The Windcaster Bonus Chapter: The Day Mommu Came Home

The Windcaster Bonus Chapter: The Day Mommu Came Home

This is a bonus chapter to the full-length novel The Windcaster, free on Wattpad.

2095 V.F. Mooncliffe

Tia couldn’t focus. There was the Master’s study room she must clean, as well as the used carrier hay from yesterday which needed to be removed. The kitchen was not yet tidy and there she stood, tapping her feet and squinting through the open wooden door with anticipation. Her broom lay against the wall, forgotten. The only thing she had done was practise her Windcasting, and she had completed the allocated tasks within the first few days of the Master departing. There was still so much to do.

But he was coming home today.

By the time the Master’s hooded head peeped over the top of the hill, Tia was practically wringing her hands out of their joints, hopping like a rabbit on the spot.

“Master! Master! Ma—” She stopped, spotting another hooded head behind the Master’s pale blue hood. A chilly breeze coursed past her; winter had passed not long ago and a chill remained in the air. Tia loved it: Hearing the Wind had never yielded more during cold spells and she had perhaps too much fun Singing and Casting.

Try as she might, she couldn’t see more of the mysterious stranger sitting behind the Master. Unable to stay at the door watching any longer, she sprinted down the cobbled steps, the wind streaming through her short chestnut brown hair and the wooden door swinging shut behind her. The air made her cheeks sting and her eyes water. Her chest was tight as she gasped her way until she met the Master’s disapproving look at the bottom of the next hill. His eyes barely concealed his amusement.

Tia knew she looked a sight. The half-hearted dusting had sent grey fluffballs tumbling down her tunic and she didn’t bother removing the hay out of her hair from brushing the carrier calves several hours earlier. As she neared, her look slid past her Master’s wrinkled smile onto the stranger, whose face was buried in the back of the Master’s cloak. The stranger was wearing the Master’s black travelling cloak.

“Who is that?” she blurted out.

“Good afternoon, Tiamat.” The Master’s voice was disapproving. Realising her mistake, Tia bowed at once, her gaze never leaving the newcomer. She straightened up, a bright smile on her face.

“Greetings, Master Anu.” Her eyes jumped to the other person again. She couldn’t see his face. “Who is that?”

“A new member of our family.”

She squealed; the person jumped at the sound and looked up at last. Beneath the dark hood, wary grey eyes flicked at Tia’s face before dropping. A few stray curls, a lighter shade of brown than hers, bobbed in the wind. Tia kept at their side as Master urged his carrier towards their house. The boy didn’t look at her again. He was breathing so quickly even a non-Windcaster could hear it.

A new member of the family! This was so exciting. It had been five years she’d stayed with the Master. Five long years. She wondered if he would be a fun playmate. Perhaps she could show him all her hiding spots in the area and they could play chase like she’d seen the children in Mooncliffe do. Master had never let her play with them. He said her Wind magic could scare them, possibly hurt them if she got carried away – like the first time she’d thrown a tantrum when he refused her request to accompany him on his journey.

She thought all children could play with the Wind. She was wrong, and it made her very lonely. But not any more. This boy must be special if the Master invited him. Tried as she might to capture his attention, though, he was uninterested. Disappointed, she turned to the Master, whom she hadn’t seen in almost a week. His twinkling blue eyes met hers.

“How was Westersands, Master? Did you bring back anything for me? Perhaps I may accompany you on your next journey?”

He chuckled as she babbled away. She’d scarcely finished one question before another struck her, and all the while she kept glancing back at the boy, hoping he would look up again. It seemed the thrill of catching up with Master Anu would never end.

“…and then I started Hearing the Wind properly! You have always told me to just feel it, but I can Hear the songs it sings now.” She sighed, swaying as she skipped along. “It is so beautiful, Master. I do not see why you do not just Hear all day.”

She cocked her head and grinned at him, bearing her little teeth. His eyebrows were raised and he had a familiar smile on his face. The last time he’d smiled like that was when she’d first shown him her dancing leaves. He’d then promised to get her a Windcaster staff when she was older.

She wondered if this strange boy could also make leaves dance.

The cobbled road leading up to their little house ended. Master slid off the carrier and Tia hurried to relieve him of his heavy travelling bag, but he chuckled and shook his head at her.

“When you are older, Tiamat.”

She pouted, crossing her arms and staring with baleful eyes.

“I am never big enough for any—”

At that moment, the boy lifted his head again and Tia forgot about her protest. The Master helped him off the carrier, and, as he did so, a gust of wind blew his hood back and revealed a head of bouncy light brown curls atop a thin, pallid face. The eyes were sunken and hollow, with an expression Tia had never seen before. His eyes reminded her of the sleepy old men by the harbour, who lie about in dark alleyways with bottles littered around them. Master always pulled her away whenever he caught her looking at them.

