Chapter 21 A Heart-to-Heart Talk Under the Moon: Mysterious Letters, Night...
As the fog gradually dissipated, the dark sky, shrouded in gray clouds, and the moon's faint light obscured by the enormous bat projection, suddenly put the joyful atmosphere to rest. The clamor amplified, and the scent of fireworks diluted the forest aroma they had brought with them.
“Good, looks like we’re in big trouble again.” Dick looked at the bat projection, seemingly trying to sound casual as he spoke. Then he patted Enid’s head. “Our bet will have to wait until next time. I suggest you go back and rest.”
Enid pursed her lips and nodded. She actually wanted to help, but it was clear that she hadn't passed the tests Bruce had set for her. Since everyone was an examiner, she hadn't passed any of them so far. The reason was simple: apart from magic, none of her abilities were up to standard. After all, the school didn't teach people to fight, especially not to fight bad guys.
After seeing everyone off from the Batcave, Enid said goodbye to Alfred and went back to her room, but instead of going to sleep, she sat on the swing chair on the terrace. Lyra was released into the air by her, keeping a close eye on the subtle scent in the soil. Naya also slipped out quietly. Serd and Seren were responsible for guarding the Sacred Grove tonight, and Enid's eyes could see through the air barrier and keep an eye on the Sacred Grove at any time.
In stark contrast to the tranquility of St. Woods, Gotham seemed a bit too noisy tonight. Fortunately, it was just a typical disturbance, and some restless individuals were too greedy for certain things, which caused quite a commotion—well, a very big one—but thankfully, it wasn't a serious problem.
At least that's what Lyra saw, but she couldn't get to the bottom of the truth. She wanted to ask, but didn't know where to begin, so she gave up. However, some thoughts that were bothering her kept spreading and growing.
Enid's furrowed brows relaxed only after hearing Naya say that Bruce had returned. She quickly ran downstairs in her slippers, almost falling, but was caught by Dick in a flash. He realized that Enid had come to see Bruce, so he spoke in a cheerful tone.
"I guess Batman won't suddenly appear somewhere anymore, right? After all, Batman is back in the Batcave, isn't he?"
“Yes,” Bruce echoed Dick’s admission.
Enid blushed slightly and looked up to see everyone else laughing. Although Damian didn't seem to be laughing, Enid sensed that he was—a mocking laugh. "I'm just a little anxious for Father because there's something I want to give you. Well, maybe we'll have to wait a while. Can we talk alone when you're done?"
“Of course, Fia.”
Bruce nodded, indicating that he would message her later. He then quickly finished his work and went to a terrace. Bruce, who had taken off his Batsuit, looked more approachable and deliberately made himself appear more relaxed.
"Alright, Fia, tell me... what's wrong?"
"Um…"
Enid took out the exquisite red box and handed it to Bruce. The moment Bruce took it, the red box opened, revealing a letter addressed to Bruce Wayne. The handwriting was delicate, clearly written by Mary Reid. Enid's voice was soft, but clear enough for Bruce to hear.
"Father, this is from Mother. You can open it and take a look."
"Okay, I'll check."
Bruce clearly didn't intend to open it now, because he had a strong feeling that the contents of the letter were not good. Opening it now was not a good choice, as he was not prepared to expose the contents to the other children before fully understanding them. So he closed the red box.
Seeing Bruce close the door, Enid felt a little disappointed. She had a rough idea that Bruce didn't intend to tell her, but she wasn't entirely sure yet. Maybe she would ask him again tomorrow. However, she actually had something else she wanted to say to Bruce right now.
She tried her best to suppress her nervousness, but she still couldn't control her overflowing emotions. She nervously clutched her skirt and looked up at Bruce's eyes, which were as bright as the sky. He was winking at her and giving her a gentle smile.
"Father, what I really wanted to say... was..."
"No need to apologize, child. Of course I'm not angry about it."
In that instant, Bruce had already guessed that Enid wanted to apologize for her previous misunderstanding of him. Now Enid understood that Bruce was not an irresponsible father, nor was he the way her mother described him. Enid felt that she should apologize for her doubts and displeasure caused by her misunderstanding, but before she could say anything, Bruce stopped her.
He didn't need the children's apology; he understood their feelings perfectly well.
“It’s okay, Fia,” Bruce looked into her green eyes, and after a moment he reached out and touched her soft hair. Enid froze for a few seconds, then rushed over and hugged Bruce, burying her face in his chest, her voice muffled.
"Actually, I've always looked forward to your appearance. I was very disappointed before, not because of the description of my father, but because I was worried about whether I would become a good daughter... Actually, I know that my mother wasn't lying to me when she said that my father didn't love me, because she played a little trick. She said that my father didn't love Enid, but at that time... you didn't know I existed. But now I understand, Father, you love me, regardless of whether I become an excellent druid, right?"
