Hey everyone!
So here we are at the end of Volume 1, and what a journey it's been. With Alph setting off down the mountain path toward his new destiny, I wanted to share some thoughts about writing this story and give you a peek behind the curtain at how certain elements came together.
Some Thoughts on Alph's Background
When I started planning this story, one thing that bothered me about a lot of transmigration novels is how the MC's past life rarely matters. They're usually a NEET or generic office worker, and that background never really affects how they handle their new world. It feels like such a wasted opportunity.
That's why I made Alph a lawyer. It's not just about being analytical - lawyers understand timing. They know what questions to ask and when to ask them. As a discovery writer (I have rough ideas of major plot points but let the journey unfold naturally), I kept finding moments where his legal background shaped scenes in ways I hadn't planned. The way he negotiates with The Shaper like structuring a business deal, how he manipulates Valerius by showing exactly what the enemy expects to see - these moments just felt natural as I wrote them.
Character Names
Guilty as charged! I used AI to come up with the supporting character names. I am terrible at naming (I named protagonist Alph, see for yourself :D), it's one of my primary struggle with writing & in real life is that I forget the names of people easily which makes it difficult for me to come up with suitable names. That's why Elara, Hemlock, Lyra, Alaric, Valerius, Kael etc. made the cut because when I asked AI to suggest me names for fantasy novel, these popped out immediately. That's why the latter characters, such as the academy trio, have different sounding names because I used the fantasy name generator instead of AI.
Creating the Magic System
I knew from the start I wanted a status panel - I'm a sucker for game-like elements - but I also wanted it to feel organic to the world. The Shaper emerged as my take on the classic "helpful grandpa in the ring" and "system administrator" tropes, but with a twist. The moment I visualized The Shaper, its personality was crystal clear: an ancient entity that sees Alph as a fascinating specimen, expressing concern only because losing such an anomaly would be "inefficient."
The status screen went through several revisions. Originally, I'd planned to include a full skills list, but kept it simple for now - just the core resources. This leaves room for Alph and The Shaper's relationship to strengthen in Volume 2. After all, their deal needs to show progress.
About Kael's Death
Let me be honest about something that might surprise you. Kael wasn't my first choice to die. Originally, I'd planned for either Elara or Iska to be the sacrifice that pushed Alph over the edge. But as the story developed, Elara became too integral to the family mystery plotline I was developing.
As for Iska? I'll admit it - she's too cute. I literally couldn't bring myself to write her death.
That left Astrid and Kael. I saved Astrid because she has a role in Volume 2, which meant... yeah. Looking back though, Kael was the perfect choice. He represented everything warm about Oakhaven - the first friend who included Alph without question, who'd literally drink bitter medicine just so his friend wouldn't suffer alone.
I kept his death sudden and simple. No dramatic speeches or prolonged goodbyes. In my experience, that's not how death works. That shocked attempt at a smile before the light fades felt more real than any monologue could.
Writing Alph's Dual Nature
From the beginning, I wanted to avoid the creepy "adult in a child's body" dynamic. That's why I kept his past life nameless and the transmigration deliberately vague. Is he an old soul that possessed young Alph? Did the original Alph awaken memories of a past life? It doesn't matter - what matters is that he's a teenager first.
This let me write genuine friendships and authentic mistakes. The lawyer skills become more like an unusual coping mechanism than proof he's secretly middle-aged. You see the pattern throughout: emotional teenage reaction first, then analytical processing kicks in as a defense mechanism.
The Joy of Discovery Writing
Some of my favorite moments came from pure spontaneity. Take the berry ambush scene at the oak tree - totally unplanned. I just thought about what teenage friends would do while waiting, and suddenly Kael was pelting Alph with berries.
But the moment that really sticks with me is the turtle scene with Astrid. Initially, I was just writing a simple transition - Astrid meets Alph on the way to check on Finn, they walk together. Basic stuff. But as I started to actually visualize the scene, I pictured this young kid with a basket on her back, and suddenly I was reminded of workers I've seen in tea plantations.
You know how they carry those large woven baskets on their backs while picking tea leaves? Something about that image stuck with me. Then it clicked - if you flipped that basket over someone's head, wouldn't it look exactly like a turtle shell?
The moment I had that visual, the complete scene came alive. Alph, still finding his footing with these kids but wanting to join their playful dynamic, does something impulsive and flips the basket over Astrid's head. And Astrid, instead of getting mad, plays along with this smug little wiggle, warning him that "this turtle bites."
