When I wrote the last two chapters of The Diamonds of the Sun, I knew it would mark a defining moment in Edgar’s journey. It’s my favorite part of the book because it encapsulates everything I love about storytelling—high stakes, deep character growth, and the constant clash between fate and free will.
At its core, these chapters are about transformation. Edgar is no longer just a knight fighting for survival; he is now burdened with choices that will shape the fate of entire kingdoms. From the moment King Dumytrius entrusts him with a secret letter, the lines between trust and deception blur. What seems like a simple task—delivering a message—turns into a revelation that shakes the very foundation of the war. I wanted the reader to experience Edgar’s internal conflict firsthand. Should he remain loyal to his king, or should he uncover the truth for himself? This dilemma mirrors a central theme of the book: the battle between duty and morality.
One of my favorite scenes to write was Edgar’s journey through the Slumbering Forest. The serene landscape is deceiving, a quiet contrast before the storm of revelations. The forest whispers of his past, but also warns of what’s to come. His heightened senses foreshadow the encounter with his alter ego—a scene that was thrilling to create. How do you fight someone who knows your every move because they are you? This battle is more than physical; it’s a confrontation of ideals, of identity, of the choices that shape who we become.
The revelation of the hidden Sun Diamonds was another turning point. They were never meant to be just powerful artifacts; they symbolize the struggle between light and darkness, knowledge and power, destiny and free will. I wanted their presence to feel like an awakening, something Edgar had unknowingly carried with him all along. This discovery ties him to a greater legacy, something far bigger than his own personal battles.
Then there’s the twist—King Dumytrius’ true motives. His alliance with Ludrol is not for the salvation of the kingdom, but for conquest. I had planned this moment from the very beginning. War is not always a simple battle between good and evil; those in power often manipulate conflicts for their own gain. This forces Edgar into yet another moral dilemma—who is the true enemy? This is the kind of complexity I love weaving into my writing, where the choices are never easy, and trust is a fragile thing.
Damyen’s role is another highlight for me. I enjoyed crafting his arc from a feared leader of the Death Bringers into a man at war with himself. He is no longer just a villain—he is a character seeking redemption, struggling with the consequences of his past. His decision to defy the Emperor and aid humanity felt like a necessary shift, one that reflects the deeper theme of the book: even those who have walked the darkest paths can choose to change.
Writing the Emperor’s unraveling was both exhilarating and challenging. His obsession with prophecy and control is his downfall—he believes himself untouchable, but even the most powerful can be undone by their own arrogance. The contrast between him and Edgar is striking; one clings to control, the other learns to embrace uncertainty. This is what makes their final confrontation so intense—not just a battle of strength, but a battle of ideologies.
Of course, no chapter of this magnitude would be complete without an epic battle. The siege of the Kingdom of the Sun and the fight against the Demon of Death were written with a cinematic vision in mind. I wanted every clash to feel visceral, every moment of combat to pulse with urgency and consequence. The arrival of Edgar, wielding the reforged Phoenix sword, was one of my favorite moments to write—a legendary hero stepping in when all hope seems lost.
Ultimately, these chapters are the beginning of a new era in the story. Even with the Emperor defeated, new threats rise. Peace is never permanent, and the struggle for justice is never truly over. I wanted to leave readers with the sense that history repeats itself, that even in victory, there are new battles to be fought.
This is why these chapters remains my favorites—it embodies everything I love about storytelling: intricate intrigue, deep character struggles, and an adventure that feels larger than life. If you’ve been following Edgar’s journey, I hope these chapters resonated with you as much as it did with me while writing it. And if you haven’t yet embarked on this adventure, now is the perfect time to begin. The world of The Diamonds of the Sun still has many secrets left to reveal.
