"Dear Dr. Rodriguez, I find myself needing to write to you again, however, it's not an emergency, so do not worry. It's just that the situation I once told you about is becoming more serious. I only hope that this is not a needless worry, that there is at least some reason behind my concerns, right?
Yesterday, Dick came home but just to retrieve his textbooks. Previously, when Alfred learned that he was still in school in your universe, he arranged for a tutor. Surprisingly, his academic performance is good. He has also learned French and ballet.
I once considered encouraging Dick to learn to dance or gymnastics as he has a special gift for it, but in the end, I did not say anything. You could call it a regret."
Dick left again almost immediately after taking his things. I understand him. I think the Batman in your universe must differ significantly from me. Damian who came with him looked at me a few times. I am sure there was a longing in his eyes, but I have no idea what he desires.
Or perhaps, it's something I am not willing to admit.
He didn't say anything, neither did I. They left quickly. Jason, who should have returned to the Manor to pick up some repair tools Thursday night, didn't come back either. He said Barbara was using his computer for something, and little Jason was assisting her.
They suddenly have their own things to do, which worries me. I think this feeling shouldn't exist, it's strange, because often in the past, I wished they could lead independent lives.
However, when it does happen, it does not bring the joy I imagined it would. I am full of worries for these birds leaving the nest, but I am aware that they already have the strong wings to soar in the sky.
I just wish to confirm this with you, Dr. Rodriguez that my strange emotions come from my temporary maladjustment. I hope it's just my maladaptation. I don't think I would be the kind of overbearing elder who restricts the children."
With a slight "swish", the letter was folded down by Shiller. After reading its contents, he sighed. He worried about Batman's current mindset.
After two entire sets of Robins transferred from this universe to the Prime Universe, they obviously made quite a stir in that Gotham City. Ideally, Batman should have been able to swiftly discover who was causing the trouble, but evidently, he's now in a low mood, even his normally keen detective skills appear somewhat weakened.
Or rather, he doesn't feel like investigating cases at all. For the strange rise of the mob, he has only paid scant attention. Instead, he's been writing letters to Shiller expressing concern about the changes in the Robins.
The Robins who returned from another universe indeed underwent significant changes. But the most prominent, and the one Batman finds hardest to accept, is that the Batman Family no longer revolves around Batman.
In the past, although the Batman Family were Batman's assistants, they served more as his support team. Batman rarely relied on them in major meaningful ways. Instead, he often helped solve their various problems. The connection between the Batman Family and Batman mostly stemmed from endless discussions about Batman.
They discussed Batman amongst themselves, then each had discussions with Batman, then together they discussed what they each talked about with Batman, followed by reminiscing about what has happened with Batman as well as what will happen in the future.
Children and adolescents simply tend to decide the focus of their own lives. They have a more acute adeptness in a group than adults and are more like a flock of lambs — whoever is closest to them, they would rely all parts of their life upon. The Batman Family placed all of their focus on Batman.
This habit not only tamed these children to certain extent but also tamed Batman same way.
He had grown accustomed to the Batman family's children fluttering around him incessantly, chirping in his ears, causing him trouble every now and then, and even becoming his weak points and burdens.
Whilst the Robins were focusing their lives around Batman, Batman was also always ready to shelter them.
But since these two sets of Robins visited a distant universe and returned, to Batman's shock, he found that Batman was no longer the focal point of the Batman Family's lives.
The Robins suddenly became busy, it seemed like everyone had a lot to do, and none of it had anything to do with Batman, or even the Batcave or Wayne Manor. They came in a hurry and left in a hurry, without even having the time to speak an extra word with the Batman who's just standing nearby.
If other people underwent such sudden changes, Batman would immediately grow suspicious enough to initiate an investigation. But Batman is now trapped in self-doubt, because he himself has once suggested the Robins to be more independent multiple times. Even he himself believes that he definitely wished for the Robins' independence.
