First Steps Toward the Future [03]

"Thanks, I'll wait here," Clark said quickly before hanging up the phone and slipping it back into his pocket. He crouched down next to Lex, who was starting to move, his eyes blinking slowly as he tried to regain consciousness.

"What... happened?" Lex murmured, his voice weak and confused as he brought a hand to his head, clearly feeling the throbbing pain caused by the accident.

"You had an accident on the bridge, but it's all okay now. I managed to get you out of the car before it fell into the river," Clark explained, keeping his voice calm and reassuring as he watched Lex fully open his eyes.

"Ahh..." Lex groaned in pain, pressing his hand to his temple as he tried to sit up, but the discomfort was evident on his face.

"Don't strain yourself. The ambulance is already on the way," Clark added, carefully supporting Lex so he could sit in a more comfortable position.

Lex blinked a few times, trying to process what Clark had said. "You... saved me?" he asked, his voice still filled with confusion and disbelief, but also a hint of gratitude.

"Yes," Clark replied simply, not dwelling on the subject. "Now, stay calm. I'll call my dad and let him know what happened."

Clark picked up his phone again, quickly dialing the number for the Kent household. As the phone rang, he glanced at Lex, who was still struggling with his headache and the unexpected situation.

Ring, ring

The phone rang a few times before Jonathan Kent answered. "Hello?"

"Dad, it's me, Clark," Clark began, keeping his voice steady to avoid alarming his father. "There was an accident on Loeb Bridge. A car almost fell into the river, but I managed to get the driver out. He's hurt, but the ambulance is already on its way."

"Clark, are you okay?" Jonathan asked immediately, the concern evident in his voice.

"I'm fine, Dad. Don't worry. I managed to avoid the worst," Clark reassured him. "I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn't worry when you hear about it."

"I'll come pick you up at the bridge, Clark. Stay there and look after that man until I get there," Jonathan responded, his voice firm but relieved to know Clark was safe.

"I'll wait here. See you soon, Dad," Clark said before hanging up and slipping his phone back into his pocket.

Lex, still a bit dazed, finally sat up a little more, supported by Clark's arms. He looked at the young man with a sincere expression of gratitude. "Lex Luthor. And it seems I owe you my life."

Clark smiled slightly, shaking his head. "Clark Kent. And there's no need to thank me that much. I just did what anyone would… or at least would try to do."

Lex looked at the river below the bridge, where his Porsche was slowly sinking into the dark waters. He let out a resigned sigh and tried to make light of the situation. "I have plenty of Porsches, but I only have one life. So, really, thanks."

Clark laughed, shaking his head as he gave Lex a light pat on the shoulder. "Seriously, Lex, stop thanking me. You're going to make me blush."

Lex gave a smile, though still pained, and nodded.

The conversation was interrupted by a distant sound that quickly approached.

Siren!

The ambulance was nearing, the sound of sirens cutting through the air as it approached the bridge. Clark and Lex stood up, watching as the vehicle stopped nearby, with paramedics quickly emerging to tend to Lex.

"Sir, we'll take care of you," one of the paramedics said, while another prepared a stretcher.

Lex nodded, allowing them to help him lie down on the stretcher. "I'm fine, just a bad headache," he commented, trying to downplay the incident.

The paramedics began treating Lex, checking his vital signs and putting a cervical collar on him as a precaution. Meanwhile, Clark stepped back a bit, watching the scene and feeling relieved that everything had ended well.

Lex looked at Clark one last time as he was placed in the ambulance. "Clark, I'll see you soon. And again, thanks."

Clark nodded, keeping a smile. "See you, Lex. Take care."

The ambulance doors closed, and it started driving away, taking Lex to the hospital. Clark stood there for a few more minutes, breathing deeply as he absorbed everything that had happened. Soon, the distant sound of an engine approaching indicated that Jonathan was arriving.

Jonathan parked the truck next to Clark, quickly getting out with a worried expression.

