One of the cruelest tricks of corrupt institutions is convincing you that they are your only home.

“That’s just how it is everywhere.”
“You’ll never find a place like this again.”
“We’re your family.”

So when you finally leave — or get forced out — the loneliness can be suffocating. You didn’t just lose a job or a role; you lost a world.

Yugen understands that weight. Vian doesn’t get healing from the institution that broke him. He finds something different.

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The Lie of “We Are Family”

Institutions love to use family language:

• “We’re a family here.”
• “We take care of our own.”

But in true family, love is not conditional on:

• Performance metrics
• Blind loyalty
• Willingness to ignore harm

In Yugen, the Guardians weaponize the idea of family:

• Vian is emotionally dependent on Brantley as a surrogate father.
• His entire identity is tied to becoming a Guardian.
• The order presents itself as the ultimate belonging — even as it abandons and betrays him.

Sound familiar? Many survivors describe religious groups, workplaces, the military, and schools the same way.

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///SPOILERS///

Found Family: What the Executioners Actually Represent

1. His story is witnessed.
   In the ritual, they share his memories, pain, and guilt. No more secrets. No more “maybe it was in my head.”
2. His worst moments don’t disqualify him.
   The things he’s most ashamed of are not used as leverage against him. They’re integrated into who he’s becoming.
3. He is valued for his difference, not despite it.
   His forbidden magic and scars aren’t liabilities; they’re part of why he belongs.

That is the essence of found family: a chosen circle where your whole self is allowed to exist, and your pain is not an inconvenience but a shared burden.

///END of SPOILERS///

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Building Found Family in Real Life

After leaving a toxic system, you may feel:

• Suspicious of community
• Terrified of trusting leaders again
• Tempted to isolate completely

Those are understandable survival responses. But long-term, we heal in connection, not isolation.

Some starting points:

• Peer support groups (formal or informal) with people who’ve survived similar systems
• Honest friendships where your story is believed, not minimized
• Creative or activist communities that share your values

Think small and specific: one person you can text when you’re triggered. One space where dissent isn’t punished. One group where you don’t have to pretend you’re okay.

You don’t have to recreate the Guardians. You just need a handful of people: imperfect, scarred, but committed to not throwing each other under the bus.

If you’ve ever yearned for a place where your scars are understood and your true self is celebrated, Yugen offers a powerful vision of belonging. Vian’s journey from isolation to finding his chosen family is a beacon of hope for anyone navigating the aftermath of institutional betrayal. Discover the transformative power of found family. Enjoy Yugen and join a hero’s quest for true acceptance.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in you can Pre-Order Yugen by clicking HERE. (Link goes to Amazon.)

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In the next post, we’ll talk about what it means to seek real justice in a corrupt world — and why Vian’s final acts matter far beyond the page.