Capítulo 7: This Silly Kid at Home
Jason had been pondering about Janice's training for a while. Living in Gotham, one could do without utilizing their abilities, but they couldn't afford to be defenseless. Moreover, Jason couldn't guarantee that his identity wouldn't be revealed to anyone. If that day ever came, he didn't want Janice to become a victim. Janice didn't know what Jason did outside, and she didn't want to lag behind. When asked if she wanted to join his training, she agreed without hesitation.
Jason spoke coldly, "It will be exhausting and you'll get hurt. Once you agree to this, there's no turning back, even if you decide you don't want to continue."
Battle itself was a cruel affair. If one didn't take training seriously, did they expect the enemy to go easy on them? Janice needed perseverance to endure it all.
Janice continued nodding without hesitation, her gaze determined. In her soft voice, she replied, "I won't back down."
Jason was very satisfied with the little girl's attitude. In fact, her performance exceeded his expectations.
He had always been aware that Janice had a foundation in martial arts, but how skilled could a teenager be? This wasn't meant to demean her, but the physical capabilities of a normal child couldn't match those of a trained adult. Even after countless harsh trainings, a child's body had its limits and couldn't surpass a well-trained adult's.
However, all of Janice's physical attributes far exceeded those of an average adult, be it agility, endurance, or instinct.
Janice had no memory of her training experiences. She didn't even remember what she knew; it was all instinctual. She even sensed Jason's intentions multiple times.
Despite this, Jason could tell that she had undergone numerous brutal trainings to turn every skill into muscle memory to survive.
Every one of Janice's attacks was extremely agile, avoiding her lack of strength by targeting pressure points. She didn't remember why she attacked in such a way.
Jason speculated that she had learned techniques for killing.
However, there were obvious downsides to this. When faced with an opponent who surpassed her in both strength and skill, she would be powerless.
One thing puzzled Jason: he noticed that she unconsciously touched her lower back sometimes, as if she was reaching for something. He asked her why.
Janice furrowed her brow in recollection for a long time before uncertainly replying, "It seems... there's something there."
Jason thought she was referring to where something should be placed, perhaps the weapon she was proficient with, just like her obsession with the dagger.
Janice was clueless about firearms, but could easily discern and name them even after only seeing them once. She could even memorize the details of every notorious criminal in Gotham.
Jason was proud. He was confident he could train an outstanding disciple.
However, even so, Jason never thought about taking her out to fight criminals or involving her in his current activities. Adults weren't extinct yet; there was no need for children to save the world.
...
At night, Jason didn't engage in intense activities. At most, he patrolled the nearby area, spending most of his time with Janice.
While teaching her combat skills, Jason also taught her the subjects she was self-learning, helping her adapt to school faster in the future.
As long as Janice didn't provoke any big shots, her abilities would suffice to protect herself. She wasn't even inclined to start trouble, so there was no need to worry about her safety.
Jason was more concerned about her interpersonal relationships. A good little girl always had a poker face, seemingly devoid of emotions. However, when paired with her innocent and clueless eyes, she came off as a bit naive.
But appearances could be deceiving; she was sharp. The more Jason taught her, the harder it would be to fool her.
Jason said she was following the route of playing dumb to catch a thief, and she would definitely trap people tightly in the future. Not to mention, the girl was pretty by normal standards, and anyone with a sense of aesthetics would call her beautiful.
During the break from the girl's tutoring classes, Jason took Janice out to play. Janice's sense of aesthetics leaned towards practicality and being able to withstand dirt, which of course wasn't a problem at all. But couldn't a well-dressed girl go out to play?
Janice was a bit puzzled about what outfits Jason would choose for their outings, but she didn't voice any objections. Most of the time, she just went along with Jason's suggestions.
Once Janice changed into her clothes, Jason expressed his satisfaction. He even styled her hair into a nice short hairstyle, feeling quite pleased with himself. However, he couldn't help but notice that Janice still had a slender face, despite several months passing without her gaining any weight. How come she wasn't gaining any flesh on her face? And her body didn't seem to gain any either.