This boy looked so… pained, but he didn’t seem injured. It gave her a most uncomfortable feeling. The Master must have taken good care of him, surely. Perhaps he was hungry and tired. He certainly appeared sleepy, swaying on his feet, blinking as though he’d just woken up. Tia moved forward to grab his hand – they were cold and bony. His eyes jumped to her, but he didn’t move. His breathing sped up, his face going even whiter. Tia was a good head taller than him but she was sure they were the same age.

He exhaled again, and Tia shivered. There was a faint song in the air, and the Wind was dancing around this strange boy. Everything surrounding him was so full of life and joy. Although his terrified expression remained constant, the air swirled, whistling a sweet melody around the two of them.

He was perfect.

“Tiamat.”

She looked up, a beam on her face.

“I can feel the Wind in him, Master,” she said in delight. She was right. This boy was special, just like her! She was going to have a friend – at last.

“Perhaps you should let go of Mommu’s hand before you break it,” the Master said in a gentle voice.

“Oh!”

Tia let go. The boy’s shaking fingers became pink again.

“Mommu?” she repeated.

“Yes. His name is Mommu.”

“And he is here to stay?” she said, hopeful. A smile spread from ear to ear. Her heart was about to explode from her chest.

“Yes. He will be a Windcaster apprentice, too. And he will be your new brother.”

It was as if all the festivities and celebrations had come at once. Before she could observe proper etiquette, Tia had flung her arms around Mommu, squealing, sending the two of them flying onto the ground. He let out a weak cry of surprise as the ground crunched beneath them. Mommu was so skinny he was painful to hug, but Tia didn’t care. Her hair was all over her face so she could see nothing, but she didn’t care about that, either. A new brother! A best friend! How wonderful!

“Where do you come from, Mommu?” The questions streamed out. “What is yoru favourite food? Do you like carriers? Would you like to see me make leaves dance? Why is your hair so curly? Do you know how to play chase?”

She could have someone to play with, at last. Whenever the Master had to leave for duties, there would be someone to spend those lonely days with instead of sitting idle or pouring endlessly over the Wind tomes. He could spy on the Mooncliffe residents with her from her window in the attic. She could play chase with someone at last. She had someone to study with and they could Cast together when they get their own staffs.

The possibilities were endless!

“We will have so much fun together, Mommu,” she murmured. The boy didn’t move. She pushed herself off. “Mommu?”

The boy had fainted.

A/N: Thank you for reading this bonus chapter of The Windcaster, which will be added to the main book once the Young Writer's Prize competition is over. This chapter is dedicated to all those amazing people who have given me shout-outs, promotions, and recommendations so I stood a chance in that competition, and also to those who gave my chapter a vote. From the very bottom of my heart, I give you my thanks and these:

For those who haven't voted, please do go vote here (click on the star on the top right corner and turn it yellow). The deadline is midnight GMT Saturday 13 September, and the winner of the Young Writer's Prize gets a chance of publication!

And a last note: any requests for bonus chapters? What do you think of this one?

Wattpad: The Windcaster

Wattpad: The Windcaster

Current cover

Magic. Starvation. Inequality.  

In the Kingdom of Dernexes, where Wind magic equates to status and power, there is unrest among the people. Slaves live in desolate conditions, with no rights and are treated worse than dogs. Neighbouring countries border on war as King Ea lives in lavish luxury at the expense of increasing poverty and death among the civilians.  

Tia, a sheltered, naive Caster apprentice travels with a Windcaster when he is summoned for council with the King. The journey through the various, apparently well-to-do areas of the country shows only how much people need help, help which the King is adamant to withhold. Desperate times call for desperate measures.  

Times are about to change...

http://www.wattpad.com/story/7803020-the-windcaster-fantasy-adventure-complete-the

This post contains no spoilers.

About the Book

The Windcaster is a coming-of-age epic fantasy-adventure story I wrote for Wattpad, started on 21 August 2013 and completed on 25 December 2013: a total of 112k words. It is a tale of a young magician-in-training growing up and learning the perfect world she sees through rose-coloured glasses is actually corrupt; socioeconomic inequality is destroying the poorest and the most destitute. Slavery is rife, and those unfortunate enough to be under its system have no human rights and are treated as less than dogs.

The main character is Tia, a vivacious and naive Windcaster apprentice, who has lived all her life in the pretty seaside city of Mooncliffe with the man who trains her, Master Anu the Windcaster of Mooncliffe. Her love for fun and utter lack of heed for danger means she gets into trouble often, creating worry for her nervous but compassionate colleague, Mommu, who also lives in the same little house on a hill.

