Old Habits Die Hard Part Five, New habits? Or just old ones recycled? Options

[haute ecole rider]

It's now time to start a new thread for Julian of Anvil. Now that she returns to her hometown, it's rather appropriate to start a new thread to celebrate!

Thanks to all who have read and posted input on Julian's story.

For those coming in late, if you've got the time, here are links to the previous threads:

Chapters One through Seven
Chapters Eight through Thirteen
Chapters Fourteen through Eighteen
Chapters Nineteen through Twenty-two

I hope you continue to enjoy this story as Julian works toward the inevitable conclusion!

[SubRosa]

I think someone else mentioned it recently, but it bears repeating that you do very well at starting in the middle, and then recounting preceding events as the episode goes on. That can often be the best way, as it keeps you from becoming bogged down in little things. I always find it difficult to do myself though.

And a tantalizing piece of information about Julian's brother Cieran! As well as her own motivations in joining the legion. It seems goblins are Julian's arch-nemesis. Now I suspect that it was goblins that did in her mother as well.

Could it be those stones are fed by the souls of people taken into the portals and tortured, as Menien Goneld had been?
Now that is a chilling thought, and an excellent bit of world-building.

Aloe vera plants lifted their heavy blossoms on tall spikes above the golden tufts, much like sailing ships on the ocean.
I really liked your comparison of the plants to ships, given the proximity of the ocean.

I didn’t even object to his salutation.
Oh noes! Our poor Julian must really be out of it to not squirm at praise!