_{This is a complementary series for the Steemit-exclusive, original novel A Day in the Clouds. Be sure to check out the final chapter before you read this post to avoid spoilers.}

---

<< #23

---

_{Cloud Image Source}

Hello, Cloudheads (even if it's the last time I greet you as such)! As I was writing this, it became too long to fit into one post, so I decided to split it into three parts. Most of you who have read through these SILVER LININGs already know how much I hate breaking things up into chapters, but this is just something that needed to be done.

Everything that has a beginning, has an ending. There were several times when I was convinced that I wasn't going to make it to this point, but the encouragement of a handful of awesome people really kept me going. So, I wanted to dedicate this post to them. Here are the people who stuck with the story from beginning to the end:

@randomli

For being the wind that kept pushing me forward, and for being the rock that anchored me to reality. I was a bundle of anxiety for the entirety of writing and posting this, and you became my sounding board for all of those things. It wasn't easy dealing with it, but you handled it like the champion I know you are. "I couldn't have done it without you," doesn't even do it justice!

When I first started this journey, you were just my girlfriend, but now we're so much more than that. Funny how much difference six months make. As I end this journey, I start a brand new one with you. I can't wait to see all the wonderful adventures that we would get tangled up in. There is no other person that I can ever imagine spending my life with <3

@dreemit

The number one cloudhead! You've been there from the start, and your positivity really gave me a boost through this whole thing. I couldn't have done it without your encouragement, and it was a huge honor for this story to be posted side-by-side with your amazing Reborn story! :D

@verbal-d

My bro! This story wouldn't look the same without you. Literally! Even with the time constraint and the different life challenges, you still managed to help me out in my time of need. You're such a kind soul. I'm forever grateful for you, bro. I know you'll continue to do God's work! :D

@ryivhnn

Your comments have become such an integral piece to this story, my friend. I always look forward to reading about your entertaining thoughts and stories every time I post. You're an awesome conversationalist, and I hope that you find the success you so rightfully deserve! :D

@meesterboom

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but you kind of became a subtle mentor for me here. You have such an awesome humor and an elaborate way with words. The way you think is something I will always try to follow. It's truly an honor to call you a friend, dude! :D

@kiwideb

You always share helpful advice. I don't even remember a comment of yours where I didn't learn something new! You have such a warm personality and your encouragement is always a great pick me up! :D

_{and of course...}

@ezzy

Your friendship has really opened up a lot of doors for me here, brother. I'm so happy that you have returned so that we could pick up where we left off. You don't even know it, but your writing is such a big influence to mine.

with... the others who left comments here and there. I don't want to try to list all of you because I'm afraid I might forget someone. At the top of my head, @tincho and @jlufer are some users who became regulars near the home stretch. They have been huge sources of encouragement, and I just want to thank my Argentinian amigos for taking their time to leave their thoughts. Also, a buddy I made when I was first starting on Steemit, @anarcho-andrei, has come back with a vengeance. It's so awesome that he came back just in time as the story was winding down. He's a great fiction writer as well so make sure you check out his work. Thank you all for taking the time to leave your comments on my story. I truly appreciate it!

It doesn't end there! Since this is the last SILVER LINING ever, I'm going to make this hella meaty!

---

The Explanation

I'm pretty sure, there are a lot of lingering questions after the supposed end, so I want to take this opportunity to answer every single one. Don't be shy, ask away in the comments section. I'm happy to answer any and all questions.

The Mandala

No, this isn't in reference to @verbal-d's bodacious beat that's dedicated to @dreemit's spectacular story. This, my friends, is the biggest spoiler to the ending that I've shown from the very start.

If you don't know, there's a ritual that Buddhist monks perform which involves the creation of intricately designed sand mandalas. It takes them days to finish that marvelous artwork. They toil day and night to create those wonderful masterpieces. But then, after they have finished it, it takes only a matter of minutes for them to destroy it. That is the very essence of the universe, and that, my friends, is how I constructed this story. Here's a video that shows what I'm saying:

It took me months to build out this carefully constructed world, with the intent of it being temporary. There were several alternatives of how I would end the story, but I chose to go with the one I went with because I didn't want the climax to be at the end. How would Ledd ever sleep if he's still full of energy?? And yes, by destroying the world, I mean that his day in the clouds is meant to be just that — a day.

