Chapter 17 (edited)

The metropolis wasn't far from the town where Kara and her friends lived. There were direct train routes available, running frequently and throughout the day.

Kara and her two friends, Dani and Jennifer, decided impulsively to visit the city for some fun.

After purchasing their tickets, they called their families to inform them of their plans.

The adults were helpless; the girls had already bought the tickets. It wasn't as if they could make them refund them and come home. The decision had clearly been made without consultation, leaving the adults with no choice but to offer advice and warnings.

The parents reminded the girls to be cautious, return before the last train, and call if needed. They even mentioned that, should the girls run out of money, they could contact them for help rather than panicking.

Kara's parents were especially attentive. Martha, her adoptive mother, kept asking if she had enough money, while Jonathan, her father, repeatedly told her to avoid trouble and, under no circumstances, reveal her powers.

Although their fussing was a little overwhelming, Kara knew it was a sign of love and concern.

After their calls, the three girls boarded the train, opting for a private compartment.

The train was an older model, with seats for four people on either side of a table. Dani and Jennifer sat opposite one another, while Kara leaned against the window. They had bought snacks for the journey and chatted excitedly about their plans for the day.

Kara's mind wandered as they discussed their itinerary. The metropolis was a fictional city but inspired by real ones like New York or Manhattan. Though not as advanced or bustling as it would be in the future, it was still far more exciting than their sleepy little town.

Their primary destination was the city's amusement park. Their hometown only had a small park with basic playground equipment like swings and seesaws—not exactly thrilling for teenagers. Large-scale attractions like roller coasters or pirate ships would never thrive in their town due to lack of interest and fear of liability.

The trio debated their itinerary, agreeing to explore the metropolis' shopping malls first. While they couldn't afford much, they could admire the displays of beautiful clothes and jewelry. Next, they planned to check out a big-city movie theater, curious to see how it compared to their local one, though they didn't plan to spend too much time there.

Finally, they decided to visit the amusement park instead of the zoo. While Jennifer initially voted for the zoo, Kara cast the deciding vote for the amusement park, swaying the group.

Kara chuckled internally at their enthusiasm. She'd visited zoos during school trips but rarely got to experience amusement parks. Still, she wondered if the rides would thrill her now that she had powers.

She had already flown to dizzying heights and performed wild stunts in the skies. She once reached an altitude of 20,000 meters, only to plummet headfirst, pulling up mere meters from the ground. She also enjoyed visiting distant islands to catch fresh seafood and cook it herself. Jonathan often scolded her for her daring escapades, warning her to stop wandering so far.

Now, as the train ride continued, Kara suddenly noticed something strange.

First, the voices of her friends began to fade, even though they were right beside her. Her super-hearing, far sharper than any human's, failed to pick up their chatter clearly.

Then, strange symbols appeared on the walls of the train. The screen displaying arrival times and other information was suddenly filled with bizarre, glowing runes that resembled magical spells.

Finally, the train's speed increased dramatically, far beyond what any normal train could achieve.

While a normal person might have panicked, Kara was calm. This speed was far from intimidating to her.

Standing up instinctively, she felt a sudden dizziness. The world around her blurred, and when her vision cleared, she realized that her friends—and all the other passengers—had vanished.

The train slowed to a stop, and through the windows, Kara saw a bizarre, otherworldly cavern filled with jagged rocks. It looked nothing like Earth.

With a hiss, the train doors opened.

Kara raised an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to step out?"

Normally, she'd ignore such a strange invitation, but curiosity got the better of her.

"Let's see who's behind this," she muttered, stepping off the train. If things got dangerous, she could always fly away at supersonic speed.

After stepping out, the train disappeared behind her. Kara now stood in a dimly lit tunnel. Though the situation was eerie, she pressed forward, her senses on high alert.

The tunnel led her to a massive hall. The walls were adorned with grotesque sculptures, radiating a dark and malevolent aura.

At the center of the hall was a circular table surrounded by seven chairs. Only one chair was occupied, by an old man with long white hair and a beard.

"I am the wizard Shazam," the man said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "I have been waiting for you, my champion."

Kara stared at him, stunned. "What?"

Was this some kind of joke? Shazam? Seriously?