The sea breeze on Paradise Island always carries a peculiar sweetness.
Unlike the outside world, there are no changing seasons here; time seems to stand still on this island.
The sunlight is forever bright yet not harsh, spilling over the ancient white marble structures and casting a soft, radiant halo.
In the distance lay a lush, primeval forest where colossal ancient trees blotted out the sky, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze.
Closer by stretched this endless golden coastline, with fine, soft sand extending into the azure sea.
Waves gently lapped against the rocky shore, rolling up into pure white crests before swiftly receding, leaving behind a moist trail.
The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the fresh scent of the sea, making one relax involuntarily.
This was a sanctuary blessed by the gods, the home of the Amazon people, and also the world’s most beautiful prison.
On this tranquil beach, a solitary figure sat upon a rock.
She wore simple training attire, with leather wrist guards showing signs of wear, clearly having just undergone an intense training session.
Diana hugged her knees, her deep blue eyes, like the ocean, gazing at the endless horizon.
The sea wind tousled her thick black hair, a few strands clinging to her sweat-dampened cheeks.
She picked up a small pebble at her feet and hurled it forcefully into the sea.
The pebble skipped a few times on the water’s surface before sinking with a ‘plop,’ creating a small ripple that was quickly swallowed by the waves.
Her brow furrowed slightly, her eyes revealing a confusion that seemed out of place for her age.
“clay doll…” Diana murmured the words softly, a self-mocking curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
She extended a hand, studying the lines on her palm.
These hands were long and powerful, capable of easily lifting massive boulders and drawing the divine bow that only the mightiest warrior could wield.
Mother always said that she was molded from clay through prayers to the gods, and then Zeus gave her life.
But whenever she felt the surging, scorching power within her in the dead of night, she always felt that story was too perfect—perfect to the point of seeming like a lie.
She stood up, brushing the sand off her clothes.
She pulled the iron sword embedded in the sand; its blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Regardless of her origins, only strength was real.
Aunt Antiope was right: in this world, the weak have no right to ask questions.
She took a deep breath, assumed her stance, and swung her sword through the air.
At that very moment, the previously calm sky suddenly rippled with a strange fluctuation.
It wasn’t the precursor to gathering storm clouds but a purer, more sacred disturbance of energy.
A multicolored light, like a colossal dragon of radiance, emerged abruptly from the void.
Unlike other would-be intruders, it didn’t crash against the invisible magical barrier surrounding Paradise Island.
Instead, it flowed around the barrier as naturally and smoothly as water around a stone, descending directly toward this stretch of coast.
“What is that?!” Diana’s pupils contracted sharply.
As the most perceptive warrior among the Amazons, she instantly sensed the terrifying energy contained within that light.
It wasn’t mortal technology, nor was it ordinary magic.
Was that…
divine power?
Without a moment’s hesitation.
Diana pushed off the rock with her toes, propelling herself forward like an arrow released from a bow.
The rock beneath her feet cracked, sending shards flying.
She sprinted across the sand, each step leaving a deep footprint.
Whoever this newcomer was, being able to bypass the barrier and land directly posed a significant threat.
She was the Amazon princess, the future guardian of this island.
She absolutely could not let any danger approach her people.
She tightened her grip on the sword, adjusted her breathing, and elevated her physical state to its peak.
In just a few breaths, she had covered hundreds of meters, charging into the area where the multicolored light-dust had not yet fully dissipated.
However, when she broke through the luminous mist and saw the so-called ‘intruder,’ she froze completely.
There was no ferocious monster, no fully armed army, no sinister deity.
Only a small figure sitting dazedly on the grass.
Was that…
a human?
Diana slowed her pace but did not lower her guard.
She had never seen a man before, only heard of them in books and her mother’s stories.
The books said men were the root of war, creatures filled with desire and destructive power.
But this one before her…
was far too small, wasn’t he?
He looked to be only about six or seven years old, wearing strange but finely made clothes.
His skin was fair and delicate, his eyes large…
and he actually looked…
kind of cute?
This is called a man?
He doesn’t look much different from how I was as a child.
Even though the other party was a child, principles were principles.
Diana stopped a few steps away from Arthas, adopting a defensive posture.
Although she didn’t point the sharp sword directly at his throat, its tip still angled toward the ground, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
She slightly lifted her chin, a gesture of royal pride and a warrior’s intimidation.
“Human child.” She spoke in a cold voice, attempting to overwhelm him with her presence.
“Tell me, how did you pass through the magical barrier and come here?” She stared intently into the child’s eyes, trying to detect any hint of deceit or malice.
