Comment on Way of the Knight

  1. Cyan (Guest) on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Dec 2020 04:58AM UTC

    This is actually my second time coming back and rereading this story — it took me awhile to find it again! But there were so many little moments and scenes that stuck with me long after I first read it.
    What stood out to me the most were the instances of Ashe showing compassion through his actions, through the way he frames his observations and recalls memories. These moments string together to give the reader a sense of his having a deeply rooted kindness, and this is contrasted against the brutality of war and harsh terrain of this battle, the analytical approach Ashe forces himself to think in when confronting former friends, and the climbing terror of realizing his own mortality.
    I also found it interesting that slivers of Ashe’s poorer background seep in through the narrative (understanding that the nameless boy is risking his life for a paycheck, the idea that Ashe himself is /mostly/ not here for money, noticing the likely value of Sylvain armor, the worth of his shoes). He’s on the opposite side of the battle from his former classmates because of his stated loyalties, but these hints of class differences also brings up a more subtle separation between him and the others.
    (I also liked the part where he spares a thought about his siblings at a frankly horrifying moment.)
    The other characters feel real, too, and it’s interesting to see them filtered through Ashe’s point of view. I enjoyed your writing style, and I felt like you delivered the emotional gut punches with the skill of a ninja.
    In short, I enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing it!

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    1. secretagentfan on Chapter 1 Tue 08 Dec 2020 12:59AM UTC

      :' ) Oh my goodness, I'm so delighted you not only reread but REMEMBERED this fic! I still haven't given up on adding more, but oh it means so much that you've enjoyed what's been laid out here!
      Your observations of the class dynamics is SPOT ON, Ashe is keenly aware of how expensive war is and is continuing to learn even more about the emotional cost. I have so...so much to say about the class dynamics in 3 houses so much (Ashe Dorothea support when?)
      (AND I'M HAPPY YOU CAUGHT THE REFERENCE TO HIS SIBLINGS, I like that line. :D )

      Thank you thank you thank you for this comment, it's so motivating! :)

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