"Why does everything sound like playing around when it comes out of your mouth?"
Ye Chang'an happened to be flipping through the simulation logs and complained about it, but 002 ignored him and continued recording things as it saw fit.
PS Soul-searching question: If Destruction was the Cocoon of the End's embrace of human civilization, then during the Second Destruction, who was the god that blocked the Tai Xu Sword God for Sirin?
Song of World Destruction: Displaced Time: 2. Sirin's Mother Fell Ill
"Chang'an, let's go out and play."
Sirin dragged Ye Chang'an out of the tree hollow once again. He wore a wry smile, though inwardly he felt helpless.
Elementary education really is important. Otherwise, these children have far too much free time.
Thinking back to when he was eight in the last simulation, he had spent most of his time sitting in an elementary classroom where he learned practically nothing, staring blankly at the blackboard while considering which piece of music to discuss with Eden after class.
The days had been dull, yet full of anticipation.
But being eight now... all he did was play. Play relentlessly.
Ever since Sirin had dragged him out of the tree hollow, she had taken him all over the surrounding area for dozens of miles.
They ran around outside every day, and whenever they reached somewhere beautiful, he would take out an instrument and work on his music.
Sirin would sit beside him, resting her chin in her hands as she watched peacefully.
How should he put it? It seemed rather interesting, but also a little boring.
Ye Chang'an felt it was necessary to find something for Sirin to do.
"Sirin, what kind of job do you want to have in the future?"
He spoke, only to realize after saying it that he had been a little stupid.
Damn it, what future does Sirin have? She'll become Kiana someday.
He wanted to slap himself, but Sirin had already answered.
"Um, in the future... I want to be a tailor. Like Mom, I want to make clothes for everyone in the village."
The villagers had never gone out to see the world, and with no school in the village, most children simply inherited their parents' trades.
Sirin's mother ran a tailor shop in the village, so it was only natural that Sirin would have such a dream.
There was nothing wrong with it. It just might not come true.
Ye Chang'an did not say that aloud. He simply grabbed Sirin and headed toward the village, speaking as they walked.
"Then don't wait until the future. Go learn how to make clothes right now."
If someone had a dream, they had to pursue it early, lest fate deprive them of the chance to fulfill it.
Sirin naturally wanted that too, but she put on a wronged expression.
"I've already learned, but Mom won't let me make any."
She was too young, and using scissors was somewhat dangerous.
Besides, supplies in the village were scarce, and there was not much fabric to spare. How could they let a child waste it carelessly?
"It's fine. I'll talk to her."
Ye Chang'an patted his chest and gave his assurance. For the first time, he stepped through Sirin's front door, settled the matter with her mother in just a few words, and finally obtained some scraps that could not be used.
Looking at the scraps of cloth, each no bigger than a palm, Sirin was speechless.
"Chang'an, these can't be made into clothes. There's no way they can."
"Nonsense. Have you forgotten who I am?" Ye Chang'an raised an eyebrow, picked up a scrap, and used his authority to turn it into a large, complete piece of fabric.
The fabric was merely an excuse to make Sirin's mother agree to let her play with scissors.
"Wow, Lord God is amazing."
Sirin happily hugged Ye Chang'an, then eagerly began designing an outfit and preparing to cut the cloth.
It was clear that she genuinely wanted to make a piece of clothing.
Ye Chang'an watched with a smile, took out a flute, and slowly began playing a simple melody.
Hearing the sound, Sirin's mother poked her head in from the shop and looked on in astonishment.
She did not disturb them, quietly closing the door before leaving.
~
~
"Mom, happy birthday."
On her mother's birthday, Sirin presented a beautifully wrapped box as though offering a treasure, leaving her mother quite surprised.
"Sirin, where did this box come from?"
The box was far too beautiful. It did not resemble the craftsmanship of the 1990s at all.
"Hehe, Chang'an gave me this box. He said birthday gifts should be wrapped nicely before being given away."
Sirin grinned foolishly and urged her mother to hurry up and open the box to see what was inside.
"(⊙o⊙)... This..." Her mother was stunned when she saw the exquisite outfit inside.
"Mom, try it on. I made it myself~"
Sirin eagerly anticipated how her mother would look in the new clothes. This mother, who doted on her daughter, ultimately put them on.
