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That's a masterpiece.

Rachel

Ah yes, the crisis of facing the unexpected consequences of ones action. Tera probably caused the fire that killed the boys parents, either as an initiation act or it was a simple job. Either way he now not only knows that he killed people, which he is in some way comfortable to do, but also the extend to someone close to himself. He knows the horrors the boy went through and still goes through just because of Tera, how his life is filled with literal demons that won't leave him. And Tera starts to fall for him, gravitate towards this broken, yet unbelievable kind soul, maybe hoping to bask in his warm light for some short time, to feel the warmth of humanity, of love, once more, even if he will only face hate afterwards when the truth comes to light. Tera fears the second the truth comes out, the warmth of the boy might still be there, but not for him. He will only reap cold, darkness and resentment. And Tera knows that he is the only one to blame. He killed his parents, he caused his suffering, came closer to him and fell hard for him. I do not envy Tera. He knows that there are only two ways out, and in both cases he will lose. Either tell the boy the truth and lose the last companion who sees one for more than what the mask means, more than a member of black death. Or stay silent and lie to the only person who was honest and kind, betray his trust until eventually it will all come crashing down and he will lose him as well.

Michael Lohmeier

I love your analysis on this, so many questions I can’t wait to see answered. I also hope Tera had nothing to do with the Brothers death. If he did his road to redemption might be a long one.

Lilia

Attempting to summarize the many thoughts I had, but deleted: - If Tera did murder the Boy’s family, I don’t want him to get closer to the Boy. Because if he did, that would signal to me that he did not feel true remorse or guilt. If he actually felt that way, he would hand himself over the police. The fact he would probably die for doing so shouldn’t matter. It’s not like Tera is afraid of death, he jumps off six story buildings and goes around robbing and murdering people, at any point, he could die anyway. The threat of death wouldn’t be an issue in that decision. That wasn’t how I was reading the story however. The way I had imagined this story, Tera hadn’t really been enthusiastic about joining Black Death to begin with. My mind came up with a whole back story that Tera had an abusive father he killed to save his mother. His brother, Tiger/Luc, was eagerly waiting in the shadows to claim Tera for his cause. Still, Tera was not a true “believer” yet, so they had begun converting him over time. Transferring him from his primary “occupation” of robbing, to murder, increasing the frequency. Using Rabbit, his supposed best friend, to further instill the beliefs in Tera. That’s what the roof top scene in chapter 9 felt like to me anyway. Tera getting enraged by Muta going after the Boy, and then killing all of that gang said to me that Tera didn’t actually care about Black Death’s “way” much at all. He didn’t bother asking permission, he didn’t do it in a way that Black Death would “approve” of, he just did it. This is why I’m expecting Tera to face severe action from Black Death themselves. I read the shot of the security camera in chapter 10 as a warning that Tera was about to get in trouble for this, despite he himself not giving a fuck. It gives an important context, it would say a great deal that Tera knew he’d be at risk of this, and still couldn’t be bothered to care. He wasn’t held by loyalty like Rabbit is. (I felt like the Judas thread tied into that as well, that this was Tera betraying Black Death) This would further to me be a sign that the Boy’s revelation of chapter 11 was a catalyst for Tera. Shocked out of apathy towards the gang and his life, he’d be actively thinking of ways to bring about the down fall of Black Death himself. That’s what his “face” said to me in chapter 11. The shots where his eyes are white, where the shadows look like brows and frown lines said to me “I’m going to kill whoever was responsible for this” When the Boy said “nobody’s fault” Tera’s face especially said that to me. I heard in my head the coming of a war. Tera’s break down in chapter 12 to me was the devastation of the realization that his “brothers”(Rabbit and Tiger) were likely the ones at fault catching up to him after the anger had faded. I think all of this because the entire story we have been shown, and explicitly told, that Tera is an empathetic and caring person, even towards strangers if they’re "innocent". When I read chapter 1, I see Tera only trying to get the Boy’s phone so he could send the Boy on his way without causing more trouble than Joris had already started. The questions about the Boy being good at cleaning or cat care was Tera joking around to me. Like when Tera joked about the Boy being his “maid” Chapter 2 creates a powerful parallel between the Boy and Tera right from the start as well. The Boy goes to great lengths trying to protect a *dead guinea pig* and Tera goes to great lengths to protect a total stranger. To protect someone who had kicked, punched, stabbed, and even run him over with a car(and later, bite and tazed him). That tells you so much about Tera as a person. If all that was not enough, we get two office visits(one in chapter 4, one in chapter 8) with the psychologist emphasizing that Tera was showing the Boy care even though the Boy didn’t see it. Why would we do all these things if Tera was going to turn out to have murdered the Boy’s family, and then get close to Boy after knowing he had? It feels totally inconsistent with his character from my perspective. I’ll freely admit, I am desperately hoping Tera had nothing to do with that fire. Because I want him to have some shot at redemption, and if he was at fault for the fire, I would feel he had none. So, I don’t know what to feel. T_T Am I plotting Tera’s downfall, or can I hope for him? Whatever the case, I am fully on the Boy’s side here. Which ever answer this turns out to be will determine the entire way I see the story until the end. Tera could save the whole world, but if he did that to the Boy I still wouldn’t forgive him.

