Chapter 12 : Epiphany

Author note : Hello everyone ! Here's the new chapter for Marvel : the Author. You can read ahead, or even discover some of my other work on Webnovel or on Patréon. Here's the link : https://www.patre*n.com/user?u=66371596

You can also simply search for Cathbel on the website. In the coming days or weeks, I'll begin to post another one of my stories : Reborn as Lex Luthor.

Enjoy !

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Sitting upright in my swiveling desk chair, I look at the shelves of notebook by the door. They're getting too crowded. No, scratch that ! They've been crowded for a while… Now, it's spilling on the floor. At least, that would be the case if it was water. Instead, you have a neat row of notebooks, underneath a couple of messy piles, not even mentioning those on and in my desk.

A real fire hazard. And if it does catch fire, all my and Cory's hard work will have been for naught : all the programs, my drawings and creations… All could be gone. I really need to find a way to store them safely !

I actually have this idea to remedy it. It's a bit complex to code, so I'm thinking of just writing it all up… Besides, I'm currently a little wary about sharing all my secrets with Cory (and by extension Doreen, 'cause she's a blabbermouth). Who knows if in this iteration of the Marvelverse, she decides to join her dear, wacky dad or her extremist mommy… She already knows the weakness of my ink, and at the moment, she also knows where all my notebooks are. This needs to change, right away !

So, I retrieve a small, pocket-size notebook. This one, I'm planning on always carrying it with me, in an waterproof bag. If the notebooks on my shelves can be considered as floppy disks or CDs, I'm starting to think as this one as THE hard drive.

The idea I have came from a TV show, actually. More precisely, it comes from a scene where Russian nesting dolls served to hide a key to the house the main characters needed access to. Why don't I just do something like this ? I could have all my notebooks stored on a single page of a drawing. It also resembles the principle of mise en abyme, only instead of an image, it'll be information contained in information… Kind of. I think it will work, but I'm not entirely sure. Another thing I'm not sure of : whether the effects of the writings stored in the drawing will impact the outside world.

It should basically act like a small pocket dimension. So, when I write, I'll need to be able to put something in as well as take something out. If I can't do the latter and my notebooks have no more effect on the world… or if I need to edit a bit of code and they're all trapped in there ?

« Okay… Let's first test it out with small things I can actually afford to lose. » I comment out loud.

At least, that's the plan when I actually finish the program. I first start by drawing an elaborate frame on a page. Then, I define the frame as the zone to store things. I then program simple command words : in to store, and out to take out. It sounds bad and I don't really like it but I'm just experimenting with it right now.

On a sheet of paper, I write a simple program for one of my cartoon character. Once I'm done, I run it and put the sheet inside the frame before writing in, on the other page.

« It's working ! » I exclaim excitedly. Then, I deflate almost instantly : the character I just drew completely stopped moving ; the animation has been canceled. I guess I'll need to write a few more lines to allow the programs to run and work even while stored.

« Well, alright ! Still need to test something out… » Although I say this, I have a good idea of how it'll work out.

I take another sheet of paper, a blank one this time and put it on the frame as well before storing it. Then, I write out. As expected, the two sheets spill out of the frame like black ink before reforming into mostly white pieces of paper.

« Yeah, that's not gonna work… » I comment while glancing at my shelves of notebooks. Imagining them all popping out like this…

It's best if I can choose what I want to take out. Shall I code in an entry number when I put something in ? But then I'll need to remember which number matched which notebook. I guess I'll simply have to write it down… I glance back at the shelves and think.

These notebooks are pretty messy. They don't really have titles, nor can they be categorized with what they contain. Because what they contain… Well, it's all over the place. Sometimes I'm coding a spell on a bunch of page, and then start drawing a new cartoon character, or simply write down some ideas about my books.

As I continue to ponder, I decide that, after I finish this program, I have to organize all my notebooks. Re-write them in more ordered way. This way, I'll be able to more easily retrieve the relevant one I need at any moment.

« This'll be a lot of work… »

Once I'm done and the new notebooks are stored, I think I'll still keep these ones. Just as a safeguard if I ever lose the Hard drive. It can also act as decoy if anyone who wishes me harm ever learns enough about my power to figure out my weakness.

Tapping the back of my dip pen on the desk as I gaze at the program in progress, I think about it further… This 'dimensional storage' opens new doors for me. Like in the Naruto manga and the character Tenten, I could carry around hundreds, if not thousands of weapons in something as small as a wallet. Or, since I'm actually not that much of a fighter, I could always have talismans or magical items on hand.

As I look at the image of the drawn and empty shelves inside the frame, I imagine myself physically retrieving a book from it… Now, wouldn't this be interesting ! Like in cartoons, when a fleeing character draws the image of a road on a wall and passes right through it to continue running… They can most definitely serve as portal, though they'd be even longer to create than normal ones, but also would also last longer. However, could I… create those sceneries and go there ?

Suddenly, an idea hits me ! And I almost smacks myself for not thinking of it earlier… I'll need to be very careful with this storage idea. My magic, like almost all magic, is not infinite. And my spells, enchantments and pretty much everything involving my ink will run out of fuel. If it does… I'll lose everything ! Although I can tell whether something still contains magic, I can't exactly tell how much… Maybe I should add some kind of gauge on the book to keep me informed when I need to replenish it. No, not maybe. Definitely !

I instantly write a note of it in the small book so as not to forget before I return to my earlier thoughts… Creating and visiting the sceneries I create. As an aspiring writer, creating a unique world has always been a dream of mine. Most fantasy and science fiction writers are like this I think… Some have succeeded : Tolkien, Bram Stoker, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Robin Hobb… There's more, of course. More I don't even know the names of, or their work. What they can never do, but I can however, was actually make my world a reality.

Roaming the streets of my novels, witnessing the battles I wrote about, the political happenings, walk in a beautiful, virgin forest of my own making…

I slowly lose myself in my daydream… Until I do, in fact, start dreaming.

* * * * *

Waking up with a start, I look around blearily. I'm still sitting at my desk, only said-desk has been stained with saliva. Thankfully, there was a notebook there. I retrieve the program I was working on… And frown. I don't like how it's written.

« Okay… Let's just code it ! »

The reason I originally didn't want to bother was… Because I'm lazy. Unlike Cory, I'm still a noob when it comes to coding and learning is a tedious affair. However, there were also benefits to it.

The first one : people who don't know the code Cory and I created won't be able to read or understand it. Honestly, that's a big plus, even though I don't plan on handing the hard drive to anyone, or even leaving it lying around for someone to get their hands on. Still, you never know…

The second, and most important to me, at least… Is the power difference between a program I wrote with or without code. Sure, the typeface has a big impact on its power, but so does the code. We've spent a long ass time on defining the symbols, abbreviations, syntax etc… The fact that we narrowed their function and gave them a specific purpose, also gives power to my ink. That, and it also impacts the magic consumption.

So, yeah… Even if it'll take longer, I'm gonna code it.

Nevertheless, I sigh at the prospect of so much work.