Ahmed Walid here, the author of this story.
After finishing this journey, I wanted to thank everyone who has made it this far, and I'd like to share some of the secrets and ideas that shaped the world of "Tales of Time," specifically the story of "Sword of Eternity: Journey of the Long Covenant."
The Philosophy of the Story: The Reality of Good and Evil
From the beginning, my goal was realism, represented by the principle of "Yin and Yang": good that carries evil within it, and evil from which good may spring. In this world, not all the powerful are evil, and not all humans are righteous. The hero is not necessarily the strongest or the weakest, but a person with a goal he strives to achieve. This principle applies to all characters; each has their own story and motivations.
Narrative Style: You See What the Hero Sees
I adopted a narrative style that only shows you what the hero sees and knows. As a reader, you experience the journey from his perspective and discover the world with him.
You don't know what he's thinking unless he says it, just like in real life. I call it the shadow style or the third-person perspective.
A Note on My Style and Writing Process
The reader might notice that my writing style is unconventional. In truth, I don't consider myself an expert in the technical aspects of writing like organization and punctuation.
My focus has always been on the story, on the scenes and events, as if I were drawing a comic book with words. For this reason, after finishing the first draft, I used an AI assistant to help me refine and organize the text to be in the best possible shape for you.
Explanation of Characters and the World:
Main Characters:Omar: He wasn't a samurai, but a blacksmith and a fighter. He represents the idea of "purpose" and fulfilling the covenant he made with himself, even if that covenant was built on self-deception.Hova: She represents the quiet love that wishes to stay with the one she loves, even if it costs her her life to achieve her goal of a life with her loved one without hardship.Hanami: She represents the strength, revenge, and the initial goal that set the story in motion.wessam: He represents the ordinary person who simply wants to enjoy life.Salsabil and Awara: They are the guardians of the order, representing the heart and the mind.
The World and the Gates:The First Gate: The world of ordinary humans.The Second Gate: The world of sorcerers and fighters, where the hidden continents are located.The Third Gate: The world of absolute fantasy that brings all races together.The Fourth Gate (or Zero): This is our world, the reader's world, where the fourth wall is broken.The Center of Energy: The center of spiritual energy in this world is Mecca, which is a fortified area that no evil or infidel creature can enter.
Magic and Stones:
Magic is a part of nature, and stones are a means to channel it. Some stones come from nature, and the most powerful ones are those formed after the death of living beings, carrying with them the echo of their lives.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Who is the original narrator?
A: The narrator who spoke the sentence at the beginning is Omar's cousin, and he is telling his story to his beloved in another separate story.
Q: Why doesn't the story resemble traditional novels in its emotions?
A: Because my goal was not to "convey" emotions to the reader, but to "represent" human emotions as they are in reality. You are the one who analyzes and feels, not me telling you what to feel.
Q: Is Omar deceptive?
A: In fact, Omar was hypocritical with himself from beginning to end. He didn't really need to bring Hanami back; he did it only to finish the task he started, to close a chapter of his life.
Q: Who is Tariq/Janus really?
A: Janus is a character who lived for millions of years on a journey to obtain the "Book of Tales of Time." After seeing it, he spent thousands of years writing and rewriting the future to ensure the world reached its destined end. His plan was for "Awara and Salsabil" to be born at any cost, and when he failed, he decided to make his son "Omar" their father, even if it cost Omar 500 years of suffering.
Q: How many Easter Eggs are there?
A: Approximately 50 or more.
Q: Is the story real?
A: Absolutely. It tells a large part of my mind, of my struggles with the past, and my attempt to overcome it.
The Future of "Tales of Time":
"Sword of Eternity" is just the cornerstone of this world. There are many stories yet to be told. Tales of time travelers fixing the mistakes of the past, of immortal wanderers witnessing the end of worlds, and of ancient beings with their own secrets. All these threads will eventually converge in the next epic that will determine the fate of this universe.
A Final Word:
In the end, I thank you with all my heart for being a part of this journey.
I hope you enjoyed diving into this world as much as I enjoyed building it.
I would also like to thank many people, including friends and family,
from whom I drew a lot of inspiration.
This may be the end of the story of "Sword of Eternity," but it is just the beginning for the world of "Tales of Time."
Until the next adventure.A.W.A