Clearly it’s dayti, yet not a sliver of sunlight falls; dark clouds gather thickly, forming a heavy barrier, with wind, rain, and lightning relentlessly flashing within.
The sea rolls and roars, with the Paradise standing tall amidst it, unmoved, just as its na implies, in this apocalyptic scene, it is the only paradise.
Through the howling wind and rain, lodious string music is heard.
The Paradise, the United Company’s palace on the sea, a mobile base overseeing Free Port, under the invitation of the banquet, guests flock onto the deck, stepping into the brightly lit banquet hall; the people of the Tide have no fear of passengers straying, as the areas related to the Extraordinary World have been strictly sealed through the Void Realm’s isolation.
Ewen stood alone on the deck, holding an umbrella, like a flower swaying in the storm, with the guests already inside the banquet hall, only he seed out of place, standing outside, unwilling to step in.
Ewen had attended many similar banquets before, exceedingly familiar with the process: first standing with everyone, then listening to the host’s endless babbling, casually finding a woman to sing and dance with, waiting until everyone is almost done, then tear off the mask of falsehood and reveal the true intent.
So ca for wealth, so to expand family influence, so simply to see the world, while others were dragged here against their will... although their goals differed, they all gathered here.
Ewen was different from them all, not having such complicated thoughts, he simply ca to et friends, after all, his journey was nearing its end, if he didn’t co now, there might be no chance later.
"Ewen, what are you thinking?"
A familiar voice sounded beside him, Ewen lowered his head, Cinderella stood close by, avoiding the heavy rain on the deck.
Unlike his own lancholy face, Cinderella’s face was filled with excitent at this mont, her wine-red eyes reflecting the colorful lights.
She held Ewen’s arm, gently tugging at him, with her body slightly leaning forward, Cinderella wanted to pull Ewen into the banquet hall, yet she clearly knew the decision was in Ewen’s hands.
"Thinking of so events from a long ti ago."
Ewen took a deep breath, the cold, damp sea breeze filled his nostrils, reminding him of that stormy night many years ago.
"Did you live in Free Port before?"
Cinderella asked curiously, during the past two days, she noticed that Ewen felt completely familiar with this city, as if he had spent a significant part of his ti here.
Ewen hesitated for a mont, "I lived here for a while when I was young."
Cinderella’s eyes sparkled, "Tell about it?"
"Never mind," Ewen shook his head, "those stories are quite boring."
Cinderella showed a disappointed look, she was very curious about Ewen’s past, but after days of probing, Ewen would always find so way to avoid the topic, as if there was a warning line on him that no one could cross.
Ewen was the sa. While Cinderella asked about his past, Ewen also tried to strike back, questioning the girl’s past.
Each ti, Ewen could back Cinderella into a corner in conversation, at such monts, Cinderella would look flustered, her face flushing, trying to justify sothing, but unable to speak, then she’d just lie on the bed, feigning death, ignoring Ewen. A child’s trick.
"How could it be boring!" Cinderella exclaid, "You’re actually able to attend such banquets!"
Cinderella pointed to the banquet hall ahead, even she understood that those who could attend a party on the Paradise were certainly not ordinary, then she looked at Ewen, recalling how he appeared when they first t.
A weary traveler, a man with a questionable past, a slick assassin...
The various labels overlapped, and only now did Cinderella belatedly realize that Ewen was indeed not so simple.
Usually, Ewen seed like a good-natured person, always smiling, saying "hello" and "thank you" to everyone, if there was a true utopia in this world, Ewen would definitely be a law-abiding citizen.
Ewen always had that harmless deanor, if not for being reminded deliberately, Cinderella would almost forget he had a Short Sword hidden under his left arm.
"Can we just go in like this, is it really okay?"
Cinderella examined herself, then scrutinized Ewen; for herself, despite wearing a cheap red dress, she could still draw so attention thanks to her adorable appearance, but Ewen was different.
Ewen still wore his heavy coat, even though he carefully wiped it with a wet napkin before departing, traces of travel dust were still evident at a glance, Ewen smoothed his hair, shaved his stubble, trying hard to look presentable, yet the fatigue of travel was still deeply etched on his face.
Compared to the lavishly dressed distinguished guests, Ewen appeared so out of place, like a stray rat barging in.
"Why not," Ewen said carelessly, "do you care so much about how others view you?"
"Prob... probably?"
"Why?"
Ewen’s question left Cinderella silent, for a mont she didn’t know how to answer.
