Given How TOTSMOV41s Plot Has Evolved Since Ive Added Two Scenes, There Is Some Good News: Rhian Now

Given how TOTSMOV41’s plot has evolved since I’ve added two scenes, there is some good news: Rhian now has a speaking role in real time (not only in a flashback), and Dot and Anadil get a short conversation amongst themselves to air their suspicions about whether Rafal is a zombie or a demon. Rafal will probably eavesdrop on them, and that happens while he is being trailed by Hester, even if Hester doesn’t know he knows she is spying on him.

(The bad news is that "Rhian" isn't the real Rhian.)

Hey, how would Rafal react to Rhian hugging him or Rhian react to Rafal hugging him since Rafal doesn't show emotions or be affectionate?

If Rhian actually managed to hug Rafal quickly enough, blindsiding him, assuming it was a surprise or if it were done from behind, so as to not give Rafal the opportunity to shove him away, I think Rafal would probably stiffen on instinct and (possibly) tolerate the contact while standing upright and dead still, assuming he clocked that it was indeed Rhian and not someone else. If he managed to override the instinct, he might be able to find it in himself to relax, but that seems a little unlikely to me, given that he abhors overly cutesy, touchy-feely things.

I think only something drastic could cause Rafal to initiate a hug with Rhian. Even then, I'm not sure it would ever happen. If it did, I'm sure it would shock Rhian to his core, but that he would relax and reciprocate it. (Evil Fall Rhian, however, wouldn't take it in stride and could be more reactive.)

Oh, and it occurred to me that I did write the first scenario in a fic:

lets out a single agonized bloodcurdling scream but doesnt elaborate on why and just walks it off

What do you think would have happened immediately after Rhian stabbed Rafal if Rhian had missed, or Rafal was able to somehow see it coming and move out of the way? How would have both brothers reacted?

I think both brothers were too far gone to back down by that point, and I doubt that either could or would come to their senses. Rafal was still prideful and unwilling to compromise on what he wanted or let go of potential power, and Rhian was already off into the deep end of practically being possessed by the rot and the Evil within him, meaning, short of a miracle, he probably would've been unswayable.

So, perhaps, if anything deviated from canon, the fratricide scene could've been drawn out into a longer seemingly inevitable, final struggle. Thus, whoever would've won would've won—unless they arrived at a stalemate, but I don't believe they were evenly matched by Fall's climax. Plus, if we reference August Sader's words to Agatha about how villains are often the people closest to the protagonist, I have a theory that Rhian literally became Rafal's fairy tale nemesis, even if it was never directly stated in the text, since we've seen a progression of Rafal gaining a limp, losing his flight, and becoming weaker in Fall while Rhian grew into his Evil and power (the blue dragonfire) and became stronger, suggesting that the same outcome could've occurred, even if it could have been delayed.

Question if anyone's interested:

If anyone has access to a digital copy of Rise of the School for Good and Evil that they are able to copy and paste from, could you do me a favor and paste the complete text into an online text concordance analyzer?

I'm really just curious to know what the primary words used are or if it's possible to track the order and frequency of thematic words like "love" or "prophecy" throughout the different sections of the book. It would be like: Rise: At a Glance.

When the boys disagree with your argument:

Rhian: Sorry, but I must say that I disagree on principle. [follows up by explaining how he and only he has the moral high ground]

Rafal: You're wrong, and I can prove it. [takes a deep breath before starting to dismantle everything you've just said, systematically. Either that, or he's unresponsive, and doesn't invest the effort because you're already too far beneath him and a lost cause]

Hook: Blimey. Color me impressed. That has to be the worst take I've ever heard.

Midas: I don't care. I'm right. [leaves before you can argue back or even try to reel him in]

Pan: YOU CAN'T STOP ME—I CAN'T READ!