Hi. I hope you all enjoyed adventuring with Relma and Estela throughout the lands of Gel Carn. However, the time has come for us to move from there to the faraway land of Eastern Kalthak. It lies under the dominion of Calisha in the Far East and has its own host of problems.

I'd love to leave it there, but I need 500 words to post this. So, I'll write some musings below on the writing process. Read if you want.

Relma, as a character, had a much less elaborate creation process than William. Originally, she was envisioned as a proactive Chosen One. Like most Chosen Ones', Relma has a unique destiny and excellent bloodlines. She has magical mentors and faithful companions she is introduced to gradually.

However, unlike her counterparts, Relma is proactive. She deduces her true identity and makes good of it. Relma was meant to push the story forward instead of waiting for it to pull her. In addition, Relma is a foil because of her physical weakness.

The instant expert trope is brutally averted. Relma successfully drew Lightning Trail. However, their rematch is a total defeat when the invincible Ajax comes after her. She is not instantly imparted with the skill to defeat a trained warrior because of destiny. Relma succeeds and survives not because of power but because of her charisma and intelligence. Estela and Ronald's physical abilities are helpful. But they do their best work with other skills.

In addition, while Relma is the Chosen One, there is a theme that she is not irreplaceable. Anoa X notably qualified for the job and still died. Pandora seems to be counting on Relma's son to be the real Chosen One.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

However, for me, the most exciting part is the worldbuilding. The book introduces the conflict between Duke Vanion and Gail Arengeth. House Gabriel is almost an antagonist in this book. While they never appear, the astute reader will see many connections on a reread.

Tanith Telus, the villain who sets the plot in motion, thinks highly of them. Indeed, she is mentioned by William in the previous book to be a childhood friend of his. One who left to go raiding a year before his adventures. Arengeth's concern about Vanion's growing power drives him to return.

Argath Marn, Relma's mentor, is a former political rival to Duke Vanion. One whom Vanion held in bitter envy for gaining the province of Artarq before him. This, in turn, kickstarted the Brisgald incident that allowed Vanion to destroy Borinius.

This means that the Dreaming Goddess and the Heir of Kings are two books at cross-purposes. Both present opposing viewpoints on the other side's cast of characters.

To William, Duke Vanion is the person he aspires to please, a masterful strategist and hero. One who was denied his rightful due by evil men took it by force while saving the crown. Meanwhile, Argath Marn is a man who took credit for his victories.

In contrast, Gail Arengeth presents an alternative view. Argath Marn is a good man, even a patriot, ruined by slander. Vanion, in this view, is a social climbing snake, destroying anyone who gets in the way of his ambition.

Only time will tell which one is true. What is certain is that Vanion and Gail Arengeth despise one another. And it is a vendetta stretching back Vanion's entire life.

Okay, I've beaten the five-hundred-word minimal limit. I'll post the chapter after this.