In my mind, he forgets everything almost immediately. No sequels, no follow-ups, not even spin-offs. Now, it might not be the popular explanation, but it was the foundation for the whole story. At least now you know what to expect when I put a timeframe in the title like week or month, or if I put a mandala in a story haha!

The Language

I'm not quite sure if I ever explained it, but the reason why he speaks Spanish was because of things that he saw on the teevee TV. His fantasy world wasn't just influenced by the things he saw, his mannerisms and his actions can be directly traced back to things he has watched as well. I think it was on Chapter 17 where I implied it. I chose Spanish because there are a lot of telenovelas shown here, so I wanted to give a shoutout to that. Perhaps Ledd caught Lowlah viewing a telenovela one too many times haha!

It's not my place to say, since I'm not a parent, but I can't stress this enough. Children are impressionable, so be careful how you speak or act around them. Be the shining examples that you want them to follow. If you cuss or shout in front of them, then you're only setting them up to act the same way when they grow up. Those little buggers are like clay, so mold them the way you want them to be. Oh, and keep them away from the TV if they're below three years old.

The Process

I know we have our own ways of writing content, but I just wanted to share how I wrote this series. Or, at least how I made it in the most efficient way possible. I use Google Docs to write, since it syncs in the cloud, allowing me to edit my documents anywhere. I then use a plugin that converts the document into markdown. I've also set up a template file, which is just a markdown that's a skeleton of what my usual post looks like, then I just plug in the chapter. I keep a log for my table of contents, so I plug in the URL of the previous and next chapters in the template. It sucks that the ability to edit after payout was removed. Chapter 15 and its SILVER LINING now forever looks like its next chapter is coming next week >.<

Look at me sounding all efficient. In reality, I constantly reworked the process the whole time. Heck, I only discovered the markdown plugin during Chapter 8!! :O Before that, I did all the italics on my own.

As for how I wrote and researched the whole thing, I've already discussed it previously so I won't rehash it. I took special care of writing based on the time of day, so I hope that makes up for the boring parts. For the times when there's action, I wrote it in a way that gets your blood pumping. But, when Ledd felt sleepy, I intentionally wrote it in a way to make the reader feel sleepy. I like to manipulate people that way haha! It's been a very tedious process, but I'm so happy that I went through with it.

The References

Even though I discussed some references in SILVER LINING #17 and the earlier SILVER LININGs, I didn't really mention much of the specifics. Trust me, I checked. I only mentioned a lot of them in the conversation with @ryivhnn. The line "Go, Diego. Go!" was the throwaway reference to Diego's identity. Coche was inspired by Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender and the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. The ... you know what, I had thought about detailing every reference, but it would take days to break everything down. Bonus points if you can spot them all :D I made several references to Avatar: The Last Airbender, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, among many others.

_{Image Source}

However, I do want to explain how I ended up with the Sachaphoyans. There are no Sachaphoyans. Google it, if you don't believe me. It was a play on words for the Chachapoyas (as you already know by now, Ledd isn't exactly an accurate listener). If you check out their wikipedia page, you'll immediately realize why I chose them. Since they were based in Peru, it made my decision to use Spanish a bit more push. Granted, Spanish wasn't the language of that civilization, but I couldn't find traces of their extinct language. Believe me, I tried.

I wanted to use a civilization that wasn't as talked about as their peers, like the Nazca or the Moche. Choosing someone forgotten by popular history was the only option. It just so happened that their alias, being the "Warriors of the Clouds" fit perfectly into the story. I wanted a civilization that was almost incognito, because that's how I feel Ledd is as a character. I was perfectly fine with making up a tribe for him, but then I stumbled upon the Chachapoyas. Everything just lined up.

Did you know that the opening scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the one where Indy was getting that golden idol with the counterweights, was located in the ruins of a Chachapoyan temple? Fun, huh? And ... I spoiled the Indiana Jones reference haha!

Fun fact: I posted the last chapter exactly on Ari's (my older cousin Ariel, Mamie's/Thiella's younger brother, Zepp's direct uncle) birthday haha! I intend to post the table of contents on Zepp's birthday, as June is, after all, his birth month.

Tune in tomorrow (yes, tomorrow) for Part 2 of the last SILVER LINING ever.

---

Voting for witnesses is free, but your one vote could dictate the course of this platform.

Vote for @lukestokes' witness lukestokes.mhth to help Steemit stop the Replicant threat

---

From the bottom of my heart and soul, thank you for reading!

Leave this post a feedback, and I'll be sure to return the favor!