Omg. the ending to chapter 35 is so sad. I don't know what else to say l almost cried at the end. Sorry for only reviewing now l'll began reading this about three days ago. I'm on Mark's side more that Xanthos now. After the stunt he just pulled l don't think l'll want Aurora to be with him. Poor girl having to go through so much. She's really strong l really like her character. Keep on writing l can't wait to see what you have next! :)

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¨°º¤ø„¸ Destiny „ø¤º°¨
¸„ø¤º°¨ Dez ``°º¤ø„¸
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So, is this gonna be finished anytime soon? :D

- HT

Okay, most likely this story has been abandoned, but, I pray it isn't! This has been by far my favorite chapter since Aurora has finally socked it to him.

I've reread the entire story after what...? Two years? And it still makes me feel as giddy! I can't believe I've forgotten how much I loved this story!

Finally after 35 chapters I believe this is the climax... Now I just hope I'm not left hanging and have to imagine what happens next, 'cause I won't, I simply won't!

Any how, death to Xanthos, go Mark.

Alright, I'm really late in reviewing this chapter... I wonder if this story is still being updated?

Anyhow...NO! what is it that Xanthos could have found? And you know, Nara seems very demented now... Demented enough to be Xanthos's daughter... and old enough. Hey Xanthos when was the last time you were in the east?

*reels from shock from this overwhelming story*
...i'm still getting used to this...this is...fantastic. abso-blody-lutly fantastic. Just the concept of the story itself is pure genius. I apologize for not reviewing ever single chapter but from chapter one i was hooked and wouldn't stop devouring it until i was done.

one word of caution though, i'm pretty sure you get this alot but i do hope that Mark and Aurora do not end up together in a royally cliche way. but being the genius you are how could that possibly happen right?
-baleful stare-
heaven help anyone who gets in the way of Xanthos + Aurora. I will personally grace them with a horrifyingly burniating death.

other than the harmless death threats, wonderful job. If you like, I would go through it all and nit-pick (since its pretty much perfect anyway). But thats if you want to. E-mail's above.

~greetings from this side of insanity.

You asked for it, writing a story like this! Sit back and prepare yourself for an incredibly long review.

So usually, when I find a good story, I read it obsessively, and get the whole way through. Then I submit a big “OMG I READ IT” review with my general thoughts, before eventually getting enough time to go back and review individual chapters based on their specific content(that way I can more effectively beg for updates while I’m still on my must-read-story high). I also like to eventually boost the stories’ review counts, since good stories deserve high review counts.

So yes. OMG this story. It is SO good. I almost didn’t start reading it, too. It’s that initial reaction where I draw away like I’ve been burned every time I see a story with an assassin at the main character. I mean, it’s so often put to use by people that just can’t pull it off. You know the type – “This is my assassin character. She is cool, collected, and emotionless. She wears lots of leather and everyone is in love with her and she is just generally AWESOME. Bask in her glow and dare to suffer through fifty pages of her life story! Draco Malfoy makes a guest appearance in chapter nine!”

So of COURSE, I was very pleasantly surprised by this. I think I knew for sure that I was going to like it around chapter four. *double-checks* Yes, right when Xanthos opens the door to start his conversation with Aurora. They’re cute together, and no matter what genre I explore I will always secretly be a sucker for the romantic elements in anything.

Ok, another big topic: Xanthos. Love, love, love! Sign me up for his fan club and send me a clone! He’s my favorite character in the story by far. He isn’t as cold as short-cut authors would try to make him – instead he pulls off being a three-dimensional character, with a real human side. We get to see him doing all these cruel things, yes, but then he does something sweet and likeable, that lets people feel the real conflicting interests along with Aurora. Plus, he gets my favorite line in the entirety of the story: "Steel-toed boots SINK!" Yeah, bizarre thing to like out of all 35 chapters, but I have odd tastes as far as what strikes me as a really good moment.

This story is totally stuffed with clichés, and I usually try very hard to avoid them, but I’m very glad I went against my tendencies in this case. I’ve been told by more than one writing instructor that clichés are to be embraced, and can be one of the best tools for writing if used properly. I would say that your story is a shining example of this.

