(~˘▾˘)~~(˘▾˘~)
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David is going on a trip.
His parents and Clark were not particularly surprised.
During the school break, many people choose to take advantage of this time to travel and relax, preparing themselves for university life.
To celebrate the end of David and Clark's high school years, their mother Martha enthusiastically prepared a lavish dinner, inviting relatives and friends to join. Pete, Chloe, and even Kyla were at the dinner table.
For this occasion, their father Jonathan brought out an extended dining table from the storage that hadn't been used for a long time.
After a joyous feast, the host, and guests, all were content.
As the couple bid farewell to their relatives and friends, David and Clark said goodbye to their classmates.
Moonlight cast a bright and gentle glow, covering everything in a silvery veil.
In the familiar attic of the warehouse, in front of a telescope, Clark was in a melancholic mood.
"Lana didn't come today?" David asked as he climbed the stairs.
David hadn't seen Lana at the dinner table today, and Clark hadn't invited her.
"She... is preparing to study in Paris, France."
Clark leaned on a red-and-white guiding cane, a hint of loneliness in his voice as he shook his head.
Life is often filled with many unfulfilled aspects, and things often go against our wishes.
He had secretly admired Lana for years, and just when they had a chance to be together, it happened to coincide with their separation due to studies and other things.
"Since we're destined to be apart, I think it's best not to disturb her. It would only add to the regrets."
Their feelings hadn't reached the point of a long-distance relationship.
Back when they were immersed in ambiguity, Clark also entertained unrealistic fantasies of attending the same university as his crush. But the reality was that Metropolis was too close to Smallville, and Paris was too far away.
"It's in line with my impression of Lana."
David nodded.
Lana had become the cheerleading captain shortly after starting high school. She had a strong sense of ambition. Getting into a relationship with the captain of the football team and attracting the attention of everyone. What she pursued is what most people do or want to do. She wouldn't halt her well-planned life for some crush.
As for Clark, a small-town youth who hadn't been outside the state, he couldn't just leave his parents and go to an unfamiliar foreign country for Lana.
"The ambiguity between two people is destined to fizzle out."
"There will be plenty of opportunities in college."
He consoled softly.
Clark, wearing sunglasses, shook his head with a bitter smile, expressing his lack of confidence.
Back when his eyesight was good, he was just a school nobody, not really appealing to girls. Now, being blind makes it even more unlikely.
"There are always those who are skilled at uncovering gold from the gravel."
David chuckled.
He remembered Chloe talking about her cousin at the dinner table, a young reporter at the Daily Planet who had already written several popular articles, was tough and beautiful, and won the Rookie Reporter Award or something. Her name was Lois Lane.
This time in Metropolis, Clark might start to get to know his future wife.
"Gold?"
Clark was surprised that his younger brother would describe him that way, scratching his face.
"I... apart from some innate abilities from being an alien, I don't seem to have anything special."
He was puzzled. He had messed up so many situations that his brother had to fix, like Eric, like Rickman.
That day, after persistent questioning, Clark learned that when he thought his attempt to handle the Rickman situation went perfectly, but in the end, he had left behind clues that could have exposed his identity. If it weren't for his brother, he might have been exposed already.
This was a source of great frustration for him.
"Don't underestimate your valuable potential, like your kindness."
Not everyone can possess the power to destroy the world and yet bring moments of peace to those in danger, offering a glimpse of hope. David said.
Even he couldn't do that.
"Kindness?"
Confusion crossed Clark's face. He hesitated, then bit his lip.
"The things I said after being changed by the red meteorite; they didn't come out of thin air."
They were all thoughts he had, such as not wanting his parents to interfere too much, and feeling like David made him less of an older brother. They were just amplified countless times.
"There's no need to hold yourself to saintly standards. You grew up a human being."
Seeing Clark lost in doubt and uncertainty, David frowned.
It wasn't hard for him to understand that he was worried about his emotions like ordinary people.
"I...
David, have you ever wondered why I was sent to Earth?
Maybe I have some sort of bad mission?"
Clark's forehead creased; his voice tinged with anxiety.
He caused such great destruction on the farm that day.
How many people would be injured if that battle happened in Smallville?
Kyla claimed he was the Sageeth of the prophecy, destined to destroy the world, and with the prophecy foretold by Mrs. Casandra that day, after scaring his parents a few days ago, he had a different interpretation.
