When Ethan saw Diana again, he was surprised by how much she had changed. She had become more intellectual and mature, as if the lively, fierce, and powerful Amazon warrior of the past had sheathed her sword, ready to quietly enjoy a peaceful life in the countryside.
But he soon realized that while Diana had put away her sharp blade, it didn't mean the sword wouldn't be drawn again. Diana simply knew how to temper her once overly dazzling edge, concealing it beneath this intellectual and mature facade.
Stripped of her skirt suit and donned in armor, she was still that powerful Amazon warrior, an Olympian demigoddess. It was just that ordinary people didn't get the chance to see that side of her now.
Ethan was no ordinary person, so not only could he see that side, but he could also see a wilder one.
Getting Diana to cool down was indeed not a simple matter. He felt like a lone boat in a storm, which vaguely reminded him of his first time crossing the Sea of Storms.
For three whole days, he was either riding the crest of a wave or on his way to ride the crest of a wave. In a trance, he thought of that old saying again, thirty something, forty something... How old was Diana this year again?
After finally weathering a fierce storm, and with the winds and waves calmed, Ethan looked at Diana, who was still full of energy beside him, and asked about her situation over the years.
Diana's answer was simple. She lived as Diana Prince during the day and occasionally dealt with troubles that ordinary people couldn't handle in secret.
However, even though she was very careful and cautious, the name Wonder Woman still spread. But because Diana often traveled all over the world and never stayed in one city for long, coupled with the fact that the stories of Wonder Woman could be traced back decades, it was generally believed that the so-called Wonder Woman was just a figure concocted by people and didn't actually exist.
It was precisely for this reason that no one ever connected Diana with Wonder Woman, allowing her to enjoy a relatively peaceful ordinary life while continuing to protect this world in secret.
"What about you?"
Ethan put his arm around Diana's shoulder and briefly described his experiences during this time.
Compared to her, his experiences were less noteworthy, just learning a new magic system, broadening his knowledge, and spending a few more years to add a little to his age, making him reluctantly look like a teenager. Plus, his height had grown quite well, so standing next to Diana wasn't too disadvantageous, provided she didn't wear high heels, which was impossible.
"I plan to let Illya, Rin, and Leah continue studying at Hogwarts. After experiencing a complete school life like this, Illya and Leah should have some good memories."
Illya could reshape her worldview properly, and Leah could learn more common sense. Both of them could make up for some of their shortcomings, which was much more useful than Ethan holding books and various materials and constantly lecturing.
"I'm more concerned about that little girl named Hermione?"
Diana's narrowed eyes revealed a very dangerous light.
Diana reached out and pinched Ethan's face. If it were before, she definitely couldn't pinch it. Since turning back into a child, Ethan's face had gained a lot of flesh. At that time, he was chubby, pink, and very cute. Although he had slimmed down a bit now, she could still pinch a good amount.
"You now are completely unlike the person I first met."
Diana could still recall how Ethan looked back then. Just an ordinary appearance, barely passable. Especially with a stunningly handsome blond boy next to him, it made Ethan look even more dismal by comparison.
Even she had initially focused more on Arthur, and her curiosity about Ethan was more about his strength and the mysterious power he displayed.
At that time, she would never have thought that the scene unfolding at this moment would happen. One had to say that appearance plays too important a role in the first impression.
"So you've been getting handsomer just to trick more young girls?"
"You're overthinking it."
Getting handsomer is a normal trend of physical evolution. As everything shifts towards perfection, facial features, body, and so on are all being optimized. Flaws like spacing between features or nose bridge will slowly disappear, naturally making one more handsome.
And being more handsome makes it easier to gain people's favor, including young girls.
"Besides, there's a lot to do next. I don't have time to go to Harry Potter's world at all."
Ethan's previous description didn't mention bringing Hermione onto the Artemis, which was the main reason Diana let him off easily.
After chatting for a while, the two finally stopped being so clingy, got up to tidy themselves up, changed into fresh clothes, and came out.
This was one of Diana's houses in North America. Because it was in the distant suburbs, the scenery was nice, and most importantly, it was very quiet and wouldn't be disturbed.
