⚠️ Spoiler warning: This afterword isn't meant to be read before finishing Volume 1. It talks about chapters directly, explores details, and points out connections that might spoil you if you haven't already read through. So if you're here early, I'd suggest coming back after the story.
Now, with that said — think of this as more than just a commentary. It's part chapter exploration, part reflection. I'm not here to nitpick every scene, but to share the hidden threads, the reasons behind certain choices, and the things you might not have noticed at first glance.
Chapters 1–3:
To be honest, these chapters were some of the hardest for me. Not because I couldn't write them, but because this wasn't the original beginning I had in mind when I first thought of the saga. Back then, Daniel was different in my vision—already a second-year, leading his peers, respected like Umemiya from Wind Breaker. He was the friendly leader type, the one everyone could lean on. But the more I wrote, the more the world opened up in front of me. I started realizing something important: if you limit the scope of your world too early, you're only caging yourself later. And if the story demands expansion, you'll regret setting those limits.
So these first three chapters were written after I already knew the saga's ending and had decided Daniel would one day become the leader of Shadow Legion. That's why they feel different. They're not "the start" I once imagined — they're a re-beginning.
We meet five first-years here — Jordan, Riley, Liam, Marcus, and Theo. And yes, I know, I didn't give them much personality yet. That was intentional. They don't need it here, not yet. If I forced traits onto them this early, I might trap myself into choices that don't fit later. Their story still has room to breathe — and when the time is right, they'll step into the spotlight properly.
Instead, the real weight of these chapters is in how they frame Daniel. Right away, we learn how he carries a reputation even before people meet him. These boys are curious about him, unsettled by the rumors, and that curiosity drives them straight to his name. And along the way, another key presence steps in: Lucian Steele.
Lucian matters more than he may seem at first. As Captain of the 5th Faction of Shadow Legion, he's a fighter of serious caliber. But his role isn't just about strength. He's the one who keeps Daniel from being completely isolated at Crestwood. Without Lucian, Daniel might've been an outcast — drifting through school without anchors. Even so, it's not like Daniel opens up to him the way he once did with his old friends. Their connection is different. Daniel acknowledges him, replies when he has to, but there's distance. It's subtle, but that distance says a lot about where Daniel is mentally. His walls are higher now. He's not the Daniel who once joked freely among his real friends.
That contrast is something I wanted to highlight with the setting too. The rainy atmosphere wasn't just a backdrop — it was a way to mirror that dissonance. Rain brings a heaviness, but also reflection. While the story is pushing forward into fights, names, and legends, the rain quietly signals that the mood is changing. Things are different now.
These chapters, in the end, aren't really about introducing five freshmen. They're about creating a lens for the reader: showing Crestwood through fresh eyes, setting up the factions, and making you feel the weight of Daniel's name without him even being present for most of it. They ground the timeline in the "present" before the narrative dives into Daniel's backstory — and by the time we finally return to the present at the end of the volume, you realize these opening chapters were already laying the foundation for everything.
So if you ask me what these chapters really are: they're a mood-setter, a stage-builder, and a quiet reminder that even if Daniel is surrounded by names and reputations, there's a loneliness in how he carries himself now. That, to me, was the heart of it.
Chapters 4–6
These chapters mark what I consider the true beginning of Daniel's story. Chapter 3 left us standing in the rain with the present-day frame, but here we step backward—into Springdale, into Daniel's head, into the moments that made him who he is.
And yet, even as I was writing these, I felt the strange irony of it. Springdale was gone almost as soon as it arrived. Just like the chapter title End of the Beginning, Daniel's time there was fleeting. We barely had the chance to know that school, and yet it left a mark. Looking back, I realize Springdale wasn't meant to be a long stage — it was meant to be a root. It's where Daniel meets Ethan. It's where he brushes against the third-year conflict that I left unresolved at the time (yes, I know — I skipped it). But as you read further, you realize that thread never truly disappears. Springdale comes back, and not just through scraps of memory. Daniel's love story begins here, too. His ties to this place will resurface in ways that matter more than they first appear.
