Homelander is in DC

"Mom?"

Inside the originally closed barn, Eric saw his mother, Martha, standing in front of the cellar, her arms crossed, her brows furrowed as she stared at the bottom of the cellar, seemingly deep in thought.

Hearing a sound, Martha was startled. She turned around and, seeing it was Eric, let out a long breath.

"Did something happen?"

Eric used his X-ray vision to glance at the spaceship in the cellar and asked his mother.

"No, nothing. I just like coming over recently. You know, this place holds extraordinary significance for you, Clark, me, and Jonathan. Sometimes I wonder..."

"Will you and Clark leave me one day? After all, you and Clark came here on this spaceship."

Martha smiled, but her smile was a bit bitter.

"We won't."

Eric walked over and put his arm around his mother's shoulder. "It will never happen. I won't leave you, and neither will Clark."

Though he didn't understand why his mother suddenly became so pessimistic, he still comforted her softly.

"But things are always changing. We can't see the future."

Martha shook her head. "Just like the conflict between your father and Clark before. Although it was because Clark's personality was altered by the red meteorite, it also shows that you both are growing up."

"Your father is always strict with you. Maybe you and Clark will criticize him for being controlling and narrow-minded, but don't forget, your father also has depth."

Eric was silent for a moment after hearing this, then replied, "I will. So, Mom, what happened?"

Martha hesitated, looking towards the sealed spot at the cellar entrance.

"A few days ago, you were in Gotham and didn't come back. One night I woke up and noticed movement in the barn, so I came to check."

"Was it the spaceship making the noise?"

Eric frowned and asked his mother.

"Yes. I didn't know what was happening. When I opened the door and came in, I saw light coming from the sealed cellar. I opened the pulley to reveal the cellar. The spaceship was shaking and emitting a strange green light. It looked like it was calling for you and Clark."

After recounting her experience, Martha looked at Eric with a complex expression. "That's why I'm worried. I'm afraid of losing you and Clark. You will grow up and mature, then choose your own paths. Maybe then you will take the spaceship and leave us. I'm really afraid of losing you, Eric."

"I know what path I will choose, and it won't be the one you fear, Mom."

After comforting his mother softly, he asked, "Did you tell Dad about this?"

"Not yet. At that time, he was worried about Clark's rebellion. I didn't want him to worry more, so I didn't tell him."

"I see..."

Eric pondered for a moment and said no more. He reached into his pocket and gripped the octagonal metal piece he got from Dr. Hamilton.

This octagonal metal piece should be a part of the spaceship.

He didn't know if it was just a metal fragment or a key or critical component to activating the spaceship.

At the Neill family farm, Lana was riding a pony around the farm.

After running two laps, she prepared to rest and noticed Clark by the fence.

With one hand in his pocket and the other holding a lotus flower, Clark greeted Lana as she rode over on the pony.

"Hey, Lana! Neill told me you like riding, so I rushed over. This place is really beautiful."

Clark, holding the lotus flower with both hands, spoke somewhat shyly, "I got lost on my way here, but I made it in the end."

To cover his nervousness, Clark coughed.

"So...is this for me?"

Lana, still on the pony, asked expressionlessly.

"Yes, I...I want to apologize. I shouldn't have taken your necklace and broken it. I know it meant a lot to you, so I wanted to say I'm sorry."

Clark, nervous, waved the flower in his hand and spoke sincerely.

"You think giving me flowers will make everything okay?"

Lana asked, still cold.

"I..."

Clark showed a guilty expression. "What I said and did before, those weren't my true feelings, Lana."

"Mm-hmm, so everything you said was a lie, Clark?"

Lana continued to ask, "Everything you said to me, to your father, to Eric, was all a lie?"

Clark looked at the lotus flower in his hand. "I wish I could give you an explanation, but I can't."

Yes, he couldn't justify himself.

Even if it wasn't his true intention, the things he had done and said couldn't be excused.

"You're always like this, Clark."

Lana turned her gaze to the sunset in disappointment. "You never show your true feelings, always hiding them, acting like a kind and understanding boy. Sometimes, I think the version of you influenced by the red meteorite was better. At least then, you expressed your true thoughts, whether it was love, hatred, dislike, or desire."

Lana fully expressed her thoughts at this moment.

She wasn't just angry about her broken necklace.

It was Clark's constant suppression of his emotions and feelings that frustrated her.

"Some people are destined to wait for others, and some are destined to be waited for, Clark. You are the latter."

"Lana, I'm really sorry, I..."

Before Clark could finish, Lana turned the pony away.

"I want to go home alone. Can you go back on your own?"

"Yes, I...I can."

Clark, trying to keep his composure, nodded and replied.

"Okay."

Lana tapped the pony's head, and the maroon pony quickly ran forward.

Clark held onto the fence, watching Lana's figure fade away.

An immense sadness quickly engulfed him.

Was he so afraid of losing that he acted so timidly?

He glanced at the lotus flower in his hand and gently placed it on the ground.

But why, even after losing, must he be punished?!

Turning away from the farm, Clark asked himself this question in his heart.

Was it what he deserved?!

At this moment, he realized the cost of recklessly using his powers.

If he couldn't control his gifts and acted purely on instinct and unchecked emotions, he would face the most severe and harsh consequences.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

10 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/ReadingOasis

Make Sure to give a Review!