Rin

Rin

I was only just able to catch up with this update and it's all so utterly gorgeous, I love how the scenes with the Boy were interspersed with that fracture that you said it caused in Tera. Their development is just so lovely. I enjoy every single page every time. Thank you!

Alex Mar

Hi Rin : ) Some really interesting thoughts there! (I pick just a few, and hopefully won’t repeat myself too often ^^’ ) I think Black Death is much more than just what we have seen so far. Not just the few masks we know… huge organization, we see that when Jo first speaks of them, sitting in the car, plotting the abduction. When I first read the scene at the bank, I even assumed they might be something like ex-special-forces, since it all seemed so well coordinated. And with those weapons, it’s nothing you can easily get a hold of. But we learned they are not, just kids who dropped out of school and who grew into that lifestyle. Content at first, feeling free and superior – until it becomes boring, and burning someone alive is just a regular Tuesday. Tera is bored and does some thinking, reflecting, while his best friend, Kain, fully indulged in that lifestyle – like Jo said, at some point, Kain stopped coming by. And from what Kain said about Jo, the way he is talking about his little brother who adores him… he simply sees Jo as too weak, and he despises him for that. Tera on the other hand still thinks in categories… like “being a bad person”. And I totally agree on Bob. Hell, that guy is suspicious!! That look when the boy was trying to tell him Tera is the “Black Desk” Raccoon from the bank robbery… And he was on the crime scene in the parking garage, before the Boys uncle got there. About the cell phone of the dead bank clerk – Pico already revealed in one of the posts that it doesn’t lead any further. I think the focus is more on the two of them and their current situation (and the past), not so much on the investigating part and forensics which might be very interesting for the uncle, not the boy. All mothers in the story experienced huge loss and pain. The Boys mother, who lost her life and her family, the boys grandma, who is a mother too, being at the grave of her child and grandchild, Jo’s mother, who lost a son to Black Death… I see “the beggar” as a female personification. Someone who might try to get up under any circumstances to beg for the life of her child. Or to try and get up no matter what to prevent them from burning alive. At any costs. I always saw “the sleeper” as a child. Maybe never woke up before burning, intoxicated by the thick and heavy smoke of the spreading fire. I never saw the frights as “shadows” – more like burned bodies. At least those 3… the unnamed horned one is different. The rustles and flutters of the dark butterflies are morphing. Smoke, ashes, feelings. I also think only the boy can see them. Tera was rather observing the boy’s reactions (like in the park) and trying to make sense of it. It all came together bit by bit, the more he learned about it… especially with the drawings. Maybe he remembered that day when he was 16 and it was time for an initiation rite for the new members of Black Death… just guessing ^^. By “terror” I connect “spreading fear among the masses” to realize political, religious or ideological goals. Black Death clearly has an agenda. And Tera never leveled empty threats. That’s for sure and he is capable of incredible violence – and joking around right after, not even considering changing right after he burned someone alive and is smelling like a pig roasted in a campfire… (burning hair would do that). Funny enough the smell doesn’t trigger the boy. Not the gasoline, nor the neat campfire-stench Tera carries that night. Even Kain was considerate enough to point out that Teras date wouldn’t appreciate that odor, still Tera simply hurried over, seeking the boys company. I think he simply needed that for himself at that moment. Someone not afraid, even though he is wearing that mask, showing that face of his, intimidating as it is. The boy never even flinched, just frowned and tried to push him out. Tera also takes to that kind of fearless. Being able to stand up and fight for yourself even when you’re clearly physically weaker than your opponent. Maybe something a scrawny young Tera wasn’t able to do until Black Death… he strikes me as someone who has been on the receiving end of some violence (I agree with you there). The way the Boy freaked out when Tera put his hand over his eyes back then in the bathroom to prevent him from seeing his face… I think it happened to the boy before and that it is related to why the boy is crossing out his eyes in the drawings. The nameless fear the boy dreads