'In the future, could David be on the side of justice?
While I am the one who frightens and causes panic to the public.'
As soon as a red meteorite that might've arrived on Earth with him was around him, he would transform directly into a qualified machine of destruction.
With all these factors combined, Clark involuntarily clenched his fists nervously.
"You're overthinking it.
Seems like because you're blind, unable to see anything, giving you more time to overthink."
Unable to tell Clark that he was just a refugee alien baby escaping for his life, with no mission at all, David raised an eyebrow, patted Clark's shoulder, left a suggestion, and turned to leave.
"Don't worry about these things, get some sun.
Your eyes might recover."
"I'm going to bed early, leaving for a trip tomorrow."
"Oh, by the way, where do you want to travel this time?"
Clark turned his head in the direction of his brother going downstairs.
It probably wouldn't be Gotham again; that dark place, he felt it was best to avoid.
"I'm not sure, probably somewhere near London to take a look."
"Near London?
Are there any tourist destinations there?" Clark questioned.
"A place rumored to be like paradise."
...
Huff, huff, huff!
On the coast of a small island.
Azure blue seawater washed against the white sandy beach, and the fierce sea breeze carried a faint smell of seawater.
On the disordered black rocky shore, a young man with a tall and powerful figure, dressed in beach casual wear as if on vacation, looked up at the densely clouded sky, and a thick mist rose from the sea surface, obstructing his view.
"Spent two days and finally found it."
'After Steve Trevor's plane was shot down and he landed on Paradise Island, he and Wonder Woman Diana took a medieval wooden ship from Paradise Island and arrived in London overnight. This indicates that Paradise Island is in the waters near London.'
David spent some time searching in the Atlantic and North Sea areas near London.
'A few minutes ago, the sky was clear and sunny here, but as I approached at several times the speed of sound, the sky here reacted like it sensed something and the weather suddenly changed.'
Boom, boom!
The strong wind roared, and the thick fog instantly enveloped the sea, making it impossible to distinguish directions. Lightning strikes danced in the dark clouds, evoking fear.
If it were someone arriving by boat, they would have judged that a storm was coming and quickly left.
But this made David certain that Paradise Island was nearby.
'Zeus, the god of thunder, also the god of the sky...'
Paradise Island was protected by Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods, with a magical force field that concealed the island, preventing anyone from discovering it, thus protecting the island, which was inhabited by his lover Hippolyta and her Amazons.
David, still dressed in vacation attire, left the small island where he temporarily settled. His skin emitted a purple light. He ran on the surface of the sea, turning into a purple lightning bolt. With incredible speed, the seawater under his feet was like solid ground, allowing him to gallop freely.
...
"What's outside the island?"
The waves surged as Diana sat bored on a cliff, her slender legs swinging at the edge.
She had thought of this question countless times. Her mother had described the outside world to her. It belonged to the realm of humans, where women were not as powerful as Amazonians and there were also men outside.
Paradise Island was picturesque, and the sky was exceptionally blue like a piece of pure blue glass turned upside down. The air was so fresh that not a hint of impurity could be found in it. Pristine green jungles were visible everywhere on the island.
There were also majestic, ancient, and classical stone palaces dotted among the mountains.
No matter how beautiful a painting was, after looking at it for thousands of years, it would become tiresome. Just like there was no place on the island unfamiliar to the Amazon princess, and it brought no freshness.
"This is the paradise given to the Amazonians by Zeus, untouchable by the war god Ares."
Diana really wanted to go outside the island and see.
But her mother, Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, had ordered and emphasized time and again that she must not leave the island, and no Amazons were allowed to leave, lest they attract the evil gaze of Ares.
Thousands of years had left no traces on Diana. Her skin was as smooth as silk, her features delicate and noble. Her curly black hair was like ebony, setting off her extraordinary aura.
Because of her isolation from the world and her lack of experience in the world, Diana still retained a hint of youthful innocence in her bright eyes. Bored, she picked up a stone and threw it into the sea.
Thud!
The stone flew a hundred meters and landed in the water.
Whoosh!
A figure, like lightning, crossed several hundred meters of water, leaving a trail of white splashes. He appeared on the pristine beach, and stopped to gaze around with interest.
"Paradise Island really lives up to its name."
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(~˘▾˘)~Don't forget to send your power-stones!~(˘▾˘~)