"No, you can!"
Courtney's eyes flared. "Pat, this isn't what you usually teach me. The justice I uphold, the one I've studied, is it all a joke to you?"
"No, it's not!" Pat shook his head, his expression pained. "The line was drawn the moment we crossed it. After Bruce Gordon's death, everything became irreversible. I felt it—we fell apart. Slowly, everyone stopped coming to the Justice Society."
"Green Lantern, Flash, Doctor Fate, Hawkman—they all noticed the change," he added, voice heavy with regret. "That's why we were defeated by the Injustice Society. Our belief vanished. A team without conviction, scattered and broken, cannot stand against another powerful team."
"You… shouldn't have done that," Courtney said quietly, sitting down, her frustration softening into sorrow. "There must have been another way. You fell for Shadow's trap, Pat."
"When our families were threatened, we all became selfish," he admitted.
Adrian and Clark stood silently to the side, listening without interrupting.
Night fell, and Adrian called Bart and Jenna. Although he preferred solitude, Clark insisted the father and daughter stay. Jenna prepared a lavish dinner, keeping a cautious eye on the silent guests.
"You seem distracted, Jenna," Bart teased lightly. "After preparing such a beautiful dinner, I expected you'd feel accomplished."
"I… I'm fine." Jenna smiled, then turned to Adrian. "Teacher Adrian, how is the food?"
"Not bad," he replied, nodding with indifferent approval.
"I heard people from Kansas State University came looking for you recently, Teacher Adrian," she added with a small smile, highlighting his recruitment in front of the others.
"Graduation season," she continued. "Will Teacher Adrian attend Kansas State?"
Kansas State University, located in Manhattan, Kansas, is the state's first public university. Known as K-State, it enjoys a solid reputation nationwide.
"Full scholarship," Adrian confirmed, showing little enthusiasm. University life far from home held little interest for him. Clark, standing beside him, listened with envy; no invitations had reached him yet.
"Jenna," Courtney asked, eating her pancakes, "why do you call Adrian 'Teacher'?"
"He is my mentor," Jenna replied.
"In what way?"
"In every way," she added with a small smile.
After dinner, Jenna and Bart left, while Courtney and Pat stayed the night. Clark lay on a modest bed, just closing his eyes, when he noticed a figure beside him.
Opening his eyes, he saw Dina Crock—the girl who had been hit by a car and fell from a bridge—standing silently.
"Di… Dina?" Clark sat up in shock.
"You could have saved me, Clark, but you hesitated," Dina said coldly. "You weighed the risks to your identity over helping me. The old you would have acted without thought, but now… your heart wavers. You've been influenced by Adrian, and it will condemn you."
"You killed me, and in time, you will kill more people!"
Clark shook his head, pained. "I… I could have saved you. I hesitated for a moment, yes, but—"
Dina's eyes bled a dark crimson as she slashed at him with a dagger.
Clark froze, unprepared to dodge.
In an instant, Adrian appeared, catching her in midair. Dina's form dissolved into invisible smoke, leaving Adrian standing before Clark.
"Clark!" he said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I… I think I just saw Dina," Clark stammered, shaken.
"You didn't even go to bed," Adrian scolded gently. "Devourer of Heaven wants you afraid, to let your inner darkness consume you. Succumbing will prevent you from facing the real enemy."
Clark lowered his head, dejected. "I know it's an illusion, but… my own darkness makes it unbearable."
"No one is born a fighter, Clark," Adrian said firmly, handing him the Star Scepter. "Admitting weakness doesn't make you a failure. Running from it does. This scepter will shield you from Devourer of Heaven's illusions. As long as you have it, he cannot corrupt you."
Clark hesitated. "I can't take it, Adrian. It belongs in your hands."
"My eyes are the best weapon," Adrian replied, shaking his head. "But temporarily, the scepter is more useful with you."
Clark's expression softened, conflicted, watching Adrian leave. "Adrian!"
"I plan to apply to Central Texas University," Clark called after him. "Maybe we can go to the same school."
"Whatever," Adrian replied dismissively, walking away. "Focus on which school will accept you first."
The next day, Adrian and Clark went to school together, while Pat and Courtney stayed home. Graduation season made leave difficult, so catching up on lessons was necessary.
"Hey, Adrian, Clark," Lana and Chloe greeted, coffee in hand.
Clark, arms full of books, nodded awkwardly.
Chloe smirked. "We saw a girl at the farm recently."
Clark explained, "Cousin."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Really? But Courtney said she's Adrian's friend. You might want to coordinate your stories first."
Clark smiled awkwardly. "Friend and cousin aren't mutually exclusive."
"Alright, Clark," Chloe said knowingly. "You're never one to hide things. Lies won't work here."
"Also, stay after school for tutoring. You've missed a lot recently," she added gleefully.
Lana reassured him, "Don't worry. We'll accompany you."
Clark's mood lifted instantly.
After school, Adrian called Bart and Jenna, ensuring Pat and Courtney wouldn't chase Devourer of Heaven. Then he entered the tutoring classroom. Students who had been idle or disruptive straightened instantly at his presence; many had faced his discipline before.
"Today's topic is a war started over a woman—Helen of Troy, muse of history," Teacher Dikes began, pausing as he coughed violently.
"Where was I?" he muttered, confused, feeling an odd sensation he couldn't explain.