However, the child didn’t burst into tears or beg for mercy.
He just blinked those large amber eyes twice, then, in a soft, sweet voice, uttered those two words: “Mommy.” Those two words struck like a bolt from the blue, instantly shattering all of Diana’s defenses.
Whatever royal dignity, whatever warrior’s vigilance—at this moment, they all lay in pieces on the ground.
Diana nearly dropped the sword in her hand.
Her originally ice-cold, beautiful face flushed a deep red at a visible speed, all the way to the tips of her ears.
That blush wasn’t from shyness but from extreme shock and embarrassment.
“You…
what did you say?!” Diana’s voice cracked, completely losing its usual composure.
She took half a step back, as if avoiding some ferocious beast.
“You little human child, what nonsense are you spouting!” Diana flailed her free hand in a flustered manner, rebutting incoherently.
“I…
I’ve never even seen a man!
How could I possibly have a child as old as you!” This was utterly absurd!
If her aunts heard such a thing, how could she ever show her face again?
And…
and this was so sudden!
Although she sometimes fantasized about the outside world, she had never fantasized about becoming a mother directly!
Diana felt her brain was about to short-circuit.
Looking at this innocent-looking little brat before her, she could only think he was a colossal nuisance.
Arthas tilted his head, watching this beautiful sister who was reacting so intensely.
He had actually come to his senses.
That moment ago, seeing that stunningly beautiful face and that inexplicable sense of familiarity had made him blurt it out subconsciously.
After all, Father had said that in this world, some blood ties cannot be severed.
Though he didn’t know why, he could feel that this sister shared something with him.
But Arthas didn’t know it was the blessing from Aphrodite—that ultimate affinity for beauty.
But most importantly, he remembered Frigga’s teachings.
That always-smiling goddess queen had once told him very seriously: “Little Arthas, if you ever get lost outside or find yourself in danger, just find a particularly beautiful, seemingly powerful sister, rush up to her, and call her ‘Mommy.'” “As long as you say it sweetly enough, no woman can refuse to protect you.” “Remember, this is a life-saving divine skill!” With Frigga’s “divine decree,” Arthas felt he had done nothing wrong at all.
He blinked, not only refusing to take it back but even adopting an air of utter reasonableness.
He pointed at himself, then at Diana.
“So what?” Arthas retorted in that childish voice, full of confusion.
“Can’t I call you Mommy?” He paused, then added another line—a true finishing move.
“That’s what my mommy taught me.” He said it so sincerely, so straightforwardly.
As if it were a law written in the cosmic truth.
Diana was completely speechless.
She rested a hand on her forehead, feeling her temples throb.
Just what kind of bizarre family did this kid come from?
What kind of mother would teach her child such nonsense?
Randomly calling someone ‘Mommy’?
What kind of survival tactic was that?
“Ah…” Diana let out a long, helpless sigh; her warrior’s sharp aura had completely vanished.
She crouched down, trying to reason with this oddly wired child.
“How could your mother possibly teach you that?” Diana looked at Arthas’s fair, tender little face, her voice full of suspicion.
“How can you believe such a thing?
Don’t you have any common sense?” She couldn’t help but reach out, wanting to poke the child’s forehead to see if it was filled with mush.
“Are you a little dummy?” It was absolutely a spontaneous quip, with no malice intended.
However, those two words seemed to flip a switch in Arthas.
“Dummy”?
That word in Asgard was reserved exclusively for Thor, that muscle-brained guy!
He was Prince Arthas!
The genius who scored perfect marks every time, praised even by Odin!
How could he be called a dummy?
This was an insult to his intelligence!
Arthas’s previously smiling little face instantly fell, turning extremely serious.
He planted his hands on his hips, puffed out his tiny chest, trying to look more imposing.
Those amber eyes widened, glaring at Diana indignantly.
“No way!” Arthas retorted loudly.
Though his voice was still milky-sweet, his tone was firm.
“I’m not dumb!
I’m very clever!” To bolster his argument, he specifically cited his sources.
“My mommy told me I’m the smartest child in Asgard!” “Even Uncle Heimdall praised me for having bright eyes!
Even Father praised my policy essays!” “How can you call me a dummy just because I told the truth?” He grew more aggrieved as he spoke, his little mouth pouting.
He had just done as Mommy taught; why was he being called a dummy?
Could it be that Frigga was lying?
Impossible.
Mommy was so gentle; she wouldn’t lie.
It must be because this sister, though beautiful, had a bad personality!
