Ethan immediately thought of a solution. He removed the black cloth and waved his wand: "Come out! Descendant of Slytherin, Tom Riddle!"
"Swish!" A plain brown wardrobe materialised in midair. The doors banged open, revealing an endless starry sky with iridescent colours dancing before Ethan's eyes.
At the bottom lay a black-covered diary. Not exactly lying quietly. Looking closely, one could see the diary trembling slightly. Like a small creature being overwhelmed by forces beyond its control.
It seemed little Tom really enjoyed this dreamy single room.
Ethan nodded with satisfaction. He took out the diary and opened it. Before he could write anything, urgent words appeared:
What are your orders, Lord Vincent?
I can help you so much, the value I can bring is immeasurable... so you really don't need to lock me in that eerie space!
The final exclamation mark nearly tore through the paper. Quite emotional.
Ethan wrote: How could I deprive someone of the right to appreciate art? You've been in that diary for so long, you must be going stir-crazy.
Tom responded: "..." If this continued, he wouldn't just be going crazy... he'd completely lose it!
Ethan continued: Alright, I know you like me a lot, but let's get to business. I'm currently in the Chamber...
At these words, the diary shuddered violently! The Chamber?! He hadn't even revealed the Chamber's location yet... how had this brat found it?!
Tom was utterly shocked. He couldn't help but extend a bit of his soul from the diary. Having absorbed quite a few people in Knockturn Alley, his power had grown somewhat.
The cold aura, the faint hissing sounds... It really was the Chamber! How... how was this possible?!
Even the great and clever him, "Voldemort (Tom Riddle)," had spent five full years discovering this secret. Heaven knows why Salazar Slytherin had placed the Chamber's entrance in a girls' bathroom.
Tom wrote: You... how did you discover the Chamber's location? Who told you?
Naturally, the original story told me. But of course Ethan wouldn't tell Tom that.
Ethan replied: Is it that difficult? Can't you feel the Chamber's call? Are you not pure-blood but half-blood?
This last casual remark dealt Tom a fatal blow. Tom's essence blazed with fury. If he had a physical form and could affect Ethan at all, he would subject him to the most painful, torturous fate right now!
Half-blood! This was his deepest pain and most carefully hidden secret.
Though he raised the banner of pure-blood supremacy to launch campaigns and gather followers, half the blood flowing through him came from his "filthy" Muggle father. How did this brat know? He had never mentioned his background! What was the true identity of this mere Hogwarts second-year...?
Tom became cautious. The magical tendrils he had quietly extended to absorb Ethan's life force and control him quickly retracted.
He said respectfully: Please continue. What can I do for you?
Oh? One word about being half-blood, and it was such a critical hit? Ethan felt like he'd grasped little Voldemort's weak spot. That felt good!
Ethan wrote: I need you to translate what that basilisk is saying.
After thinking, Ethan added: I hope you won't disappoint me. Otherwise, you won't want to know how the last Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was reduced to ash.
Though even if Tom cooperated obediently, Ethan wouldn't spare him. It was just the difference between immediate execution and a stay of execution. Hehe.
Tom responded: Of course. You can trust me one hundred percent. I stand with you, Lord Vincent.
Tom held his breath and concentrated, discerning the muffled sounds coming from the stone walls. After a long moment, he wrote slowly: The basilisk says... it's shedding its skin and has limited mobility. It asks you to come back in two months.
Shedding skin? Ethan was stunned and fell into thought.
No wonder in the original story, Hogwarts didn't face attacks right at the start of term. He remembered it was around Halloween when Filch's cat was petrified. Calculating, that was indeed about two months.
And with little Tom's manipulation proficiency, bewitching diary-holder Ginny wouldn't take two months either. It all matched up, everything aligned. It wasn't that little Tom wasn't trying hard. It was that basilisk slacking off!
Tom added: According to my investigation and exploration, to enter Slytherin's true Chamber, one must be guided by the basilisk. Alas, if only I hadn't accidentally killed a girl that year and been targeted by that detestable Dumbledore, unable to open the Chamber again...
Perhaps by now, he would already be master of the true Chamber.
A dark thought flashed through Tom's mind. No matter... there was still a way to remedy this. As long as he befriended this mysterious brat, gained his trust, and accumulated power... Guide him to open the true Chamber... then ambush! Seize the treasures and return to glory!
Tom believed he and Ethan shared the same ruthless nature and would definitely get along... For now, he just needed to lie low.
Ethan looked down at little Tom, whose soul and magic were fluctuating, thinking: What's this guy plotting now? Probably planning how to ambush him at the end and seize the true Chamber's treasures in one stroke. How scheming...
Ethan licked his lips, a hint of interest flashing through his cobalt-blue eyes. When Tom was smug and thought he was about to strike it rich, then suddenly cast him into the abyss... That scene would surely be very interesting and delightful.
"But for now, the basilisk is still shedding, so I'll have to wait." Ethan muttered regretfully. He wondered if there was any way to make the basilisk shed faster...
Just then, Ethan's gaze focused. His eyes fixed on a pool of water that had formed beneath a giant stone statue. A magical aura more concentrated than the surroundings swirled faintly above it.
This was... extraordinary material?!
Ethan's eyes lit up. He casually tossed the diary into the wardrobe.
Tom's muffled protests echoed from within as Ethan quickly stepped forward and bent down to scoop up a handful of viscous mud.
You have found extraordinary painting material, 'Serpent Saliva'!
Snake drool? Ethan immediately flung it away and cast a cleaning charm on himself in disgust. He'd heard of "dragon's breath" but never "serpent saliva"! A knockoff version of dragon's breath?
Serpent Saliva
Type: Clay
Description: A serpent with its tail in its mouth represents an endless cycle
Effect: Can be used for three-dimensional sculpture paintings, adding the 'Cycle' property to artworks
Cycle? Ethan stared at the dark brown soil glinting in the pool. An inspiration gradually formed in his mind!
"I know how to renovate Sen Castle to welcome new club members! A castle with only obstacles and no variety is boring work. In that case, I'll use this new 'Cycle' material to add chase scenes that look scary but won't hurt anyone. Let students experience thrilling and exciting... parkour."