Chapter 40 The Truth Declaration: The Behind-the-Scenes Helper, He Finally...

Startled awake, Enid's memories didn't resurface as a hazy, unreal dream, but rather as the glowing pages of a book were torn to shreds before her eyes. She jumped out of bed, opened the door, and rushed out, her bare feet sinking into the gleaming floor as she ran towards the potions room.

“Miss Fia, don’t worry, Jason and I have already taken care of your books.”

Afu noticed the direction Enid was heading in a hurry and said gently. Hearing Afu's words, Enid suddenly realized that she was at home, not somewhere else, not an empty space with no one around, nor a dark cave in the deep sea, but a bright home.

"You might need a pair of slippers, right?"

The vine that was given to Afu carried a pair of slippers very obediently. After Afu finished speaking, the vine placed it in front of Enid. She was stunned for a moment, then touched the vine's branches and leaves, put on the slippers, and then touched her nose.

"Actually, I just dreamt about some things, like my books being torn up..." A slightly amused smile crept onto Afu's face as she feigned a complaint. "So it seems Wayne Manor isn't safe enough, which is why you had such a nightmare, right?"

"No!" she puffed out her cheeks slightly. "Because I feel this dream is telling me that there are very important things in these books that I've overlooked!"

"I think you might have overlooked your breakfast and lunch, and by the way, it's only a few hours until dinner."

Enid froze. She turned to look at the vine, which happened to hold up a clock and shake it. The hour and minute hands were so prominent that she couldn't ignore what was inside. So, like a machine, she slowly turned her neck to look at Afu.

Enid opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, but Alfred spoke first.

“Miss Fia, could you please remember to rest earlier next time? Sometimes, not all of Master’s habits are things we should learn, right, Master?” As he spoke, he turned to Bruce, who was suddenly called out. Bruce was a little helpless, then nodded. “I agree. Fia doesn’t really need to be in such a hurry.”

"No, because I want to help you."

She tilted her head, speaking with a self-righteous tone, but Bruce frowned. He didn't really want things to be like this. Noticing something, Alfred quietly left, leaving only Bruce and Enid in the corridor.

"Okay, let's go eat first."

He noticed the time, so Enid obediently followed Bruce to the restaurant. The others weren't there yet; only the aroma of the food attracted their attention. Enid sat down, recited a prayer, and began to enjoy her first late breakfast.

"What is Father trying to say?"

"Hmm, Fia, have you thought about going to school now?"

Enid paused in her work, looked up at her father, and was stunned. She could tell he was serious, and she didn't quite understand why. So she shook her head. "There's still time. Why are you saying that, Father?"

"Fia, you should go to school and study."

It wasn't because she was rejected or by others that Enid could only begin to eat mechanically, without understanding. The silent atmosphere was like a broken symphony hall, with only the cellist playing silently, without even applause, as if the player had been muted.

After a long while, it seemed as if the windowpane had been broken, and Enid spoke.

"Father, is it because of what I just said about helping you? You don't want me to make this decision because of you, right?"

She certainly wouldn't misunderstand her father's words. She was looking at an unmasked mirror, at the tenderness that someone was genuinely expressing in the mirror, so she could only silently express the redness in her eyes that she couldn't wipe away.

“I guess so,” Bruce actually wanted to say more than just that; he also wanted to mention the letter in Mary Reed's book, something he couldn't bring himself to discuss. So sometimes he didn't know how to express his objections, but the emotions in his eyes didn't lie, and Enid saw it all. “Isn't it safer at school?”

“I know…” she paused, “but what if I absolutely have to stay?”

"Then from now on, you must follow my instructions, okay?"

Bruce's words were firm and warm, and Enid agreed without hesitation. Perhaps out of trust in his daughter, he didn't say anything more and prepared to leave to attend to other matters. Of course, he wasn't just appearing to be at ease; the Breath of Despair was only the beginning, and the theatrical performance hadn't even finished its first act.

“Father…” After saying goodbye, Enid called out to Bruce before he was about to leave. “It’s not just because I want to help you, but also because you truly love this world and this city, with an excessive and passionate love and a kindness that can be materialized. That’s why I understand that I want to become a Grand Druid, not just because I am Mary Read’s daughter.”

His departing figure stopped, and after a long while, Bruce's lips curled up slightly.

"Um."

Enid truly understood the weight of the word "hero" only after meeting Bruce and learning about Batman, Nightwing, Oracle, Spoiler, Orphan, Red Hood, Red Robin, Robin, and the Justice League. Her mother had hoped she would become a hero, although she later told her that she could never become one.

