When sailor Bokuto is sent on a journey to a realm far beyond oceans and human knowledge, he has no idea what form his journey will take or who will accompany him at sea, but he is certain of one thing: this journey will change their lives - and with them, perhaps the world.
✯ Chapters & Inspiration ✯
Chapter one - Inspiration
Chapter two - Inspiration
Chapter three - Inspiration
Chapter four - Inspiration
Chapter five - Inspiration
Chapter six - Inspiration
Chapter seven - Inspiration
Chapter eight - Inspiration
Chapter nine - Inspiration
Chapter then - Inspiration
I am so happy to finally share my fic with you!! Here is the post where I will link the chapters I post!
Can we all start being excited about my writing? And about everyone’s writing. But mines specifically. Please? 🧚✨(*charming you all so you get excited about my fic*)
Pottery Walk by Vincent Diamante (from Sky: Children Of The Light) -> I love Sky so much, I'm going to share so many tracks of this game... I kinda like the vibe of this one, it really reminds me of a hidden village full of secrets, just like Valiehtah
Faded Glories by Vincent Diamante (from Sky: Children Of The Light) -> (told you...) I love this song as well, the vibe is so pure... Also, this track can be heard at the end of the Hidden Forest zone which is a forest with lots of very high trees! (doesn't it remind you of the pine forest of this chapter?...)
To Catch A Stille by Evan Call (from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) -> another track from Frieren that I'm sharing because I really like the first few notes, every time I listen to it I'm like... gah! The shivers!!
✯ Inspiration ✯
Valiehtah my beloved, I'm finally able to talk about you!!!
I love the Archipelago so much, it's such a cool place full of sweet people! Allow me to rant about Valiehtah for a minute here,,,
The Archipelago’s inhabitants are mostly skilled in crafts, building little cabins at the top of trees where they live. They’ve created removable workshops they set up at dawn for market days. They are the main producers of navigational instruments, astrolabes, compasses, nocturnals, sextants, etc. They are specialised in medicine too. Fishing, berries and other plants mostly compose their diet. This people is fascinated by the vault of heaven, scribbling star charts onto paper and wondering if there is something up there that they don’t know about. They collect rocks and jewellery people give them, and they build nest boxes for birds.
See? Such a cool island. Even the village is unique, I loved writing about it so much. There is actually a real place that reminds me of the description of the village in the trees! It is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Canada. I saw a video of one of its bridges illuminated with fairy lights, and couldn't help but think of Valiehtah. Here is the video as well as some pictures of it!
A little bit more of worldbuilding information: there are two types of markets in Valiehtah. First, there are the great markets, where BokuAka went in chapter five. There, stalls are put up on the island at the south of the village. These markets happen on the first day of each month, and attract a lot of merchants and sailors from the regions who come to find equipment and sell goods.
Then, there are the regular markets which are located under Valiehtah’s village, between the great trees it’s hidden in. These happen at the beginning of every week, they are smaller and made for the village especially. There, the villagers find food and all the things they need for their work (crafts mostly).
This last bit is inspired by the Becky Chambers' novellas A Psalm for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, especially the latter in which the main character Dex travels with their robot friend Splendid Speckled Mosscap to different places, including a village named Stump with a market on the ground and a village above it! This series is so beautiful, I think it definitely deserves more attention. (Here are the covers of these books, book one on the left and book two on the right, I think they are so beautiful and I would be very happy if it convinced some people to read it!)
So many things are inspired by Frieren in my fic... What is funny is that the healer mentioned at the end of this chapter, was inspired by Frieren herself before I even watched the anime. I just saw this beautiful elf lady and knew I had to create an oc inspired by her.
Many things will be similar to the anime because it has the exact same vibe as my fic - it explores the same theme of travelling and finding people who will matter and change you along the way. I love Frieren so much because it sometimes feels like watching my fic come to life even though the story is different.
