Clark was escorted by Diana to a more isolated part of the palace complex, where the accommodations for visitors and prisoners were located. Instead of a luxurious room, Clark was taken to a small stone cell. The door was made of iron, and the interior was simple, with only a rudimentary bed and a narrow window high on the wall, letting in only a small amount of sunlight.
Diana looked at Clark as he examined his surroundings. "This will be your accommodation while you're here. I hope it's sufficient for you."
Clark kept a calm expression, observing every detail of the cell. Internally, he was clearly frustrated. The bed was little more than a piece of wood with a thin layer of straw, and the faint light from the window made the place feel dark and uncomfortable. Still, he didn't let his feelings show. Clark knew he needed to stay calm and prove he wasn't a threat.
"It'll do, Diana. I'm grateful not to have been treated worse," Clark replied, trying to keep his tone friendly.
Diana observed him for a moment as if trying to gauge his true intentions. "I hope you really are telling the truth, Clark. For your own good and ours."
Clark nodded, giving a slight smile. "I just want to show that you can trust me. I'll adapt to any circumstance."
Diana turned around, preparing to leave. "I'll leave guards watching this area. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask them. But remember, any sign that you're trying to escape, and we won't hesitate to act."
"Understood," Clark said, keeping a calm demeanor.
Diana left, closing the iron door behind her. The sound of the metal creaking echoed through the small cell, leaving Clark alone. He sighed and sat on the rudimentary bed, immediately feeling the discomfort. He looked at the narrow window high on the wall, trying to find some comfort in the faint sunlight that streamed through.
Clark remembered Steve Trevor, the first man to reach Themyscira. He recalled that, in the movie, Steve had much better accommodations than he did.
'Steve got lucky,' Clark thought, letting out a sigh as he looked around his cold, uncomfortable cell. Even so, he knew his goal was far more complex than comfort. He needed to prove himself trustworthy.
...
Diana's Point of View
I left Clark's cell, maintaining a serious expression as I walked through the palace corridors. However, inside, an excitement I could hardly control began to grow. I had never had the opportunity to talk to anyone from outside the island. It was a new and curious feeling that I needed to hide from the other Amazons. I should be indifferent, impartial, but it was impossible to deny that there was something fascinating about the presence of that man.
As I passed the marble pillars and tapestries decorating the palace halls, I felt conflicted. Part of me wanted to believe Clark's words, while the other part, trained since childhood to distrust men, remained vigilant.
I reached the corridor leading to my mother's room, Queen Hippolyta. I paused for a moment before the large carved wooden door, taking a deep breath before raising my hand to knock.
Knock, knock
I waited a few seconds, feeling my heart beating a bit faster than usual. I was anxious to tell my mother about Clark, about what had happened, and to hear what she thought.
"Come in," said my mother's firm, authoritative voice from the other side of the door.
I opened the door slowly, entering the room. My mother was seated at a table, looking over some scrolls, but she raised her eyes to me as soon as I entered. She always had an imposing posture, an aura of strength that made everyone around her know they were in the presence of a true leader.
"Mother," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "I left Clark in the cell, but don't you think we should keep him somewhere better? We should treat him as a guest. We've already tested the Lasso of Truth on him and have no reason to worry."
I sighed, stepping forward. "I understand, Mother. But he showed sincerity. And, besides, he didn't resist the Lasso of Truth. Maybe we can learn something from him, or even discover that not all men are as we imagine."
Hippolyta kept a serious gaze but had a hint of reflection in her eyes. "Regardless of what he says, Diana, he cannot stay here. Soon, we will decide how to expel him from the island. I don't want to risk our security."
I felt a tightness in my chest, but I kept a firm expression. "If that's your decision, Mother, I'll respect it. But I still believe we can learn something important from him."
Hippolyta gave a slight nod. "We'll see what happens, Diana. But don't let your guard down. Men are unpredictable, and it's our duty to protect Themyscira at all costs."
I left my mother's room, my mind full of thoughts and doubts. I needed to keep Clark under control, but I also wanted to understand who he truly was. Perhaps there was something more to him, something that could change everything I believed about men and the world beyond our island.
End of Diana's Point of View
...
Hours passed until Diana decided to visit Clark in the cell again. She felt curious about him, something she could no longer ignore. Diana knew she needed to keep control, but she couldn't deny that she wanted to understand more about the world of men and the powers Clark claimed to have.
Clark, for his part, was bored. He sat on the wooden bed, looking at the narrow window when he heard footsteps approaching. When the cell door opened, he saw Diana enter, her expression curious, though she tried to hide it.
"You again? I thought I'd only have the guards' company here," Clark said, giving a light smile.
Diana crossed her arms, looking at him. "I came because I have some questions. I want to understand more about you, the world of men... and your abilities."
Clark gestured for Diana to sit beside him on the bed, giving her some space. "Of course, ask what you want. I'll answer as best I can."
Diana hesitated for a moment but eventually approached and sat beside him, keeping a certain distance. She looked at Clark, trying to decipher every detail of his expression. "You said you arrived here by accident, but what exactly were you doing? Why come so far?"
Clark took a deep breath, thinking of the best way to answer. "I wanted to see different places, to understand more about the world. I have abilities that allow me to travel great distances quickly, and that's how I ended up here. I had no idea I'd find an island like Themyscira."
Diana frowned, still trying to understand. "And these abilities... you said you're not a god. So, where do your powers come from?"
Clark looked at the narrow window, seeing a bit of the blue sky outside. "I'm not exactly like ordinary humans. I come from a different place, a planet called Krypton. My powers come from Earth's yellow sun, which gives me strength, speed, and other abilities."
Diana's eyes widened, clearly surprised. "Another planet? So, you're an... alien?"
"Uh... alien?" Clark frowned, visibly surprised. *'How would someone who lives in isolation know that scientific term?'* he thought.
"Yes, men who come from the stars," Diana said, sounding unimpressed.
Clark noticed that whenever Diana spoke about places outside the island, she only mentioned men. There was never any mention of women living outside Themyscira. He frowned slightly, intrigued.
Clark looked at Diana as she spoke about men coming from the stars. Out of curiosity, he decided to activate his mind-reading ability to understand what was going through her head. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on Diana's mind, and suddenly her thoughts began to flow.
Diana was reflecting on everything her mother had taught her. She firmly believed that men were corrupt beings, capable of anything for power and destruction. Women outside Themyscira were subjugated, influenced by the cruelty and selfishness of men. Clark's frown deepened as he realized the rigidity of Diana's beliefs. But it was when he picked up the most curious thought of all: Diana believed she had been molded from clay, brought to life by the goddess Hera herself.
Clark couldn't help but smile in amusement. *'She really believes that... Molded from clay? And all these ideas about the outside world... It seems Queen Hippolyta did a great job keeping Diana far from the truth,'* he thought, finding Diana's innocence fascinating and, at the same time, concerning.
Slap!
A light slap on Clark's arm brought him out of his thoughts. Diana was glaring at him, clearly irritated. "What are you laughing at? It's not polite to laugh while I'm talking about something serious!"
"Sorry, sorry." Clark raised his hands, still smiling, trying to explain himself. "I'm not laughing at you, Diana."
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