For 30+ Advance/Early chapters :p
atreon.com/ScoldeyJod
His aunt's hometown. Leo had heard her speak of it that night in the bathtub. It wasn't a city or a town, but a place left behind by the old gods called "Paradise Island," inhabited by the Amazons, a race of warriors from the age of myths.
"Auntie," he asked, the feeling of the delicate, flexible legs he was sitting on a pleasant distraction, "didn't you say you were exiled from Paradise Island?"
Paradise Island. Created by Zeus, the King of Olympus, and protected by a magical force field. It was undetectable by human technology, and anyone who left would forget the way back. It existed on Earth, but was completely isolated from the human world. When his aunt had left during World War I, she had forgotten the coordinates of the island, effectively exiling her forever.
"That's true," Diana nodded, a wise glint in her beautiful eyes. "But, with your help, I've thought of a way to return."
"My… help?" Leo was even more confused. When had he helped her?
"How we get there isn't important," she whispered. "What's important is, are you willing to go back with me?"
In that moment, as the night breeze blew across the thin layer of ice on the river, Leo realized that this, too, was a choice. His life, his identity, everything he had known for sixteen years, or his aunt.
Did he even need to hesitate?
"I'm willing," he smiled.
"Even if you can never see your friends again?" she asked.
"That would be very sad," he said sincerely. "But, if I never saw my aunt again, I would die."
He was not a hero. He was just a boy sitting in the lap of a goddess.
"Well, it's not like you'll be staying there for long," she said, tapping him on the back of the head. "My mother wouldn't agree to that. It's been a long time since I've seen my people. We'll go back for a visit, and we'll be back before your vacation is over."
"When will we leave?" he asked. A few days' trip to Paradise Island. It was more like going back to his aunt's family home.
"Now," she said, her lips parting slightly. "We'll leave immediately."
The next morning, on a three-tiered sightseeing cruise in the Aegean Sea, the bright, brilliant sunshine warmed the winter air. Tourists from all over the world were on the open-air deck, enjoying the cool sea breeze and the ocean scenery.
The men were dressed like handsome British gentlemen, and the ladies were in gorgeous, graceful dresses. Everyone was hoping for a wonderful holiday affair.
When a woman boarded the deck, all the men's eyes were drawn to her. The other women on the deck were instantly eclipsed. She was a black-haired woman in a white, one-shouldered, high-slit dress. Her delicate, beautiful face looked as if it had been sculpted by a god. She moved with a noble and elegant grace, her sexy, slightly curly hair gleaming in the sun.
Next to her was a young boy, his handsome face still a little green, wearing a close-fitting shirt uniform. They walked side by side from the cabin to the deck, looking like siblings with a ten-year age gap.
Immediately, a gentleman approached the woman. "My lady," he said politely, "may I be so honored as to have the pleasure of your acquaintance?"
Before the mature and stunning woman could respond, the teenager next to her suddenly announced his sovereignty, wrapping his arm around her slender waist. "Sorry," he said with a polite smile, "this is my girlfriend."
Girlfriend?!
A shockwave went through the deck. The gentleman who had been in the middle of a charming introduction was left dumbfounded, looking at the woman for confirmation.
Diana didn't speak, but a small smile played on her lips, as if in tacit agreement.
"Sir," Leo said, blinking, "could you please let us pass?"
"Sir?" the gentleman twitched, as if he had just received a fatal blow.
The other gentlemen, seeing this, decided not to make a move. Suddenly, the other ladies on the deck seemed a little less fragrant. At such a young age, he was already at the "peak" of his life, driving the best car. Some people just had all the luck.
Leo, one hand still on Diana's waist, came to the deck railing. The vast, boundless blue sea stretched out before them.
"Just now," Diana said, glancing at him, "what did you say I was?"
"My…," he started to say, and then, resolutely, "Auntie."
"Really?" she said, her face expressionless.
"Definitely."
"Then let go of me."
"Oh," he said, withdrawing his hand, a little aggrieved.
"Outside," she added in a low voice, as if sensing her tone was a little too serious, "don't hug me like that."
Leo's heart beat inexplicably. In other words, if we're not outside, at home, I can hold you however I want? Top-level understanding!
"If I wanted to hug you tonight," he couldn't help but say, feeling he had to get her approval.
Diana turned away and looked at the sea, as if she hadn't heard him.
I guess that's a no, he thought, though he didn't feel too disappointed. If he really did hug her, he'd probably be the one who ended up feeling uncomfortable.
"The location of Paradise Island," she said suddenly. "I've remembered some more."
"That's great. Think harder," he said, his eyes shining. He stopped talking, letting her concentrate.
If he had his powers, he would have been able to see it: Diana's right hand was holding the golden Lasso of Truth, the other end of which was tied to his own left wrist.
The golden lasso could compel others to tell the truth. But it also had a hidden power. It could force one to remember things that had been forgotten, even things buried deep in the memory.
Inspired by the last time she had bound him, Diana was now using the lasso on herself, borrowing the power of the artifact to fight against the law of Paradise Island and remember the way home.