Malcolm opened his eyes, his vision blurry and disoriented. The white ceiling and fluorescent lights passed above him as he felt himself being moved. A nurse was dragging him on a gurney, her face focused but calm. He tried to speak, but his voice wouldn't come. His consciousness slipped away again, the world fading into darkness.
When he woke next, the room was quiet except for the steady beeping of a vitality tracker. His vision cleared slowly, and he took in his surroundings. Transparent white tubes hung from a stand, connected to his arm. His clothes were gone, replaced by a plain white hospital gown. His heart sank as he looked down and saw his feet—or rather, where his feet used to be. White bandages were wrapped tightly around his knees, the sight both surreal and devastating.
But then, a small thought crept in. At least it's not my hands. He flexed his fingers, relieved to feel them respond. He could still draw.
The door opened, and a nurse in a pink uniform stepped inside. She smiled warmly when she saw him awake.
"Oh, I'm glad you're awake now," she said, her voice gentle. "How are you feeling?"
Malcolm groaned, his voice hoarse. "I feel like shit."
The nurse chuckled softly. "That's to be expected. But you're alive, and that's what matters."
Malcolm's eyes widened as a sudden thought hit him. "My notebook—where is it?"
The nurse pointed to the nightstand beside his bed. "It's right there. We made sure to keep it safe for you."
Malcolm reached for it, his hands trembling as he clutched it to his chest. Relief washed over him.
The nurse glanced at the notebook, her smile widening. "You're quite the artist. I took a peek while you were out. Your drawings are amazing."
Malcolm's cheeks flushed red, and he looked away, embarrassed. "No, I'm not really that good."
The nurse laughed softly. "Don't sell yourself short. The player who brought you here was impressed too. She said your actions managed to divert the minotaur's attention away from the orphanage. You saved a lot of lives."
Malcolm blinked, surprised. "I… I did?"
The nurse nodded and handed him a business card. "She wanted you to have this. Said to call her when you're ready."
Malcolm took the card, his fingers brushing over the embossed letters. It was simple but elegant, with a name and contact information. He didn't recognize the name, but the weight of the gesture wasn't lost on him.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts," the nurse said, stepping back toward the door. "Make sure you press that button right there—" she pointed to a small button on the wall beside his bed— "if you need anything, okay?"
Malcolm nodded. "Thanks."
The nurse smiled one last time before closing the door behind her, leaving Malcolm alone with his thoughts.
Malcolm stared out the window of his hospital room, the city's skyline illuminated by the glow of skyscrapers and neon lights. The night had crept in, but the bustling energy of the city remained, a stark contrast to the heaviness in his chest. He was devastated. His feet were gone, and with them, his ability to walk. The thought of being confined to a wheelchair, of relying on others for the simplest tasks, was overwhelming.
He sighed, leaning back against the pillows. There was no one to take care of him anymore. He was alone, and now, he felt more isolated than ever.
But then, something strange happened.
A wave of energy surged through his body, sudden and electrifying. Malcolm froze, his heart racing. He clutched his notebook tightly, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for the source of the sensation.
And then, his notebook began to glow.
A soft, white light enveloped it, and Malcolm watched in horror as the pages started to disintegrate, dissolving into particles of light that floated in the air. His heart sank. "No, no, no!" he whispered, his voice trembling.
But before he could fully process what was happening, a holographic screen appeared before him, its text glowing in the dim room.
[ Congratulations, You have awakened ]
[ You have awakened an EX-Rank Talent: Summoner of the Infinite Canvas ]
Description:
The Summoner of the Infinite Canvas is a rare and extraordinary talent that allows the user to bring their drawings to life, summoning sentient beings and powerful creations from the pages of their sentient, eldritch notebook. This talent is rooted in the user's artistic skill and imagination, making it as unique as the artist who wields it.
Malcolm stared at the screen, his mind reeling. "What… what is this?" he muttered, waving his hand through the hologram. It passed through his arm like it wasn't even there.