Despite Jason providing her with good food and drinks every day, even occasionally giving her extra meals, where was all the nutrition going? Was it because the recent training had been too rigorous that she had lost any gained weight?
With these questions in mind, Jason, dressed in casual attire, took the beautiful girl out for a stroll. Besides playing, he also wanted to broaden her horizons.
Janice usually didn't wander around much; Jason would always pick her up and drop her off for her classes, following a strict routine.
Given the rare opportunity to go out and play, children naturally tend to be more cheerful. Jason noticed that Janice spoke more than usual during their outing, and her conversational skills had noticeably improved.
"Jason," as they reached the amusement park and Janice saw so many kids around her age or younger, she remarked calmly, "There are so many people."
Jason wasn't used to this atmosphere either—the surrounding noise of children playing, adults conversing, and the constant reminders to children from their parents.
"It's a holiday today, so naturally, there are a lot of kids here to play," Jason replied, pushing Janice gently forward. It was hard for him to imagine the quiet girl amidst all the noise and fun. "Let's go play."
Janice felt that she could sense Jason's hidden agenda in his tone. She couldn't bring herself to join in with the strange toys and unfamiliar children. Even just thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable.
"No," Janice said firmly, refusing to let go of Jason's clothes.
Jason and Janice stared at each other, puzzled, for a while. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the distance—a little boy's cry pierced through the air, drawing the attention of many. It seemed two kids had gotten into a fight over a play area.
The thought of Janice accidentally hurting another child in a scuffle over territory crossed Jason's mind. Well, it was for the sake of others' safety.
Realizing that Janice wouldn't budge as he wished, Jason scratched the back of his head in frustration. He compromised, "Alright, let's go somewhere else."
Janice breathed a sigh of relief, feeling relaxed now that she didn't have to play with those seemingly fragile children.
While Jason seemed to handle the situation effortlessly, there was a hint of fleeing in his back. After all, the red hoodie didn't quite fit into this setting.
Leaving the crowded amusement park, Jason began thinking about where to take Janice next. Since she didn't seem to enjoy crowded places, he decided to take her to Robinson Park.
Though there were still many people there, it was much quieter compared to the amusement park.
The park was beautifully landscaped, with even two swans frolicking in the lake's center. Passing by in pairs or small groups, the park visitors kept their voices low, not wanting to disturb others. You could even catch a glimpse of squirrels running across the tree branches. Arriving here, the air seemed much fresher.
As Janice relaxed, standing by the roadside, watching the sparrows chirping in the trees, Jason sat on a bench by the path, taking a moment to rest his eyes. They both spent their time in their own ways.
"Jason," she sat down beside Jason, and upon receiving a "Hmm?" in response, she asked inquisitively, "Why can't I fly?"
Jason: ...
Was this how children came up with their whimsical ideas?
If Jason didn't know how little Janice knew about the world, he might have thought she was teasing him. Using a scientific approach to explain to her, he said, "Janie, firstly, normal people don't have wings like birds, our arms can't provide lift, and secondly, the human body is heavy, and our skeletal structure isn't suitable for flight. But people can fulfill their desire to fly with the help of tools."
Janice didn't quite understand what he meant by "firstly" and "secondly," but she caught the word "tools." So she asked, "Airplane?"
"Yes, airplanes are one way, and there are also hang gliders, hot air balloons, and so on," Jason explained to the girl, but seeing her confused expression, he knew she didn't quite grasp it.
Ignoring what she didn't understand for the moment, Janice asked again, "Can people turn into birds?"
Jason didn't want to shatter the girl's beautiful fantasy. "Normal people can't turn into birds."
"What about abnormal ones?"
"Some folks with special abilities can. You'll see when you meet them," Jason replied.
Janice nodded, but she felt something was off. She felt like she could, so she said, "I'm abnormal."
Jason: ???
Looking at her like she was his own silly child, Jason affectionately patted her head. "Alright, whatever you say."
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