so much also covered his eyes – or rather, had his huge hand over his face. The boy tried to fight it and pushed back against it, dissolving the “butterflies”, those little winged paralyzing nightmares, with his fingertips and willpower. That was a start. Fighting back. Evolving. Also, the boy vividly describes how the nameless fear creeps into his room and how it’s weighting him down. How the mattress is dipping under the weight. This small slit of light which prevents him from acknowledging more than just a dubious scheme… I imagine it being the light from a hallway through a slowly opening door. The little bit a door on a child’s room would be left open so the room wouldn’t be pitch black. A clear cut in the dark, keeping the monsters under the bed and in the closet at bay. (Again, your guessing is as good as mine ^^). About Kain (the rabbit) talking about (what happened to the boy, being an orphan left to remember) – I doubt that, since being under witness protection means that Black Death doesn’t know about a survivor. Someone who has potentially either seen something worth dying for – or who should also be dead as part of the job done by them. The survivors Kain speaks of are not exactly a secret – Black Death (Kain) wants them to carry the emotional scar of surviving. Kain wants Black Death to become their nightmare. The power to haunt, no matter if you’re awake or asleep. No escaping. No freedom. No quiet. No calm. No salvation. No sanctuary. The pull of Black Death would resemble something… almighty. I believe combined with the divine fire that’s something Kain would like. Luc on the other hand prefers a job well done.., no survivors, so that might be just a thing for the insane bunny… But hey, who knows… those long “horns” on the face of the unnamed nightmare might resemble a mask with long ears after all, blurred by trauma, light, shadows and emotions. Maybe Kain did something he wasn’t supposed to do. So yeah, I think there is more to it. Which has me worry about Bob again, since he knew the Boy from the moment when the uncle introduced him at work. Dangerous, even if Bob isn’t part of it all. There’s a reason the tiger isn’t running with his “Boys” to do the dirty work in public but being there to cut the share of the robbery. About Jo and the Boys attempt to help him… the Boy misses his family, his brother, so much, that it is very easy for him to relate to Jo. He would probably go to great length too, if it would bring his brother back. It’s part of his kind-hearted nature that he is doing his best to help Jo. I am not that worried about his attempts and ideas though. Jo isn’t taking that serious – and he is still on crutches. In my opinion, it’s just another reckless idea of the Boy. Jo on the other hand is still on that mission of impressing his brother… I worry about that, since the Boy is the “gift” he has in mind, and since Tera isn’t showing proper gratitude for “his maid or something”… someone else might, especially if the situation shifts to a certain awareness – Jo knows who the boys uncle is, and I doubt that Luc wouldn’t take advantage of that. I do pity Jo. He is suspicious of some sort, and I hate the fact that he is willing to hurt the boy indirectly by handing him over to black death, knowing well about their reputation… but I understand why he is doing that. Like everybody else who came in touch with Black Death (willingly or not) he has a heavy heart to carry. Honestly, comparing him and Kain, I always thought Jo must be the elder brother (which he isn’t). I imagine he had to grow up very fast within the given circumstances. He is very responsible. Cleaning after his mom, keeping the house tidy, searching for Jobs and actually legally working, taking care of his car(s). Those things are important to him. He is miserable, but instead of relating that to Black Death – he is seeing that as a solution for all his problems. It’s exactly that mindset which is responsible for recruiting new young members. Join us. It’s the street-credit Black Death has. They can do everything. The cool guys. Celebrities with a reputation of being fearless, rich and on top of the food-chain. “We teach you how to deal with your problems. We teach you how to overcome fear and anxiety. Play by our rules. Not theirs”. The Boy is the exact other side of that coin. Tera experienced that backdraft of their actions/reputation firsthand by listening and observing him. And since he does care about the boy so much and is already heavily emotional invested… he feels that pain. Something he wasn’t able to feel with the bank-clerk on the rooftop. No connection. But with the boy… Thanks for sharing, Rin. I am always up for a chat. Have a great day!