"Clark, are you okay?" Jonathan asked, scanning his son for any signs of injury.

"I'm fine, Dad," Clark replied, nodding to reassure Jonathan. "The driver was taken to the hospital, and everything's under control now."

Jonathan breathed deeply, relieved but still concerned. He glanced at the bridge, where the wreckage of Lex's car was partially visible. "You did the right thing, son," he said, placing a firm hand on Clark's shoulder. "Let's head back to the farm."

Clark nodded, following Jonathan to the truck. He got into the vehicle and closed the door as Jonathan settled into the driver's seat. The truck's engine rumbled softly as Jonathan started it, and soon they were driving away from the bridge, heading home.

During the ride, silence hung in the air for a few minutes, broken only by the sound of the tires rolling over the asphalt and the rustling of trees lining the road. Jonathan finally broke the silence, his voice calm but full of curiosity. "Who was the driver, Clark?"

Clark looked out the window, watching the darkness pass by quickly. "His name is Lex," he replied, keeping his tone casual. "He was alone when the accident happened. I managed to get him out of the car in time."

Jonathan nodded slowly, processing the information. "You did well saving a life, son. That's something to always be valued, no matter who it is."

Clark smiled slightly, appreciating his father's support. "I just did what anyone would have done in that situation."

Jonathan gave a small smile but said nothing more. He knew Clark had always been a young man with a strong sense of justice, and no matter how modest he tried to be, there was something special about his actions.

The rest of the drive back was peaceful, with both of them lost in their own thoughts. The steady hum of the truck's engine was almost comforting, and Clark allowed himself to relax, feeling increasingly comfortable with the choices he had made that day.

...…

Clark was sitting at the computer desk in his room. Night had already fallen, and the soft glow of the desk lamp illuminated the screen as he considered his options.

'I could use the strategy of every reincarnated person and copy books from my previous life,' he thought, a slight smile appearing on his face as he realized the possibilities this would bring.

Clark quickly opened a browser and typed "Harry Potter" into the search bar. The pages loaded instantly, and he began scrolling through the results. To his surprise, there was no mention of J.K. Rowling or the famous wizard anywhere. He smirked slightly, the confirmation that he was in a world where Harry Potter didn't exist gave him a strange feeling of power and opportunity.

"Harry Potter doesn't exist in this world," Clark murmured to himself, a mischievous smile spreading across his lips.

The idea of introducing one of the greatest book series from Earth was tempting, almost irresistible. The screen glowed in the darkness of the room, lightly illuminating his hands as he prepared to type.

With a burst of super speed, Clark began typing furiously. The words flowed from his mind to the screen with an almost supernatural ease. Every sentence, every paragraph was reproduced exactly as he remembered, and within minutes, he had completed the first chapter of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*. The sound of the keys being pressed was a constant, rhythmic echo in the quiet room.

Clark paused for a moment, looking at the screen with satisfaction. 'One chapter down... just a few more to go,' he thought, amused by the idea of introducing J.K. Rowling's masterpiece to a world where it didn't yet exist. The feeling of power and control over this new universe was intoxicating, and he couldn't wait to see what else he could do with this knowledge.

"Clark, dinner's ready!" Martha Kent's voice echoed through the house, interrupting his thoughts. Clark sighed, giving the screen one last glance before standing up. 'I could've finished more,' he thought as he saved the document and closed the file. Time flowed differently for him now, but even so, he had to adjust to the normal rhythms of life in Smallville.

"Coming, Mom!" Clark called back, shutting down the computer and getting up from the chair. He took one last look around the room before leaving, already planning to return after dinner to continue writing.

Clark descended the stairs, smelling the pleasant aroma of the dinner Martha had prepared. When he entered the kitchen, he found his parents already seated at the table, the simple yet delicious meal of roast beef, potatoes, and vegetables arranged on the plates.

"Were you on the computer, Clark?" Martha asked with a smile, noticing the slight distraction in her son's eyes.

"Just finishing up a few things," Clark replied, sitting down at the table.

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