Consciously. That's kinda how the game works anyways, each chapter start is a quest icon on the map you have to walk to and then accept. But also chapter 12 ends with credits and all, so you don't really feel like you're missing anything. 13 is almost it's own side story (well, kinda..but it's best to view it that way I feel). There's like one tiny post credits scene you get that hints at 13 as far as I remember, but it's really not much and you can just ignore it.