Mellowcat

Damn, that scene with Tera was so powerful.

Emily Hoselton

Le dialogue du garçon chez le thérapeute, avec en arrière plan Tera ... c'est assez fort comme scène.

LadyKya

🙉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Kay☆

anon

Hi Rin : ) Yes, very much! I have always been a bit... curious with Jo. Jokes and fun aside - he knew from the beginning what Black Death is all about. And he was really scared when the Boy hurt Tera back then in that alley. He fears them for a good reason, even though he also knew Tera from "back when he was still a scrawny kid". That's how powerful they have become. And yet Jo was always willing to hand the Boy over. And even later on, when he tried to stuff the Boy in the trunk of his car or when the boy was talking about helping Jo to get into Black Death - Jo kept plotting how he can use the Boy to reach his own goal and to his advantage. And I can understand that motivation. How would the Boy be more important to him, than the lost connection to his brother and the huge admiration Jo has for Black Death. On the other hand - I am not totally convinced that Jo would just stand by or take active action in letting either of them get in grave danger. But... like Pico said... reality check. Bad things happen. Not a fairytale. Oh the damn anxiety! ^^' Have an awesome weekend!

Mellowcat

It all somehow comes full circle… Tera worked hard to kill his fear and become the predator he is now. Part of a pack with very solid street credit. Like the plague. Feared and in the end, if you get touched by it, you die eventually. For Black Death it’s a good thing. It makes them top of the food-chain out there. For the Boy… he kinda got caught in the inventible. The result of that black cross appearing on his family’s home door, being touched by the Plague, means it destroyed all he considered “self”. He is still in the process of re-inventing and trying to find his identity and standing. He feels ashamed of “himself”. Just like people who have been touched by the disease, they become outcasts. No one wants to stay close to them. The boy is used to people reacting that way. Tera has a similar experience. People fearing him, though for a different reason. It’s part of what connects them. Tera, not running from the boy, even though the boy told him about his… tainting. The boy, not fearing Tera, even though he has witnessed Tera committing crimes and being physically violent. Even though he does realize that Tera is part of Black Death. They both take to someone not running away from them. Not being scared. Of course, that’s just the surface. Underneath, they both have to deal with extremes. And Black Death is what casts it’s huge shadow above it all. The cause. The Plague. Tera lost his fear and gained a standing. But since “fear” is such a strong emotion (as you can tell within the boy and his night-frights) losing it leads to a certain numbness for Tera. Overstepping all borders possible doesn’t leave much room for further exploration and thrill… when even killing comes so easy. It is a huge thing that Tera is able to do it with his bare hands without even thinking twice. He is far gone. Deep in the woods. The predator lurking. But he is not feeling much anymore. Being high above the city on the rooftops, going out all on his own to steal money, being chased by the police and dogs, robbing a bank in broad daylight, dating the sister of Muta and even just sleeping around with tinder one-night-stands… Tera is seeking thrills to actually feel something. The boy sparked a huge interest in him, his personality irresistible to Tera. And with Muta being out there with no good intentions towards the boy, he had all the more reason to stick around the boy – and ending up with wiping out Muta and the whole gang without even calling for any back-up, that clearly shows how invested Tera is. I doubt he can stop. And you can never restore lost innocence. Maybe they are strong enough to be able to carry each other. But this will be tough. The boy being a survivor in witness protection, Jo, knowing about the both of them and being adamant to become a member of Black Death to regain a relationship with his brother, Kain, who is so committed to Black Death and what they do, the rules they play by and the terror they spread, and the Tiger, clearly believing in “eye for an eye” and the Boys uncle, being with the police and on the hunt for Black Death. Incredible storytelling. Visually stunning. Emotionally overwhelming. This is my favorite. Not “one of it”. It’s just THE favorite, and the one thing I would grab from the shelf when the house is burning down. Thank you so much Pico.

