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Reborn as a Book: The [TBD] [ERROR] of the… System’s Pre-Integration Testing?

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Vote 16 Closed New
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    Chapter 16 New
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    • [X] Practice Magic

    'I have a spell! I wonder how it works? This is amazing!

    Magic. Actual magic. Granted most of what I had done with skills so far pretty much seemed like magic. But this was a spell. Clearly those were different. Somehow.

    'Okay, how do I do this? Hmmm…' I looked the spell over on my status scroll. It didn't say anything about how to actually perform the spell. No incantations, symbols or tools. 'Actually, it doesn't even have a cost listed. This is a little weird. Everything has a cost. Even the things that don't cost anything says 'Inherent'.'

    I stared out into my void, watching the rhythms weave and spiral, threading their way out of the darkness as I puzzled over the spell. Inkweave.

    A spell. My spell.

    At first, I turned the words over in my mind, trying to grasp its intricacies, but slowly, inevitably, thinking about it slipped into fantasizing.

    I imagined myself as I once was—human, whole, and wielding magic. Actual magic!

    The thought thrilled me. My imagination soared, running wild as the idea took shape. I could see it so clearly—my hands outstretched, summoning constructs of ink, watching them swirl and dance under my command.

    Bolts of liquid black shot from my fingers, striking with precision, twisting into intricate forms midair. The ink curved and curled, sculpting itself into elegant designs before vanishing into the void.

    Somewhere deep in my center, a sigil began to form. A shape. A pattern. A symbol. A scribble of thought made manifest.

    I focused, tracing it in the depths of my void, making it real. Becoming lost in thought as it shaped itself. The lines sharpened, curving with intent, each stroke growing more defined.

    I could almost feel it. Almost read it.

    The power thrummed at the edges of my being. The rhythms around me flexed with the thrum, responding to my will, reshaping itself into marvelous forms. The anticipation built, the sheer excitement of wielding such a unique spell intoxicating.

    I honed in on the sigil, willing it to take shape. I could feel it pulse, growing more tangible, more potent, so close to bursting forth into the world—

    —And then.

    It ignited.

    'Oh.'

    'Oh no.'

    The spell was cast.

    A surge of ink exploded from my pages. Liquid magic, pouring out in an uncontrolled flood.

    Ink oozed from between my covers, spilling over the table in dark, glistening puddles. I could feel it seep beneath my spine, saturating my very being.

    'Okay. Okay. Don't panic, Nakia.'

    But instead of shaping itself into elegant constructs or swirling obediently beneath my control—

    It just… spread.

    A senseless, inky mess.

    I tried desperately to grasp the spell, to rein it in, to manipulate the ink like it was supposed to let me do. But it slipped from my grasp, the magic sputtering out. And then, just as quickly as it had surged forth—

    It reverted.

    The ink was just ink now, no longer fueled by magic, no longer swirling with potential.

    Instead, it just sat there.

    Dripping.

    Spilling.

    Pooling around me in the most undignified way possible.

    '…Oops.'

    But despite the mess, despite the lack of control, despite the absolute disaster of it all—

    I was elated.

    I had cast magic.

    I had used a spell.

    It hadn't gone perfectly. It hadn't even gone well. But that didn't matter.

    Because now, I knew it was possible.

    The potential was there. The spark had ignited.

    And with practice—with time—I would master it.

    I would make the ink shape to my will.

    Mana: 755/805 (824)

    'Some good news at least.' Ink was erased from my pages, bit by bit at a time. 'Writing lets me remove anything from my pages, it seems.' I cleared my pages of the spilled ink, managing to keep the Echoed books in the process.

    Slowly I made my way to my covers. I was able to clean a good bit, except for where I sat on the table. The ink was still wet and pulled under me, so I could erase it, but then would just get wet again immediately.

    After the third attempt is when I realized it. 'I'm using Writing on my covers. I'm suing WRITING on my covers!' I felt for my front cover. 'What should I write? What should I put?'

    I chewed it over for a few minutes before mentally grinning.

    Nakia Davids
    Handbook​

    I didn't even have a moment to bask in my own glory before I was suddenly wrenched form the table. A cloth wrapped around me, rubbing at the ink along my back side. Casually, I erased it.

    I was flipped open and there was a brief tap of the utensil.

    "Nakia, are you alright?" The words written hastily and roughly.

    "I'm fine, why?"

    A few moments passed by as Cuttle tapped the utensil against my page, seeming to calm himself. "The table looks like a murder scene. Ink is splattered everywhere."

    "Ops."

    I apologize for the chapter going out so late. I do hope you enjoy the shenanigans though!

    I do apologize that this means less time to vote, so do to that, based on the winner there will be something special tacked on. Doubly so if it is a Write in.

    Majority Vote, with Approval
    Inkweave Specialization
    [ ] Ink Constructs - Movable and Manipulatable forms made of ink
    [ ] Ink Script - Writing that can be projected, written in the air
    [ ] Inkforaging - Inscribed or Tattooed work
    [ ] Arcane Ink - Typical Spellwork magic (offensive/defensive)
    [ ] Blood & Ink - Pact magic
    [ ] Write in - Come up with something cool! Do it! I dare ya!

