Chapter 45 The Storm Disappears, Sunrise and Sunset, Is That...?
Dawn was clearly approaching, and the neglected layers of clouds piled up into countless mountains. In the end, when they could not be worn away, they formed a last straw of despair, and then broke.
"I'm sorry, little bat, it's too late!"
The Joker's voice was as shrill as ever. Batman didn't have time to look away before the screen in front of him went dark, and a violent tornado formed the shape of a man. He looked somewhat familiar yet strange, wearing a robe similar in style to Enid's dress and had the same green eyes as her.
"I should be your god."
His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying an irresistible sense of disgust.
The moment he appeared, all the actions had already begun as planned. The detection plan was in action, and all the weaknesses were materialized on the screen, forming digital images. So there was no chaos. The Joker didn't seem to put up much resistance either, and the capture operation was proceeding according to the usual plan.
Although an antidote for nitrous oxide has been developed, the frenzied crowds still cannot be completely stopped.
But all the purposes seem to have been revealed. Bruce understood from the beginning that the fundamental purpose of this operation was Enid. What they wanted was Enid's life, or more precisely, her beating heart. Although it is unclear how the Joker and the Stormbringers reached an agreement, it seems that even her university did not try to prevent this disaster from happening.
Bruce never trusted the university, teachers, or friends she spoke of, nor even Mary Reid's letters. He never accepted such absurd notions as fate, and he would never allow himself to lose another child.
"Absolutely not, Joker."
Batman's voice was also deep, but it carried an irresistible sense of trust and security, and the aura that spread was an irresistible and surging force.
The Joker's plans were thwarted one by one by Batman. Except for the newly awakened Son of Storms, who was still standing there, all the attacks had an effect on him. However, the damaged houses and collapsed ground could only cause insignificant external injuries. He seemed to be fine, and even seemed eager to attack but did not.
“The attack worked, but what is he waiting for now…” Nightwing frowned and urgently dialed Alfred’s channel, but before he could make the call, Alfred’s voice came out first: “I’m sorry, Miss Druid is missing.”
They suddenly seemed to hear the sound of the crystal ball falling to the ground and shattering, and the wind, rain, and snowflakes hidden inside the crystal ball were thrown out, leaving a mess. It seemed that the thing they least wanted to see was happening.
Enid appeared in front of Nightwing.
He saw the storm taking shape ahead, and Enid, dressed in a high druid robe, with her back to him. He could only see the fluttering hem of her robe. Enid didn't turn around; she just calmly looked at the Storm Child. She heard Nightwing's voice behind her, as well as the calls of others on the channel. Even through the fluctuations in the air, she seemed to see her father's eyes.
"You were never a god."
Sometimes you don't need to say so much. Villains are always defeated by talking too much. She didn't consider herself a hero either. She thought that words could eliminate everything. So... she just closed her eyes, and a brilliant light burst forth from her body, as if something had pierced through the clouds and brought light to the earth.
The dappled light and shadow scattered everything, the torrential rain and thunder were erased in an instant, and only the last absurd thunderclap landed on the clown in the distance. All that remained before them was a blank patch of soil after the halo had dissipated, and Enid standing in the very center.
At this moment, the dark clouds dispersed, and dawn broke just in time, a rare sunrise.
Dick seemed to see nothing else. He ran over with all his might and just managed to catch Enid as she fell. Her body was lighter and softer than before. The emerald green in her eyes was surprisingly bright, but her skin was horribly pale, almost transparent. Her long red hair was no longer vibrant.
"Sorry, it seems I won't be able to see the sunset... but now that I've seen the sunrise, consider it that you don't owe me anything anymore."
Enid tried to reach out and touch Dick's face, but couldn't lift her hand. He grabbed her hand, his tone panicked, urgent, and even serious.
"Don't speak, I'll take you back for treatment now."
“No need. I said from the beginning that I can actually cast a silent spell. I just stopped him with my soul. That’s the only way to kill the Storm Child.”
She paused, and Dick's running motion with her in his arms faltered for a moment before resuming. Without her support, the teleportation magic had lost its effectiveness. The Batmobile arrived even faster than usual, returning to the Batcave much faster. Zatanna followed them, but it was all in vain; Enid's life was slipping away uncontrollably.
"I'm so sorry..."
No, this is not your fault.
Batman whispered words of comfort to Zatanna, who was feeling down. The others exchanged glances and left, leaving only the Bat family members behind. Enid's eyes still held a light, but her body seemed to be growing increasingly transparent. She leaned against Dick, appearing somewhat vulnerable.
