Nanang, the Mangaka Prodigy

Okay, so time had passed, right? It had been several weeks since our harrowing adventure involving the Heartstone.

Villagers were back to farming, kids were playing—life was finding its new normal. And speaking of new, Nabilah moved to Eldenridge and opened up her own weapon shop, since... yeah, even though the Queen had pardoned us, the guards still had a little grudge against her. 

As for Pyuan, ever since she awakened her magic, she felt it was time to hit the books. She enrolled at the academy to put that sharp mind—and newfound magic—to good use.

And me? I was in the middle of my grand project: a manga that chronicled our epic, villain-thwarting, love-sparking adventures.

I don't think I'll include the part about 'the Creator,' though. The people here might not be used to those kinds of mind-bending stories just yet.

The morning sun filtered through the shutters, bathing my room in a warm glow. I sat at my desk, charcoal in hand, sketching the familiar outlines of a manga page.

Now, inking this thing was no joke; my hand felt like it had run a marathon by page five. But every time I glanced at Putri, who was often lost in her own world of healing herbs and potions, I felt my resolve strengthen.

This story was as much hers as it was mine.

After what felt like an eternity of drawing and inking, skipping enough meals to make even a nutritionist weep, it was done. Our adventures, our world, was now captured in the two-dimensional glory of manga.

And let me tell you—it was epic.

Putri peeked over my shoulder, her eyes glowing. "I think it's time to show everyone."

I grinned, still in disbelief at the stack of pages on my desk.

Yep, ready to introduce the first manga ever in this realm.

Talk about making history, huh?

So, I rolled up my life's work like it was the most precious scroll in the kingdom.

With Putri at my side, we made our way to the village square. The atmosphere was electric; you could practically smell the anticipation in the air.

When you've got something this groundbreaking, you don't just keep it to yourself; you share it. Word got around fast, and soon, the entire village gathered like they were queueing for a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"Ready to have your minds blown?" I announced, unrolling the first page for all to see.

I mean, I guess it's not every day you get your life's ups and downs turned into entertainment, right?

And then, the impossible happened.

Or should I say, the unexpectedly magical?

Because of course, this is me we're talking about.

My lines twitched, the ink swirled, and my panels started animating.

My manga turned into a full-blown anime, right before their very eyes!

Kids' jaws hit the floor—literally, I think Timmy might need a dentist. The adults were equally stunned, eyes wide like they'd just binged an entire series overnight.

"Draw more, Nanang! Draw more!" the children chanted, their eyes shining like freshly inked stars.

Just when I thought my heart would burst from the sheer joy of it all, Putri wrapped her arms around me. "I'm so proud of you, Nanang," she whispered, her eyes shining with more love than any artist could capture.

You know, in that moment, it hit me—I'd done it.

My childhood dream, the one I thought had died under the wheels of a plane back in my old world, was alive and thriving here. I'd become a mangaka, in the most extraordinary way possible.

And the best part? I wasn't alone; I had Putri by my side. Her love and support weren't just icing on the cake; they were essential ingredients that made my dream even more fulfilling.

Not to mention we also had Pyuan, Nabilah, Orym, and everyone else who had been part of our journey. In a way, this manga wasn't just my dream; it was our shared story, like a mural of adventures. A solo journey might get lonely, but with these amazing people by my side, every brushstroke felt like a group high-five.

And so, we found ourselves back at my drawing board.

Putri beside me, her hand mirroring mine as we set our pens to a blank page. Our life was an empty canvas, and we were about to color it with stories only we could tell.

In bold, striking letters, I drew our cover page: "Eldenridge Heroes #1."

"I can't wait to co-author our next adventure," Putri said.

"Of course, my Princess."

Believe me, if this were a manga, that moment would take up a whole page, setting the stage for something you won't forget.

So here we are, folks.

Our story's not an ending but a brand new beginning.

And trust me when I say, it's gonna be one heck of a series.

The end?

Nah, more like to be continued...