Chapter 34 Heart-to-heart talk School started early? And...
"They actually require me to prepare for school half a month in advance? But I should be fine. School starts in early August, so I should be okay."
Enid received a call from a friend who gently reminded her to go to school. She listened attentively to her friend's long list of instructions. When she ended the call, she saw Bruce standing there watching her. Enid paused for a moment, then went over to him.
Is my father worried about my schooling?
“Yes,” Bruce remembered that the documents clearly stated that the university’s start date was uniform, a date set by Oko and never changed. “Didn’t the book say so? What happened?”
She hadn't expected Bruce to remember this. In fact, Enid herself didn't remember it. Although the book mentioned it, she had read so many books that she hadn't paid much attention to it. Well... she couldn't deceive herself, because she didn't think she would have a chance to go to school.
After thinking it over for a long time, she still couldn't find an excuse to try to deceive Bruce, but it seemed that her little scheme had been discovered.
“I thought, Fia, you would know that I'm actually a little better at detecting lies than Barbara, right?”
Bruce made a joke to Enid, though he didn't care that Enid was planning to lie to him. But more than the act of lying, he was worried about the meaning behind it. Was there something important that made her feel that if he knew, she would care and worry a lot, which was why she made this decision?
So Bruce raised his hand and patted her head, his voice gentle.
"Don't worry, okay? You can tell me, you know Fia, I'll definitely help, right?"
She pursed her lips. It wasn't really that difficult. Enid looked up and forced a smile, then shook her head, trying her best to appear normal.
“It’s really nothing serious, just believe in my father.” Even Enid herself didn’t believe it as soon as she said it, and Damian, who was passing by, also expressed his disbelief, crossing his arms. “You don’t believe your father?”
"No, of course I believe it... Actually, I'm not quite sure either. I only know that she said we should go to school before all the cold freezes away. So we went ahead of schedule, that's all."
The friend added half a sentence on the phone: the best arrangement would be for all students, especially those admitted through unconventional channels, to go to school the day after receiving the notification, and at the latest before August, as the normal start date is mid-August. There were only two students admitted through unconventional channels: Enid and her friend.
Enid was a little unsure whether Bruce and the others had overheard the conversation, but perhaps they wouldn't connect it to unconventional channels, right?
Unfortunately, they didn't use any unconventional methods, relying entirely on their exceptional hearing. There were no other sounds just now, and although the phone call was somewhat distorted and quiet when transmitted via signal, they were no ordinary people, so this little thing was no problem for them. However, no one spoke up.
"It's alright, Fia. The offer to send you to school is still valid. Just remember to notify me in advance."
“Okay, Father!” Enid blinked at Damian, “Thank you too, Damian.”
She understood, of course, that her adorable younger brother was worried about her. Damian said nothing, glanced at her, and left. Enid breathed a sigh of relief, returned to her room, and teleported into the forest. She still had some courses to complete and some exercises to do, and it would be more convenient to practice in the forest.
After Enid left, Bruce opened the relevant data transmitted by Wonder Woman. Diana obtained the information about druids, which had been destroyed due to the war, through special channels. Well, actually, she went back to Paradise Island, and coincidentally, there was some information recorded on Paradise Island about Niaf and the God of Nature.
Information is scarce, but it is subtly recorded that Niaf had two children, a boy and a girl. The girl was chosen as a High Druid, carrying on the tradition of nature worship and perfectly inheriting Niaf's bloodline, but the boy's whereabouts are unknown and there is little information about him.
However, Niaf has a friend named Oko.
“It seems that the witch Oko actually knows Niaf.” Barbara told Bruce about what happened yesterday, and they also found the legend about the Heart of Nature in the records. The Heart of Nature was given to Niaf by the God of Nature, but her children did not inherit it. Apart from Enid, no one else is recorded to have such an ability.
“The changes in the Sacred Grove are indeed based on Fia’s mood and expectations. This was also the case when the Sacred Grove was rebuilt before. This is not just the power of the Heart of Nature.”
Bruce didn't believe that such power came entirely from the Heart of Nature; it was more likely from the God of Nature. Diana told him that this god still existed, but it seemed that only Enid could contact her.
"Bruce, should we tell Fia about this?"
“No,” Bruce said calmly, “Don’t tell her any of this.”
Barbara had already guessed Bruce's answer, so she wasn't surprised at all. Although she actually disagreed a little, she approved of Bruce's decision.
