As Ethan stepped into the grand Library, his thoughts drifted back to his recent encounter with the enigmatic Ninth Sun. He found himself unable to reconcile the reality before him with the image of young masters he had long encountered in novels.
These scions of influential families possessed wealth, power, and undeniable talent. Yet, rather than savoring the privileges their lineage afforded, they squandered their time and energy tormenting those they deemed beneath them, driven solely by a cruel sense of superiority.
'Can they not simply relish the privileges bestowed upon them at birth? Marry as many women as they desire, indulge in leisure, and squander their fortunes without malice' Ethan mused with a weary sigh as he continued walking.
'At least, I doubt I'll cross paths with him again anytime soon. It seemed he was just departing the Library' he reflected quietly, drawing near to a table.
A man sat carelessly, legs casually draped atop the table. His hair was a striking contrast of black interspersed with silver strands, and his piercing green eyes hinted at a man likely in his forties. Without offering Ethan so much as a glance, he absently flipped through the magazine in his hand.
"Good morning, Great Elder," Ethan greeted respectfully.
The man slowly lifted his head from the pages, his indifferent green gaze meeting Ethan's with a steady, appraising stare that lingered for a moment.
"It's been a while, Asher. I wonder what brings you to the domain of this old man," the Great Elder, the librarian, remarked in a calm, measured voice.
"I am simply here to read, Great Elder," Ethan replied evenly, his expression unreadable, neither a smile nor a frown to betray his thoughts.
"Obviously," the Great Elder responded with a hint of amusement. "Anyone who enters a library comes to read, after all."
"Then I suppose there's nothing left to keep you," he added smoothly, his gaze shifting briefly to Lyra, who stood silently behind Ethan, before returning to the magazine in his hands.
'Hmmm. There's something different about him' the Great Elder mused, observing Ethan from the corner of his eye.
Unaware of the scrutiny, Ethan moved deliberately through the Library's aisles. Even if he had sensed the gaze upon him, it would not have altered his purpose that brought him here today.
"You may wait here or explore if you wish. I'll return in a few hours," Ethan said without turning.
At his words, Lyra halted mid-step and nodded silently. She remained rooted in place, her eyes calm as they followed Ethan's every movement.
Approaching a particular row of shelves, Ethan murmured to himself, "Hmmm. I first begin with world history, then branch out to other subjects from there."
He lifted his hand to retrieve an old heavy book titled; History of the World.
Without concern for appearances or status, Ethan settled onto the floor, his back resting casually against the bookshelf. As he opened the book and began to read, his mind absorbed the knowledge with effortless clarity and ease.
'Thank goodness my intelligence came with me. One can only wonder what sort of mind Asher possesses' Ethan mused silently as he read.
It was precisely his intellect that allowed him to maintain a flawless 5.0 CGPA with apparent ease, all the while finding time to study and read medical textbooks to assist Jennifer with her own exams.
From memory, Ethan had never seen Asher engrossed in a book. His years, from childhood at five to sixteen, had been consumed entirely by continuous physical training. Eleven years of ceaseless exertion, enough for any observer to dismiss him as 'all muscle and no brain.'
Ethan effortlessly flipped through the thick book, its hundreds of pages seeming weightless in his hands. Within minutes, he had absorbed its contents. A faint frown crept across his face as he closed the book, his mind meticulously processing everything he had just read.
The world into which he had transmigrated was called Crymora. At first glance, it appeared an ordinary realm, its inhabitants going about their daily lives untouched by supernatural forces or extraordinary powers, much like his previous world. But, unlike his former home, Crymora lacked technological advancement.
Crymora was a world without nobles, kings, emperors, empires, kingdoms, or divisions. There were no gods to rule over it. Instead, it existed as a singular, unified entity, an apparent idyll of harmony and order.
Though crime persisted daily, offenders were swiftly apprehended and punished in accordance with the gravity of their offenses by the authorities entrusted with maintaining justice.
Until everything changed.
The first shift was recorded around twenty thousand years ago, though some whispered it may have occurred even earlier, shrouded in the mists of time. A fragment of a star plummeted from the sky, striking Crymora's ground with a cataclysmic impact. Upon contact, a pulse of energy radiated outward in a perfect ring, encircling the entire planet.
Witnesses to this extraordinary event rushed eagerly to the site of the star fragment's descent, driven by hope of treasure or revelation. Yet, all they found was a yawning sinkhole, carved deep into the earth by the force of the collision.
But that was only the beginning.
The pulse of energy, witnessed by many yet dismissed as an enigma beyond their understanding, especially since it appeared but once, had quietly set in motion a profound transformation.
As years passed, subtle changes began to manifest, impossible to ignore. Some people found themselves sensing an unfamiliar presence in the air, an intangible shift. Others experienced the sudden awakening of abilities, emerging seemingly from nowhere, altering the very fabric of their existence.
Crime surged as individuals began wielding their newfound abilities without restraint. Yet, with the rise of lawlessness, so too did justice rise to meet the challenge. The world grappled to comprehend the unfolding changes and the forces behind them, ultimately attributing the upheaval to the star fragment that had fallen from the sky.
And in this, they were not mistaken.
For the star fragment's influence extended far beyond merely awakening latent powers, it heralded something far greater, something yet to be fully understood.