Yeah, the letters and the reveal happened way too close to the end of the chapter. It is either Gwen, or it was a red herring because it was so obvious. Only two chapters in, so not sure of the dev's habbits yet.
GOA doesnt sugercoat topics, thats clear so far.
Just remember how it all begins:
- MC got beat up on a regular basis.
- Yenna got abused by nearly everyone
- Livvys' backstory
- Charlies' storyline with MCs brother
And he (in my eyes) confirmed it, this is the first death which has significant impact on the MC. there is no need to kill off someone else, this would only decrease this impact.
I like(d) Gwen, i really do...
But this is where and why Yenna could be the MvP for the next chapter(s).
Just think about the "i saved her, she saved me" thoughts, her connection to her "dream lady" (forgot the Name if she had one already).
How else could you establish a meeting between MC and the Lady?
He has to(!!!) spiral downwards.
Why else?
What do you think will Lydia do?
She will go ballistic, seeing MC suffer like that... thats how it will become public (or known for MCs inner circle) on whos side she and her group are.
The next questions could be... what will Gwens mother do?
Support MC? Blame him? Join the Anti-faction?
How will the Elves react?
Who is/was behind the attack?
The same group Lydia encountered? Someone else?
What i nearly forgot:
Keeping Gwen and the child alive would/should have put her up as a Main-Li... but she never was.
Would have been way too easy
And besides:
If we look at other stories, tv shows, history itself...
If MC is going to marry one of the (so far known) Main-Li ... maybe becoming King...
What would you think would/could happen to a bastard child?
Btw @GrumpyOldAussie ... do you have a rough idea on how many chapters your story will have?