Forgotten canvas - Colored Line Art

Little Draft lifted his head timidly, looking up at the being everyone called "Mom."

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She didn't look like Liuli, yet the two of them shared a similar kind of light.

Not a dazzling light, but a quiet, steady glow—one that felt like it could hold the whole world without effort.

Her hair floated like layers of transparent ribbons, colors shifting softly.

And her eyes… they held countless brushes and colors within them, the kind of gaze that could see you and understand you.

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Little Draft whispered, barely audible,

"Is… is this Mama? The human who created Liuli…?"

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Liuli had already thrown herself into her arms.

"Mom!"

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Her voice chimed like windbells.

Mom hugged her gently, then lifted her head to look at Little Draft, whose shaky lines froze in place.

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Liuli grabbed his hand and announced proudly,

"This is Little Draft! We don't know why he came to our world, but he looks kind of messy right now, right? I feel like he isn't very comfortable… Mom can make him pretty, right? Right??"

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Mom chuckled, her voice soft like a cloud being touched.

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"Of course. But I don't have much time today.

I can only draw his line art for now—no colors yet.

I'm sorry, Little Draft."

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Little Draft flailed his tiny line-arms quickly.

"N-no no! Please don't apologize! This is already… really, really good!"

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Liuli nodded rapidly.

"Yeah, yeah! Little Draft will be super happy!"

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Mom dipped her head in acknowledgement.

She extended her hand, and a gentle white glow appeared on her palm—

the power to "draw the world."

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She observed Little Draft carefully, her gaze warm and focused.

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"This child… has a very adorable concept."

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Little Draft's cheek-lines blurred softly, like a pencil smudged shyly.

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Liuli whispered beside him,

"Whenever you compliment Little Draft, he becomes like this—super cute."

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Little Draft: "I-I'm not…"

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But even he couldn't hear his own voice.

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Mom made a light gesture in the air.

A sheet of transparent paper and a soft glow unfolded before them.

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She spoke gently,

"Stand still, sweetheart. I need to look closely at your current lines."

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Little Draft straightened up immediately, his line-legs pulled so stiff they were about to snap.

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Mom cupped his face with the tenderness that could melt ink.

"No need to be nervous. Relax a little."

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"…Okay."

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His lines softened. His body swayed like a loose stroke.

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Liuli kicked her legs excitedly beside them.

"I wanna see! I wanna see!"

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Mom lifted an invisible pen—

a thin line of light appeared, sharp yet unbelievably gentle.

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"Here we go."

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— swish.

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The moment the line touched him, Little Draft felt something strange.

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Not the roughness of pencil,

but a warm light passing through him.

He trembled softly, like a sheet of paper being smoothed by warm hands.

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Mom worked with quiet focus—

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She adjusted the proportions of his head,

strengthened the stability of his torso,

softened the curves of his hands and feet,

and even added subtle structure to his simple form.

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He still looked like a sketch,

but no longer crooked, no longer trembling.

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She added soft hairline strokes,

simple clothing lines,

and a clean directional flow to his posture…

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Things he never had before.

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He felt as if the world itself was holding him gently.

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After a long moment, Mom set down her pen.

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"All done."

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Liuli instantly leaned in.

"Lemme see!!"

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Mom turned the line art toward them.

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It was a beautifully clean "new Little Draft."

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Still tiny, still sketch-like, still simple—

but the lines were smooth and warm,

the silhouette soft and adorable,

and even the minimal features carried emotion, like a small glowing presence.

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Every line whispered softly:

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You deserve to be drawn with care.

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Liuli's eyes sparkled like stained glass.

"Waaah! It's sooo pretty!!"

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Mom smiled with quiet pride.

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"Mm. I think I did quite well."

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Little Draft stared at the drawing, stunned.

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"I… can really look… that nice…?"

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His voice trembled like a line fluttering in a breeze.

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Mom crouched down so their eyes met.

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"But, Little Draft, there's something I need to ask you."

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He stiffened.

"W-what… what is it?"

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"How did you come here?

Will you go somewhere else after this?

Will you leave, return, or…

do you want to stay and play with Liuli?"

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Liuli gasped.

"He can stay?!"

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Little Draft froze.

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He didn't know.

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He had no mother, no world, no completed design.

He didn't even know where he belonged.

All he had was the pencil in his hand.

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Mom watched him quietly, then tapped her finger in the air.

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A small patch of light appeared before him.

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"Then we must determine your form of existence."

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Little Draft blinked.

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Mom explained softly,

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"You're not from this world.

Your lines… can travel.

You weren't meant to stay in a single place."

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Liuli tilted her head.

"What's traveling lines?"

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Mom smiled.

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"It means he isn't fixed in any world.

He'll keep moving, growing, gathering meaning."

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Little Draft stared.

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Was he… really that kind of being?

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Mom continued,

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"But to leave this world, you must do one thing first."

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Liuli's eyes widened.

"Is it hard? Can I help?"

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"Of course."

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Little Draft swallowed.

"What… what thing…?"

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Mom placed a gentle hand on his head.

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"You're a draft.

And the power of a draft… is self-definition."

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"To leave Liuli's world, you must complete—"

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Light formed clear words:

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"Define what kind of existence you are."

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Little Draft stood frozen.

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Mom held his face again, voice soft as pencil dust.

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"I can draw your form,

but only you can decide what you truly are."

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Liuli whispered,

"So… he has to choose himself?"

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Mom nodded.

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"Yes.

He can't stay a forgotten sketch forever.

He must become himself."

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Little Draft's heart thumped loudly.

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For the first time,

he realized he didn't have to remain something created accidentally.

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He could become someone.

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Mom continued,

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"You have a trial to complete."

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Three blank shapes appeared:

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1. Appearance – what you want to look like

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2. Ability – how you wish to interact with the world

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3. Will – the meaning of your existence

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"You only need to complete one of these to begin."

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"Once you do, I'll inscribe an 'Initial Draft Will' into your body,

and you'll gain the power to travel across worlds."

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Little Draft stared at his own lines—

now steady, soft, no longer trembling.

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A warm feeling rose in his chest.

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For the first time, he thought—

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Maybe… I could really become something.

Not drawn by someone else,

but chosen by myself.

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Liuli leaned in carefully.

"Little Draft… are you scared?"

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He shook his head.

"No… it's not fear… just…

the first time I feel like…"

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"…like I truly exist."

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Liuli smiled, bright as colored glass.

"Then that's perfect! You can stay as long as you want! I'll be with you!"

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Mom nodded gently.

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"The world will wait for you."

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The light faded slowly,

and Little Draft's lines looked steadier than ever.

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In that moment, for the first time, he felt—

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He wasn't a sketch meant to be tossed aside.

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He was a story waiting to be completed.

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