Lupus

@Madii Good observations! Dreaders are parasites in the sense that they use humans to reproduce. It would indeed be quite unlikely for evolution to have shaped them in that direction. It’s more likely that by altering the genetic code, mutations enabling such an unnatural continuation of the species were created. However, the information about this has vanished into the murk of Oblivion.💀 The tower and the beast. The only thing I can say about it is…😉

@Madii Very interesting reflections.👍 I’ve thought about it like this: although the dreaders are immensely strong and dangerous, it’s still possible to kill them with ordinary weapons. The chemical compound invented by Jestok is also a tool that can be used against them. In some way, the people of the Oblivion era ultimately defeated them, and they were nothing more than ordinary humans. But this time the comet passes closer to Earth, and that makes the situation much worse, just as the seer said in the prophecy and as described in the letter Andreuz read. As I see it, Might is a kind of invisible current that some people are able to channel in different ways. This ability can be lost if a person pushes it too far, for example when fighting another user of Might. You could think of it as a kind of overexertion from which the body can no longer recover. However, such cases are very rare, and Jestok was probably more susceptible to this because he was so strong in Might. I could probably explain this better in Finnish, but I tried at least.😄

I don’t enjoy stories that are too dark either – or at least not the ones that end in utter tragedy. Even though unpleasant things happen in the world of my story, the upcoming books also contain gentle, joyful, and even romantic moments. And besides – from my own subjective point of view, books 4 and 5 are the best in the series. I hope you’ll keep following along.🙂 I haven’t yet decided when I’ll start publishing the next book. I’ll probably take a break for two, three, or four weeks.

Good question about what exactly Jestok managed to discover. When Chab called it useless, he meant that even if Jestok’s invention could help against the dreaders, it wouldn’t do anything against the beast in the tower. There will be at least five books. I can end the story after Book 5, because it wraps up naturally and brings a certain arc to a close. But it’s not the end of our heroes’ journey, so if there’s enough interest, Books 6 and 7 are definitely possible.🤔

Darren has absolutely no idea that he is meant to have a bigger role in this story.😄 But we’ll get to hear a lot more of his thoughts soon, since he becomes a POV character right at the beginning of Book 4.🙂 What Zal sensed in Darren (Book 2, chapter 27) wasn’t Might. This "touch of destiny" was something else—something Zal couldn’t understand. And he’d noticed that same “something” in Josel and Zdain as well. So based on what we know so far: those three boys are descendants of Brotherhood members—Josel (Vanna), Zdain (Cors), and Darren (Jestok).

It is pretty sad that Jestok learned so many things that would’ve helped Zal, but never got the chance to tell him. And honestly, Darren’s father probably would’ve grown into a much better person too, if Jestok had been part of his life.😢

Thank you for the comment.😊 You’re very much on the right track!🥇 This third book was, in many ways, quite dark, and in several moments it really seemed as if the Darkness would always prevail. The epilogue also ended on a sad note, but at the same time it offered a small glimmer of hope. The mutilated man, Chab, is an unexpected possibility with his immense Might. The fact that he isn’t actually on the side of the Darkness after all is a hint that not everything is lost. And as you said, Bartos is another hidden asset on the side of light.🤞 The boys’ roles in the story become clearer over the course of Book 4. This epilogue does indeed suggest that Darren, too, has his own part to play in the larger whole.

Jestok Nissos, Andiol Empire, in the year 1551 of the New Era (41 years earlier) "Shadaar, Vallahor, Sederia... one after another, all the nations of that age were crushed. Each land possessed a mighty army, yet even united they could not withstand the onslaught of the Darkness. The lines broke, men died, and cities crumbled. The Oblivion brought suffering and decay. Brother raised his sword against brother, and mothers drowned their starving children. The world awaited its end." Zal

Thank you for the answer. This sounds very good 😊

@Cia Just a quick question: would it be possible to include a link to the story in these blog posts, or at least to the authors’ profiles? It would make it easier to find the story being discussed.🙂

@drsawzall Thanks! Actually, no, because Otello isn’t the crown prince due to his disability. His younger brother would inherit the crown, but in a situation like this, does he even have a real chance at it either.

@chrstphrl Thank you🙂The epilogue will reveal additional details about past events, which in turn will shed light on the present as well.