    Feb 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM Until Vote Closes
     
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    • [X] Ink Constructs - Movable and Manipulatable forms made of ink

    [X] Arcane Ink - Typical Spellwork magic (offensive/defensive)
     
    [X] Alchemical Ink
    -[X] If the generated ink is mixed with various liquid or powdered materials and then used to draw an image it will generate effects based on the materials and image, though the materials are more important for the basic nature and power of the effect while the image determines things like the target or shape of the effect. For example, if coal dust were mixed into the ink and it were used to draw a line it may blast fire in the direction the line goes. More valuable/magical ingredients (or perhaps an infusion of mana) would be needed for stronger effects.

    Edit: Reformatting
     
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    [X] Inkforaging - Inscribed or Tattooed work
    [X] Arcane Ink - Typical Spellwork magic (offensive/defensive)
    [X] Blood & Ink - Pact magic

    [X] Write-in: 3d spell circles
    -[X] a sheet of paper is flat, allowing 2d magic circles, but a stack of pages is 3d, allowing even more complex circles.
    --[X] More preparation time, but greater/more efficient effects when activated.
     
    [X] Ink Script - Writing that can be projected, written in the air

    [X] Alchemical Ink

    [X] Sensorium Ink - Instead of only seeing what is written in ink; taste, smell, hear, and feel.
     
    Last edited:
    [X] Sensorium Ink - Instead of only seeing what is written in ink; taste, smell, hear, and feel.
    -[X] Ink that can write for the senses. Smell the air after a storm. Hear a baby's giggles. Feel a kiss on your cheek. Taste a blueberry.
     
    [X] Ink Constructs - Movable and Manipulatable forms made of ink
    [X] Arcane Ink - Typical Spellwork magic (offensive/defensive)
    [X] Ink Script - Writing that can be projected, written in the air

    What we most need right now, is ways to actively affect the outside world.
     
    [X] Inkforaging - Inscribed or Tattooed work
    [X] Arcane Ink - Typical Spellwork magic (offensive/defensive)
    [X] Blood & Ink - Pact magic
    [X] Ink Constructs - Movable and Manipulatable forms made of ink
     
    Vote 17 Closed, Posting Info New
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    • Adhoc vote count started by Runetyr on Feb 2, 2025 at 9:16 AM, finished with 12 posts and 10 votes.
    • [X] Arcane Ink - Typical Spellwork magic (offensive/defensive)
      [X] Ink Constructs - Movable and Manipulatable forms made of ink
      [X] Ink Script - Writing that can be projected, written in the air
      [X] Inkforaging - Inscribed or Tattooed work
      [X] Blood & Ink - Pact magic
      [X] Alchemical Ink
      -[X] If the generated ink is mixed with various liquid or powdered materials and then used to draw an image it will generate effects based on the materials and image, though the materials are more important for the basic nature and power of the effect while the image determines things like the target or shape of the effect. For example, if coal dust were mixed into the ink and it were used to draw a line it may blast fire in the direction the line goes. More valuable/magical ingredients (or perhaps an infusion of mana) would be needed for stronger effects.
      [X] Write-in: 3d spell circles
      -[X] a sheet of paper is flat, allowing 2d magic circles, but a stack of pages is 3d, allowing even more complex circles.
      --[X] More preparation time, but greater/more efficient effects when activated.
      [X] Alchemical Ink
      [X] Sensorium Ink - Instead of only seeing what is written in ink; taste, smell, hear, and feel.
      [X] Sensorium Ink - Instead of only seeing what is written in ink; taste, smell, hear, and feel.
      -[X] Ink that can write for the senses. Smell the air after a storm. Hear a baby's giggles. Feel a kiss on your cheek. Taste a blueberry.
    Click to expand...


    Arcane Ink it is! Gonna be fun! Pew pew ink laser!


    At this time I am also going to introduce a slightly new scheduling. Chapters will be released when completed, rather than 24 hours after a vote. This is to both make sure the chapter is up to snuff and not rushed, as well as to make sure writing these stories don't become a chore. I love writing, and it is a lot of fun telling these stories in this way.

    This does not mean there is going to be a week or more between chapters. If something like that were to happen. You would be notified before hand because I have vacation, visiting family, etc.

    At worse ~3 days for a chapter.

    Thank you all for your patience and understanding!
    Keep it Common!
     
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    Exciting News and a Small Pause! New
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    • Hey everyone!

    I wanted to take a moment to update you all on what's happening. While I absolutely love working on Reborn as... and its companion stories, I need to put them on pseudo-hiatus for a little while. But don't worry—it's for an exciting reason!

    I've been hard at work on my book, The Legends of Kin, and I'm thrilled to say that the first draft is complete on Royal Road (link below!). But the journey doesn't end there—I'm pushing forward with editing, refining, and preparing it for publication! With just two months left until my self-imposed deadline, I want to give it my full attention and make it the best it can be.

    That said, this isn't a full stop! Since this is a pseudo-hiatus, I'll still be dropping a chapter here and there when I need a break from editing. So you will be hearing from me!

    I truly appreciate your patience and support during this time. Honestly, writing these stories and seeing your engagement has rekindled my love for storytelling in ways I can't fully express. Thank you for being part of this journey with me.

    I'll write again soon—until then, keep it Common!

    For those interested, you can read The Legends of Kin here.
     
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