That single spontaneous moment did so much work - it showed Alph integrating into the friend group, revealed Astrid's playful personality, and created this warm callback to childhood games. All from visualizing tea plantation workers! That's the magic of discovery writing - sometimes your brain makes the most unexpected connections.
The medicine-drinking scene was another eureka moment. It started as just Alph getting his healing broth, then grew into this beautiful moment of solidarity where his friends drink the terrible stuff just to keep him company. Looking back, that scene perfectly captured why Kael's death would hit so hard.
Evolution of a Villain
Here's something interesting about how stories grow: Lyra was originally just background support for the mercenaries. But as I wrote, I realized all my antagonists were analytical schemers or simple brutes. The story needed chaos.
That's when I expanded Lyra's role with blood magic. Suddenly she wasn't just support - she was this terrifying, giggling madwoman who took joy in the carnage. Having her kill Kael instead of Valerius made the death feel more senseless and horrible. And then there's something poetic about both her and Valerius ending up as crimson ice statues - frozen by the very blood they spilled, turned into monuments to their own cruelty by a boy whose grief and rage pushed him so far beyond his limits that his core shattered from the strain.
My Favorite Scene
If I had to pick one scene that flowed perfectly, it was the meeting hall climax. Everything clicked - Alph's calculated deception, Kael's shocking death, and that impossible rune manifestation. I actually rewrote parts of it when I switched Kael's killer from Valerius to Lyra, and that change made everything fall into place.
Some Thoughts on Genre and Expectations
I realize this story might not be what some readers expect from the LitRPG or Progression Fantasy tags. There's no status screen for the first 30+ chapters, no constant notifications, and characters treat their abilities as natural parts of life rather than game mechanics. That's intentional. I'm writing progression fantasy with GameLit elements, not pure LitRPG. When Alph finally gets his status interface, he has to negotiate with a cosmic entity for it, and even then, he can only access it through deep meditation. The systematic magic and clear progression are there, but they serve the story rather than dominating every scene.
The Purpose of "Setup" Chapters
I know the first ten chapters might feel slow to readers eager for power-ups and action. We spend time with village life, follow Torsten's journey, build relationships. But power without context is meaningless. When Alph awakens in Chapter 19, it's because he found his father's letter and his world shattered. When he freezes two killers solid, that power comes from losing Kael. Every major progression moment is tied to emotional stakes built through those quieter chapters. You can't have meaningful growth without understanding what the character is growing from.
About Bloodlines and Elemental Paths
The Frostmoon bloodline led to ice/frost abilities, which might disappoint readers hoping for something less elemental. But it's not typical "ice mage" stuff - Alph became a Frost-Rune Scribe, inscribing reality with concepts of absolute cold. And then his core shattered, forcing him to build a horizontal constellation including Fighter, Hunter, and Mage paths. Sometimes the most interesting journeys come from taking expectations and shattering them along with the protagonist's core.
On Professional Competence and Real Stakes
Some might find Borin's cautious approach frustrating. Why doesn't he charge after the mercenaries alone? Why retreat? Because Borin is competent, not suicidal. Rangers excel at hunting and ambush, not fighting 15-20 armed men including Tier 1 professionals. His tactical retreats and seeking counsel weren't weakness but wisdom. I wanted to show that even skilled professionals have limits, that true strength includes knowing when you're outmatched. Not every conflict needs to be won through pure determination.
The Weight of Loss
Kael's death hurts. It was meant to. Here was this bright kid who represented everything good about Oakhaven - the warmth, the friendship, the innocence. His death transformed this from a simple progression story into something more. When he pushed Finn aside without thinking, when he tried to smile even while dying, he showed us who he truly was. And when Alph shattered his core in response, we saw what grief and love could forge. Some losses are necessary not for plot, but for truth.
What's Next
Volume 2 will have a very different feel. Where this volume was about loss and desperate survival, the next focuses on training and growth. Think more slice-of-life elements as Alph works on his "horizontal constellation" - training as Fighter, Hunter, and Mage simultaneously. You'll see him struggling with basics, failing, and slowly building himself back up.
Lumina Academy will appear in the latter half of the volume. As for whether you'll see Ben, Mark, and Celeste again... well, that would be telling.
Final Reflections
Writing this first volume has been an incredible experience. As a discovery writer and writing a full volume worth of story for the first time, I've been constantly surprised by how these characters grew and how their relationships developed. Those spontaneous moments - the berries, the medicine, Lyra's terrifying evolution - that's the magic of letting a story tell itself.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I will take a break from writing for 2 weeks. Then we will be back to follow Alph on his new journey.
See you in Volume 2!