The night sky was like a vast piece of deep blue velvet, gently covering the entirety of Paradise Island, tucking the hustle and bustle of the day into its quiet embrace.
However, in the vast open-air square of the palace, an unprecedented grand celebration was unfolding.
Countless glass lamps driven by magic floated in mid-air, casting a warm yellow glow more brilliant than starlight and more intoxicating than moonlight.
The air was thick with the mouth-watering aroma of roasted meat, mixed with the mellow fragrance of Amazonian specialty fruit wine and an unknown but exceptionally pleasant exotic floral scent.
Together, they wove a great web of joy, firmly catching everyone present.
Hippolyta wore a purple gown that wasn’t overly complex yet still appeared incomparably noble.
Instead of sitting on her high throne, she stood in the center of the square holding an exquisite crystal wine glass.
A faint flush from being tipsy appeared on her face.
Her violet eyes, which were usually full of majesty and scrutiny, now rippled with an unprecedentedly gentle light, like the melting ice of a lake in spring.
She watched Arthas, who was surrounded by a group of Amazonian Warriors and being tossed high into the air like a little hero, unable to hide the smile at the corners of her mouth.
“I have a piece of good news to tell everyone, and also a piece of bad news.” Hippolyta gently raised the wine glass in her hand.
Her crisp voice, amplified by magic, spread clearly across the entire venue, causing the noisy crowd to gradually quiet down as everyone’s gaze focused on the Queen.
“Just now, our magic communication array finally penetrated the layers of spatial mist and successfully connected to distant Asgard, hearing the voice of the All-Father, Odin.” “This means our lovely little guest, Prince Arthas…” “Tomorrow morning, his father will personally descend upon Paradise Island to take him home.” As soon as these words were spoken, the originally lively atmosphere froze for a second, followed immediately by an explosion of various voices—cheers for Arthas being able to go home, but mostly sighs filled with reluctance and regret.
After all, in just these short two days, this boy—exquisite as a porcelain doll, strong as a little monster, and with a mouth as sweet as honey—had completely conquered the hearts of these warriors who usually only knew of fighting and killing.
Arthas had just been set down by Antiope, that female of great strength; his feet had barely touched the ground when he heard this bombshell news.
He froze, and for a moment his little head even went blank.
It felt like he was eating his favorite candied hawthorns when someone suddenly told him it was the last one; that complex flavor instantly surged into his heart.
Was he happy?
Of course he was happy.
After all, that was his home in this World, where his doting Father and Mother were, along with those two younger brothers, Thor and Loki, who were a bit dim-witted but definitely his real brothers.
However, as his gaze swept over the familiar and friendly faces around him, finally fixing on Diana who was standing not far away, staring blankly while holding a piece of roasted meat…
A sour, stinging feeling of reluctance, like a raw green lemon being squeezed of its juice, instantly spread through his entire body.
Is it time…
to leave?
He had only just made a pinky promise with Sister Hippolyta, had only just seen Sister Diana look so cool transforming into Wonder Woman, and hadn’t even had time to properly enjoy these days of being pampered by two goddesses.
The piece of roasted meat in Diana’s hand fell back onto the plate with a ‘clatter.’ She didn’t seem to notice at all, only staring blankly at her Mother, her blue eyes filled with disbelief and loss.
“Leaving…
tomorrow?” She murmured to herself, her voice so small only she could hear it.
Her heart felt as if a piece had been hollowed out, and that empty feeling made her feel a bit panicked.
This was too fast, so fast that she had no psychological preparation.
She had originally thought she could keep him for a few more days, or even a few months, to take him to climb the highest peaks of Paradise Island, to catch pearls in the deep sea, and to see every secret corner that only she knew about.
But now, that little tail who always followed behind her calling her’Sister’ and ‘Mom’ was going to disappear tomorrow.
This sudden sense of parting made Diana, who had never experienced the taste of separation, feel a sting in her nose, and the rims of her eyes instantly turned red.
Hippolyta seemed to have anticipated this reaction.
She didn’t leave much time for sorrow to ferment, but instead raised her wine glass high again and said loudly: “But!” “That is tomorrow’s business!” “Tonight, Arthas is still by our side; tonight, this night sky still belongs to us!” “To celebrate Prince Arthas’s recovery, to celebrate this rare encounter, and for tomorrow’s glorious journey home!” “Let us forget the sorrow of parting and revel to our hearts’ content!” “Bring out the best wine!
Dance the most beautiful dances!” “Let this final night become an eternal memory in our hearts!” “Roar!!!” The Amazonian Warriors’ passion was instantly ignited by the Queen’s words.
They were a group of hearty and free-spirited people; since the Queen had said so, they would enjoy the present to the fullest!
Cheers resounded through the clouds once more.
The stirring drumbeats and melodious harp music played again, more intense and crazed than before.