Even now, Enid doesn't think she can bear this weight, but it was at this moment that she truly fell in love with the identity of the Archdruid.

In fact, Enid didn't participate in many nighttime activities, but she saw it every time the Bat Lights came on, along with stumbling shadows and the lingering scent of blood. Lyra's sharp eyes watched every inch of the soil, and she could understand a thing or two from it.

So she decided not to go to school now, and that vague idea began to take root and sprout more strongly.

...

Can I postpone my enrollment?

Enid found a corner of Wayne Manor. She seemed to have deliberately observed that no one cared about this place, and even tried hard to avoid being seen. Unfortunately, she wasn't very perceptive about high technology.

"Why? Wait... no wonder you wanted to enroll early, but didn't you really want to enroll while you were still in school?!"

Her friend's shrill voice pierced through her, almost rupturing Enid's eardrums. Somewhat helplessly, she moved away from the phone. After a while, when her friend had calmed down, Enid spoke seriously: "I know, I'll come, don't worry. I'm just worried that if I get hospitalized, I'll miss school."

"Okay, I'll pass on the message to the teaching assistant. But the teaching assistant seems to have noticed some fluctuations in the entrance recently, so be careful."

"OK, thanks."

After hanging up the phone, Enid's gentle expression turned cold. From the beginning, Enid had felt something was off. The earlier start of the school year made her feel strange, but because she hadn't considered enrolling, she didn't have a way to save her information. But now, however, she seemed to have some inexplicable inspiration.

All the lost gems began to find their way back, as if transparent threads were connecting them. Enid's mirror, which had been covered in a layer of gray fog, was now polished, and she could roughly see the road on the other side.

"It seems you're planning to go see someone, is that it?"

Enid was about to go back to her room to tidy up before leaving when Tim suddenly appeared in front of her. When she turned around, he startled her so much that she almost jumped ten meters away. Enid puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.

How do you know?

"Very good, you're going now, just as I expected."

Tim didn't care at all, but Enid was full of questions. Was he just bluffing her? She felt like she had been tricked again, but there was nothing she could do but admit it. She could never learn to lie, nor could she deceive her own family, so at this moment, she could only obediently admit it.

"Okay, yes. But it's just a small matter."

"So you've found help for the Son of Storms?"

Her movement to walk was abruptly halted. Although she knew how clever Tim was, facing him again, she couldn't help but sigh, "He's truly amazing." Enid nodded. "Actually, I'm not entirely sure either, but I think maybe it's because... even though Lyra said the Stormborn has no help..."

"Just because our world doesn't have it doesn't mean the neighboring world doesn't. Besides, I don't believe something sealed for a thousand years can get those things. I'll go with you."

Tim didn't go into many details. He didn't think now was a good time to give Enid lessons. He wouldn't mind sending her the detailed analysis if she wanted to learn, but for now, he felt she needed to go with Enid. He wasn't comfortable with Enid going alone.

Feeling somewhat looked down upon, Enid didn't directly refute the statement, but she hesitated.

"I'll just take a quick look and come right back."

"I brought a weapon."

There seemed to be no reason to refuse. Enid wasn't actually worried about Tim; to be honest, she didn't think Tim couldn't handle those guys. After all, if he were really that strong, they would have found her long ago. Although Enid considered herself very strong, she knew that combat wasn't one of her areas of expertise.

But coincidentally, Tim is very skilled, and his fighting techniques are also very strong, something Enid has experienced firsthand, though she won't go into details. Right now, however, Enid suddenly had a slightly mischievous thought, nothing too serious, because she knew there was a convenient route that led there, though she was a little dizzy, and hoped Tim wouldn't get carsick.

Enid blinked and gave Tim a cute look, but unfortunately it wasn't Dick who fell for it. Tim's heart skipped a beat because he sensed that Enid was about to play a prank, but it was too late.

"Great, let's go then. By the way, I hope you don't get carsick!"

The next second, the world spun around—

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

Author's note: Enid didn't truly fall in love with the Archdruid at first; she was just a little girl who was called the Archdruid because her mother only had her.

No one gave her a choice; she was born a High Druid, but because of the bat, she truly accepted that identity.

She wanted to be Enid Grady Wayne, not Enid Niaf Grady.

It was precisely because Bruce didn't speak up that their concealment truly gave Enid strength. I don't know if I've expressed it clearly, but their love gave her the confidence and courage to truly become a great druid.