Chapter 9:

I Smell Danger

Apparently I, an Unrecognized Mangaka Prodigy, was Reincarnated to Another World Where My OCs Become Alive, So Obviously I Will Make a Harem in that World with All My Beautiful Characters


"Monsters... in the forest," he gasped, eyes wild with terror. "They attacked us."

The man's words hung heavy in the air, but it was his appearance that truly struck terror into my heart. His face was as white as a ghost, blood oozing from deep gashes in his chest. His breathing was labored, each inhale a desperate struggle. I could see Putri's eyes widen, but she maintained her composure, her face turning to one of determination.

"Nanang, please, I need your assistance here," Putri said, her voice steady but urgent. "Draw something to hold these wounds together. Quickly!"

Can I even do this? My abilities remain a mystery even to myself. It's one thing to dream as a mangaka; it's another when reality demands you to save lives. Fear battled within me, but I couldn't let Putri down.

My heart pounded in my ears. I fumbled for a piece of parchment and my mystical charcoal, my hands shaking. 

What tool should I draw? A clamp, maybe? I'm not expecting my medieval-fantasy journey to turn into Grey's Anatomy, by the way.

But time was of the essence, and sketching as fast as I could, I brought a clamp-like device to life. It lifted off the parchment, solid and real.

Putri grabbed it, skillfully pinching the wound closed with the finesse of a master healer. "Now draw bindings, quick!"

I complied, my charcoal forming thin threads that leaped off the page and into Putri's hands. She wove them through the torn flesh, her movements deliberate and graceful, her healing magic knitting the wounds shut.

Putri's eyes flicked to mine, and for the first time since I'd known her, I saw a flash of panic. Her voice cracked as she addressed the gathering crowd, "We need to bring him to the Healing Chambers. Please, help me, everyone!"

I quickly sketched a stretcher, its form leaping to life from the parchment. People from the crowd joined us, and we lifted the injured man onto the stretcher, making our way towards the Healing Chambers with haste.  

-o0o-

The clamor of worried voices filled Orym's Place, a lively tavern that had quickly transformed into a meeting hub for the villagers. The warmth of the hearth did little to ease the chill in the room as the townsfolk discussed the growing frequency of attacks in the nearby forest.

"Three attacks this month alone," an elder declared, his voice trembling, his hands clenched into fists. His eyes darted across the room, reflecting his inner turmoil. "Something must be done," he repeated, almost to himself, as others nodded in agreement, faces etched with concern and determination.

Our gathering was held in the main hall, where I'd once drawn a colorful mural on the wall. It depicted a vibrant, flourishing kingdom, full of life and hope.

But now, as I settled in beside Pyuan, I couldn't help but notice something alarming. The mural seemed to be dimming in color, as if it too was absorbing the fear and uncertainty that hung heavy in the room. The once-bright hues were now subdued, almost mourning. It was as if the very walls were reacting to the dire situation.

"The wind has grown bitter, and the sky hangs heavy with an unseasonable chill," a farmer stated, wringing his hands. "Something is wrong; nature itself seems out of balance."

The door swung open, and Putri entered, her face pale but determined. A murmur swept through the room.

"How's the man you treated, Putri?" Orym asked, concern in his eyes.

Putri's voice cracked. "He was lucky to survive. His entire party was attacked by unidentifiable monsters. Every single one of them died except for him. The wounds... they were different. My healing magic struggled to get through, as if something dark and vile was resisting it. I've never faced such difficulty before."

A villager in the back blurted out, "Dark magic? Shouldn't the Heartstone shield us from it?"

A chill ran down my spine, and the room fell into an uneasy silence. The Heartstone? What's that?

Orym's face tightened, his eyes narrowing. "If what you faced was truly dark magic, Putri, and the Heartstone didn't ward it off, then something is terribly wrong. We must investigate the Heartstone at once."

The room erupted into worried chatter, the Heartstone's potential plight suddenly becoming the central concern.

I leaned over to Pyuan, still confused, and whispered, "What's this Heartstone thing they're all talking about?"

Pyuan's eyes widened, and she looked at me, her ears twitching with concern. "It's... complicated~pyu," she replied, her voice tinged with unease.

A villager, a woman with sharp features and a voice to match, broke the silence, asking, "Should we report this to the queen and let the Royal Guard handle it? Surely they are more equipped to deal with such matters."

Everyone's eyes turned to Orym, and I could see he was ready to share his thoughts. "We should send messengers, yes, miss," he began, addressing the woman who'd spoken. "But they'll take three days to reach the palace, and that's if the roads are kind. A reply? Six days at the quickest, more likely longer. Our kingdom is a grand one, and the Royal Guard has its hands full. We can't wait on 'em. If it's the Heartstone in trouble, it'd be too late by then. No, this is something we must face ourselves."

His words seemed to settle over the room, a mix of fear and determination in every face. But it was clear we all understood the urgency.

Putri made her way over to me, looking a bit overwhelmed by the whole Heartstone business. I looked up, concern surely scrawled all over my face. "Are you okay?" I asked.

Her eyes, a mix of fear and resolution, met mine. "I'm as well as can be, Nanang. But I agree with Father. We need to act now."

My curiosity, and I must admit, my ignorance, got the best of me. "Forgive my ignorance, Putri, but what is this Heartstone exactly?"

"The Heartstone," Putri began, her voice unwavering, "is like the soul of our kingdom. It's the spring of all life, the well of all magic, and the core that makes everything here prosper. It's more than an artifact; it's the life source, sustaining harmony and repelling the forces of darkness."

My face turned pale as I absorbed her words. I could barely get my voice above a whisper as I asked, "So, basically, if the Heartstone failed to work, we all die?"

Putri's eyes met mine, a knowing and weighted look in her eyes. "Yes, Nanang. If we lose the Heartstone, we lose everything."

Bananang
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