"Isn’t that normal?" Cinderella argued, "Don’t you care what others think?"
"I don’t care."
"I don’t believe you."
Ewen smiled; he enjoyed chatting with Cinderella. Although this girl was mysterious and always put on an impressive deanor, he liked conversing with such youthful souls.
With his hand on Cinderella’s shoulder, Ewen bent down and pointed to the crowd under the lights, "Think about it, Cinderella, do you know these people?"
"I don’t know them."
"Will you know them after tonight? Probably not, right? We’re not here to make friends, moreover, whether they want to be friends with us is uncertain."
Ewen started his philosophical reasoning, "This world is like a river, and we are like fish in the river; we et different fish every day, and then everyone takes separate paths."
"There are many here whom we are eting for the first ti in our lives, but it will also be the last ti we et. In fact, after the banquet, you can completely treat these people as dead; there will be no interaction for the rest of your life.
Would you care how a dead person, or a group of dead people view you?"
Cinderella was struck by Ewen’s words, with her gaze seeming sowhat dazed. After a few seconds, she raised her head and replied with a complex expression, "Ewen, your description is quite dangerous."
"Don’t mind those, think about what I said, isn’t it true?"
Ewen stepped forward, now he was dragging Cinderella along. Unlike Ewen’s composure, Cinderella clearly beca tense; this was her first ti attending such an occasion.
The warmth indoors dispelled the wet cold of the storm; brightly dressed ladies and gentlen in black suits conversed on the red carpet. As the music soared, n and won joined hands to dance, while on the surrounding tables and chairs, the powerful whispered to each other, discussing the distribution of interests.
A sense of elegance and solemnity, full of the oppressive feeling of power, surrounded her. Like a wild deer running freely in nature, Cinderella found herself shrinking in this human steel jungle.
Cinderella felt a burning sensation as if the gazes of others were like flas scorching her.
Ewen whispered, "When ’Cinderella’ attends a banquet, she doesn’t look like this."
"She has a Magic Skirt, Crystal Shoes, and a Pumpkin Carriage," Cinderella retorted defiantly, "What do I have, a Poet full of weird ideas?"
"Hmm? Well, actually I thought of taking you to change clothes; after all, even if you consider others dead, it’s still a banquet, so respect for the host is necessary."
Ewen maintained his smiling deanor, "Sadly, we spent my last travel money on breakfast this morning."
"Ah?"
Cinderella was montarily at a loss for words and could only mutter, "You really are a fool in a good way."
"Not that foolish," Ewen said, "I have my motives."
Cinderella’s gaze beca wary, "Wh-...what motive?"
"If I can help others, I gain a sense of spiritual satisfaction. Since I’m spiritually impoverished, and if spending money and doing good deeds can achieve that satisfaction, then it’s quite a bargain."
Ewen looked down at Cinderella, "See, I’m doing it for myself."
"Do you think I’m a hypocritical person?"
"I don’t know," Cinderella no longer understood Ewen’s words, she hesitated for a while, "But surely a hypocritical person wouldn’t say they’re hypocritical."
Ewen laughed at Cinderella’s words. Not far from them, many guests were surrounding a man, whispering constantly with words of praise; it seed he was the host of this banquet.
The host noticed Ewen and Cinderella, walked out of the crowd, and strode towards the two, making Cinderella nervous. This incongruous appearance, could he be coming to expel her?
She tugged at Ewen forcefully, but couldn’t move him. The host soon reached them, and Cinderella closed her eyes, preparing to endure the scrutiny of others’ gazes.
Nolen looked at Ewen, both delighted and surprised, "I didn’t expect to see you again."
"After being ho for a long ti, you inevitably want to take a walk."
Ewen shook hands with Nolen with a smile, while Cinderella looked on bewilderedly.
Nolen turned around, introducing Ewen to the other guests.
"Ladies and gentlen, this is Mr. Ewen Flesher."
People exchanged glances; it was clear that nobody had heard of this na, but judging from Nolen’s attitude, the person was no small figure. So began to recall carefully, wondering if they had forgotten sothing, as conversations continued.
"Compared to this na, they should be more familiar with my other na."
Ewen sighed, he always disliked being excessively exposed under people’s gaze, he walked forward a few steps and reintroduced himself to the guests.
"If the na Ewen Flesher seems unfamiliar to you, you can call by my pseudonym."
Under confused gazes, Ewen ntioned another na.
"Crowned Blue Jay."
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