Enid had always known that, apart from Lady Niaf, she was the only recorded possessor of the Heart of Nature. While other druids needed to cultivate a dialogue with nature, she was naturally nature's darling, a revered figure among all things. But at the same time, she also questioned whether she could, and was worthy of such a title and ability.
It cannot be denied that she was afraid.
"Of course, whether you are a druid or not, you are my daughter."
Bruce gently patted Enid's back. Feeling the strength and gentleness he conveyed, Enid's eyes reddened slightly as she let go. She pursed her lips and quietly spoke about the Heart of Nature, which was her innate ability to communicate with nature and the fact that she was unconditionally loved and revered by animals.
"Actually, I admire your father a little. You are clearly a human, but you have accomplished more and better than our predecessors. I'm a little scared. Can I really do it? Can I become someone like Lady Niaf?"
“You don’t need to be her, you are you, Enid.” Bruce never considered himself a great person, but he certainly appreciated the child’s heartfelt praise and admiration. However, seeing Enid’s obvious fear and apprehension, he softened his voice, “I will teach you.”
"Um!"
Joy flashed in her slightly watery eyes, which clearly held tears. Enid nodded vigorously and then gave Bruce another huge hug.
"Thank you for your trouble, Father. Please get some rest! I'm going back to sleep now. Goodnight!"
Goodnight, Fia.
After witnessing Enid leave, Bruce left the terrace and returned to his room. After carefully examining the contents, he opened the red box and the letter written by Mary Reid. As the flowing words entered his eyes, his hand holding the paper began to tremble slightly. When the last period was drawn, Bruce subconsciously crumpled the paper.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, along with something else that was hard to decipher.
At that moment, Enid returned to the door of her room and ran into Dick, who gave her an overly handsome smile.
"Brother, are you waiting for me?"
"Hmm, looks like you and Bruce are getting along well?"
"Hmm... but can we call off our bet here?"
He certainly trusted Bruce's communication skills; at least most of the time Bruce spoke very well. He was just worried about something else, perhaps the contents of the box. But it seemed, just as he suspected, that Bruce might not intend to tell him, which only made things worse.
Dick didn't intend to reveal his guess. After Enid said those words, he deliberately rejected her, adding a touch of teasing, "Of course—no way." He deliberately dragged out the word "no," and seeing Enid's wide eyes after she bristled, he couldn't help but smile. "A bet's a bet, right? Our High Druid."
Being addressed by her title at such a crucial moment, especially by Dick's formal address, made Enid feel a little embarrassed. She could only pout and reluctantly agree.
"Okay... what do you want me to do?"
Seeing Dick deep in thought for a long time, Enid thought it would be some difficult request, or a date or something else. She was wondering whether she should refuse if it was a date, but when Dick's words were completely revealed, her heart skipped a beat for some reason.
"Um... I hope, I hope you can protect yourself and not risk your life to deal with the Storm Child by yourself, okay?"
All she could see were those beautiful blue eyes, different from Bruce's, yet strikingly similar, filled with earnestness.
In the corridor, moonlight pried open the glass windows, scattering not broken shards of glass, but a gentle blend of solemnity and sincerity, all of which poured onto her and his profiles, and around his eyes. Enid seemed to see it: the flowers in the sacred grove, kissed by Aura, suddenly blooming, their radiance intertwining with his gaze.
Suddenly, she was at a loss for what to do.
"Okay, that seems a bit difficult. Maybe we could go watch the sunrise together instead?"
The air grew increasingly still, as if some kind of solidifying agent had been released. Dick was adept at breaking the stillness; he could always easily read the reason for her sudden silence. He expressed a hint of regret in a joking tone and eagerly invited her to watch the sunrise, as if that were the real request. But Enid knew that wasn't the case; that wasn't the real reason.
"Okay, I promise you, I won't put myself in danger."
A note from the author:
----------------------
I also want to hug Bruce, in Daddy's reliable embrace (hhhh)
Who can resist hugging a giant bat, right?
Finally, regarding the contents of the letter, I can reveal the following:
I'm sorry, Bruce, I'm so sorry for causing you trouble. I didn't mean to speak ill of you to Enid. In fact, you're a wonderful and admirable person. Perhaps it's my pathetic possessiveness as a mother that makes me admit I'm a failed mother, and that's why I said so many bad things about you. Both my manners and upbringing make me realize this was wrong, and I sincerely apologize. I'm not asking for your forgiveness, and this letter isn't just for the purpose of apologizing... If, please, for the sake of Enid being your daughter...
Okay, you can't read the following content!
Mary Reed is not a very good mother; she is also a first-time mother, and her own mother left early. Enid's arrival fulfills her longing for a family. Driven by the fear of losing her daughter, she makes many irrational decisions. These are some of Enid's sensitivities and traumas, but they will be healed later. Bruce is not an East Asian father; he will make Enid understand that she is also very capable, and everything about her will be healed in this family.
She loved them, and they loved her.
The meaning of family lies in mutual support, tolerance, and embrace.
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