Looking at the child in front of her who was like a puffed-up kitten, Diana couldn’t help but find it both amusing and exasperating.
The tense atmosphere from earlier had completely vanished after this commotion.
This was no intruder.
This was clearly a lost, somewhat narcissistic, and thoroughly spoiled little young master.
“Alright, alright, you’re clever, you’re the cleverest.” Diana shook her head, a hint of a smile finally tugging at the corner of her mouth.
What’s the point of arguing with a kid?
She sheathed her sword at her waist, effectively disarming herself.
Since he wasn’t an enemy, things were much simpler.
But…
did this kid just mention ‘Asgard’?
“Alright, you clever little thing.” Diana straightened up, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked down at the little sprout who only reached her thigh.
“Since you say you’re not stupid, then answer my questions properly.” Her expression had relaxed somewhat, but her eyes remained sharp.
“What’s your name?
And what is this ‘Asgard’ place?” “And…” She pointed at the fading traces of the light circle in the sky.
“How did you make such a big commotion and end up falling here?” This was what concerned her the most.
Although she sensed no malice from the child, he seemed to harbor an immense amount of energy within him.
That kind of energy made even her, a ‘demigoddess’, feel a slight tremor of unease.
Hearing the question about his name, Arthas immediately straightened his clothes.
Even though he had just taken a tumble and had a few blades of grass stuck to him, it didn’t diminish the dignity of the Crown Prince.
He patted his sleeves and then performed an Asgardian noble bow with impeccable elegance.
It was taught to him personally by Frigga, every movement flawless and beyond reproach.
“My name is Arthas.” Arthas looked up, his face wearing that trademark, confident smile.
“Arthas Odinson.” “I am the Crown Prince of Asgard, the firstborn son of Odin, the All-Father.” When he announced this title, he didn’t sound arrogant, but rather carried an innate sense of pride.
As for how he got here…
Arthas scratched his head, his confidence waning slightly, replaced by a touch of embarrassment.
“Well…
that was actually an accident.” He glanced guiltily at the sky, then spoke while fidgeting with his fingers.
“I just touched that control panel lightly…” “Really, just a gentle touch.” “And then ‘whoosh’, I was flung out.” He spread his hands, looking utterly innocent.
“By the time I realized what was happening, I had already landed right in front of you.” “Then I saw you about to slash me with your sword, I got scared, and I remembered what my mother said…” As Diana listened, her frown deepened.
Odin?
The All-Father from Norse mythology?
Hippolyta had indeed told her stories about other pantheons.
Although the Amazons worshipped the Olympian gods, they were also aware of that equally powerful Norse Pantheon.
If what this child said was true…
then this was a huge problem.
The Crown Prince of the Norse God King, landing in Amazon territory.
This was practically the beginning of a diplomatic incident.
Moreover, judging by the child’s demeanor, he didn’t seem to be lying.
The unique divine energy radiating from him was indeed different from Olympian power, carrying a more wild and biting aura.
Just as Diana was still pondering how to handle this hot potato.
A most untimely sound suddenly rang out.
“Gurgle…” The sound wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally clear on the quiet beach.
It came from Arthas’s little stomach.
Arthas’s face, which had just been full of noble composure, instantly fell.
He rubbed his flat belly and gave Diana an embarrassed look.
All the commotion, the divine energy surge, the spatial teleportation, had long since depleted his meager reserves.
Earlier, he was only focused on showing off and arguing.
Now that he had stopped, the hunger hit him like a tidal wave.
Arthas sniffled, his big eyes instantly turning moist.
He once again deployed the ‘Cuteness Overload Divine Skill’ taught to him by Frigga.
Forget the dignity of the Crown Prince.
He took two steps forward, reached out his little hand, and tugged on the tassels of Diana’s leather armor.
“Pretty sister…” He had learned his lesson this time.
Since he couldn’t call her ‘mommy’, he’d call her’sister’.
“I’m hungry.” His voice was soft, tinged with a pitiful tone.
“Can…
can you give me something to eat first?” “I was sent here before I even had dinner…” Looking at the little hand clutching her tassels, then at those big, expectant eyes.
Diana sighed.
Completely defeated.
Was this the ultimate weapon of human younglings?
It was even harder to resist than the strength of Heracles.
And besides, regardless of whether he was the son of a God King or not, she couldn’t very well let him starve.
It was the Amazonian way of hospitality, even if this guest was uninvited.
“…Fine, you win.” Diana somewhat roughly ruffled Arthas’s hair, turning his neatly combed hairstyle into a bird’s nest.