Diana was also infected by this atmosphere.
She took a deep breath, blinked hard, and forced back that hint of tears.
She strode over to Arthas and, without a word, scooped up the dazed little guy and even spun around in the air.
“Did you hear that, you little dummy!” “Mother said no long faces tonight!” “Since you’re leaving tomorrow, then tonight you are mine!” “No one can even think of stealing you away from me!” Arthas was spun until he was a bit dizzy, but he gripped Diana’s shoulders tightly, looking at the stunning face inches away—a face with a bright smile that hid a trace of stubbornness.
The little bit of sorrow in his heart was instantly thrown to the winds.
“Who said I was going to cry!” “This Prince won’t cry!” “Tonight I’m going to eat all the delicious food here!
And I’m going to dance with you, Sister!” “I’m going to make sure you never forget me!” He shouted loudly, as if making a vow, and as if to hide the intense throbbing in his heart.
Because just at the moment Diana hugged him tightly, that familiar pink divine power in his body, the ‘Echo of Love,’ began to throb restlessly once again, even more cheerfully than any time before.
The banquet reached its climax.
The bonfire blazed in the center of the square, the firelight reflecting on everyone’s faces, infinitely magnifying that joy and enthusiasm.
Hippolyta actually cast aside all her airs.
Like a big sister, she moved through the crowd with her wine glass, clinking glasses with Antiope one moment and joking with the young warriors the next.
Finally, she wobbled over to Diana and Arthas’s table.
She sat down directly on Arthas’s other side.
If those ministers in Asgard who cared so much about etiquette saw her sitting so ungracefully, they would probably faint on the spot.
But here, it seemed so natural, so charming.
“Come here, little guy.” “Although you can’t drink wine yet, you must accompany this sister in drinking this glass of specially made honey fruit juice.” Hippolyta held the cup to Arthas’s lips, her hazy, drunken eyes staring straight at him with a look of unexplainable doting.
“Sister, you’re drunk…” Arthas looked at Hippolyta’s flushed cheeks and smelled the pleasant scent on her—a mixture of wine and her natural body fragrance—feeling his own head get a bit woozy.
Is this the charm of a mature woman?
Even when drunk, she was still so elegant, so much that one wanted to be close to her.
“Drunk?” Hippolyta chuckled and reached out a finger to tap Arthas’s nose.
“How could this little bit of wine get the Queen of the Amazons drunk?” “I’m just…
just happy.” “Happy to have met such a lovable brat like you.” “And happy that…
after thousands of years, a man who finally catches my eye has appeared, even if he’s still just a little boy.” Diana was getting a bit jealous on the side; she felt her territory was being encroached upon, even if the other person was her own Mother.
She pulled Arthas’s shoulder, bringing him closer into her embrace like a little tiger protecting its food.
“Mother, stop teasing him.” “Look at how red his face has gotten.” “Besides, I was clearly the one who found him first!” “Tonight he is my dance partner!” Hippolyta looked at her daughter’s nervous appearance and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Far from being angry, she found it even more amusing.
“Fine, fine, fine, he’s yours, he’s all yours.” “However…” She leaned forward slightly, getting close to the two of them, her voice lowering with a hint of mystery.
“I like him a lot too.” “This kind of liking doesn’t care about who came first, you know.” This one sentence was like a depth charge, exploding ripples within the small circle of the three of them.
Although everyone knew this might just be drunken talk or the affection of an elder for a junior…
On this ambiguous night, catalyzed by alcohol and the sorrow of parting, this sentence sounded like it had a few different layers of meaning.
Arthas was sandwiched in the middle, with the heroic and youthful Sister Diana on his left, and the charming and mature Queen Hippolyta on his right.
Two distinctly different but equally lethal fragrances surrounded him.
He felt like Tang Sanzang falling into the Silk Cave, or the King who wandered into the Kingdom of Women.
That sense of happiness was practically overflowing, but at the same time, that pink divine power in his heart was vibrating, making him flustered.
This wasn’t some ‘Echo of Love,’ this was practically a ‘Tachycardia Alarm’!
“Alright, alright!” “Stop arguing!” “To be fair, let’s all dance together!” To break this stalemate that was making his heart race, Arthas made an extremely bold suggestion.
He took Diana’s hand in one of his and Hippolyta’s in the other.
Of those two hands, one was a hand filled with strength from years of holding a sword, and the other was a well-maintained hand of high status that was still powerful.
Both were held tightly by his two small palms.
“Music!
we want music!” He shouted at the band.
The band cooperatively switched to a light and melodious tune, which was the unique waltz rhythm of the Amazons.
The three of them thus held hands and glided into the center of the dance floor.
It was a very strange combination: a seven-year-old boy leading two peerless beauties.
If placed anywhere else, it might have looked ridiculous.