Some of you might have wondered why I didn't show Daniel convincing his parents before he left Springdale. The truth is: I wrote that scene. It existed once. A quiet interaction between Daniel and his mother. But I cut it here. Why? Because it felt like the wrong time to show it. Dropping it into these early chapters would've made it feel forced, like I was pushing family bonds into a moment that was supposed to be about transition. That doesn't mean it's gone forever. In fact, I've kept that thread alive for Volume 2, where Daniel's family matters in a way that's earned.
When we shift to Crestwood, the mood changes again. Tension fills the air—classrooms, cafeterias, even the way people look at Daniel. But I wasn't trying to write "drama" for the sake of drama. I wanted to show how Daniel carries himself when the pressure rises. This is also where Ryan, Julian, and Logan step into the frame. Their introductions aren't loud, but they're important. You'll notice I didn't rush to label them or box them into archetypes in these moments — I wanted their presence to feel natural, like bonds forming slowly in real life.
And then there's the physical training period. I'll admit, that was one of my favorite sections to write. On the surface, it might look like filler — soccer practice, drills, ordinary scenes. But those "ordinary" moments are what I think matter most. Because camaraderie isn't born in the big fights, it's born in sweat, in banter, in the way a ball gets passed around between friends. Later, when Daniel's circle grows tighter, when betrayals sting deeper, and when Shadow Legion comes into the picture, it's these small bricks that make the wall strong enough to hold weight.
If Chapters 1–3 were about setting the mood and showing us Daniel's reputation from a distance, then Chapters 4–6 are about stepping inside that reputation. Seeing the boy himself. Not the "Legend" others whisper about, not the leader of Shadow Legion he'll one day become, but the quiet, introverted student who is just beginning to find his place in a new world. And it's only when you remember that — when you hold onto these early, fragile steps — that the gravity of what comes later really hits.
So yes, these chapters were small, maybe quieter than some expected. But they weren't wasted. They were the soil where Crestwood friendships first started to sprout, where Springdale's seeds were planted, and where Daniel first began the path that would take him so far away from both.
Chapter 7-8:
So these chapters are technically Daniel's first real fight. Was it too early? Maybe. But I also know some of you would've thought, "Wait, isn't this an action story? Where's the action?" So here it is. And I wanted it to feel natural — not some grand, over-the-top brawl, but something small and messy, the kind of thing that could happen to anyone.
The way it starts matters: Daniel doesn't exactly get dragged into it, but he isn't the type who can just walk away either, not once things cross a line. And the group — especially Ethan — never wanted him to feel like the outsider. They know he overthinks things, and Ethan in particular makes sure Daniel doesn't spiral into believing his friendships are "forced." So maybe that's why Daniel ends up being included here — it wasn't some plan, just them trying to make sure he felt part of it. Of course, nobody expected it to get as heated as it did.
Now, let me be honest — I didn't plan those three girls. They just… happened. With Ryan being the well-known figure at school and Julian being the good-looking one, it felt natural they'd draw people in. And honestly, I'm glad I introduced them, because later they gave me threads to expand the story in ways that weren't just endless fighting. Without them, Vanguards might've felt a little too one-dimensional. Sometimes the best parts of a saga come from characters you didn't even mean to include at first.
The fight itself is important, but I think the small aftermath moments matter more. Logan notices it, talks with Daniel, but chooses not to tell the others. That says a lot about him — he's not someone who picks sides, but he does carry that protective "big brother" instinct quietly. The only part I still wonder about is him throwing a punch at Marcus ( not this one, the one from Chapter 3). Feels a little out-of-character, right? Logan's not reckless like that. But then again… maybe it's one of those slips that actually works. Not everything needs to be clean. Sometimes a character does something slightly off, and instead of scrapping it, you let it stand and see if the story can give it meaning later.
And then there's Jake. I don't want to spoil too much here because his role grows more later, but yeah — he matters. Just keep him in the back of your head when you think about who notices Daniel, and how they notice him.