An early sketch of Tia

In Tia's world, Windcasters -- magicians who can utilise Wind magic with their innate talents and magic staffs -- are revered above all else. Their powerful affinity to the Wind is of great contribution to Tia's influential and prospering country, Dernexes. However, Windcasters are also allied, not to their country, but to the Wind. As such, ethical dilemmas have risen in the past and will rise in the future regarding its use, particularly as Dernexes's king, Ea, remains living in lavish luxury and in denial of his country's suffering.

Initial Windcaster staff sketches

When Master Anu, the Windcaster who trains Tia and Mommu in Wind magic, receives a summon from the king in the Capital, Tia's dream comes true: she finally gets to leave the small, peaceful city of Mooncliffe and travel the country. She will, at last, get to see all the wondrous places the Master spoke of, taste all the delicious delicacies, and meet all sorts of lovely people.

Chibi Art of Tia

Chibi Art of Mommu

Or so she thought.

With neighbouring countries bordering on war, slaves living in desperate conditions, and dissatisfaction brewing amongst Dernexans, the facade of the stable world she grew up in is about to be shattered. Through a series of unfortunate events and new friendships forged, Tia grows up and makes a choice, made all the more difficult when all the options lead to dire consequences and she has to choose the lesser of many evils.

The Writing Process

I am very much an amateur writer, although I do enjoy storytelling. I've never taken any creative writing courses (my high school/secondary school qualifications were biology, physics, chemistry, maths, and classical civilisation) but here, I share my writing experience of "The Windcaster" in hopes it may be helpful.

Initially inspired by "Tales of Earthsea", the Studio Ghibli animation, I've always had that scene in my head where Sparrowhawk takes Arun to that beautiful seaside town. That was where Mooncliffe was born. In my head, a little brown-haired girl skipped her way down the stone steps, ponytail swinging, and was loving every step and breath of sea air. That was where Tia was born.

A still from "Tales of Earthsea". Image from www.manga-news.com

From there, that scene sat in my head for a good six years until one day, I decided to expand on that scene. The Windcaster played itself out in my head like a movie for the vast majority of the book, so what I had to do was to translate that into text. After Tia makes her way down, she meets someone who will later become important in her story. A bit of mischief, some trouble, and a bruised ego later, her journey begins.

For those who may be interested, Tia's namesake, Tiamat, is from the Final Fantasy XII monster, which is in itself named after a Babylonian sea monster. From there, you can see all of my other characters are named after Babylonian deities or significant characters: Enlil the god of wind, Mommu/Mummu the god of crafts and technical skills, Anu the god of heaven and the sky.

This post contains no spoilers, but I will talk about the plotting and writing. I thought of several highlights of the story where Tia's maturity furthers and the world around her moves on ahead. There are some turn-points when she sees a little more of the world she was so naive about. Between each of the highlights, I have a few smaller peaks for building character and the world, and as I write, I pave my way from peak to peak, and, in the long run, from highlight to highlight.

Concept art of Tia and her trainee uniform (L) and Windcaster trainee's cloak and staff (R)

The story is built to a crescendo, which is then built down again for a bit of breathing time and in anticipation of the final showdown. I also allowed self-discovery and independence for Tia here, because as the main character, she has to play a major role in saving the day.

I hit several writer's block along the way. Most of them were in the second half of the book, where not only I had difficulty visualising the world, I also didn't know where to take Tia next. I knew in the long-term where she was to go, but paving the way there proved to be difficult. With most of them, I just skipped that scene and carried on writing: the next scene, the next week's events, additional scenes that never actually materialised in the Wattpad book. The ending was actually very different to what I had in mind, but I do feel this ending is better. There is enough closure -- the big bad is defeated, the world is saved -- but also leaves enough for me to write a sequel should I wish to.

Fan art by deardiary96

Fan art by Rosaimee

The Sequel

Although I say in the end author's note I am not planning a sequel, it is an idea sitting in the back of my head. I think I left Tia in a rather perfect world, to the point where I want to ruin it and see how she fares -- oh, how sadistic I sound! But it is what makes a good read: characters in difficult situations making something good out of it. And Tia, with her heart of gold, deserves her struggle for happiness.

So what I'm trying to say is: I can very well envision a sequel to "The Windcaster" once the rewrite is done. When that will be I cannot promise, but I do have several ideas brewing in my head, as well as a new story that runs along the theme of "The Windcaster" although it doesn't happen in Tia's world.

The New Cover

And without further ado, I shall unveil my new cover for "The Windcaster", courtesy of my good friend and extremely talented Photoshop artist Wendythestoryteller. This cover will be implemented in the upcoming week or two.

What are your thoughts about it? I love it; it's gorgeous, and I can't wait to show it off to the Wattpad world.

Until next time, when I'll probably blog about some other pets of mine!