DOTM (Moved)

Before nightfall, Ethan and Arthur managed to piece together a rough shed, just enough to provide shelter from the wind and rain. Covered with a layer of leaves, it would suffice for the night.

Now that they had a temporary place to stay, they could relax slightly. Diana, the inquisitive and energetic child, had been pestering Ethan with endless questions. Eventually, Ethan relented and began answering her peculiar queries.

"Are you not from this world?"

"No," Ethan admitted.

He had already revealed that he could cross planar barriers, and the DC Universe operated under the concept of a multiverse. Diana, as a descendant of the Olympian gods, would inevitably come to learn about these things in the future. However, Ethan refrained from explaining the full extent of his situation, how his own universe was fundamentally different from the one he was now in.

If the multiverse of the DC Universe was like countless branches of a single tree, Ethan was not a part of that tree at all. He was an outsider from a completely different one.

The space-time energy within his body was constantly depleting, a phenomenon he understood as the world rejecting his presence. Both the Ancient One and Merlin had hinted at this during his past encounters, but the solution to this problem remained elusive.

Diana noticed Ethan falling silent but didn't take it personally. Over the course of their brief time together, she'd come to realize that the magician would sometimes lapse into deep thought. With Arthur occasionally explaining Ethan's habits, Diana simply concluded that "magicians must think a lot to perform magic."

When Ethan wasn't speaking, Diana redirected her curiosity toward Arthur, asking him about the land he came from and the skills he possessed. Upon learning that Arthur was skilled in swordsmanship, Diana, eager to grow stronger herself, challenged him to a sparring session.

The sounds of their practice caught Ethan's attention. Looking over, he quickly confirmed that Diana—at her current stage—was no match for Arthur.

This future Wonder Woman had yet to awaken her latent divine powers. Her swordsmanship was basic, her movements clumsy. Still, there were faint hints of potential, suggesting she had only recently begun her training.

"So, this must be the start of the Wonder Woman movie," Ethan mused. "The period when Antiope is secretly training Diana."

For Arthur, however, their "sparring" was more of a one-sided lesson. Ever the chivalrous knight, Arthur refrained from overwhelming Diana, instead using their session to teach her proper timing and technique. His movements were deliberately slowed to allow her to observe and learn.

Gradually, the sparring session turned into a full-fledged lesson, with Arthur offering pointers and demonstrating techniques. This continued until Ethan finished preparing dinner, signaling an abrupt end to the impromptu training.

"Ah, it's so late!" Diana exclaimed, realizing how much time had passed. "Mother's going to scold me!"

Without wasting a moment, she dashed off toward the interior of the island, her hurried footsteps fading into the distance.

Once she was gone, Ethan turned toward the woods and called out, "You've been watching for so long, you must be tired. Why not take a seat and have something to eat before heading back?"

Antiope emerged from the shadows, walking toward them with deliberate steps. She hadn't tried to hide her presence or movements from the beginning, even making occasional noises to ensure Ethan was aware of her.

Of course, Diana, still an oblivious child, hadn't noticed. But both Ethan and Arthur had been fully aware of her presence the entire time.

After Diana's departure, Antiope approached the fire where Ethan was sitting. Her demeanor suggested she had something to say.

"Sit," Ethan said, gesturing toward the fire as if entertaining a guest in his own home. He pointed to the food roasting over the flames: simple dry rations, vegetable soup, and a freshly caught pheasant.

The meal was humble but functional, though it lacked any real flavor. However, for someone from Paradise Island, where such basic fare was the norm, it was perfectly acceptable.

Antiope didn't hesitate. She had been standing for a long time, and the smell of the food had awakened her appetite. The rigorous training of an Amazon required a substantial intake of calories, and it wasn't long before the entire roasted pheasant had disappeared into her stomach.

"Young magician…"

"Just call me Ethan," he interrupted with a wave of his hand. "There's no need for formalities. It's a mouthful, and I'm not used to it."

Antiope nodded. "Alright, Ethan. Can you tell me about other worlds? You clearly came here from another one."

Although Antiope had a general understanding of the concept of parallel universes, her knowledge was vague and incomplete. She was curious about the differences between those worlds and her own.

