Faora's power was so fearsome that even Superman at his peak had to take her seriously.
Yet now, this very woman was being warned by Wanda—and she looked almost obedient?
Lorien glanced over Faora carefully. Seeing no new injuries on her, his expression grew even more complicated. Sometimes, he really couldn't understand what went on between women.
He only spared them that brief look before opening his lunchbox and slowly starting to eat.
...
While Lorien was eating, Clark Kent's adoptive parents held tightly onto his hands, their faces full of worry.
"Clark, my child, where did you go? Please don't do anything foolish."
Although they had just brushed past Lorien, they hadn't noticed Clark waiting by the door of Lorien's therapy room, marked "527."
"I just went to talk with Lorien for a bit. I'd never do anything reckless."
Held in his adoptive mother's arms, Clark gently patted her back.
"I believe I'm doing the right thing. I couldn't let Dad really die in that storm. No matter what happens, our family must stay together."
His parents had worried that he'd get stuck in his own thoughts, but to their surprise, he had worked things out himself.
Thinking of the new psychologist, Lorien, who had recently moved into town, the two exchanged a glance. They'd have to find time to thank him properly.
Or maybe even help him find more patients?
If Lorien knew what kind of "gratitude" they had in mind, he would be utterly speechless. That kind of thanks was really unnecessary!
...
Time slipped by quickly. To Lorien and the others, this world was almost too peaceful, and before long, several years had passed.
Gwen and Wanda stayed by his side throughout.
Even Faora, who once thought constantly about escaping, gradually settled down with them. She no longer tried to run or stir up trouble.
The girl whose gaze had once been so unyielding now looked at Lorien with a subtle shift in her eyes after all these years.
Though they lived under the same roof, she was not Lorien's woman.
"Lorien, don't you like Faora?"
On the very first day, Wanda could clearly sense Lorien's strong interest in Faora. Yet after just a few years, while his feelings toward her and Gwen remained the same, he now seemed somewhat distant when it came to Faora.
"I don't like someone who could betray me at any moment."
Finding someone who would never betray him was easy enough. But what he wanted was a lover—someone who could walk beside him for a lifetime.
He would never use force to make that happen. He had given her time, but Faora hadn't seized it.
Wanda looked at Lorien's calm expression, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. She suddenly recalled the first time they met.
Back then, she had lost her last relative and fallen into despair, even losing the will to live. It was Lorien who saved her.
She had once been his patient. Gwen too, in a way.
As for Faora?
"Sometimes I can't help wondering, Lorien—do you have a particular fondness for the forbidden bond between doctors and their patients…"
Wanda laughed as she spoke.
Lorien froze.
Why would Wanda suddenly think that? He simply liked beautiful women, nothing more—absolutely no ulterior motives.
"By the way, there's been a reporter hanging around here lately."
Wanda abruptly shifted the topic, saying to Lorien, "She seems to be digging into that boy, Clark."
"You still call him a boy? He looks much older than you."
Lorien found Wanda's choice of words particularly amusing.
"We practically watched him grow up. Back when he was still a student, he was always running over here."
To her, he was like a child she and Lorien had raised together. Of course she cared.
"I understand. I'll keep an eye on things."
With that, Lorien watched Wanda leave.
After she was gone, he lazily stayed at his desk, continuing to read. Books in this century were much like those in the Marvel universe, yet some of them were particularly interesting. The sheer variety was vast and complex.
Lorien had always read broadly and without restriction.
...
Around two in the afternoon, a shadow lingered at the doorway, peeking inside again and again. Lorien had long since noticed, but since the person didn't enter, he simply stayed put, casually flipping through his book while watching from the corner of his eye.
It was a woman—a very pretty one.
She stood straight, a camera hanging from her neck, notebook and pen in hand—the very image of a reporter.
She hesitated at the door for about three minutes before finally stepping inside.
"Excuse me, sir, may I ask you a few questions?"
Lorien slowly lifted his gaze, closed the book in his hands, and set it down on the table.
"Miss Reporter, would you like black tea or just plain water?"
At first, the woman was tense, but seeing Lorien's gentle manner calmed her down.
She had been quietly investigating Clark Kent, so she already knew a bit about the situation here. For instance, she was well aware that the doctor at this clinic was on good terms with Clark.
Whenever he had free time, Clark would come here and stay for hours.
"I'll have a cup of black tea."
The woman spoke awkwardly.
Lorien nodded. Without delay, he brewed a cup of tea and set it in front of her.
"My name is Lois Lane. I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet. I've been trying to find Mr. Clark Kent. I know he possesses a very unusual power—one that once saved me."
"You like him?"
Lois froze. She shook her head quickly and denied it outright.
"No, I don't like him at all."
To be honest, even though he had saved her, all she felt in that moment was fear.
When faced with the unknown—or with someone far more powerful than oneself—fear was natural. She was just an ordinary woman, and she was no different.
"Then why must you know?"