For a minute you actually had me terrified that chapter 35, the last one you have up right now, was actually the last chapter in the story. I mean, I realized partway through that it was seeming longer than usual, and then I pieced that together with the big Aurora/Xanthos conflict. I couldn’t stop reading, but I was also incredibly worried, because with things going the way they were going, if the story had ended it definitely wouldn’t have been a happy ending for Xanthos. By the way, I’m still worried that this will be one of those stories that ends “the sensible way.” What I mean is, Xanthos is unstable, and he’s clearly evil, and sadistic, and just doesn’t seem like a good person to commit to a relationship with. Mark is stable, on the “good guys’” side, and Aurora’s childhood sweetheart. It would be sensible and pleasant to have Aurora get together with him in the end. …I hate sensible endings.

Yeah, I just really can’t bring myself to like Mark. Yeah, there’s nothing really wrong with him. He’s charming at times, and an all-around good guy. But…I have to hate him solely based on the fact that at this rate, it seems he’s going to win Aurora over and ruin any chance poor Xanthos may have left.

Plus, I refuse to believe that Xanthos isn’t still crazy about Aurora. It seems like he really does genuinely love her, given his behavior in some of the earlier chapters. It seems to me that his negative reaction toward her regaining her memories relates less to a lack of acceptance of all of her, and more to a fear of losing her to Mark(similar to Mark’s dislike of her scar because of what it represents to him). He seems to realize that his Aurora was the one that was starting to like him, and he doesn’t stand half as much of a chance against an Aurora with newly recovered memories. (And…eh…that whole unfortunate face-stomp, aka beating-up-Aurora, incident…well, we’ve already established that he’s unstable. It’s not necessarily a bad thing! Besides, I’m desperately hoping that the whole unfortunate experience will end up with Xanthos eventually coming to his senses with a moment of, “…Omg, I am SUCH an idiot. What have I DONE?!” Followed by adorable apology attempts and much fretting over the well-being of Aurora. Plus the ONE time she didn’t use his formal title, he beat up on her…literally. I hope we get a little bit of adorable self-loathing from him down the line for that one.) Of course, whole and complete Aurora will surely like him all the same once he’s around her more! Even the old Aurora inside of her will learn to love him! So what I’m getting at is, he and Aurora can still patch up their relationship! And they’d better! ^^ Seriously, I’m going to be so incredibly sad and disappointed if she ends up with Mark. Of course, I guess you’re already done with the story itself, so if you’ve already planned it that way, I can’t stop you now.

But…yeah. I’ll just tell you now, if the story ends with Mark delivering a fatal blow to Xanthos, then Aurora tearfully holding Xanthos in her arms as he bleeds to death, before deciding that she can live with the loss and may as well embrace the opportunity to let go of what she has become and get back to her old self, then Mark and Aurora frolic off into the sunset, deeply in love… DEATH.

Of course, you did mention that Xanthos is your favorite character, so maybe you’ll give him a break and let him get the girl. Or not. *sigh*

I’m also hoping that, since I practically just did the virtual equivalent of getting down on my knees and killing you with flattery, you’ll update now? Or very soon? …Please?

-Jelly

YAY!! ur back!! Man this chapter was good. But... wahh i think she might end up with Mark >o< Mark's ok and all...but WHAT ABOUT XANTHOS?!?!! Man i think he's way cooler then Mark; and Aurora should be with him (Xanthos)!! But consdering what he did in this chapter... wahh that possibility must have been destroyed... Oh well I'll root for Aurora X Xanthos until the very end!! even if she...I DONT WANNA THINK ABOUT MARK!! Great job! the detail and the story is getting REALLY good.! keep up the good work!

You're back, and here I was thinking that you were dead... Even though I still saw you on a daily basis. I'm going to blame the many months of reading Esalno, and the untold powers of Xanthos to assume that he made a FantasyEsalno like clone who went to school in your place. In either case, I'm glad to see that you are back and writing, and can muster the energy to press that "publish" button, I know I'm can't... Not yet. But this isn't about me, this is about you, and Esalno, and Mark and Aurora and dun.. dun dun... Xanthos!