"Wow~ Mom, you're so pretty."
Sirin's eyes sparkled as she looked at her mother, utterly dazzled by her.
Clothes made the man, and a saddle made the horse. Sirin's mother truly was beautiful, but her difficult life had left her without any pretty clothes.
Even she herself was astonished, staring at her reflection in the mirror in disbelief.
"Sirin, did you really make this outfit?"
She doubted her daughter's handiwork. How could it possibly be this good?
"Uh, well, actually... actually..." Sirin fidgeted before sheepishly telling the truth.
"Actually, I only made a small part of it. Chang'an made most of it."
Yes, a small part. Sirin had only been responsible for the cutting.
Ye Chang'an had done all the remaining work, because Sirin's clothing designs were far too old-fashioned, and her needlework was not very good either.
"He really is amazing." Her mother marveled, and Sirin nodded proudly.
"Of course Lord God is amazing. He's the most amazing person in the world."
"Lord God..." her mother murmured. Remembering the otherworldly air Ye Chang'an had possessed when she saw him playing the flute that time, she felt for the first time that the boy might truly be a god.
A god who lived in the snowy forest, a god only Sirin could find.
"Sirin, you must listen to Lord God carefully from now on. Only obedient children can receive Lord God's protection."
Her mother gave Sirin that instruction, and Sirin nodded as though it were only natural.
She had always been very obedient.
Her mother smiled in satisfaction, her smile carrying both relief and peace.
With Lord God around, my Sirin will surely grow up safely.
She felt that she would not live to see Sirin grow up, because her body was getting worse by the day.
It seemed like she was sick, yet she did not know what illness it was.
Many people in the village were the same.
~
~
"Sirin, happy birthday."
For the first time, her mother took her to the city outside the village and brought her to a shop to eat cake.
Because today was November 11, 1996, Sirin's birthday.
She was nine years old.
"Mom, what is this? It's so delicious."
"Mom, you should eat some too."
Sirin ate happily, but she did not forget to share with her mother. She picked up a piece of cake and held it to her mother's mouth.
"You eat it. Mom won't have any."
Her mother smiled lovingly and told Sirin she could finish the cake.
But Sirin only ate half.
"Mom, can I take this half back for Chang'an?"
She had never seen Ye Chang'an eat cake, so she assumed he probably had never eaten any.
"Hehe, of course you can~"
Her mother agreed. She stayed with Sirin until Sirin fell asleep, then went to the hospital to have her body examined.
She had come to see a doctor.
But the examination revealed nothing unusual, so naturally there was no treatment to be found.
Disappointed, she pulled herself together and took Sirin home.
Not long after they left, the hospital she had visited submitted her test results to a higher-level medical institution.
That medical institution belonged to—Destiny.
Unaware of this, she watched Sirin carry cake into the snowy forest to find Ye Chang'an. Shaking her head, she prepared to sew some clothes, only to collapse to the floor in weakness.
It was not until Sirin returned home that she let out a panicked scream.
"Mom, Mom, what's wrong?"
Song of World Destruction: Displaced Time: 3. The Path of Music Needed No Corpses to Pave It
Sirin frantically took her mother to the village's only doctor, but the doctor could only shake his head helplessly and say there was nothing he could do.
He himself had the same illness.
"How could this happen..."
Sirin despaired, afraid that her mother would never wake up again.
Chang'an... Chang'an must have a way.
She thought of Ye Chang'an, ran into the snowy forest through the night, crawled into the tree hollow, and launched a nighttime raid.
"Chang'an, sob, Chang'an, Mom, she... Mom, she..."
She was so panicked that she could not form a complete sentence.
"Sirin, don't panic. Calm down. Tell me what happened."
Ye Chang'an asked calmly, though he already had an answer in his heart.
Sirin's mother would die because of Destruction, but the cause of death would not be Destruction Sickness.
Destruction Sickness was merely one manifestation of Destruction. Other forms included natural disasters, illnesses, plagues, and more.
For example, the Black Death that spread through Europe beginning in 1570 was one such manifestation.
Sirin's mother had also fallen ill, as had most of the people in the entire village.
Before you continue