The Eternal Sketch

Ryo Takeda had always believed that life was a story waiting to be drawn. As a struggling mangaka in Tokyo, his days were filled with long hours at his drafting table, chasing the dream of serialization. He lived in a tiny, cluttered apartment, surrounded by stacks of old manga and discarded sketches. The city outside never slept, but Ryo often found himself lost in his own world of ink and paper.

One fateful evening, rain poured heavily outside as Ryo finalized the last panel of his latest manuscript. Just as he placed his pen down, exhaustion overtook him. His vision blurred, his head grew heavy, and in an instant, everything went black.

When he awoke, he was no longer in his familiar, cramped apartment. Instead, he found himself lying in an open field, the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filling his senses. Towering in the distance was a grand city, unlike anything he had ever seen. Sprawling stone streets wove through towering buildings adorned with murals that seemed almost alive.

As he approached, he realized the people here carried ornate sketchbooks and quills, and their very expressions radiated purpose and artistry.

This was the Kingdom of Vistoria, a land where creativity was not only valued but wielded as power. The essence of art—known as Ink Essence—flowed through the city, allowing its inhabitants to bring their drawings to life. Some used this gift for daily tasks, sketching tools and food into existence, while others mastered it for combat, summoning creatures and weapons from the pages of their books.

Ryo's bewilderment grew as he wandered through the bustling streets. Market vendors displayed animated illustrations of their goods, while children chased after sketched animals that danced through the air. The city's walls were adorned with moving murals, historical scenes replaying their stories for all to see.

Soon, Ryo encountered a young woman named Elara, a talented artist who quickly recognized his confusion.

"You must be new here," she said, studying his attire. "You carry the aura of a creator, yet your ink does not flow like ours. Who are you?"

Ryo hesitated before responding. "I'm… Ryo Takeda. I don't know how I got here, but this world… it feels like something out of a story."

Elara's eyes widened. "A story, you say? Every artist in Vistoria tells a story with their ink. But for one to arrive here from another world? That is a tale I have never heard before."

As Ryo tried to grasp the reality of his situation, a deep instinct stirred within him. His hands itched to hold a pen, to test if his art still held power in this world. And as he followed Elara through the streets of Vistoria, he knew one thing—his journey as an artist had only just begun.