the tea, or the raw stuff (dragon/wyrm).

Thank you for the response. Sorry for not exactly being clear in my earlier post. I was wondering about the specialization in Dokkabi powers, instead of Dokkabi vs Suyori. Since I know at least one Dokkabi with teleportation skills and this other field of arborist, I was wondering how limiting choosing a focus in Dokkabi powers is. It looks like it might get answered in future pages, so it is fine if that is the case.

Oh no, I understood that wasn’t your specific question! I only brought up the suyori stuff to explain that the acquisition of Dokkabi powers doesn’t work like the acquisition of non-magical skills/knowledge, even though other magical powers in this story are at least comparable to mundane skillsets. There is indeed some stuff coming up in the comic that may shed more light as well. :)

Given how Ethan feels about taking a life, this does seem like a very good vocation for him. I can just imagine him taking a break between tree shifts, lounging on a patio, watching the colors change, being his adorable himbo self (I don’t think he is dumb like the classical himbo stereotype, but between him being new to this world and speaking a second language in his rather simplistic way, it gives him that kind of flavor – not dumb, but maybe more childlike and naive than he would be normally, in his own place and language?)

Advanced Himbo™️

How many before Ethan have failed to become an Arborist? Did any of them survive the process?