After the group photo was taken, the graduation ceremony officially came to an end.
On the drive back home, John glanced at Daniel from the front seat.
"So, have you decided on a college yet?"
"Not completely," Daniel replied with a smile. "I’m still choosing between MIT and Harvard."
"You should make the decision yourself," John said calmly. "Mary and I respect whatever you choose."
"Yeah. I’ll think it through carefully."
John nodded, then suddenly turned toward Carol.
"What about you? What are you planning to do after graduation?"
Carol hesitated for a moment before answering quietly, "I... I’m going to enlist."
"What?"
"The military."
"I don’t agree with that."
John frowned immediately. He clearly disliked the idea.
"What’s a girl doing joining the army?"
Carol’s eyes widened instantly.
"What’s that supposed to mean? Girls can’t join the military?" she shot back.
"That’s sexism. You’re looking down on women. Mom, did you hear him? He looks down on us."
"You..."
John opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Sweetheart," Mary said gently from the side, "I don’t really recommend joining the military either."
"Why?" Carol asked, sounding wronged.
"It’s too exhausting, too dangerous. Your father and I just don’t want you to suffer."
"But I like it," Carol insisted. "Mom, joining the military has always been my dream."
"Well, I still don’t agree with it," John muttered stubbornly from the front.
"I’m already eighteen. I can make my own decisions," Carol said firmly.
...
That was where the conversation ended.
Nobody brought it up again afterward.
...
Three more days passed.
Daniel was sprawled around the house, bored out of his mind.
’I need to find something to do.’
After thinking for a while, an idea suddenly came to him.
’Why not go out somewhere?’
Honestly speaking, ever since coming to this world over a decade ago, he had never really traveled or gone out to enjoy himself properly.
’A graduation trip sounds pretty good.’
The more he thought about it, the better it sounded.
As for the destination... he hadn’t decided yet.
’Can’t stay stuck at home forever.’
Then another thought came to him.
’Maybe I should ask Carol if she wants to come.’
Daniel immediately got up and went looking for her.
"Carol, let’s go traveling!"
He got straight to the point the moment he found her.
"Sure! Where to?" Carol answered almost instantly. She had been bored at home too.
On top of that, she and John had been in a cold war these past few days, so staying in the house felt uncomfortable.
"Uh... haven’t figured that part out yet," Daniel admitted awkwardly.
Carol thought for a second, then suddenly smiled.
"I’ve got an idea. Let’s go to New York."
"New York?" Daniel considered it briefly before nodding. "Sure. Sounds good."
He honestly had no better idea anyway.
"So when do we leave?" Carol asked.
"Tomorrow?" Daniel suggested. "We’ll tell mom and dad tonight and head out in the morning."
"Works for me."
Then Carol suddenly asked the most important question.
"Do you even have money?"
Daniel paused.
"I still have some scholarship money left over from school. About... a thousand dollars or so."
"That should be enough," Carol said. "I’ve still got around five hundred too."
Daniel looked at her in surprise.
"You actually have savings?"
Carol rolled her eyes at him immediately.
"What’s with that reaction?"
She crossed her arms proudly.
"I’m not the little girl who used to lend you money."
That instantly reminded Daniel of something.
"Are you sure that money was ’lent’ to me?"
"Of course."
"Sure," Daniel replied lazily, clearly too tired to argue.
That evening, during dinner, Daniel brought up the trip.
"Mom, Carol and I are planning to go to New York tomorrow."
Mary looked surprised.
"What made you suddenly want to go to New York?"
"We’ve been stuck at home for too long," Daniel explained. "We want to go out, relax a little... and maybe think more seriously about which college to choose."
Mary nodded lightly.
"Alright then. Just be careful while you’re out there."
She didn’t say much more.
They were adults now. She no longer needed to remind them about every little thing like when they were children.
Then John suddenly spoke up.
"Do you two have enough money?"
"We’ve got around fifteen hundred combined. It should be enough."
John was silent for a second before pulling out money from his pocket.
"I’ll lend you some too. Not much. Five hundred."