“Let’s go.” She turned and motioned for Arthas to follow.
“But I’m warning you, don’t run off, and don’t talk nonsense.” “Especially don’t call me ‘mommy’ again!” “If anyone else hears you, I’ll throw you back into the sea to feed the sharks!” “Got it!” Arthas immediately beamed, all his grievances gone in an instant.
He skipped along behind Diana, even cheerfully humming a little Asgardian tune.
Although this sister seemed a bit fierce and threatened to feed him to sharks.
He could sense that she was a good person.
Just like Frigga Mommy said, pretty sisters always have soft hearts.
The two of them, one in front, one behind, walked along the beach towards the depths of the forest.
The sun cast their long shadows, one large, one small.
However, Murphy’s Law always holds true.
Diana didn’t want anyone to see, but someone was bound to see.
Just as they reached the edge of the forest, several figures on horseback charged out from a forest path.
It was a patrolling Amazonian guard squad.
They wore silver armor, held spears, and each looked valiant and heroic.
“Princess!” The leading warrior reined in her horse, which let out a whinny.
“We saw a strange light over here earlier.
Was there an intruder?” As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s gaze fell on the little boy behind Diana who was looking around curiously.
The air instantly froze.
The expressions on the female warriors’ faces were practically identical to Diana’s earlier one.
Shock, confusion, disbelief.
And even a barely suppressed amount of…
gossip.
“That’s a…
boy?” “How can there be a boy?” “Heavens, Princess…
you were alone here earlier…
could this child be…” Although no one dared to finish the sentence, their eyes said it all.
Everyone was wildly speculating.
The Princess often came to the beach alone, staying for hours.
Could it be…
a secret rendezvous?
This child is so handsome, and he even bears a slight resemblance to the Princess…
could he really be a secret child?!
Diana felt her face burning.
She could practically hear the frantic whirring of the gossip gears in the guards’ minds.
“No!
It’s not what you’re thinking!” Diana quickly waved her hands, almost jumping in her urgency.
“This is…
this fell from the sky!” “It was an accident!
He’s…
he’s a foundling!” Such an explanation seemed utterly feeble in the face of rampant gossip.
A big, healthy son falling from the sky?
Who would believe that!
Seeing everyone’s expression that screamed ‘Princess, no need to explain, we understand, we’ll keep the secret,’ Diana felt like crying.
Just then, Arthas popped his little head out again.
Looking at these big sisters on tall horses, wearing shiny armor, his eyes lit up once more.
Asgard had Valkyries, but not this many.
This place was simply paradise!
Completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, he very politely waved to everyone.
“Hi~ Hello, all you pretty sisters!” Arthas’s smile was as sweet as could be, revealing two adorable little canines.
“I’m Arthas, the one this pretty sister just claimed…” He was about to say ‘the lost child she just claimed’.
“SHUT UP!!!” With a speed surpassing light, Diana clamped her hand over Arthas’s mouth.
Forcing the unspoken second half of that sentence back down his throat.
Heavens!
If he said ‘the son she just claimed’ or ‘the mommy she just claimed’, her reputation on Paradise Island would be utterly ruined!
Not even jumping into the Aegean Sea would wash it clean!
Arthas blinked, muffled sounds of “mmph mmph” escaping, looking at Diana with utter innocence.
What did I do wrong this time?
“Nothing!
Absolutely nothing!” Diana tucked Arthas under her arm like a briefcase and waved her other hand at the guard squad.
“This is a…
special prisoner!
I’m taking him to see the Queen!” “You all continue your patrol!
Don’t follow us!” Having said that, she didn’t dare linger for another second, and took off running towards the palace.
Her fleeing figure looked utterly flustered and disheveled.
Watching the Princess’s wind-like retreating figure.
The members of the guard squad looked at each other.
“A special prisoner?” a young female warrior muttered softly, “That’s a bit too special.” “He’s really cute,” another sighed.
“And the Princess seems…
very tense about him?” The squad leader coughed, putting on a stern face.
“Alright!
No more wild guesses!
If the Princess says he’s a prisoner, then he’s a prisoner!” “However…” She looked in the direction Diana had disappeared, a smile also tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“Looks like dull Paradise Island is about to get lively.” A sea breeze blew past, stirring up the sand on the ground.
From the distant forest, Diana’s complaints and Arthas’s muffled “mmph” sounds could still faintly be heard.
A storm belonging to a ‘little accident’ had quietly made landfall on Paradise Island.