Tim was temporarily occupied with writing up some reports.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboo1cevkdg
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cwSjwmICj
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?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxOOg9ZBWb
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKu9v0LiTr
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMHPUQsE6t
Tim stared at the words on the screen, and his thoughts began to drift.
Part of him felt grateful—138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z55FQCTJs
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—138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jsnPzmmyS
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—138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTtNpP2ec7
A fifteen-year-old girl wandering alone in such a ruined world for an entire year.
Had she gone hungry often?138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uom8yXRMD
Had she been injured often?138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlpCL9aevZ
Had she cried often?
These images flashed through his mind like a silent slideshow:138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoP6WzKiO6
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEXhHkjmiY
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsQzOk0EJE
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPQ4WIsIAj
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…138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOz1m7O80D
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzM0DWUlKR
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BbL4pIekO
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmbo6mRkXM
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SbnpHooOR
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUzz6c2rq3
Before Tim could even react, the thing spread its wings in midair—flapping in the small room.
Tim’s jaw dropped.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu89CVaM6q
His head turned, eyes tracking the flying object—138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H848VIsZT
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34GLVJKyqI
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDV61A0F7f
She reached out and took his wrist, gently turning his hand over.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvbQjbd31j
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvr7RsgEtp
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—138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSXxfPJXKx
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQf1N1GHhu
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.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkrK46aLX1
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.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAx7Hh1WeB
She answered so quickly, it was like she’d been expecting the question.
“I can’t draw them myself. Someone else has to—138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLCU02Q1Ly
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyUhAnmFLj
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYVJ6ZKHdj
“Next time, I’ll show you what happens when I use a kid’s drawing. That’s on a whole different level.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wbq3EeMSb
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and then Add to home screen.