Before he could make sense of it, he felt a strange sensation in his right hand. A bracelet began to manifest, its design intricate and otherworldly. Chains of red and black energy flowed from the bracelet, binding it to the notebook.
The notebook itself had changed. No longer a simple, graphic-designed cover, it now looked like a true demonic tome. The front cover bore a grotesque, horror-stricken face, its eyes glowing faintly. A red-black aura surrounded it, pulsing with an ominous energy.
Another holographic message appeared.
[ You have gained Exclusive trait: Soulbound Creations ]
Description:
Soulbound Creations are not mere summons—they are sentient beings with unique personalities, backstories, and motivations, bound to the user's soul through the sentient, eldritch notebook. This trait transforms the act of summoning into a deep, emotional connection, where each creation is a living, breathing entity with its own thoughts, feelings, and desires.
[ You have gained Trait: Mindscape ]
Description:
The Mindscape is a mental realm where the MC's thoughts, memories, and imagination manifest as living, breathing entities. This trait allows the MC to enter his own mind, interact with his creations and subconscious, and harness the power of his imagination in ways that transcend reality.
Malcolm's mind went blank for a moment, like a computer that had just crashed. "What?!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door swung open, and the nurse rushed in, her face filled with concern.
"What happened? The alarms from your room lit up!" she said, her eyes scanning the room.
Malcolm's heart was still racing, but he quickly realized the vitality tracker must have alerted her when he panicked. He forced a weak smile.
"I'm fine," he lied. "I just… panicked for a second after thinking about who would take me to the bathroom when I need to go."
The nurse sighed in relief, her shoulders relaxing. "Oh, Malcolm. Just call me, okay? I was worried for a second there."
She lingered for a moment, making sure he was truly alright, before leaving the room. As the door closed, Malcolm let out a shaky breath.
Normal people must not be able to see the holograms, he thought.
Once he was sure the nurse was gone, he focused on the holographic screen again. "Status," he said softly.
The screen transitioned, displaying his information.
[ Malcolm Heart ]
Age: 24
Level: 1
Talent: (EX-Rank)Summoner of the Infinite Canvas (Lv. 1)
Trait: Soulbound Creations (Lv. 1), Mindscape (Lv. 1)
STR:11
AGI: 10
VIT: 8
END: 13
INT:15
MAG: 10
Malcolm frowned as he read the stats. "I'm way worse than an average F-Ranker, huh?" he muttered.
He had read about this before. Normal humans' stats never went past 10. When someone awakened, their stats increased depending on their talent's rank. An S-Rank talent could add up to 150 stat points, distributed based on the talent's nature. Mages, for example, would prioritize MAG and INT.
But Malcolm's stats were barely above average. Even for a newly awakened, they were underwhelming.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement. His talent was EX-Rank, something he'd never even heard of. And the traits he'd gained—Soulbound Creations and Mindscape—sounded powerful, even if he didn't fully understand them yet.
He looked down at the notebook, now a sinister, eldritch artifact. It felt alive in his hands, pulsing with energy.
"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" he whispered, a mix of fear and anticipation coursing through him.
Malcolm hesitated, his hand hovering over the notebook. It looked so different now—sinister, alive, and pulsing with an otherworldly energy. He took a deep breath and slowly, cautiously, reached out to touch it.
The moment his fingers brushed the cover, the notebook sprang to life. It flew out of his hands, hovering in the air for a moment before darting toward his chest.
"MY LORD!!" it cried, its voice a strange mix of deep resonance and childlike enthusiasm. "I thought I lost you!"
Malcolm's eyes widened in shock. The notebook—no, the *thing*—was talking. It pressed itself against his chest like a loyal pet, its pages fluttering as if it were breathing.
"Are you okay?" it asked, its tone filled with genuine concern.
Malcolm opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, and the room spun around him. He tried to steady himself, but it was no use.
The last thing he heard was the notebook's panicked voice screaming, "MY LORRDD!! What happened?!"
Then, everything went black.