Chapter 7: Between Lanterns and Letters
Morning sunlight filtered through the faded curtains of Abid's studio. Unlike the rainy day before, this one arrived bright and clear, casting long golden bars of light across the floor. A few pigeons cooed from the windowsill, pecking at the crumbs he'd left them last night.
Abid yawned, stretched, and rose slowly. He made tea first, as always—an old habit from his student days. There was something about the ritual that helped him ease into the day. The scent of cardamom and black leaf, the clink of the spoon in the glass cup, the warm curl of steam—it all reminded him that time could be soft.
He carried the tea to his desk.
The system greeted him with a notification.
> Daily Login Reward Claimed: Artisan's Note (Common)
> A handwritten-style message from a random reader in the other world.
Curious, Abid tapped it open.
A small, aged scroll unrolled on his screen. The writing was slightly uneven, like someone still learning to write.
> "Dear Seller Abid,
> My name is Fenya. I live in the mountain town of Arvellis. My brother is sick a lot, so he can't go outside much. We read your Wanderer stories together. He says they make his chest hurt in a good way. I think he means happy-crying.
> Do you think the Wanderer will ever reach a mountain like ours?
> Thank you for drawing even though you don't know us.
> – Fenya"
Abid read the note twice. Then a third time.
He leaned back, blinking against the light in his eyes. There it was again—proof that his stories, these quiet little drawings made in a narrow room in Dhaka, were finding homes in the hearts of people worlds away.
He opened a new document and began sketching.
---
By midday, he had the rough layout for *Journey of the Wanderer – Chapter 5*. In it, the Wanderer would climb a lonely mountain to meet a boy who spoke only in gestures, cared for by his older sister. They would sit beside a wind-blown pine, watching clouds move like dreams.
He left a panel blank for now—just a wide space of sky above them.
There, he would write:
> "Even mountains carry sadness.
> But look—some still catch the light."
He smiled to himself.
Yes, he'd send that story to Fenya and her brother.
---
The system pinged again.
> Special Order Request Received!
> From: Master Ellurin, High Librarian of Virellin
> Topic: Commissioned Manga for Children's Moral Education
> Suggested Theme: "Kindness in Small Things"
> Format: 10 pages, all-ages, read-aloud compatible
Abid rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
This wasn't just a fan-made request. This was a structured, purposeful commission.
He created a new storyboard for the short manga: The Pebble and the Stream. It would follow a young girl who helps a tiny, overlooked stream flow again by clearing away pebbles one by one. Along the way, she'd learn that even small kindnesses can bring life to others.
As he drafted page one—a panel of the girl crouching beside a trickle of water—he found his hand moving with unusual steadiness. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing.
He realized he wasn't drawing out of obligation.
He was drawing because he believed in the message.
And that belief… that was new.
---
In the afternoon, he opened the Virtual Market Tent.
The stall was quiet, like a little roadside shop waiting for the world to pass by. A handful of readers were browsing—avatars shaped like elves, scholars, even a merchant in desert robes.
One tapped on a panel and left a tip.
Another bookmarked an entire chapter and sent a glowing blue flower in thanks.
Abid added a new sign above the shelves:
> "New Releases Weekly.
> May these stories feel like warm tea on a cold day."
Just as he was about to close the window, a new button shimmered at the corner of the interface.
> System Upgrade Opportunity Available – "Manga Café Extension" (Locked)
> Requirement: 5,000 unique readers or collaboration with a certified Story Artisan
"Manga Café?" Abid murmured. He tapped on the preview.
A new interface loaded—concept art of a cozy indoor space with lanterns, cushions, and long wooden shelves. There were low tables where readers could sit and enjoy manga together. Some panels even showed characters drinking tea while discussing pages.
It looked… beautiful.
A peaceful corner of a fantasy world where stories weren't just consumed—they were shared.
But the unlock requirements were steep. Five thousand unique readers? That would take time. And a collaboration?
That made him pause.
Abid had always worked alone. Not because he didn't want help—but because help had never stayed.
Still… maybe it was time to start thinking differently.
He bookmarked the upgrade and closed the menu.
---
Evening arrived gently.
Abid went for a walk through his neighborhood. The sky was streaked with warm oranges and fading blue. Vendors were shutting down their stalls, calling out last deals on jhalmuri and samosas. A group of children kicked a plastic ball down the alley, their laughter echoing like windchimes.
He watched them for a while, remembering.
When he returned to his studio, he found another message—this time from Curator Anra.
> "Abid,
> Word has spread faster than we expected. The village of Estil, far to the south, has sent us a letter requesting printed copies of *The Wanderer* series for their story circle gatherings.
> While we cannot yet replicate your work in print, there is interest in hosting a 'Reading Lantern' night—where your scrolls are projected through light-illusion magic onto their walls.
> You may be far, but your stories are walking paths of their own.
> – Anra"
Abid sat in stunned silence.
Reading Lantern Night?
A village, gathering in the dark to watch his manga lit up on walls like stained glass?
He closed his eyes, trying to picture it: villagers seated on straw mats, children holding hands, wide eyes soaking in each panel as an elder read the story aloud.
It was like a dream drawn in ink and light.
And he had made it real.
---
That night, Abid worked until his fingers ached.
He completed Chapter 5 of *Journey of the Wanderer*, added final touches to *The Pebble and the Stream*, and began outlining a new short for Fenya and her brother: *Cloud-Lanterns Over Arvellis*.
He even sent a personal message through the system's new "Letter to a Reader" feature.
> To Fenya,
> Thank you for your kind words. I'm drawing the mountain as we speak. I hope you and your brother enjoy it.
> May your skies be clear, and your lanterns always glow.
> – Abid
Then he leaned back, eyes heavy.
The room was quiet.
But the silence no longer felt lonely.
It felt full.
Of stories still to tell.
Of voices whispering from another world.
Of warmth found not through noise—but through shared, silent understanding.
And in that silence, Abid smiled.