What I will admit though is the dialogue in these chapters… yeah, it was rough. These were still early drafts, and I didn't fully have the voices of each character pinned down yet. So they all sound a little weird sometimes, too polished in some places, too awkward in others. But you know what? That's how first steps usually look. I hope you can forgive me for it, or even enjoy the weirdness for what it is.
And if you think Daniel's awkward conversations feel forced… maybe that's just life. Like, literally a week ago, I almost fainted in front of a girl I had feelings for. No joke. It was late, I was exhausted from a college event, but still — I opened my mouth to talk, and my whole body was like, "nope." So don't tell me Daniel's silence is unrealistic. Some of us really suck at talking when it matters.
So yeah, that's what these chapters were: Daniel's first step into real conflict, the group's first moment of inclusion, and my first attempt at blending action with the messy, awkward edges of teenage life. Not perfect — but then again, neither is life.
I'm honestly doubting myself a little here. At first, I thought it would be a great idea to break down every single chapter and share the hidden details, the intentions, and the little things readers might've missed. But now that I've started, I realize something: writing these reflections feels almost as heavy as writing the actual chapters. (Yeah, I know, that sounds like an excuse, but it's true, LOL.)
So I don't know if I'll continue going through every chapter one by one. Maybe if someone asks, I'll come back to it. Or maybe I'll share more of that stuff on Instagram or somewhere else. (Don't worry, I'm not trying to force anyone to follow me — I just need a place where I can ramble without worrying about making it "fit" here.)
Instead, I think it's better if we keep things flexible. If you have doubts or want to talk about a chapter, drop it in the comments. I'll answer there. For now, let me highlight a couple of characters and details that I think deserve some spotlight.
First, Ashen Valenhart.He first appeared in Name Has Power, then again in Unsettling Times. His presence might've felt quiet, but trust me, I valued him far more than you might think. He's older than Daniel, and like Ethan, he caught on to Daniel's nature pretty quickly. By the time of Unsettling Times — even before their duel — he had already decided to respect Daniel in some way. And here's a little spoiler: during that duel, he wasn't even fighting seriously. If Ashen had gone all out back then, Daniel probably wouldn't have risen to where he is now. That duel was more of a test, a way to measure Daniel's strength and resolve.
Think about it: Ashen's brief appearance in Name Has Power literally shifted the whole story. If he hadn't been there, if Daniel hadn't clashed with him, maybe none of the chain reactions would've followed. That fight led to James, which led to Dane, which led to… well, everything. So yeah, for a guy who was only around for ten minutes, Ashen basically rewrote Daniel's fate. Respect where it's due.
And here's another spoiler: Ashen and his squad? They're the 4th Faction of Shadow Legion. You'll see more of them in Volume 2, but I wanted to give you this heads-up now. Otherwise, when they reappear, it might feel like they came out of nowhere. This was always the plan — even if I didn't spell it out when he first showed up.
Second, let's talk about that crew in "The Step Ahead."
They came in late, but their presence was heavy from the moment they appeared. Unlike most crews, they weren't noisy or desperate to prove themselves. They carried themselves with quiet confidence, almost military in structure. It felt like each of them could've been a captain on their own, but together, they moved as a single unit. That balance of hierarchy and camaraderie gave them an aura that lingered long after the scene ended.
Even in their short appearance, you could sense they weren't just another school crew. The way they looked at Daniel and his group, the way they acknowledged Rowan's past, and the way they left without forcing a fight — all of it said one thing: these guys operated on a different level.
And here's the spoiler: they're the 3rd Faction of Shadow Legion.
Why reveal that here instead of Volume 2? Two reasons. First, Volume 2 might take longer than you expect. And second, with the 1st and 2nd Factions yet to appear, the spotlight will naturally swing their way when they do. If I wait until then, this crew might feel overshadowed, and I didn't want that. They deserve to be remembered now, not just later.
So yes, they'll return. And when they do, I promise their structure and their presence will matter even more than you think. (Or maybe I'm just too excited to shut up, LOL.)