Mellowcat

Same, that last panel was *chef’s kiss 😚

SammiiSpark

Wow, I think the added dialogue was a great touch. It really showed the parallels between what Tera and the boy are feeling. The boy feels he was being there for him, took his silence as acceptance and even feels closer to him, while Tera probably feels the opposite, like he has no right to get closer to the boy. Amazing as always! … FXCK I LOVE this comic…

SammiiSpark

That last panel of the boys face, 😘🤌 beautiful. Great update. As usual love your style and the story.

Melissa Flynn

Meltdown or gay panic? Only time will tell.

Manderz Dragunova

I felt this chapter more than I thought I would have. I literally bawled my eyes out. It made me think of something I used to say years ago to my mom when she used to tell me that my shoulders were big enough to sustain the pain and the trauma I was going through at the time: "You think I'm strong, but one day I'll snap, and you'll see the pain with your eyes". I feel Tera because it feels like he's been bottling up everything because he knows that the moment he'll stop to think about it all, he's going to break past the point of no return. He really comes across as someone that thinks that unless he keeps portraying himself as this strong and invincible person, he's not gonna make it to the next day because the emotions that he feels are too much to bear. And in this case, the choice of overlapping the Boy's monologue with Tera scene has been impeccable, because it underlines the dualism that while one seems on his way towards a healing path, the other one is one step towards the edge of the abyss. I honestly can't wait to see how they're going-yet again- to react towards one another as the story slowly unfolds.

Jelimel

Ok maybe I cried … juste a bit 😒 … but Terra is heartbreaking 😩

Teadolls

I loved the update! I read the new pages few times (sometimes it’s hard to see everything when looking/reading first time), and I could feel the emotions! The fact that Tera declined the phone call while watching over the boy (wonder what it will do later on), and then in the morning he was gone. Like, the two got a bit closer with one another, but I feel that what helped the Boy to let Tera in, caused Tera huge pain. I cannot really explain it well. I interpret it like Tera is frustrated, angry, torn. Maybe he understood something while the Boy told about his past. Maybe Tera is now questioning everything he has done so far. We still don’t know much about why Tera joined Black Death – it seems he doesn’t enjoy it the same way as the other members. But maybe he remembers being part of the thing that happened to Boy’s family. Anyhoo, I get a lot of feelings from the way Tera throws away his mask, how he handles his inner feelings once he’s alone. In a way, I feel like he’s in a dead end, needing to decide what to do next so that he can move on and heal. Something like guilt might have hit him in the face And he didn’t run away. He listened. Took it all in and was there for the Boy until he fell asleep. I cannot say just yet, but in a way I feel that there’s more to it, than just him being lonely and wanting company (of course it can be also that), but I was thinking something like Tera might know the Boy from somewhere or that somehow the two just allow one another to exist without fear, guilt or shame – that way they can feel at ease around each other. I’m sure we are going to find out eventually what it is! But at the moment with the information I have (and can remember), I guess that there’s something that draws Tera in as much as there’s something to draws the Boy in I’m always a bit nervous to comment and share my thoughts ^^; I’m shy and also I’m not too good to speculate – often I’m just so far away from how things are actually going so :D oopsie. Anyways, great update and can’t wait to see more

Soyya

I absolutely love that scene with Tera and the Boy’s words overlapping! It was definitely powerful and fit together so well!!

Kasieeeeee

It doesn't seem like an unplanned scene and the overlap of the boys perspective as tera is just shattered is perfect. It seems that yes while everything the boy is telling his therapist is correct, there's so much more because of just how upset tera is. If he's breaking the mask, it seems to be a mixture of himself and what he's agreed to become because he is wanting to do more for the boy but can't.

