Chapter 21 Ethan's Peaceful Day Ethan returned to Starfall...
Ethan breathed a sigh of relief upon returning to the alternate dimension of Starfall. Are people outside really this cunning these days? What a close call; he almost actually believed them.
When Ethan returned, Starfall still hadn't come back, which made him worry about Starfall, so he sent a message to Starfall in the City Will and Guardian's private channel.
"Ethan: Lord Starfall, was something holding you up? I haven't seen you around."
After hesitating for a moment, Ethan sent an emoticon.
"Ethan: Oo"
Xingyun sensed a message in the channel, dodged Yangyan's murderous attack, and then checked it.
It's Ethan. Starfall did forget to tell Ethan why he hadn't gone back yet. He'll try to remember next time.
"Starfall: I'm going back tomorrow. Don't worry, it's just a personal matter."
"You're still texting?" Yang Yan asked, somewhat annoyed, as he removed Xingyun's left arm. "Is fighting with me this boring?"
Mentally ill. Starfall assessment.
Where did this jealousy city come from? Do you even know? Are you a masochist?
Xingyun had had enough of fighting, but unexpectedly, Yangyan became more and more excited as they fought, and refused to let him go.
Xingyun originally thought he should know a little about Yangyan.
The image of that ruthless, blond, and brutal figure in my memory, with his deep green eyes swirling with unreadable emotions in the darkness, was once the nightmare of many city leaders, and it was also his.
but……
Xingyun looked down at Yangyan's body, where she had carelessly wiped blood from her nose on the ground, and his heart skipped a beat. He suspected that Yangyan had been replaced by another new will, because he couldn't see any trace of the madwoman from before.
Yang Yan was unaware that because he had grown up and become more restrained than before, and had finally become sensible (forced to do so), Xing Yun actually thought that the current Yang Yan's city will was a new one from later on.
She was still disgusted by Xingyun's presence so she could fight him again; she just didn't believe it.
*
Ethan was relieved to receive Starfall's reply; it was good that everything was alright.
He started to lose track of what he was doing again. Starfall hadn't asked him to study, and he was already a bit tired of studying those books on magic and social skills.
Ethan looked at the seemingly endless library and wondered if he could take advantage of Starfall's absence to look at some miscellaneous books that might interest him.
Ethan casually picked up a copy of "The Outsider" and opened it to the first page.
"Today, Mom died."
Ethan slammed the book shut and shoved it back onto the shelf.
I'm not interested in this kind of subject matter. The very first sentence is cheesy. You can avoid mentioning the mother, but the first sentence is something like "the mother died." Ethan has no desire to continue reading.
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to books. This book might be very good, but Ethan might not want to read it after just the first sentence.
Ethan tried to find one that interested him among the titles, his finger passing over Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, Lady Chatterley's Lover, and Wuthering Heights, before finally stopping at The Three-Body Problem. Ethan then pulled the book out.
He was a little curious. Although he had found a few book titles that interested him when he was looking for books, he could look at them later. What he was really curious about now was why this book was called "The Three-Body Problem." Was it because it had three volumes?
Just kidding, but when Ethan saw these three copies of The Three-Body Problem displayed here, that was his first thought.
So he opened the first volume and started reading.
Time always flies when you're immersed in the world of words; a few hours passed in the blink of an eye, and Ethan had finished the first book.
He closed the book blankly, blinked, and his mind was still reeling.
What a vast world-building! There are so many plot points I don't understand. I've tried to comprehend them, but my brain is practically burning up, and I'm still a bit confused.
Ethan looked up at the rooftop, which was shaped like a night sky by meteorites. The planets on it seemed to be moving, and the position of one of the stars seemed to have changed since the last time Ethan looked at it.
What was he going to do? I think he was going to relax and read some random books, right? So what did he just read?
In short, Ethan stared blankly for several minutes before snapping out of it.
Unconvinced, he pulled out the second book and started reading.
Huh? The wall-breaker? The wife? Huh?
Several more hours passed, and Ethan silently closed the book, his mind still foggy.
I don't quite understand it.
There are quite a few details that Ethan doesn't understand yet. Maybe after watching it a few more times, he will realize it at some point. But he hasn't even finished watching it the first time yet. He's still confused and can only skim through it.
Ethan pulled out the last book and began to read it.
……sky.
This idea only came to Ethan when he was reading the last book.
By the time Ethan finished reading the third book, it was already past midnight.
He put all three books back on the bookshelf, opened a portal, teleported to the rooftop of a high-rise building in Starfall City, and carefully disposed of the nearby surveillance cameras.
Ethan looked up at the sky, where the stars were twinkling, just as they had been over the long years, nothing different.
Stars may appear tiny to the naked eye, but humanity is even smaller. Each star is as vast as Earth, and perhaps Earth's civilization is just one insignificant one among many.
Are there people on other planets? Ethan hadn't actually thought about that before.
Like most people, he believed that only on Earth could humans exist. Earth had also explored Mars and the Moon, but had not found any evidence to prove that humans existed.