But tonight, on this magical night on Paradise Island, this scene appeared exceptionally harmonious, even possessing a strange beauty.
They twirled to the music, skirts fluttering, laughter never-ending.
Although Arthas was short, his agile movements completely kept up with the rhythm of the two goddesses.
One moment he was being picked up by Diana to spin in circles, the next he was being pulled by Hippolyta into a sliding step.
“Hahahaha!” “Sister, you stepped on my foot!” “That’s because you skipped the wrong step yourself!” “Little Arthas, turn this way, yes, just like that!” Laughter echoed across the dance floor; they were so close, close enough to feel each other’s breath and body heat.
In the process of spinning, the exchange of glances became frequent and intense.
Hippolyta looked at Arthas’s face overflowing with a pure smile; in her eyes, besides maternal love, there was an infatuation as if looking at some rare treasure.
The aura originating from the Goddess of Beauty on this child had a natural attraction for women.
Coupled with that special covenant, the subconscious thought of “he belongs here, and he belongs to me” was growing wildly.
And Diana was even more direct and passionate.
Every time she looked at Arthas, her eyes were filled with the sentiment of “I don’t want you to leave.” That attachment had already transcended the scope of siblings.
It was a desire to be together always, to fight together, to live together, and even to face the future together.
On this isolated island, Arthas was the first male to break into her heart.
This first flutter of the heart was the most pure and unforgettable.
With every physical contact, every time Arthas leaned on her, she felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and security.
It felt as if as long as she held this little guy, the whole World became complete.
As for Arthas…
this kid could be said to be completely walking on air now.
The so-called “pinnacle of life.” Being surrounded by two such beautiful sisters, being pampered and loved by them.
Even if Odin held a banquet in the Golden Palace, he wouldn’t get this treatment!
His heartbeat hadn’t come down once, and the flush on his face wasn’t entirely from exhaustion.
He secretly thought to himself: If only it could be like this forever.
No need to go back to Asgard.
Just stay here, together with Sister Diana and Sister Hippolyta forever.
Practicing swordsmanship by day, dancing by night, and eating roasted whole lamb.
When I grow up, I’ll marry them all…
Oh, no, no, this thought is too dangerous!
Father would break my legs!
But…
I really want to!
The music gradually slowed, changing from a cheerful dance tune to a gentle slow sway.
The three also went from intense spinning to slow swaying.
By now, most of the Amazonian Warriors were already stumbling drunk or gathered in small groups chatting.
Only the three of them remained in the center of the square.
Moonlight spilled over them, stretching the shadows of the three people very long, until they finally overlapped.
Hippolyta was a bit tired, or perhaps the alcohol was kicking in.
She sat directly on the cushions on the ground without any pretense and patted the spot next to her.
“Come, sit down and rest for a while.” “I’m really getting old, I can’t dance anymore.” She spoke of being old, but with that lazy, seductive posture, where was there any hint of age?
She was simply like a fully ripened honey peach.
Diana also pulled Arthas down to sit, one on each side, sandwiching Hippolyta in the middle.
Or rather, the three of them formed a small triangle.
This was a very stable and very intimate structure.
Hippolyta reached out, one hand around Diana’s shoulder and the other around Arthas’s shoulder.
She pulled both children toward herself.
“This is so nice…” She looked up at the moon in the sky and sighed.
“I really wish this moment could stop forever.” “No wars, no partings, and none of those annoying responsibilities.” “Just us.” Her voice was very soft, carrying a trace of true feelings revealed after intoxication.
Arthas leaned against Hippolyta’s shoulder, smelling that pleasant fragrance.
He turned his head and could just see Diana’s face leaning in from the other side.
Diana was also looking at him.
Their eyes met.
In this moment, no words were needed.
The ambiguity and tenderness permeating the air had become so thick it couldn’t be dispersed.
As if possessed, Arthas reached out and grasped Diana’s hand resting on her knee.
Diana didn’t pull away; instead, she gripped his hand back tightly.
She even pulled his small hand to her lips and kissed the back of it gently, as if treating a treasure.
“Little Arthas.” Diana called softly.
“When you go back.” “Will you forget me?” “Asgard must have many beautiful Valkyries, and you probably have childhood friends too.” “Will you…
quickly forget your sister here?” Was this still the supremely confident Wonder Woman?
At this moment, she was like an insecure little girl asking for a promise from the one she loved.
In those blue eyes, a light called unease flickered.
Arthas felt his heart was about to melt.
He shook his head vigorously and then lifted his head from Hippolyta’s shoulder.
He looked at Diana very seriously.
“No!” “Absolutely not!” “Sister Diana is one of a kind!” “There isn’t a second person in this World like you, sister—so beautiful, so strong, and so good to me.” “How could I ever forget?” “I’m still waiting for you to come visit me in the future, sister!” “Or…
when I grow up, I’ll open the Bifrost Bridge to come pick you up!” Hearing this, Diana smiled, with tears in her eyes.
