We made it!! Just in time for the end of ONC 2026. Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey. I had so much fun writing this novella, and I'm hoping that post ONC, I can turn it into a full length novel! There's still so much plot and character stuff that I didn't get to, plus I had to really rush the ending to complete it in time.

I'm trying to think if there are any weird or fun facts... the title is kind of a play on multiple meanings. Yes, there's the actual cipher, but Liadan is also kind of a "cipher" since she has lots of secrets that are uncovered during the story.

Liadan's true name, Rianne (yes, Liadan is technically not her real name, but she ends up choosing it along with her new life), comes from the word "to reign." I thought it was a fun detail, since she technically can have the most power in the world since she has the cipher.

Oh yeah, there was also a few minutes where I was imagining the climax and considered killing Cian... he just missed having a rock fall on him.

This story is actually set in the same world as last year's unfinished ONC project (now unpublished), and I have at least two other potential story ideas in this world. We'll see when/if I get to them lol.

This story was inspired by the following prompts:

7. One morning, the ocean washes up a message. One you've been waiting your entire life to hear.

62. They say every door has its own key. Except for one, a key said to open them all.

79. A letter arrives addressed to you, written by someone who shouldn't exist.

I loved the idea of the message being a warning, forcing the MC to leave their location. That was largely what inspired the story, though my main prompt is 62. Thought it would be cool if the one key was actually embedded in the MC's skin, opposed to it being an object. And of course, the person who shouldn't exist is Neirin because what do you mean the cipher can be removed?? That can't happen. Definitely not.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story!

Who was your favorite character?

Who was your least favorite character?

Favorite/ least favorite moment?

Was there anything you wish I spent more or less time on?

Thoughts on the Aleanderes vs the Mirntheans vs the Stone Queen?

Anything you think would be better changed/ kept the same in a future draft?

Again, thank you all so, so much for reading!! I've enjoyed seeing all your comments and feedback <3