Hey there! Thanks for reading Part 3 of Chapter 4. This part is the one of the three most important moments of Aeternitas: The Shores of Destiny (the other two being further on in the story), because it sets in motion the grand events of Elwin's saga. I’m glad you were able to witness it.

His father’s revelations of an 'invincible enemy' that has prowled mankind for millenniums – while important – is overshadowed by an even greater revelation: that there exists powers that can defeat the undefeatable. These powers are the Four Epitomic Forms, the original powers used by the mythical Founders early in the dawn of human memory. These Epitomic Forms were used to ignite the fuse called human civilization; they are told in epic poetry to have reignited the dying Sun, to have carved continent-spanning canyons, to have brought all lands of the Earth into one ultra-continent, and to have unchained humankind from the hierarchy of the natural world. As they fulfilled their purpose, the Epitomic Forms eventually vanished into the sands of time, replaced by simpler Forms that were much easier and more accessible for the everyman to perform. But this came at a cost: ease of performance meant a commensurate decrease in the power that one could exercise with the given Element. People who came to live after the Founders slowly began to forget the greatness of their origin.

And nearly 11,000 years of this erosion later, this collective amnesia of mankind, Elwin takes his first step to restore what has been lost. The Dance of the Sun, the Rhythm of the Moon, the Melody of the Two Earths, the Song of the Heavens – each of these Four Epitomic Forms has the power to influence a domain of reality, and when all Four unify into One, Elwin's journey will end and a new chapter for mankind will begin. When the final book is out, when Elwin's deeds echo through the many worlds – think back to this moment – back to this moment you read this author's note. And always remember – you heard it here first, the Dance of the Sun, the Rhythm of the Moon, the Melody of the Two Earths, and the Song of the Heavens – of the ultimate end and beginning of the system of the 4 Elements everywhere, tuned to the lyric of music that makes us sing!

Looking forward to seeing you in Part 4 of Chapter 4.

– Toshinori