“Okay.” “Then you must remember what you said.” “If you dare forget, I’ll take the Lasso of Truth to Asgard and tie you back here!” Hippolyta listened to the sweet talk of the two from the side; she didn’t interrupt, but instead wore a knowing ‘auntie’ smile.
She even mischievously chimed in: “Hey, hey, hey, do you only remember Diana?” “What about me, your Queen sister?” “You’ve just forgotten about me?” She pretended to be angry and pinched Arthas’s cheek.
“How would I dare!” “Queen sister must also be remembered!” “In the future, I still want to eat what sister makes by hand…
uh, although sister doesn’t seem to know how to cook.” “But I still want to hear sister tell stories!” Arthas hastily added, his survival instinct fully activated.
“The two of you, I will never forget in my life!” “It’s all carved into my brain!” “Carved into my heart!” He pointed to his small chest, where “Echo of Love” was nodding vigorously in agreement.
“That’s more like it.” Hippolyta nodded in satisfaction.
Looking at these two children, she suddenly felt an impulse.
Although reason told her this was improper and even a bit absurd.
But tonight, at this moment of impending departure.
Under the moon with no outsiders to disturb them.
She only wanted to follow her own heart.
She slowly lowered her head and planted a deep kiss on Arthas’s left cheek.
“This is a farewell kiss, and also a blessing kiss.” Almost at the same time.
Diana also seemed to have received some kind of calling.
Or perhaps she was unwilling to be outdone.
She also leaned in and planted an equally affectionate, even more forceful kiss on Arthas’s right cheek.
“This is too.” A pincer attack from both sides.
Kisses from two goddesses.
At this moment, time seemed to truly stand still.
Arthas was sandwiched in the middle, feeling the warm touch on both cheeks and the suffocating sensation of being completely surrounded by love.
His mind went blank.
Leaving only eyes full of pink bubbles.
“Boom—” The pink divine power within his body seemed to have ignited a nuclear fusion.
Instantly, an unprecedented energy fluctuation erupted.
This energy didn’t cause any destruction; instead, it was like a warm current, flowing back through the skin where the three touched and into the bodies of the two goddesses.
Diana and Hippolyta felt their entire bodies jolt.
A strange, warm feeling welled up in their hearts.
It was as if their souls had established an invisible yet extremely solid link with this boy at this moment.
That feeling was very comfortable, very reassuring, and even…
very intoxicating.
The three of them just quietly embraced each other like that.
No one spoke, and no one was willing to break this tranquility.
The moonlight was like water, pouring down and plating the embracing trio with a layer of holy silver.
This scene was as beautiful as a World-renowned oil painting.
Titled “The Myth of Love and Parting.” On this eve of departure.
At the conclusion of this grand feast.
Three hearts were pressed together at an unprecedented distance.
Planting a seed named “bond.” This seed would take root and sprout in the years to come, growing into a towering tree.
Whether by the Bifrost Bridge of Asgard or on the cliffs of Paradise Island.
Even on those distant battlefields.
The karma planted tonight would eventually bloom into the most brilliant flowers.
The night deepened, and the bonfire slowly burned out, leaving only the glowing red embers flickering.
The noisy crowd had dispersed, most having fallen drunk in various corners of the square.
Hippolyta finally couldn’t hold back her sleepiness, or perhaps she didn’t want the sorrow of parting to dilute this beauty.
She stood up; although a bit unsteady, she still maintained her queenly grace.
“Alright.” “The night is late.” “It’s time to go back and rest.” “Tomorrow…
we have to wake up early.” She took one last deep look at Arthas and stroked his head.
“Goodnight, my little knight.” Then, supported by her handmaidens, she turned and left.
Though her silhouette was solitary, her steps were lighter than ever before.
Diana didn’t leave.
She watched her Mother leave and then sat back down beside Arthas.
She looked at this little fellow who was already somewhat dazed, his eyes barely able to stay open.
She said nothing.
She just silently picked him up.
Just like the first day, she protected him with that warmest embrace.
Step by step, she walked toward the Private Chambers filled with memories.
“Sleep.” “Have sweet dreams.” “In your dreams…
you must have me.” She whispered softly in the wind.
And Arthas had already fallen into a deep sleep in her arms, with that happy smile still hanging on the corner of his mouth.
His hand tightly gripped a strand of Diana’s black hair, as if he had grasped the entire World.
This night, the wind on Paradise Island was light, and the sound of the waves was soft.
Everyone was in their dreams, looking forward to the arrival of tomorrow.
Yet in their subconscious, they resisted that inevitable dawn.
But regardless.
The story titled “Paradise Island Adventure.” Had come to a most perfect and most unforgettable conclusion.
The rest would be left to time and that inscrutable fate.