Night had fallen, and stars dotted the sky above Themyscira.
Inside an ancient circular building.
Cool, bright moonlight streamed through the gaps in the star-shaped iron windows of the main hall. Amid the darkness and silence of the only corridor, accompanied by a rustling scrape, a boy dragged something heavy inside.
Mother Box: "???"
Xi Nian let out a breath and placed the mattress from the little dark room in a corner of the open main hall before flopping down onto it in utter exhaustion.
The little dark room was far too enclosed. It was better to sleep in this ventilated main hall anyway; aside from a box, there was nothing else here.
"I'm sleeping here. You don't mind, do you, Box Neighbor?" Xi Nian glanced at the iron box resting on a stone altar nearby and asked sincerely, as if possessed.
The Mother Box did not move.
"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes." Xi Nian blinked, then lay down on the mattress with complete peace of mind and pulled the blanket over himself.
Mother Box: "!!!"
How could it move?
How would it dare to move?
"I wonder how Aunt Diana is doing." Even as he slept, Xi Nian clutched the Star-Spangled Tiara tightly to his chest.
Today, he had seen many people on Themyscira, yet he alone had not seen Aunt Diana.
"Makes sense. She hasn't seen her mother in so long, so she must still be in the palace." As Xi Nian thought that, he quickly sank into a distant, deep dream.
In the middle of the night.
The temperature in the main hall dropped several degrees further.
Xi Nian suddenly felt chilly all over. Before he even opened his eyes, a familiar fragrance faintly drifted beneath his nose through his haze.
It was as though a bed of violets had bloomed beside him.
"Hm?" Xi Nian jolted awake. His eyes widened as he stared blankly at the space beside him.
An incomparably beautiful, mature woman lay on the mattress at his side.
Her slightly curled black hair lay scattered across the bed. Her eyes were closed, her sword-like brows and lashes dark and thick. Beneath her exquisite, naturally beautified face was a tall, delicate body sculpted in perfect proportions. Her proud, beautifully shaped breasts rose and fell with her steady breathing, while her slender, toned waist led down to a pair of long legs that had to be bent and overlapped to keep them from extending beyond the bed.
She wore a noble and magnificent golden royal gown. Bright moonlight draped over her like a silver veil, making her seem like a deity who did not belong in the mortal world, possessing an unreal kind of beauty.
As though sensing that Xi Nian had awakened and was watching her.
The woman's gemlike eyes opened slightly, clearly reflecting the face of the nearby boy.
"Aunt Diana, why are you here?" Xi Nian thought he was dreaming.
"Wasn't it what you said this morning? That at night, you wanted to... hug me?" Diana said, as though her being here was only natural.
"This morning?" Xi Nian suddenly remembered.
In truth, he had only said it casually. He had not expected his aunt not only to remember it, but to come over at this hour specifically to grant his wish.
An aunt-version Doraemon—you deserved one!
"Really... can I?"
His gaze fell on her mermaid-like slender waist, and Xi Nian felt his disobedient heart speed up considerably.
"Mm." Diana nodded lightly.
And so, Xi Nian gently placed his hand on his aunt's waist.
Xi Nian's first impression was—
As expected of Amazon royal attire, the fabric was clearly the finest silk. It was soft, warm, smooth, and carried a hint of powerful resilience. There was not an ounce of excess flesh beneath it; he could imagine that underneath was a healthy complexion.
Xi Nian cherished it all the more and did not dare apply any force. He merely held her gently with one hand, like a ruler measuring the curve of her waist. Even though he knew that, even with Antiope's strength, he would not be able to harm his aunt in the slightest.
A woman's waist was generally not something one could touch. The sensitivity there was sometimes even sharper than that of the feet.
After all.
Whether above or below, both were extremely important places.
Xi Nian gently held Aunt Diana's waist without making any other movement. Or rather, this was already enough for now.
This was already a huge step forward from before.
Xi Nian could feel his aunt's body trembling slightly, and he suddenly felt relieved. So he was not the only one who was nervous and cautious.
"Aunt Diana, this tiara..." As if remembering something, Xi Nian took out the Star-Spangled Tiara tucked against his chest.
"Keep it with you for now," Diana said softly. "You need it right now."
"All right. I'll keep it safe." Xi Nian nodded solemnly. After the battle that afternoon, he no longer resisted it.
If even he himself believed he could not bear this crown, then how could he make the Amazons of Themyscira believe that he could bear and protect this crown—and Aunt Diana's future?
"This afternoon, I was the one who had Antiope specifically fight you." Diana tapped Xi Nian's forehead with a cool finger and smiled as if scolding him. "Before the Divine Power in me awakened, I trained under Antiope too. So I wanted her to give you some special training. I didn't expect you not to hold back at all."
Xi Nian gave a bitter smile. In fact, he had noticed that Antiope had been holding back the entire time. Rather than a battle, that afternoon had been more like a special sparring session.
Otherwise, with Antiope's strength, he would not have lasted two exchanges.
"For the next few days, train with Antiope," Diana arranged. "You need to master more combat techniques. That way, after you trigger the Lord of Kin ability, you'll be able to adapt to and control other people's abilities better, instead of losing control of your body and accidentally crashing through the windows at home like before."
"All right." Xi Nian sighed. It seemed this relaxing, enjoyable trip was completely ruined.
"If you perform well..." Diana thought for a moment, then suddenly took Xi Nian's hand, rose from the mattress, and walked toward the corridor exit, tossing out, "Then at night, I'll let you hug me for a while longer."
Xi Nian's eyes immediately lit up.
He suddenly had a goal and motivation!
To better adapt to his physical abilities (×), to earn a limited-time Aunt Diana body pillow (√).
And so.
The next morning.
When Xi Nian arrived at the training grounds full of energy and excitement, voluntarily asking to be taught, General Antiope herself was somewhat stunned.
Stunned or not, Antiope still began teaching Xi Nian with strict seriousness.
Swordsmanship, spear throwing, archery, shield strikes, horseback riding...
Even basic training by human standards left Xi Nian utterly exhausted by the end of each day. Only at night could he heal his body and mind a little by hugging that wonderfully tactile body pillow.
Just like that.
Three days passed quickly.
At last, the final day of Diana and Xi Nian's stay on Themyscira arrived.
Before you continue