"Well," Ethan began, "there are many parallel universes, each with its own differences. But most of them… aren't too different from this one."

Ethan wasn't someone like Merlin, who could have extracted everything he wanted to know directly from Ethan's mind. Merlin's immense strength gave him the capability to do so, but his moral integrity prevented him from invading someone's thoughts without cause.

Antiope, however, was a completely different story. Ethan didn't know much about her, nor did she possess overwhelming power to coerce him. This meant that he didn't feel obligated to lay everything bare for her.

Instead, Ethan kept his answers vague, providing just enough to satisfy her curiosity. He described parallel worlds as mostly ordinary places with slight differences in their races and cultures.

When asked specifically about his own world, Ethan avoided the topic entirely. Most of the worlds he mentioned were based on movies, anime, or novels he'd experienced in his previous life, not places he had actually visited.

After hearing his explanations, Antiope stopped probing into the nature of parallel worlds. Instead, she asked whether Ethan frequently traveled between them.

"Yes, I do," Ethan admitted. "Traveling to different worlds is a way to gain experience and knowledge."

This statement wasn't a lie. After all, wasn't that the very reason Arthur had chosen to follow him? The difference was that most of Ethan's time was spent sailing the Calm Sea, only entering other worlds when he found space-time energy. But such details weren't worth mentioning.

Antiope continued to ask a few more questions, taking her time to process Ethan's answers. It wasn't until late at night that she finally left.

Once Antiope was gone, Arthur, who had been quietly listening for most of the conversation, turned to Ethan with a thoughtful expression.

"She seemed to be testing us," Arthur said.

"Of course," Ethan replied, unfazed. "We're outsiders who appeared out of nowhere on Paradise Island. It's only natural for them to be cautious."

But something about the direction of Antiope's questions had been bothering him. "What's strange," Ethan continued, "is that she wasn't testing our purpose for being here. She was more interested in our background and the state of the worlds we've been to."

Arthur nodded. "You're right. Doesn't that seem… familiar?"

Ethan blinked, the realization clicking in his mind. Arthur's words had reminded him of something. He looked at his companion, and after a moment of thought, he understood.

"Merlin," Ethan said softly.

Merlin had done something very similar back then. The comparison made everything clear.

Thinking back on the events of Wonder Woman, Ethan finally pieced together what Antiope—and by extension, Hippolyta—might be planning.

The story of Wonder Woman was straightforward. Diana had been raised on Paradise Island, and Hippolyta had always opposed her becoming a warrior. The queen believed that taking up arms would inevitably lead Diana into conflict with Ares, which would likely result in her death.

Antiope, on the other hand, held a completely different view. She believed that a confrontation with Ares was unavoidable, and that Diana needed to be as strong as possible to stand a chance against him.

In the end, Diana had followed the path Antiope had prepared for her, becoming the warrior she was destined to be. But Hippolyta's perspective had always been puzzling to Ethan. Did she truly think that avoiding conflict would spare Diana or the Amazons from Ares's wrath?

Perhaps Hippolyta realized that running wasn't an option. After discovering Antiope's secret training sessions with Diana, she had reluctantly accepted the situation, expressing her discontent with little more than a few scoldings.

Now, however, Ethan's arrival had provided Hippolyta with a new option: sending Diana far away.

As a queen who had lived during the time of Zeus, Hippolyta was aware of the existence of parallel universes. She also understood that Ares lacked the ability to cross planar barriers. If Diana were sent to another world, she would be beyond Ares's reach, ensuring her safety.

"Parents' hearts are the same no matter the world," Ethan remarked with a sigh.

After Ethan shared his speculation and explained the broader situation of this world, Arthur nodded in agreement.

"It's understandable," Arthur said. "But will Ares let the Amazons go if Diana leaves?"

Ethan's lips curled into a faint sneer. "Of course not."

Ares wasn't some merciful villain. Diana had a unique identity in his eyes. In this world, she was the ultimate weapon Zeus had left behind to counter Ares. There was no way the God of War would simply let her slip away.

If Diana were sent to another world, leaving the Amazons without her protection, the only thing waiting for them would be complete annihilation.

***

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