Quite is supposed to be quiet, yes? (Sorry, its the first thing I saw)

I think this is the first time I've seen Aurora so not emotionless, when Mark talks about killing Xanthos, she stumbles. Stumbles?! Where's the cold blooded killer I know and love. Darn you Mark, darn you and your rehabilitation program. I don't know about anyone else, but I liked cruel and heartless Aurora, not that I don't like this was too, its just that... I liked the other one more...

When she is in the darkness world, so to speak "nearby" is used a lot.

Ohmygawd, its Xanthos! Xanthy is back! (Sorry, I'm typing as I read, so...) Wow. I'm so happy. What a way to make a comeback!

He needs her! Aw.

Wait... He won't tell her. Oh no... Xanthy is losing his temper. Bad Xanthy, bad. If you need me I'll be cowering in a corner until he calms down. IF, he calms down.

DUDE, Xanthos rocks. The sadist in me, (Remy) is giving him a standing ovation. He's seriously kicking butt, and taking names.

"You will call me Lord!" he roared. He kicked her again and she fell to the ground. "I am your Lord, I am your Master... I am your God!"

Hands down, best line, of the best chapter of the best story I have read in a long, long time.

Mark rocks too... I gues. Pansy.

Whew. SO I'm all done with your comeback chapter. Fantastic, no. Awe-inspirating? No... I can't think of a word for the amount of praise I want to give you. This was... wow. Just good. Really, really good. If you wanted, you could end Esalno right here, and I'd be satisfied. For a while. Like a couple more months or something, but I really am happy you're back, and I'm even more thrilled that I can look forward to more really, really good chapters like this.

I hope my review can be a "rewarding tool" for you. Thanks for a endless source of inspiration and for being my greatest rival.

Until next time, (Which had better be soon, or I'll be the one kicking butt and taking names)

Serason.

Oh Oh Oh i must know what that knew spell is! Nara's cool but i keep thinking shes going to betray Xanthos, and I didnt hate Mark for most of this... until he said he didnt care about the horse while that f*ing animal abusing b* he might be invincible but a sword up his ** will still hurt like a b* (sorry but i didnt want to 'actuall' swear just incase anyone whos to young ;) reads this)

Excellent writing here, I hardly found any mistakes and the story just flows. Thumbs up from me =D.


I'm torn between being a Mark fan and a Xanthos fan at the moment... Mark's the good guy that everyone loves but Xanthos is the rebel... I like a rebel =)


Anyways, update soon! Can't wait for the next chapter! I'm extremely curious about this spell that Xanthos has found... something to do with Aurora possibly??


Good luck!
Lorento

Very interesting, Very happy to see Esalno dust the dirt of it's shirt and be...like alive or somthing. lol

I like Nara, kinda reminds me of...hm someone...

Rahmid

Whoa... Xanthos has lost his mind. I knew it was only a matter of time. Figures, being the bad guy and all, that he'd eventually have to lose it.

I still hate Nara, giving my Xanthy a necklace, at least its just because he wants something to remember his conquest by and not because he actually likes her... I mean he's no pediophile.

I liked and dislike this chapter. I liked the fact that you came back strongly. I didn't like that Theo wasn't in it, man, I miss that elf...


Serason.

Damn, what a cliffy... how could you. Still damn good chapter, glad to see the guys still thinks about her night and day, a bit lonly but hey, what guy isn't.

Great chapter.

I was hoping you would have updated by now, but I guess that is not going to happen. Man, you haven't even named this chapter. Well, you could have named it chapter 33, but I doubt thaT. aSOME THEY stole a horse. Mark seems like that froot loop tucan. Follow you nose where ever it goes. Ha ha, I loved your chapter ending. It was happy. The elf history is cool too. It's amazing how when you come back to your storie how everything seems more exciting. Not that your story wasn't exciting before, but you just enjoy things better if you don't see them for a while. Well, toodle loo.

oh Kelnar surrendered! this storyisway more in-depth then before ^_^. you should publish it o.o. alas i have caught up! *finally* and school has started this very day (unfortunately). i hope you keep up with this story, it is very well put together and always interesting ^_^.
and i know what Tabula Rasa is he :D but i say nothing *noddles* cant wait to see what other changes you have made to the story ^_^.