Let's talk a bit about my beloved Ayla again! Here are a few pictures that inspired the description I wrote of her craft! (Imagine a similar boat, but one whose mast you would definitely not trust. The sail of Ayla's craft probably fell while she was at sea many times before... My girl can do plenty of things but maybe she should ask someone else to fix her boat for her,,,)
Lastly, I cannot not mention Ayla's house! I think it is similar to Link's house in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, I mean, Link lives in a tree in this game, and his house is just many rooms and mezzanines put together in an intricate way - his house is just like Ayla's! I was so excited to introduce my girl's little brother too,,, unfortunately I don't have any drawing of him, but he basically is the stoic little brother who balances his older sister's wild energy and enthusiasm.
I loved writing about the different relationships that scatter my fic so much,,, it is amazing to explore the different forms and meanings a bond can be between two people. (I'm thinking of Kuini as I write this: my sweet jewellery girl is so loved. Whether it is friendship, admiration or something else, there are so many people around her who watch her and love her for who she is. This applies to the other ocs I have shared with you so far. Gah, I love writing and creation!)
The Light Beyond by AURORA and Vincent Diamante (from Sky: Children of the Light) -> My favourite singer and one of my favourite games combined their powers to create this ethereal masterpiece. This song is so beautiful and full of magic, it fits the festival so well.
✯ Inspiration ✯
The Light festival is probably one of the things I was the most excited to write about. I loved thinking about this world's culture and I wanted to write about something beautiful and inspiring to finish the first part of this fic.
I have tons of references that I want to show you because these were so inspiring when I wrote everything. I searched lots of pictures that matched the visions I had of the festival.
First, I need to show you some makeup that fits perfectly the makeup scene I wrote about! This scene was so much fun hehe, and I actually found so many good pics for each of them.
LOOK AT MY BABY'S MAKEUP!
Here is how I imagined Kureishi's look for the festival! Finding this makeup artist was an incredible experience because she looks so much like her?! I love how 'liquid' the shapes they draw look, they're so cool and the second one really reminds me of fire.
Middle picture is inspiration I found for Bokuto's look! And here are the boys' makeup :]
These look so good. I had so much fun searching for these pins.
Akaashi's look is mainly inspired by the game Sky: Children of the Light! I collected a mask from the Days of Nature which is a special event in the game and it has these stars that look like freckles and they go all over the nose and all and it's so cute. Here is the mask (everyone says hi to my sky kid who put that mask on for you hehe!), as well as a picture that inspired Bokuto's outfit!
(Akaashi's outfit is the one he used to wear in the Caves so I won't talk about it again, it's on the first chapter post if you want to check it!)
And this marks the end of the first part of my fic! I can't believe I reached that point to be honest, but I've only posted 30% of my fic so far! I promised a 150k fantasy AU and I will deliver it hehe.
Thanks to the people who read my fic and these posts, I hope you liked everything I created and shared so far! There's more to come, but for now I will go on hiatus to prepare the next chapters :)
Dream by Christopher Larkin (from Hollow Knight) -> I like the vibe of this song! It fits this chapter so well in my opinion. Also, explaining this in case some of you don’t know the game: this is a song you can hear in the Dream Realm. You get there when you reach the end of a zone where you find a dreamer (the dreamers are three beings who basically sealed the final boss of the game). You need to use a weapon called the Dream Nail to get into the Dream Realm. And this Realm’s vibe is just what I’m describing at the end of the chapter with the light that separates worlds, like a veil between the surface and the Caves. (Also, you can enter the Dream Realm by using the Dream Nail next to a spirit :3)
✯ Inspiration ✯
First of all, here is the Dream Realm from Hollow Knight. As I said, the lighting in this Realm is similar to the lighting which I described at the end of this chapter.
I don't have much to say about this chapter. However, I do want to add a drawing here that inspired me a lot when writing about the giant statues. It is a detail of my fic which I like a lot (I recommend you guys click on the pictures to see them better!).
My favourite boys just made a decision that will change their lives... The journey begins next chapter ;)
A Quiet Moment (from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity) -> I love all of the Zeldas games, their soundtracks are always amazing. I had to choose a Zelda track for my fic
✯ Inspiration✯
I love the title I chose for this chapter. A ballade in the daylight means several things! There is first the English meaning of the word, which refers to a type of poem or a type of composition, which fits the vibe of this chapter! I wanted it to be poetic. But the word 'balade' (spelt with one l only) has a different meaning in French... A balade is a stroll! And BokuAka walk through the fields and explore it in this chapter... (Now you know the little secret behind this title!)