When the two came out, Scáthach was lying on the sofa, looking listless and eating grapes.
"Where's Logan?"
"Smoking outside."
Ethan nodded. Logan, that old smoker, had to have a cigar in his mouth when he had nothing to do. Otherwise, he would feel uncomfortable.
He strongly suspected that the most important reason Logan refused Atlanna's offer to stay in Atlantis was that he couldn't smoke cigars underwater.
For a spellcaster of Logan's level, the underwater pressure and breathing issues could be solved. But in a place where he couldn't smoke a cigar anytime, anywhere, he would feel very depressed, so he absolutely would not settle in Atlantis.
If he were to find a house by the sea and live there, with Atlanna visiting him from time to time, how would that be any different from now?
Regardless, Diana wanted to ask about Logan's thoughts. Because of Logan, the relationship between Themyscira and Atlantis had been a bit strange over the years.
Although there were still disputes, most of the time they could be resolved in a relatively peaceful manner, largely because Atlanna still cared about Logan.
Diana had already told Ethan about this situation earlier, and now Ethan just wanted to ask about Logan's thoughts.
"My thoughts?"
Logan wasn't hard to find. He was leaning against the railing by the door smoking. As soon as they stepped out, they saw him. After hearing Ethan and Diana's description, he knew that Atlanna hadn't forgotten him and had been asking Diana about him.
"You'd better make a decision quickly. Atlanna's situation isn't very good right now."
According to Diana, the underwater world's forces were not a monolith, and various factions and struggles never stopped. Although Atlanna was the Queen of Atlantis, it didn't mean she had no enemies.
"You mean Atlanna is in trouble now?"
"Yes."
"Then what thoughts are there?" Logan took the cigar from his mouth and pressed it heavily into his palm. "Whoever bullies my woman, I'll kill him."
Although Logan was not young, his temper had calmed down a lot, and training in the way of nature also made him appear very composed most of the time.
But this didn't mean Wolverine had truly lost his temper. If someone angered him, Logan would still make that guy understand just how sharp Wolverine's claws were.
"Do you need me to send you over?"
"No need, I can go myself." Logan paused, turned back, and nodded at Ethan. "If I need your help, I won't be polite with you."
"I know."
Logan nodded, then turned and continued walking forward. Immediately, a soft yet scorching red light flashed all over his body, and then Logan seemed to transform into a ball of flame. Then the ball of flame gradually turned into the shape of a large bird and soared into the sky.
"Uh..."
Ethan and Diana both stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as the giant firebird disappeared into the horizon.
"That's a phoenix, right? How did he do that?"
"I don't know, it's the first time I've seen him use it."
Although it was the first time seeing this move from Logan, with Ethan's eyesight, he could still tell that this move was essentially a Druid shapeshifting spell. However, compared to transforming into a crow, an owl, or an eagle, he really hadn't expected Logan to transform into a phoenix.
Thinking about it, it might be related to Logan's own characteristics.
Strong self-healing factor, nearly indestructible Adamantium skeleton, and the enhanced serum that allows Logan to release astonishing heat from all parts of his body at will.
"That's very un-phoenix-like..."
After standing blankly at the door for a while, Diana and Ethan turned and went back into the house. After being apart for so long and meeting again, they actually had a lot to talk about. Logan not letting Ethan follow him to Atlantis was actually because he didn't want to disturb their reunion. As for Scáthach, who ran over by herself? She wasn't a child, she could go play by herself.
So Scáthach went out to play on her own, and presumably, with her personality, she wouldn't want to come back anytime soon.
Anyway, she had a personal terminal on her, so she could contact Ethan or even Luna at any time. Even without going through Ethan, after the teleportation device connected and synchronized with this universe, Scáthach could have Luna teleport her back to the Artemis.
Scáthach could play for as long as she wanted, without having to worry about missing the return trip.
After Ethan and Diana had a good time catching up for a few days, the two prepared to set off to find Superman.
"Why are we looking for him?"
"To stop a disaster from happening."
(To be continued.)