Zatanna's mind magic required almost no preparation. There were no lengthy treatments, no medical records, no notes, and the patient didn't even need to be present. As soon as the helicopter brought them to the safety room in the Batcave, she announced she was ready.
Batman squinted at her and asked, "Shiller isn't here. How do you plan on reaching his inner world?"
Zatanna shook her head, "Bruce, mysticism is more magical than you think. You might imagine that the Spirit Realm is another world hiding beneath the real one, identical to our reality."
"But in fact, it's called the Spirit Realm because it can communicate with human souls. An envoy who can travel through the Spirit Realm can also enter a person's heart."
"Then can you peek into other people's hearts anytime?" Batman asked. However, it didn't sound like a question as his voice was assertive and cautious. But Zatanna shook her head saying, "No, traveling through the Spirit Realm comes with a high cost. Not everyone is like Constantine, who can trick a bunch of demons into paying the price for him."
Zatanna sighed, "Actually, even before we broke up, I was already touching the threshold of magic. I even tried to roam through the Spirit Realm in my dreams. At that time, I ignored the warnings, thinking I held the most magical power in the world and could use them without restraint."
Sadness appeared on Zatanna's face as she said, "The cost of magic might not be paid overnight. It seeps into every corner of your life, making your life and your future slide into the Abyss."
"My father's disappearance, it wasn't an accident." Zatanna slowly shook her head, "This is the price we have to pay."
She looked into Batman's eyes with a sigh and said, "I can hear it, I can feel it. You have a lot of unnecessary illusions about mysticism. Promise me, Bruce, never take that step. Otherwise, you'll never be able to turn back."
"To control power, you have to pay a price. To make up for that, you strive to control more power, and end up paying a bigger price... That's magic," Constantine commented from a nearby couch. "If you're not naturally under such a curse, it's best to avoid it. Everything I've done is simply for my own survival."
"Since we're almost ready, let's get started," Zatanna said, turning her head away as if not wanting to continue the topic. She took a couple of steps backwards and told the duo to find a safe place to sit. She reminded them that their physical bodies remained where they are while traveling the Spirit Realm, and it was crucial to ensure safety. She knew of people who came back from the Spirit Realm only to find their bodies had been eaten by their pets."
The safety room door closed with a hissing sound. Batman, Constantine, and Zatanna each sat on a couch in different corners. Zatanna started chanting mysterious spells. Soon, Batman felt a layer of faint white mist enveloping the room.
He felt his body becoming light and a sudden urge to dance. Unable to resist the urge to move, he instinctively stood up and saw himself still sitting on the couch.
The other two had the same experience but they were already familiar with it. Zatanna waved her hand and said, "Let's go. Firstly, we need to find Shiller's soul in the Spirit Realm and then enter his memory."
Both Constantine and Batman said nothing, allowing her to execute her plan. Zatanna flew into the air with Constantine and Batman following her through a foggy space.
The Spirit Realm was not spacious. Batman found that he could still see the scenes of the real world. However, the colors became more brilliant, like an ordinary scene veiled in fog.
As he flew over the city, Batman could see countless souls glowing in splendid colors. Neon lights circulating on the facade of buildings, the trails of flight through the light, all seemed elusive yet breathtaking.
"It's quite marvelous for you, isn't it?" Constantine asked as they were flying. "However, the Spirit Realm is far more dangerous than you can imagine."
"This tranquil appearance is misleading because no demons willingly come to Gotham. If you were in a different city, you could meet man-eating demons or native monsters from the Spirit Realm at any time."
Batman frowned as Constantine continued explaining, "The Spirit Realm seems to have always existed, and so have its monsters. For some unknown reason, not only are there no demons in Gotham, but even the unnamed monsters born from the power of the Spirit Realm have disappeared."
Hearing Constantine's words, Batman pressed his lips together. But at that moment, Zatanna shouted, "I think we're almost there! Do you see that light spot ahead? That's Shiller's soul. He should be in the lab at Gotham University..."
"He should indeed be at Gotham University," said Batman. Zatanna stopped on top of a building and nodded, "It seems to be him. Let's get closer... My god, is that the All Things Green?"