The whistling is a detail which I particularly like about this chapter. I was originally inspired by several Instagram videos explaining how to make this bird call sound by whistling with your hands. I found it so magical that I wanted to include it in my fic, plus I think that the concept of sailors communicating through whistling is cool!
Bokuto can also whistle without his hands! I feel like he would even know how to whistle with plants as well (just like Link in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess actually! I love that it is how Link calls the hawk and Epona...). Also, Bokuto would probably whistle with a blade of grass or an acorn cap and make this horrible, high-pitched sound on purpose just to annoy people. Whistling is cool but it is also a menace haha.
Here are the links to the videos which inspired me, as well as a video of Link whistling! (the actual whistling is at the end of this last video)
Opening demo (from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) -> This song reminds me of home, of a warm place where to find repose and it's exactly how I wanted Basuki to feel to Bokuto
Link's Memories - Slumbering Power (from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) -> The scene in which this music plays... ugh the drama, the sorrow. I just love this song for the hot springs scene, it has got the perfect vibe for some conflict and emotional hurt...
✯ Inspiration ✯
The sails being stretched over houses/streets in the village was actually an idea of my own, but I recently learnt that a village in Spain has done something similar! The village's name is Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga. Some of the village's women gathered and crocheted awnings to cool down the streets! I find it so sweet, and their work is so pretty!
Here's the time to introduce you all to one of my babies, Kureishi! She's a legend, she's a queen, she's the moment. She is my little neurodivergent girl who's obsessed with her adoptive brother / best friend (my girl even went as far as to dye her hair white to match with Bokuto's hair... ughh I love her).
I loved writing about Bokuto's family, they're just one whirlwind of a family with bright people and strong personalities... They're just so sweet.
Oh, I love the the hot springs scene. It seems like a quiet, simple moment but it's not! It's where everything happens, where Bokuto shares the reason of his journey with Akaashi, where they hurt each other in different ways... Ugh, this story needed the drama. Now that things have become a little blurry, the story is really going to be able to move forward!
But before, there will be some more happiness! Next chapter will take place in the Golden Peninsula again... I hope you guys are excited for the Light festival!
Our Children Taken (from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) -> how can I not add a Twilight Princess song here... This game is so dear to me, and the vibe of this track makes me think of hard times where people are forced to forget about their sadness and grief in order to stand up and keep fighting. This track is such a good representation of desolation and sacrifice, I love it. (Also, in Twilight Princess there is a scene where the village of Kakariko is attacked and Link fights to rescue a child who was taken hostage by the enemy... do I need to say that it reminds me of what happens in this chapter?)
✯ Inspiration ✯
BokuAka fnially reached their second destination, and encountered the people of Inyati (In-yah-tee) (/injati/) and their enemy Shu'ra (Shew-rah) (/ʃyːʁa)!
The scene in the tavern reminds me of different pieces of media. First, there is TLoZ Twilight Princess, of course. Whenever I think about the brave woman from the map table, I think of Telma (Telma is a legend, and she works in a tavern too!). The arson reminds me of The Promised Neverland and of a similar type of fire near the beginning of the manga... Finally, the little girl rescued by BokuAka reminds me of Isha from Arcane, especially as I chose to keep her mute in this chapter. Also, Bokuto's instinct to protect Akaashi and the child from the explosion is Sevika coded, I'll be honest.
Allow me to talk about Frieren once again,,, The picture of the village I had in mind when I wrote this chapter is actually similar to those villages Frieren and her friends keep stopping by. They are just a bunch of pretty houses in the middle of a forest / plains.
Also, I need to share a website I found while writing this chapter because I think everyone deserves to take a look at it.
It is exactly what it sounds like. Isn't it the best thing ever for fantasy writers? I could spend hours reading the description of every type of dagger and select some weapons to give to characters in my fics... (Dropping the link to this website in case, yk, someone wants to write a fantasy fic... :3)