Ethan suddenly felt incredibly insignificant, just an insignificant member of the vast sea of people, and that becoming a guardian wouldn't be a big deal.
Oh, right, the Guardians.
I was so engrossed in reading that I almost forgot I was a guardian, or even a magician.
Ethan had been thinking about whether the Trisolarans really existed.
Good news! We finally know the origin of the book's title.
The bad news is that the kids were completely bewildered after watching it, and they won't be rewatching it anytime soon.
Having read such a novel that he was so deeply moved, Ethan lost all interest in reading other types of novels; he needed to take a break.
Lord Starfall said he would return the next day, but didn't specify what time the next day would be, so Ethan still had plenty of time.
Ethan urgently needs to vent the random thoughts and inspirations that have popped into his head since finishing The Three-Body Problem.
Forget about mixing potions, he's made too many. Now he feels like vomiting just from the smell of potions.
Starfall loves research and can tolerate it, but Ethan doesn't; he can't stand it anymore.
How about painting? You have to find a hobby that can unleash your creative desires.
He can't sing, he's socially awkward, and even though there's no one else here, he's still a little embarrassed.
Painting is different; you can find a secluded corner, take a pen and a piece of paper, and quietly immerse yourself in your own world.
What should he draw? Since Ethan had just read The Three-Body Problem, he drew a starry sky with a child lying in the grass, his eyes filled with a sense of bewilderment and curiosity about the universe.
Ethan patiently used crayons to gradually fill in the large areas with black, the deep blue and black intertwining. Finally, he gently rolled the white crayon a few times, and stars were born. Then he drew a full moon next to them.
The sound of crayons scratching paper is very relaxing; at least Ethan finds it pleasant.
Ethan then chose a darker green to paint the grass, because he was painting at night, so he needed a lower saturation.
The child only has a rough human shape; I haven't decided what he should look like yet.
How about drawing a girl?
Ethan acted swiftly, and in no time at all, a cute little girl with M-shaped bangs appeared. Looking into the little girl's beady eyes, Ethan felt his mood improve.
Wait...why does he look a bit like his mother?
The more Ethan looked at him, the more he resembled him. Is it true that when you love someone, you unconsciously reveal their shadow in everything you do? He really does look like Selene.
Mom must have been very cute when she was little.
As Ethan was drawing cute patterns on the dress of the girl who had been designated as little Selene, his mind wandered, and he was starting to wonder what his mother looked like when she was a child.
By the time Ethan finished drawing, it was already six in the morning. He stared at the cute little girl in the drawing, lost in thought.
Let's frame it, and add a few spells to make sure it won't get damaged by accident.
Ethan found a picture frame and gave the painting a magical spell that made it waterproof, fireproof, electric shockproof, and tear-proof, making the painting even harder and stronger than Ethan's body before reluctantly putting it inside.
Normal children will show their drawings of their mothers to their mothers.
Ethan actually wanted to show it to Selene, but because of his own reasons, he sealed off Selene's memory and erased all traces of his own existence. His mother didn't recognize him, so he couldn't show him the painting; otherwise, it would be too inexplicable.
However, Ethan believed that one day he would be strong enough that no one could hurt Selene. At that time, he would not have to worry about enemies capturing Selene to threaten him, or even torturing her simply for revenge.
When that day comes, he can openly and honestly return to his mother's arms and express his longing. His most beloved mother will likely respond with a gentle and understanding smile, praising him for becoming a capable person.
That day will come... I think so.
Ethan could only set a goal for himself; having something in front of him to keep him motivated to strive for it.
Otherwise, as a guardian, the price he could pay to stand in this world again was the inability to be with Selene anymore—Ethan would be furious; it was simply too much to bear.
As a child, he was always greedy. He wasn't satisfied with secretly protecting Selene from the shadows. He wanted to get back together with her and be close to her, because Selene was his mother. It's normal for a child to love his mother.
When his mother learns that he has become so powerful, able to protect Starfall City and her, will she be proud of him? Or will she feel sorry for him?
Ethan hoped it was pride; he didn't like Selene's tears, and he would cry if he saw them.
Tomorrow will always be better, won't it?
Ethan held the painting, thinking about the possibility of starting a new life with Selene in the future, and drowsiness washed over him.
Ethan is asleep.
A note from the author:
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*The first sentence of The Stranger* To be honest, I really like The Stranger. I initially wanted Ethan to read it, but the very first sentence scared him away. Then I browsed my bookshelf to see which book Ethan could read. I thought *La Dame aux Camélias* was good, then *No Longer Human* was good, and finally, I chose *The Three-Body Problem*.
Ethan after watching: Universe, Vortex, Cat.jpg
Ethan had never formally studied drawing, and his drawings, while not ugly, weren't particularly beautiful either.
I tried drawing a picture I had in mind, green and white @叶墨墨墨, and my drawing was horribly ugly.
Yes, that day will come. But your mom is against you becoming a guardian. She doesn't want you to do anything too dangerous; she just wants you to be an ordinary person. [There's actually a metaphor in Chapter Two; you might forget that Ethan's mom reacted strongly because she realized Ethan might do something dangerous.]
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