“I already know. He was Princess Niaf’s child. It was Princess Niaf’s fault, and it was also the fault of Nature Worship. I am a High Druid, and this is the responsibility I should bear. I’m sorry I killed him,” her voice was very soft, and her eyes were also very soft. “Dick, I’m sorry I rejected your advances. I’ve seen the difference between sunrise and sunset. They are beautiful. Thank you, and thank you for your father’s willingness to love his daughter.”
Enid didn't speak anymore; her voice was almost inaudible, and her breathing became rapid and slow. They all tried to grab her hand, but it seemed they couldn't. She fell asleep in Dick's arms, sleeping soundly like the moon that had just set.
But the moon seems to wake up again, while she doesn't seem to.
A silence filled the air, as if all language had been shut down. Dick's eyes seemed to be reddening; he wanted to say something but couldn't utter a word.
"Damn..." Jason could only manage to utter this word after a long time. The unicorn didn't appear, nor did the deer, nor the cat, nor even the wolf. Only Annie the hedgehog was sobbing in Damian's arms, as if she were expressing Damian's sadness as well.
"Barbara, how is the situation in Saint Lin?"
"Hmm...it's very stable. I think I saw them over there just now."
Animals appeared on the outskirts of the Sacred Grove, and were driven in just before Enid fell asleep. They seemed to be frantically trying to get in, but they couldn't. The grove had become a safe prison. Bruce's voice grew even deeper. He wanted to touch Enid's face, but then stopped.
“Dick,” he said after a long pause, “you come with me, carrying Fia.”
"I want to go too, Father!"
Damian answered without hesitation. Bruce looked up and saw that the other children were expressing the same emotions, so he eventually agreed. Everyone followed him to the outskirts of the Sacred Grove.
Stephanie seemed to notice that the pumpkin lanterns were gone, and Dick noticed that the rainbow bridge also seemed to be gone.
The blooming flowers have withered, the sacred forest has become a silent painting, and even breathing seems to lack the light and joyful feeling it once had. Perhaps what was like an elf before was not the sacred forest, but Enid's beating heart.
"Try it, Dick, can you still get in?"
Dick nodded, touched the outer edge of the Sacred Grove, and found that he could go in. His eyes lit up for a moment, and the others tried as well. No one could go in except Dick. Even Bruce himself seemed unable to. Of course, he didn't actually try; he just knew it.
“Take Fia to the base of the statue. There’s an altar there. Put her there and come back to take her home in two weeks. I’ll come with you then.”
In Mary Reed's letter, she wrote that Enid was the only child with a natural heart, and that her life was destined to be lost by destroying the storm. Bruce did not believe this, so he refused to let Enid go out.
In Mary Reed's heart, it was written: If they still wanted to love her, if she was Bruce's beloved child, if she was loved, all things would favor His only believer. If they truly loved her, then her heart would not stop. Please place her body before the idol, and all things will favor her.
Bruce believed it; he had no choice but to believe it. He loved Enid, his daughter, the child who would smile and say "Daddy, I love you," and who would hug the whole family. They all loved her, so... at this moment, Bruce was willing to believe in Mary Reed.
“TT, if you ask me, we should just take him to the Assassin’s Guild.”
Damian said this, but her eyes were fixed on the sacred forest. Dick carried her slowly but steadily forward, and with each step they took, they seemed to see the withered lilies of the valley blooming slowly in the sacred forest, as if their hearts were still beating.
It was as if her breath was calling their names.
Bruce finally revealed what was in Mary Reed's letters, but there was no joy in having a secret revealed; they could only wait quietly for Dick to come out.
They placed Enid on the altar in front of the statue, which was covered with lilies of the valley and all sorts of flowers. Aura and the others followed Dick as soon as he entered. They squatted down in front of the statue. Aura tried to lick Enid's face, Layla cried sadly, and Naya bounced back and forth repeatedly, but they couldn't attract the attention of the sleeping people.
Only Serd lay quietly in front, seemingly trying to hide the tears in his eyes. Well, Seren did too, but he was really crying.
"I'll come to pick you up in two weeks, along with our High Druid. You'll come back, won't you? After all, sunset and sunrise are different, and I still owe you a sunset."
His blue eyes reflected her face, but not her emerald green heart; only the hidden sadness surged within him. After a long while, he walked out as if oblivious to everything around him.
“Let’s go, Dick. We’ll come back to pick her up in two weeks.”
“Father, I want to come too,” Damian said defiantly after Bruce finished speaking.
Bruce glanced at Damian, reached out and patted his head. "I mean, all of us will come. She'll be so happy to see you all."
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Author's note: This was set up from the very beginning of the outline. I'll be back in the chapter after next!
There was only this one knife wound, and the clown died—well, struck by lightning (silently).
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