However, when the Robins truly become independent, Batman realizes he isn't happy at all. So, he begins to question whether he is the kind of very double-standard parent who seems very open-minded in trivial things, but disregards the child's wishes when it comes to significant matters.
Batman doesn't think he is such a person, but he can't come up with an explanation for the feeling of loss deep inside.
Of course, he has heard some people's evaluations of the Batman Family, such as "How could a rich man raising a bunch of young boys not have ulterior motives?" or a softer claim like "Batman had all of the Batman Family's children revolving around him, purely to satisfy his desire to control and his vanity."
In the past, Batman wouldn't care about these evaluations. Yet when a faint sense of sorrow that hadn't appeared in his heart for many years began to surface, he couldn't help but doubt why he had established the Batman Family.
Looking back, did these children really help a lot? Did they grow healthily and made significant progress? Could Gotham, a rotten city, truly become better because of their existence?
The recent letters that Batman sent to Shiller mostly revolved around these questions. He had no idea who else to discuss education-related topics with, and Shiller seriously replied to every single letter, which took up the majority of his recent life.
But Batman's mental state wasn't healthy to begin with, like a dam already filled with cracks. While Shiller was plugging new leaks, he had to pay attention to the old ones and prevent new ones from forming. This was like embroidering on a balloon.
He felt that there should be an award on par with the Nobel Prize in the world, called "Batman's Psychologist Award". Even with Shiller's professional level, being an advisor to adult Batman in terms of psychology and education exhausted him.
Shiller knew he had to find a way to improve this situation. Firstly, exchanging letters wasn't a good method for psychological counseling.
Or rather, there wasn't a proper method for mature Batman. Even face-to-face, Shiller couldn't get the feedback he wanted from his expressions and body language. Batman's defenses were too high; even if one had the ability to overcome them, it wouldn't be a good choice to do so.
Secondly, if Batman continued to indulge in his emotions and delayed investigating Gotham City's recent events, the two Robins, an elder one and a younger one, would really turn the Wayne Family into the biggest gangster family.
Just as Shiller was pondering the solution, Strange, dressed in a mage robe, knocked on his office door.
"You're here." Strange sighed and then asked, "Can we switch the second lesson in the afternoon? I need to conduct research with Professor Constantine."
"Research? What do you guys plan to study?" Shiller stood up from behind the desk, went to the schedule on the wall, looked at it closely, took out the pen on his pocket, and circled the afternoon's classes.
"Uh…..can I say it? Actually, I've never taught kids this small before." Strange sighed and said, "During the trial class earlier, I spent half the time maintaining discipline. Honestly, you should find a high school teacher for them, not me."
"So you two are researching how to maintain discipline?"
"No, maintaining discipline is left to Professor Victor. We're doing something we're better at. I really can't handle the children's noise for any more time in a day."
"Alright, I'll take the second lesson." Shiller nodded easily, but Strange looked confused. He looked at Shiller for a while and then said, "Are you sure? Those lively kids are noisier than monkeys in the jungle, sure you can handle them?"
"If you're curious about my teaching style, you can come listen to the class yourself, or come with John."
Shiller went back to his desk and started to pack up the letters from Batman. That's when Strange noticed that Shiller had been reading letters. Curious, he sidetracked and asked, "Who wrote so many letters to you?"
"An empty-nest old man who has suddenly lost his child."
"You look worried."
"Is it that clear?"
"Very clear." Strange spread his hands and walked to the front of the desk. He adjusted his cuffs and said, "From what I see, you're still an excellent psychologist in this world."
"A psychologist can't deal with this level of trouble."
Strange raised his brows and said, "What's so troublesome about it? I really don't understand why anyone in this world would like kids, or feel sad when these brats leave home. I'd prefer them to roll away sooner."
After that, Strange walked towards the door and said, "If he lacks children, then just stuff him with a few. If it's the children from our side, even better. I really don't know how much longer my patience can last."
Watching Strange's leaving figure and pondering over his words, Shiller stood silent for a while. Then he looked down and stroked the letter in his hand with his finger, as if he had an idea.