The Eternal Sketch

Ryo sat in his chamber, the weight of his victory in the Trials still settling in his mind. The inkstone before him shimmered under the lantern's glow, a silent invitation to create. He exhaled, dipping his brush into the dark liquid, and let his mind drift back—to his past life, to the stories he had once drawn in another world.

The thought had nagged at him since he first arrived in this world. If Ink Power could bring creatures to life, then could it also bring back the characters he had once painstakingly designed in his past life? He had been a mangaka, an artist whose entire life was about breathing life into his creations. Could he do the same here?

A surge of excitement filled him. He had to try.

He steadied his brush and let his instincts guide him. His hands moved with precision, muscle memory from another life taking over. Line by line, the figure began to take shape—a swordsman, clad in a flowing coat, his blade reflecting the light of an unseen battlefield. His most beloved protagonist, Hayate Kurogane, from his old manga.

As he finished the last stroke, he focused his will, just as he had with his wolf. The ink rippled. The air thickened with energy. The figure's eyes flickered with life.

And then, the ink collapsed, dissolving back into the parchment.

Ryo frowned. He had felt something, a pulse of power, but it wasn't enough. He needed more control, more understanding of how Ink Power truly worked.

A knock at the door startled him. Elara peeked in, raising an eyebrow. "You're working late."

Ryo sighed, setting down his brush. "I was… experimenting."

She stepped inside, her gaze falling on the parchment. "That's not like anything I've seen before."

"It's from a story I once knew," Ryo said carefully. "A swordsman named Hayate. But I couldn't bring him to life."

Elara studied the drawing, then crossed her arms. "Creating creatures from imagination is much harder than shaping existing forms. You're trying to make something that has never existed in this world before. That takes more than just talent—it takes mastery."

Ryo nodded slowly. "Then I'll master it."

A grin tugged at Elara's lips. "You sound determined. Good. Because tomorrow, we begin learning the Advanced Inscriptions. If you really want to create something new, you'll need them."

She left, and Ryo turned back to his parchment, staring at the image of Hayate.

It wasn't enough to just remember. He would bring his past world's heroes to life. Somehow.

And with that vow, he picked up his brush and began again.