Logan

The Boy has entered the woods! One step closer to removing the mask, not just cracking it! Thank you for the update! ✨

Dani H

Omg i loved this. Worried for Tera’s hand and hope he’s going to develop healthier coping mechanism but 👩‍🍳 😘 👌🏻

VioletGrass

Okay mine german classes are over so now I can write some more. We still don’t know under what circumstances Tera got into Black Death band. Maybe it was not entirely on his own free will. The Rabbit seems to having fun, but Tera? Not so sure about that. But, well, he definitely knew what he is gonna do as a criminal. Stealing, hurting and killing. But now the person who was badly hurt, who now has a live-dealing trauma, is the Boy Tera cares about. I believe Tera is now deeply rethinking his role into the band and I am seeking to know what is he going to do now. Might the breaking of the mask mean some new page of his life? (sorry for the mistakes, my english is awful)

Someone#Somewhere

I feel for you! Since it happened one too many times to me, I switched to type it in word first now and good 'ol copy paste...! (Also, is it just a glitch with me, or is there actually a new word count in the comment section...).

Mellowcat

dear lord Tera having a mental breakdown was the cherry on top thank you for this

naka!!

To see so much emotions going on for Tera n Boy. Seeing Tera broken down side is heartaching 😢❤️

Ah'Ran

Shooketh. I love how you overlayed the dialog, and Tera's turmoil

Mod.Colette

I LOOOOVED this update so much!!! Also, was the boy blushing in the last panel 😆 so exciting! Tera seems like the type of guy to get super quiet/reserved when he’s thinking on something deeply. We saw this when the tiger was talking about “leaving survivors” and now we see this again when the boy is talking about his experience. Tera does seem to have more of a heart than the other gang members (but still heartless enough to burn a man alive despite him having a child). I wonder if this will be what finically makes Tera want to quit/distance himself from the Black Death? I bet it’s not possible to quit! We may see his gang buddies turn on him in a major way!

Aj

Omg. I had this huge comment typed out and it's gone.

Artiø Vollrath

J’adore le contraste entre les paroles, douce du garçon. Et le « mentale » break-down du loup, il en apprend plus mais, savoir qu’il a potentiellement fait partie de l’exécution de la famille du garçon doit vraiment pas être facile. J’ai vraiment vraiment hâte de voir tout le développement et la suite !

Yuka

The scene with Tera's meltdown is so damn powerful, especially with the voiced thoughts of the boy in stark contrast...

Mellowcat

Hey Aspen!! Love your first comment, I'll answer a bit later! About the phone call, I don't think they would name each other "The Wolf/The Tiger/ The bunny" on their phones since it doesn't appear to be very smart but for the sake of reader understanding, the simplest approach here was to clearly show who was calling Tera! Writring decisions haha Yeah I think there are a few cool references to the LRRH here haha. And I agree, you can't really tell if it's a protective figure or a threat, like a beast ready to eat the Boy alive!

Z-Pico

Oh my heart for these two boys

Jennifer

Also for the detail: the fact that the Black Death members refer to each other (on the phone) as their animal names is so interesting. Is it to show they’re serious, is it that they aren’t really that close outside of the gang (which is why Tera is lonely?). Plus I loved the panel of Tera’s head/shadow over The Boy. Every Little Red Riding Hood and Wolf-like. Also the image gives two impressions; either and strong protecter watching over him, or a threat looming in the shadow.

Aspen

Absolutely fantastic as always! The contrast of the boy's words and Terra's actions is beautifully done

BlueInkPens

Last chapter was a turning point and now we’re really into ha. I loved the sharp difference between The Boy talking about that night a soft moment of connection but Tera is losing it and having an identity crisis. On one hand them getting closer is GREAT but i also feel like it’s going to get more dangerous for The Boy. Tiger is going to wonder why Tera’s being weird and if The Boy saw a member of Black Dead (like Tiger maybe?) it would be bad. Ahhh I’m so excited to see this play out!

Aspen

❤️❤️❤️❤️

DAN VAN

Love it, so much emotion going on between the two how much it's effecting Tera when he realized how the group he with effected the boy in the past and present.

Grimmanimefan1

I am reading this while sitting on my german lesson and lecturer be looking exactly at me💀But this story is sooo good I just cannot live…..Tera’s reaction is heartbreaking omg💔The Tiger was trying to call him, right? And he didn’t pick up. It must be so hard for him rn, thinking about what they have done…what he had done.

Someone#Somewhere