Tim was temporarily occupied with writing up some reports.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW6oOjevR9
After all, Nora had shared a lot—so many details to dig into. The moment she began to speak, it was like a dam had burst, her words carrying the weight of her past all at once, rushing forward and almost leaving no room to breathe.
Tim gently asked Nora to take a break.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTXVkQcV9n
He glanced over at her on the couch, drinking water. She was leaning against a cushion, her gaze slightly distant, as if she too was still processing everything she had just said.
Tim asked, “Do you know the origin of the virus?”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrmLcqQXJB
Nora shook her head. “It was hard to even think about that while trying to survive.”
Tim nodded. He understood. In the apocalypse, the only people who had the luxury to think about such questions were scientists—or madmen.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA00smMLif
He silently opened his notes again, jotting down a few questions to ask her next time. These were also the kind of questions Batman would have paid extra attention to.
His fingers paused on the keyboard.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlVnrvJsNj
Tim stared at the words on the screen, and his thoughts began to drift.
Part of him felt grateful—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme1eWfbS4s
Grateful that Nora had come into his world and that they had met. The miracle of it all was unbelievable. And yet here she was, alive, sitting not far from him, as if the entire universe had looped in on itself just to send her to his side.
But another part of him mourned for her world—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFB7vrCqbQ
A peaceful place where Batman only existed in comic books, now devastated by disaster. That kind of ending was too cruel, like fate had torn every fairytale apart with its bare hands.
Tim couldn’t even begin to imagine—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKfbcTO976
A fifteen-year-old girl wandering alone in such a ruined world for an entire year.
Had she gone hungry often?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzlBbDN20o
Had she been injured often?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUOEU0vw6X
Had she cried often?
These images flashed through his mind like a silent slideshow:139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8C1gP9G6g
Nora, lugging a worn-out backpack, dragging an injured leg, searching for food in the rubble. All alone.
Even after she reached the base, she still did everything she could to help others.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwb92WTphm
She didn’t just choose to survive—she chose to help others survive too.
In any extreme disaster, children are always the first to be abandoned. Tim knew that very well.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWqtyRHPsl
Which only made Nora’s actions more incredible. In that kind of environment, she still shielded the children from the wind and rain, even building a space where they could learn and laugh.
And in the end, Nora… turned.
Tim shut his eyes.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSW4qgIGVx
Maybe—maybe she had asked one of the children to kill her. That thought hit his chest like cold water.
He left the cause of death blank in the report…139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHcZvqhE0S
He wasn’t even sure if the Nora from that moment… was still really Nora.
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Tim had also created a separate spreadsheet about superpowers.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRTyXkJYYc
He couldn’t ignore the fact that, in Nora’s world, some people had supernatural abilities.
Based on Nora’s descriptions, Tim began to categorize them.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXVXP760d3
He listened and took notes, analyzing those sci-fi-like accounts, trying to find patterns—what types of powers there were, and how they might be applied.
Back then, he asked her: “Do you have any?”
Nora suddenly looked at Tim and gave a small smile.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERuXNOb5z3
There was something like a candy hidden in that gaze—sweet, but dangerous.
She turned away and pulled out a piece of paper and a box of colored markers.
Tim blinked as the paper and markers were suddenly laid out in front of him. “What’s this?”
Nora looked at him with excitement. “Quick, draw something.”
Tim hesitated, unsure what she was up to. Frowning, he picked up a red marker and cautiously sketched a bird—red, simple lines, a bit rough, even sloppy.
Nora leaned in to inspect it, her green eyes sparkling. “Tell me about this little guy. What powers does it have?”
Still confused, Tim glanced from her to the paper. “Uh… it can fly?”
Nora nodded, smiling as if he’d given the right answer.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGCpnuI9tN
She picked up the drawing. From Tim’s perspective, she placed her hand behind the paper and made a gesture.
She formed an "OK" sign with her fingers—and then, in the next second, flicked the back of the paper with her index finger—
Snap. A tiny sound.
Something red suddenly rose off the page.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM5K1pkztf
Before Tim could even react, the thing spread its wings in midair—flapping in the small room.
Tim’s jaw dropped.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfPn32kRyO
His head turned, eyes tracking the flying object—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGnZX62Zv4
It was the bird he had drawn.
The very bird he had lazily doodled a moment ago was now alive, flying around the room.
Nora raised her hand and gave a short whistle.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAHia7mA26
As if understanding the command, the bird circled once and flew steadily downward, landing gently on her palm.
Its wings fluttered slightly, just like a real bird would.
Nora turned to Tim, smiling.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF0D9f5dGX
She reached out and took his wrist, gently turning his hand over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBGgjNRv12
Then she let the red bird step from her hand into Tim’s open palm.
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Tim leaned in for a closer look. It obviously wasn’t a real bird.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLi8vJ1EmX
The edges of its wings were soft, like smudged crayon lines. The body was asymmetrical, with a bit of that cartoonish, goofy charm.
It looked like a 3D figure made entirely of crayon—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h2TuTTabS
The color was vivid, and the texture powdery, like it had just been peeled off the paper. You could still see the mix of wax and paper in its surface.
Yet the bird moved around in his palm like it was real.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdUQl5amUA
It tilted its head, flapped its wings, and even gently pecked at his knuckles with its crooked little beak. It wasn’t shy at all—in fact, it was quite clingy.
Tim swallowed hard, eyes locked on the lively crayon bird. “How long can it last?”
Nora replied, “Not sure. But something this size… about a day.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdk3PPQOze
Her tone was casual, as if she were commenting on the stickiness of a Post-it note, not the lifespan of a flying, living drawing.
Tim asked, “Are there limitations to this power?”
Nora: “Yeah. Big ones.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5VuT6O7ej
She answered so quickly, it was like she’d been expecting the question.
“I can’t draw them myself. Someone else has to—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs1XcYq1Ft
Especially drawings by children. Those are the most powerful.”
Tim’s eyes sharpened. A few potential testing methods that had just popped into his head were immediately deleted.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDhJ77dBAi
No one in the Batcave could draw—not beyond sketching crime scene maps.
Maybe Damian was decent at it, but the idea of relying on Damian to test Nora’s powers—Tim mentally drew a big X over that plan.
Tim frowned. “This ability feels…”
Nora cut him off, clearly knowing what he was about to say: “I know—it feels strong, but also kind of weak. I don’t use it often, either.”
She shrugged, that helpless look on her face, though her voice was still laced with amusement.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV6RmLS5MK
“Next time, I’ll show you what happens when I use a kid’s drawing. That’s on a whole different level.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOnGZkrrc2
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and then Add to home screen.