The Batcave’s conference room was dimly lit.
Unlike their usual tactical meetings, there was only one piece of paper on the table—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxQiE2Zfd7
Everyone sat up straight, yet it was as if they had all forgotten how to speak.
Tim was the first to break the silence, his voice barely above a whisper:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD57a5mS99n
“…So, that girl… or rather, that deity… her name is Nana?”
His brows furrowed with mathematical precision, as though solving a complex equation. “That doesn’t exactly sound divine. It’s way too cute. Kinda glad we didn’t follow Dick’s plan to read out every god’s name out loud… or we might’ve never stumbled across hers.”
The way he said it sounded half like a joke—yet not entirely.
Would saying that name aloud really summon something?
Dick shrugged, lips twitching into a sheepish grin. “Hey, I was just suggesting—didn’t force anyone. Alright, alright, maybe I don’t get how weird this world really is.”
He paused. “Anyway, we’ve already contacted Zatanna. She said she’s on her way.”
A hush fell again, and all eyes shifted toward the one sitting silently against the wall.
Jason.
His eyes were still red from crying. He looked like someone who’d just surfaced from deep underwater.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJ804FVb8
Normally, someone might have cracked a joke to ease the mood—even just to get a reaction. But today… no one dared.
After all, he’d died.
And today was the first time they all truly understood what that meant.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbb4F0nXzf
He’d had his memory taken, too.
“People who’ve died get a free pass… right?” Tim murmured.
No one responded. But everyone agreed.
Jason didn’t acknowledge them. He just kept staring at the paper in front of him, completely still, like he was afraid it might turn to ash if he looked away.
He wanted to memorize every stroke of the handwriting, every fold of the paper.
He wanted to make sure that this time—he wouldn’t forget her.
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpsYTDFFpL
Zatanna finally arrived.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcilod5vzqo
Draped in her black cloak, she looked like a mysterious guest carried in by the wind.
The moment she appeared, Jason stood and walked directly toward the same isolated chamber as last time—
That “quarantine room” they’d set up so she wouldn’t go blind from the glow of his divine markings.
This time, he said nothing.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoLih78Sct
He just wanted to know the next step.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hJOzRfHT7
How to find her. How to save her.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUCzYAbno0
How to bring her back.
Zatanna entered the room, looking unusually serious.
“Wow. You guys moved a lot faster than I expected.” She lifted the paper. “So this is her name? Nana… huh. Yeah, this name doesn’t appear in any divine registry I know.”
When she spoke that name—Nana—the air in the room actually seemed to shiver, like someone had exhaled softly against their ears.
Jason, from the other room, raised his voice:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhRRg0KUM9
“Then what’s next?”
Zatanna tilted her chin, her tone ritualistic, almost chant-like:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmHojeeuTs
“Since we know the world tried to erase her, to bring her back… we have to make her into something the world will accept.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODiHx0Wrxx
She paused. “That means—”
Batman cut in, voice firm:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGU5Ur4fSb
“Be specific. What do we need to do?”
Zatanna turned toward him with a sly expression, her tone suddenly teasing:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWhCDz5e3F
“Bats, you’re not gonna like this answer. Because you might have to… betray Jesus a little.”
Everyone blinked.
“…What?” Tim frowned.
“I mean,” she said plainly, “you’ll have to make her legitimate. Through faith. Through belief. You must invite her to become a deity.”
Zatanna spoke each word clearly:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aSCPXo0nH
“You have to become believers. You have to build a faith. Only belief can move the Will of the World—can grant footing to a being it once tried to erase.”
A heavy silence settled.
Then, in unspoken unison, they all turned toward the object list on the table—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAocwrwNL2
The one Zatanna had provided.
Dick unfolded it. His face grew increasingly conflicted.
Candles, animal blood, a symbolic mirror, a bone vessel, luminous powder, torn pages from a spellbook, hematite sand…
Together, they formed a ritual altar.
It looked like something from a heretic trial.
“…This isn’t some weird prank show, right?” Dick muttered, voice dry with disbelief.
No one laughed.
Jason didn’t wait for discussion. He was already on his feet, halfway out the cave, yelling over his shoulder:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH6mloEC7G
“I’m going to get supplies!!”
He bolted like a man newly converted to some obscure cult.
His eyes burned with fire. His feet practically lifted off the ground.
“…He’s actually kind of scary right now,” Tim muttered.
Damian crossed his arms and scoffed:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQl6gJIndg
“He’s always been scary.”
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFXxafdbhj
Gotham is a city of contradictions.
Tonight, the very people who usually wear body armor and leap across rooftops in pursuit of criminals were now holding candles, burning incense, and carrying strange objects as they assembled for a ritual that looked dangerously close to occult judgment.
Who would’ve thought the Batcave would ever host an altar?
But the real kicker—
“…How the hell did you buy all this so fast?” Tim whispered, eyeing the candles, vials of blood, metal rings, and ancient scrolls.
“Gotham actually sells this stuff? Or did you make a quick trip to the underworld?”
Jason didn’t answer. He simply stood in the center of the altar, arms folded.
His expression was solemn—not like a man about to perform a ritual, but more like someone standing vigil.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2aSR6Gsf0
Or awaiting something that might tear through the fabric of reality itself.
Zatanna raised her hands.
“Alright, now you need a lead officiant.”
She grinned. “I guess in religion they’d call it a high priest? Anyway—someone to lead the ritual. The first official representative of this new faith.”
Jason didn’t wait for her to finish.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NGD4NQxp4
He stepped forward and stood quietly in the center.
No one stopped him.
Zatanna simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dx8s4Bo4p
“Well, fair enough. You’re definitely the right one for the job.”
Batman had been assigned to stay outside the ritual circle.
“You’re too unstable, Bats,” Zatanna said, half-joking, half-serious. “We need someone who’ll draw the blade, not flip the table.”
He didn’t argue. He nodded silently.
And from the shadows, he watched the children he had trained—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjIwK9GEvS
prepare to summon a forgotten deity.
A child from the past.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQbGuVq1c7
A child he had once… forgotten.
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb8OhrJ1gU
