Yikes, they got separated inside a hangry mob. Hopefully they all survived the chaos and something happened to split them up permanently. Deportations? I guess finding Julius is Scarlet’s new main quest now. The machine can wait.
If death by “crowd crush” as in trampled to death or suffocation, wasn’t a way to die, then it wouldn’t have so many different instances, and so many deaths per instance.
The last panel is clearly Scarlet being told that Julius is dead. Is Novil being too kind, or being too soft-hearted by not saying the words on the page? At least Julius wasn’t killed and eaten, but overall I thought he made a good addition to the story. It looks like it wasn’t planned to be a lasting one.
The expression of emptiness on Scarlet’s face and the black background make it pretty clear to me. Julius is dead.
Elli’s drawing are striking. We can feel the overwhelming pain.
Julius was never describes as a main character, so I assumed he would not be part of the adventuring party. Novil is not too predictable though, he both knows to break against tropes and to play them straight, so I did not know what was planned, but I always thought that Julius would not be part of the quest. Heck, I got the impression that Scarlet planned to go without him and then once she activated the machine, return to him and live happily ever thereafter. Well, the go without him will now happen and returning to him won’t.
This would be a good reason as to why Velis’ soldiers threatened to shoot any rioters. Scarlet’s face makes it clear what happened. I wonder what she will do now. It is my belief that Scarlet’s zeal towards the machine of eternal summer is part of her coping mechanism for losing her parents. Either way, she has far more problems now.
I was foreseeing tears, here they are.
It was never meant to be: that was clear from the title of the whole story.
How he died, however, is even more sad than I expected.
And I agree: this is very well painted. I also like that not everything is spelled out in words.
I’m hoping for either Julius being severely injured, but still alive, or if Julius did die, so did his parents. Because Scarlet will rip them a new one for not listening to her if they’re still alive, and make them wish they were dead.
One way to look at this: This is the elderly gentleman telling Scarlett and Tibor what happened. He’s retelling it so someone told him. Assuming he isn’t making things up this means the person visible in all panels survived, the ones disappearing as the disaster progresses didn’t. This would suggest Julius survived, possibly injured or now disabled. His parents and their local friend didn’t
The previous comic had me thinking the aid for Julius’s and other families here was going to be reliant on the food nearly stolen in Tibor & Scarlet’s guard job. Because the layout shows scaffolding where Julius is in his last panel, I’m inclined to guess he climbs out, but Scarlet hears the number of dead or similar information. This is an excellent cliffhanger if he’s intended to return alone and changed.
26 thoughts on “A Sky Full of Stars 099”
Dys
Yikes, they got separated inside a hangry mob. Hopefully they all survived the chaos and something happened to split them up permanently. Deportations? I guess finding Julius is Scarlet’s new main quest now. The machine can wait.
Puyon
C-crowd crush…??? Easily one of the most horrifying ways to die, tbh.
CeeKay
Based on Scarlet’s expression… I’m worried that Julius didn’t make it. Can’t believe I’m hoping he just went missing or something.
BlackDragonSlayer
Perhaps he was the *only* one of the family to make it. Or perhaps he’s still in intensive care.
ToBeFree
And now we have two orphans? Jesus. I guess it’s the only way the story can easily continue with a group of three adventurers.
Crystalgate
Scarlet’s face should not look like that if he’s still alive.
ToBeFree
Imagine she has just been told “and his parents died”. Something she can deeply relate to.
Crystalgate
I do not think that at all, but we’ll see, probably next strip.
Vicious Sand
If death by “crowd crush” as in trampled to death or suffocation, wasn’t a way to die, then it wouldn’t have so many different instances, and so many deaths per instance.
The last panel is clearly Scarlet being told that Julius is dead. Is Novil being too kind, or being too soft-hearted by not saying the words on the page? At least Julius wasn’t killed and eaten, but overall I thought he made a good addition to the story. It looks like it wasn’t planned to be a lasting one.
Sekhmet
The expression of emptiness on Scarlet’s face and the black background make it pretty clear to me. Julius is dead.
Elli’s drawing are striking. We can feel the overwhelming pain.
Crystalgate
Julius was never describes as a main character, so I assumed he would not be part of the adventuring party. Novil is not too predictable though, he both knows to break against tropes and to play them straight, so I did not know what was planned, but I always thought that Julius would not be part of the quest. Heck, I got the impression that Scarlet planned to go without him and then once she activated the machine, return to him and live happily ever thereafter. Well, the go without him will now happen and returning to him won’t.
Gr2daEGG
Well my day is ruined.
Graybeard
I wonder if this arc is going to have a “his body was never found” ending.
Crystalgate
This would be a good reason as to why Velis’ soldiers threatened to shoot any rioters. Scarlet’s face makes it clear what happened. I wonder what she will do now. It is my belief that Scarlet’s zeal towards the machine of eternal summer is part of her coping mechanism for losing her parents. Either way, she has far more problems now.
Hegel-Marx
Oh my! I hope Julius survived! Come on, Novil, don’t do this to us! 😱
ToBeFree
+1
Clannadfan
I was foreseeing tears, here they are.
It was never meant to be: that was clear from the title of the whole story.
How he died, however, is even more sad than I expected.
And I agree: this is very well painted. I also like that not everything is spelled out in words.
MegaJar
Oh shit. That is not how I had hoped this would go.
Diane
I’m hoping for either Julius being severely injured, but still alive, or if Julius did die, so did his parents. Because Scarlet will rip them a new one for not listening to her if they’re still alive, and make them wish they were dead.
'phoon
One way to look at this: This is the elderly gentleman telling Scarlett and Tibor what happened. He’s retelling it so someone told him. Assuming he isn’t making things up this means the person visible in all panels survived, the ones disappearing as the disaster progresses didn’t. This would suggest Julius survived, possibly injured or now disabled. His parents and their local friend didn’t
Vicious Sand
Third-hand testimony told by someone who wasn’t Julius? I say show me the body!
Arthur
Next panel will be scarlet at Julius’s Grave. The parents will be approaching seeing her and she’ll blow up at them.
Sekhmet
If they survived. The winter has been hard for them too. Especially after losing their only son.
Kaworu
Oh noes :'( sad pupper face :'(
Ambs
The previous comic had me thinking the aid for Julius’s and other families here was going to be reliant on the food nearly stolen in Tibor & Scarlet’s guard job. Because the layout shows scaffolding where Julius is in his last panel, I’m inclined to guess he climbs out, but Scarlet hears the number of dead or similar information. This is an excellent cliffhanger if he’s intended to return alone and changed.
PTC
Say…do I spy the police chief of Samaris in that second to last panel?
Characters
Ariana Carolus Athamas Baako Bolin Clara Graybold Cyril Darius Leyh Elwin Flammt Evelina Ferrus Gale Nenawa Gavin Carolus Iona Jehona Shardyk Julius Mirkning Kala Silverspring Kenan Orege King Protos Lauro Levon Goldwood Leyton Wayt Ludis Graybold Luitpold Marik Marton Princess Elodie Raymond Reto Mirkning Reva Rodar Rosetta Greenleaf Scarlet Carolus Severin Silvana Mirkning Tibor Frey Vidal Viola Vreni Xaver Yerim Zach Ilkin