He handed it over directly.
"Don’t force yourselves to save every penny and end up suffering."
That was what parents were like.
Even if they didn’t say much aloud, deep down, they always wanted their children to live well.
"You really don’t have to," Daniel said hesitantly. "I think we already have enough."
"Take it."
John stuffed the money directly into Daniel’s hand.
"I’ve traveled before. I know exactly how miserable it feels when you run out of money away from home."
"...Alright."
Daniel finally accepted it.
Ten years had passed.
John and Mary had visibly aged.
There were strands of white in their hair now. Wrinkles had slowly formed around their eyes and faces.
They were almost fifty years old.
Only now did Daniel truly realize it.
An uncomfortable feeling rose in his chest.
’Looks like I need to start searching for something that can extend lifespan.’
His gaze lowered slightly.
’Now that I’m strong enough, it’s time to explore the mysteries of this world properly.’
’I want this family to stay together forever.’
’Forever.’
Daniel quietly set a goal for himself.
This world was filled with miracles and strange powers. Somewhere out there, there had to be things capable of extending life... maybe even something greater than that.
That night passed without dreams.
The next morning, just after sunrise, Daniel and Carol had already packed everything.
There wasn’t actually that much luggage.
Well... for Daniel, anyway.
Most of it belonged to Carol.
Out of the two suitcases, one and a half were hers. Daniel barely occupied half of one.
They planned to take a train to New York.
As for the itinerary after arriving there?
Neither of them liked making detailed plans.
They would just wander around and go wherever looked interesting.
After all, skilled people feared nothing.
’What’s there to be scared of?’ Daniel thought lazily.
The two then loaded their luggage into John’s car.
Their small town didn’t have a train station, so John had to drive them over ten miles to a nearby city. Even that place was still fairly small.
"Alright, let’s go," John said.
"We’re leaving," Daniel and Carol said goodbye to Mary together.
Mary smiled softly.
"Go have fun."
The car engine started.
But Mary didn’t move.
Daniel turned back for one last look and saw her still standing outside the house, quietly watching the car disappear into the distance.
At that moment, Daniel finally made his decision.
’MIT it is.’
’Boston is close to home.’
...
The atmosphere inside the car felt a little awkward.
Neither John nor Carol spoke.
Only when they were almost at the train station did John finally break the silence.
"I thought about it," he said slowly.
"Carol... if you really want to join the military, then go."
Carol froze.
"Really?"
Her face was filled with disbelief.
She clearly hadn’t expected John to suddenly change his mind.
"You’ve grown up," John said quietly. "I can’t control your life anymore. If this is what you want, then do it."
His voice softened.
"But if one day it gets too hard... remember this."
"There will always be a room waiting for you back in Smallville."
Carol’s eyes instantly turned red.
"I love you, Dad."
If John hadn’t been driving, Daniel was pretty sure she would’ve thrown herself at him already.
"Thanks for supporting me," Carol said excitedly. "Don’t worry. I’m definitely going to become an ace pilot someday!"
John blinked.
"Pilot?"
Apparently, until now, he only knew Carol wanted to enlist. He had no idea she planned to become a pilot.
"Mhm..." Carol nodded proudly. "I already passed the physical exam. I love the sky. I want to fly freely up there."
John laughed helplessly.
"So you already handled everything first and only told us afterward?"
Carol let out two dry laughs.
"I was scared you’d object..."
"And would our objections even matter?" John asked back.
"Dad, you’re the best father ever. I love you," Carol said immediately, skillfully changing the subject.
Clearly, she had learned that move from John himself over the years.
"You really..." John let out a long sigh. "You’ve been stubborn since you were little."
...
’You love the sky, huh...’
Daniel quietly looked out the window.
’Then someday, I’ll take you somewhere truly worth seeing.’
Anyway, he had already decided.
He no longer planned to hide his abilities from his family forever.
Now, he finally had enough strength to protect himself.
It was time to tell them the truth.
Guys do give some reviews and power stones, it would also be fun to read y’all comments as its quite boring without it.