Otello is 28 years old, so he’s a grown man.😃

@Seraph28 Thanks for the kind words.☺️ Yes, at this point in the story it was necessary for Danae and Darren to head off in a different direction on their own. Andreuz really has been lucky. Very few people have ever managed to escape from Mocvann Gravenhild. Though if Andreuz knew where Josel is right now, he wouldn’t hesitate for a single moment to go help his son. You’re right. The Might within Bartos is indeed very old. He’s a seeker like Zal, but he can also channel the Might offensively. That makes him extremely important in the fight against the Darkness — far more important than he himself can yet imagine. And yes, Otello is the same prince who discovered the hidden code in the epilogue of Book 2, the one concealed in Andreuz’s Troubadour Kharl books.🙂

Bartos Danae's hand felt so small. Bartos pressed it tightly against his own. The girl was shaken up - they all were. That madwoman is Josel's mother. His real mother! Bartos tried to make sense of his thoughts. Impossible. It was impossible. He pulled Danae forward, away from the hall. Away... Then Mocvann Gravenhild's shriek reached their ears: "...seize them! Kill the girl!" Danae gasped beside him, clearly panicking and ready to bolt in any direction. Bartos' foot froze mid‑st

It was Mocvann doing her witch‑tricks. More will be revealed in the next chapter, because that one is narrated by Bartos. And after him comes Andreuz.

Exactly. Jumping from one hot seat to another. That’s what Josel’s life is like😬

Josel Vendum, Grand Duchy of Malkania "I don't like this at all," Danae muttered for what felt like the hundredth time. The girl had been on edge ever since Csilla had revealed their true destination. "Do you want me to take you back to the Redeemers, then?" Csilla had snapped, refusing to explain why they were descending toward Vendum. After listening to Danae's complaints long enough, the young Redeemer had abandoned her passengers without another word and retreated to the cockpit.

Exactly. Zal must not lose his grip now that the situation is becoming more dangerous by the moment. But giving up isn’t in his nature. If Zal is anything, he’s persistent to the very end. In the next book we’ll learn more about Ragart, and whether things are really as they seem right now.

@Seraph28 @RainbowPhoenixWI @chrstphrl Thank you all for the encouraging comments.🥰 I find it enjoyable to write from Zal’s perspective; he is quite a contradictory character and always deep in thought. I also wanted to highlight how Zal’s and Taihan’s approaches to problems differ – in that way they complement each other. And yes, we can only imagine how Zal would react to Ragart’s secret – that will be revealed in time. I really didn’t want Zal and Renn to meet at this stage. I have a storyline planned for each of them, and their paths are now leading in different directions. We will hear more about them, and of course also about Zdain, in the fourth book. The next chapter is from Josel’s point of view.

Zaltarim The Misty Isles, Grand Duchy of Malkania Over his long life, Zaltarim Fizol had made many mistakes. Some could be undone, others had cost human lives. Zal feared his latest error belonged to the latter. Melgy, Marl, all those youngsters - he had placed them in mortal danger by trusting Renn Tauganei. What a fool he had been! Dragging himself from his sickbed to beg Renn to join the journey to the Misty Isles. A thousand times cursed be Renn Tauganei! For no one but the youn

@akascrubber @drsawzall Thank you for the comments. It ended up being pretty much a tie, so I won’t be making any changes to the chapter titles for now. The third book is nearing its end. Just a few chapters left. Next up, the narrator will be Zal.🔮🪄

Thank you!🙂 I wanted the Ksingis not to be brutal savages (as the Dimalis see them), but instead for their society and culture to be in fact more advanced than that of the Dimalis.

What do you think — should I name the chapters after the POV characters? For example: "Chapter 31: Franz"; "Chapter 32: Soek, Rezak". Instead of just "Chapter 32", as it currently appears in the list. Or does that spoil things for the reader if they’re still at the beginning of the book and see from the list which characters will later become narrators?🤔 Just some thoughts for the first morning of the new year. Happy New Year to all of you!😎

Soek Sunset Front, Land of the Ksingis Soek Nau-Güen Soekii of the Third Serpent Clan was as tense and restless as everyone else in his cohort. Never once during their entire service had the young riders been so thoroughly shaken. Even the calmest among them now had to struggle to maintain the outward composure expected of the riders of the Ksing-Goidao army. Being selected as a rider was a great honor, granted only to descendants of the serpent clans. Those of lower birth served in