The Great Sketchbook Heist...Or Not

So here I was, all ready for an impromptu midnight operation: Operation Sketchbook Retrieval. 

Clad in the darkest clothes I could find in the guest room, I skulked around like a common thief under the silvery blanket of the night sky, sneaking towards Putri's room. Yeah, right out of a classic manga heist chapter, I chuckled inwardly. However, if you're picturing me as a sleek, silent ninja in the dead of night, allow me to correct your imagination. I was more like a lumbering elephant in a porcelain store. Stepping on twigs, tripping over stones, you name it, I did it. Who needs grace when you've got... well, I'm still figuring that part out.

Putri's room was shrouded in darkness. You see, in this world, we don't have electricity like back home. No neon lights, no humming fridges, no annoying alarm clocks. Instead, we have Luminorbs, magical orbs of light that glimmer like tiny stars. They're pretty neat, right? Anyway, no glow from the Luminorbs spilled from the cracks beneath her door. That's a good sign. She must be asleep, or at least, that's what I hoped for.

As I snuck into the room, my foot collided with a stray stool. The resulting clatter echoed through the otherwise silent space. 

Really, Dude?

I muttered to myself, gritting my teeth in frustration. The absurdity of my situation was stark - instead of bringing levity, it was starting to gnaw at my patience.

As my heartbeat thundered in my ears, I was knee-deep in the least advisable mission of my life. In the dim glow of the magical Luminorbs, I was rummaging through Putri's room, frantically looking for my sketchbook. It felt like the world's most tension-filled game of hide-and-seek, and I was both the hider and the seeker.

Just as I located the familiar leather binding of my sketchbook, the door creaked open. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Bathed in the soft ethereal light, stood Putri, frozen on the threshold. She blinked in surprise at the sight of me, looking like a raccoon caught dumpster diving.

"U-uh... hi, Putri," I stammered, heat creeping up my neck. My covert operation had just turned into a spectacular fiasco. Ninja Nanang? More like Napping Nanang.

Her eyes went wide, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink as she stared at me. "Nanang... what are you doing in my room at this hour?" Her voice was a whisper, her question filled with confusion and surprise. Here I was, in her room, in the middle of the night, looking utterly guilty. Absurd? Absolutely. A laughing matter? Probably, in any other circumstance.

"Surprise! I'm just doing a little, uh, routine room inspection. Everything's looking... fine!" I blurted out, desperate to fill the silence. Great, now she'd think I was some kind of pervert.

Her gaze dropped to the sketchbook in my hands, then lifted back to my face, filled with silent questions. The air was charged with a mixture of confusion and an uncomfortable anticipation. I could almost see the gears turning in her head, and I could only imagine what she was thinking.

Feeling like a trapped rabbit, I decided on telling the truth, throwing caution to the wind. "Actually, Putri," I blurted out, my voice trembling, "I came for this." I held up the sketchbook. "It's... it's mine."

-o0o-

The morning light broke, seeping through the forest canopy and casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was crisp, imbued with the soft melody of chirping birds and the rustle of leaves under our feet. It was me, Putri, and Pyu out on an herb gathering quest.

Sounds adventurous, right? Well, in reality, it was more like Putri and I being grown-ups and picking plants, while Pyu darted around like a kitten high on catnip. Her tail was a blur, her antics a source of endless amusement.

"So, Nanang," Putri's voice broke through my musing, "Would you tell us about your journey to our world?"

Seeing the genuine curiosity in her eyes, I found myself revealing my entire story—yes, including the part where a plane squashed me like a bug. Let me tell you, that bit never fails to earn a good gasp, and this time was no different. I even shared my habit of drawing and the joy I take in illustrating various subjects, creating 'original characters' and scenery. However, I didn't tell her that she was my OC, nor Pyu, or any other people in my sketches. I simply mentioned that I've been traveling and trying to capture the locals in my drawings. Thankfully, she didn't probe too much into it.

In return, Putri started weaving a tale that would've made any manga artist green with envy. She spoke of a world bathed in magic, where the gifted were chosen by the forces of nature, blessed with an innate talent. These chosen few would then venture to the prestigious academies dotted across the kingdom, fine-tuning their craft under the guidance of master mages.

"Putri has all this magical flair, and I'm just here with my super-fast tail swishing~pyu!"

"Now, now... it's okay, Pyu," Putri comforted, her tone soothing. "You might awaken your magic someday. And even if you don't, you could do something else! Like... becoming the kingdom's best courier with your speed and agility!"

At Putri's words, Pyu's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The kingdom's best courier? That sounds fun~pyu!" She exclaimed, her tail swishing rapidly as she did a joyful little somersault.

Putri turned to me, continue explaining. "Magic or no magic, everyone can live a fulfilling live, Nanang. There are farmers, blacksmiths, traders, even artists like you. We all have a role to play in our society."

"Speaking of society," I mused aloud, "What's the leadership like in this kingdom?"

Putri broke into a smile as I asked my question, her eyes lighting up with genuine respect. "We're led by a queen. She's tough as nails when she needs to be, but she's also got a heart that's as soft and warm as a summer's day. Kindness runs in her veins. She's the kind of queen who's as comfortable wielding a scepter as she is lending a helping hand. It's like she's got this amazing sync with all of us, feeling the pulse of the kingdom, you know?"

"Wow, sounds like a tough act to follow," I quipped, trying to wrap my head around everything she'd told me. "This place is like something straight out of a manga."

"A manga?"

"Ah, right. It's like... a comic book. Um... A story inside a drawing."

"Ah, like our folklore and legends, but in drawings. Intriguing!"

Her words, as encouraging as they were, served as a gentle reminder. This wasn't a world I had drawn, a world I could erase or redraw at will. This was real, tangible. A world where I was not an artist but a participant in its grand tapestry.

It was a realization that made my heart pound with a mix of fear, excitement, and a wild sense of adventure.

"And hey, speaking of art," I said, "Orym has tasked me with painting a mural for the inn. I know this may sound a bit odd, but do you think we could find paint and brushes in the marketplace?"

Putri looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "I think we can. We should head there once we've finished gathering herbs. Maybe you can find something you like."

"Well, that sounds like a plan," I said, already imagining the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.