"So, what was written in that letter?" Tim asked. To be honest, he was curious about Bruce's reaction because it seemed that Ms. Mary Reid had written something extraordinary in the letter. "I agree with you, Tim. There must have been something extraordinary in that letter, but I don't think you'll tell us, Bruce, right?"
"That's right, I'll take care of the rest."
Bruce had clearly decided to investigate everything himself and stop the two of them from pursuing the matter further—a predictable outcome that Tim and Barbara had already anticipated, but they hadn't agreed to it. Perhaps aside from his feelings for Enid, for Tim, it was mostly his detective's mind burning with curiosity about the mystery.
Enid was unaware of all this until she suddenly realized that Saint Lin was trying to please her, or rather, spoiling her. Of course, Enid sensed something, or rather, had a gut feeling—Bruce was worried about her.
She didn't know why, but she just knew.
Somewhat bewildered, Enid went to the city center without telling anyone when she returned to Gotham from Saint Lin. The air, which had been somewhat clear, became foggy again. She didn't care much about the dappled light, but found a secluded corner, cast a spell on herself, and climbed onto a rooftop.
The sky seemed so close to her, as if she could reach out and touch the gray clouds. They were all tangled together, pushing and shoving each other. The sun, which was already a little nearsighted, was completely blocked out, and Enid could no longer be seen.
So, in a place where the sun couldn't see, she turned her head to look at the phone number she hadn't dialed. The contact name on it read: Brother.
Enid put down her phone, turned off the screen, and sighed softly. Just as she was about to lie down, she heard a voice suddenly come from beside her.
“If you want to call any guy, I don’t think he won’t answer.” It was Jason. Jason sat down next to Enid and happened to see Enid’s hesitant expression, picking up her phone and putting it down again, looking frustrated as if she wanted to make a call but couldn’t. He was speechless.
"Actually, I knew he would answer, but... well, okay, I don't know what to say, or I don't know why I suddenly wanted to call him. It's not because I miss him, it's because I want to chat with someone and talk about something, but I don't know who to talk to. Jay, can you listen to me?"
Jason looked at her, reached out and tapped her on the head: "So, what did the old man do to you again?"
“No, I know Bruce is worried about me. There are many things I’m embarrassed or uncomfortable saying, and I feel like that makes him even more worried, and makes you all worry too…” Enid covered the spot where she had been hit, puffed out her cheeks, and then pouted as she continued, “I don’t know what to do? I feel a little uneasy, but there are some things I can’t bring myself to say.”
Jason then understood what Enid was struggling with.
"If you can't say it, then don't say it. It's normal." Whether he was referring to Bruce being prone to worry or something else, he didn't continue. "That's just how he is."
She turned to look at Jason, but not to seek an answer.
"Can I continue to keep it a secret?"
"Is it a good thing or a bad thing?"
He had actually been secretly preparing to send a message to someone. To be honest, Jason didn't think he was well-suited to the role of comforter, even though Enid didn't seem inclined to be comforted. However, it was clear that what she was hiding wasn't good news.
"I think it's a good thing for other people, but I don't know the specifics. But it doesn't really matter whether it's good or bad. I feel like I'm just talking nonsense today, but thank you anyway."
"It's bad to hide something, but as long as you're prepared for the consequences, don't let anything go wrong."
To be honest, Jason didn't want to see another list appear on his home's hellish party club list; that would be ridiculous. Enid understood what Jason meant this time, but she suddenly didn't know what to say. After a long silence, she nodded.
"By the way, Jay, do you still like that flower?"
"Huh?" The topic transition was so abrupt it was almost too much, wasn't it? Jason was too lazy to argue with her anymore and didn't bother to hide it any longer. But seeing Enid's somewhat expectant eyes, he finally couldn't help but sigh.
"It's alright, I guess. Okay, go back now."
"Okay, I'm going back now. And Jay, come back for dinner more often!"
"We'll talk about it next time."
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The author's note: Actually, the little sister here is quite conflicted. In comparison, the father is even more frank than the little sister.
Her hesitation has a reason, whether it's something she's hiding or something else, she's actually struggling with something. I think I've laid a lot of groundwork already, so I can't say any more or it'll spoil the plot.
But it'll be soon, the Son of Storms is about to wake up (nods).
And why it was talking to the bucket? That was just a random result (silently).
By the way: There won't be any misunderstandings or unpleasant situations caused by hiding anything, lol. And regarding whether to tell Enid anything, well… well, it won't cause any major conflict. How should I put it? The most intense conflict was in the episode with the surveillance in Saint Lin, lol.
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