Faora's gaze toward Lorien was filled with guilt.
She had been on this planet for years, not just a day or two. Deep down, she already had a vague idea of who she was searching for—that person was Clark Kent.
She had made inquiries more than once. She had even discovered an alien spacecraft in the Kent family's barn. But after all this time, what she sought still remained hidden.
Where exactly was the Codex?
As Faora wrestled with the thought, Lorien's eyes stayed locked on her, never shifting away.
For a long while.
She pressed her lips together.
"I'm only doing what I believe is right!"
She couldn't deny the feelings she held for Lorien, yet she would never abandon the convictions she had clung to for so long.
Standing face-to-face with Faora, Lorien could feel the strength of her resolve—unyielding, without regret, though laced with hesitation.
"Shall we walk a while?"
A subtle change flickered across his expression, softening into warmth that stood in sharp contrast to his earlier coldness.
Faora didn't even dare breathe. Just moments ago, Lorien's gaze had been so icy it unsettled her, yet in an instant his demeanor shifted completely. It was as if the man who had looked at her like that wasn't Lorien at all.
"Alright."
Her investigation was complete for now. With no sign of the Codex, Faora would have to remain here.
The two walked home through the night breeze.
Faora kept sneaking glances at Lorien, but his face was calm and unreadable. From his handsome features, she could see no trace of emotion.
The longer she looked, the harder it became to bear. Finally, she blurted out,
"Scold me if you want, say anything you like—just don't ignore me!"
Her voice carried a note of pleading.
But Lorien wasn't ignoring her on purpose. He was lost in thought about the events of this world yet to unfold.
General Zod would be arriving soon.
Faora had come first, living here for years. She seemed to have drifted from the expected path, and Clark Kent's life had also strayed somewhat. But the larger trajectory should remain unchanged. After all, this world's timeline showed no signs of disorder.
Lorien pondered it for a moment before brushing the thoughts aside with ease. None of it mattered to him. He was already far too strong.
In the Marvel universe, he had gathered fragments of the Phoenix Force. What once seemed like an unreachable peak, he had already surpassed with almost no effort. Everything had come so easily.
As his thoughts lingered on Zod and his time in the Marvel world, Lorien returned to the present at the sound of Faora's voice. A flicker of confusion crossed his face.
"Why would I scold you? Why would I ignore you?"
His tone was serious, unmistakably sincere.
His attitude showed clearly that he hadn't given weight to her words—or even her anxious feelings.
He simply escorted Faora back, and before she entered her room, he didn't say another word.
In front of Lorien, Faora felt like nothing more than air.
Gwen and Wanda, waiting at home, noticed it too.
After glancing at Gwen, Wanda stepped up to Lorien and whispered,
"Did Faora upset you? If you're really angry, I'll just send her away."
It had been Wanda who insisted on bringing Faora home, believing Lorien would like someone like her. But after all these years, though his attitude toward her was decent, he had never once touched her. It was obvious he had no other intentions.
It seemed Wanda must have misunderstood back then. Or perhaps he had liked her at first, but over time those feelings had faded.
As that thought crossed her mind, Wanda couldn't help but voice it aloud.
"I did have a little interest in her back then, but forced relationships never work out."
Lorien smiled faintly, making no effort to hide his thoughts.
"Whether it works out or not, you have to try it to find out, right?"
"Mutual affection is what makes a union truly fulfilling. If there's even a hint of dissatisfaction, or if someone's heart is occupied by something else more important, I wouldn't want that kind of person."
Lorien remained perfectly composed, his tone devoid of any displeasure. He even smiled at Wanda as he looked at her.
"Do you really think you can force yourself to like someone?"
"Of course not."
Wanda shook her head firmly.
Mutual affection and a natural coming together—that's what brings true joy. Wanda agreed with this.
To outsiders, her relationship with Gwen and Lorien might seem incomprehensible, but the three of them had always gotten along wonderfully. They never argued and were genuinely happy.
For them, whether one person was present or not made little difference. As long as they were happy.
Having been by Lorien's side for so long, she knew exactly how demanding he was when it came to relationships.
"Love is selfish. If someone likes me, they must be the most important person in my heart, and it must be mutual—they have to want it too. If they can't do that, then I'll let them go."
Lorien spoke these words calmly, his tone carrying a trace of coldness.
Wanda looked at him, gradually beginning to understand.
Earlier, when she had kept Faora at home, Lorien hadn't objected—he had tacitly accepted it. Yet now, he seemed indifferent to whether Faora stayed or left...
Wanda pondered deeply. Perhaps it was time to let her go.
She had initially feared Faora might cause trouble in this world or harm the neighbors. But after observing her for so long, she hadn't done anything particularly harmful.
If that was the case, there was no need to keep watching.
After finishing her talk with Lorien, Wanda left.
She walked straight to Faora's room and knocked on the door.