In the past year, although Kara and Bruce were classmates, their relationship remained distant. They occasionally crossed paths in overlapping club activities, but interactions between the two were minimal. Kara was always busy, not because she was intentionally mysterious, but because she had enrolled in almost every available course—mandatory, elective, and open lectures alike.
Later, while participating in an activity for the university's news club, Kara learned from Perry White why Bruce had left Gotham City. Perry had mentioned a recent hearing, where a prisoner serving a fourteen-year sentence was requesting bail. The convict was none other than the man who had shot and killed Thomas and Martha Wayne, Bruce's parents, fourteen years ago.
When Perry brought up the subject, Kara dismissed it indifferently, saying, "You don't expect me to do anything about it, do you? Or do you think I should call Bruce to comfort him? Please, I don't even have his number."
Although Kara understood the tragedy that had shaped Bruce and noticed the melancholy that lingered in his eyes, she didn't dwell on it. She figured it was Bruce's responsibility to confront and resolve his issues. Kara had her own priorities—absorbing as much knowledge as possible during her time at Metropolis University. Her schedule was relentless, leaving her with little time to think about anything else.
In her first year, she even joined the university's Kung Fu club, initially as a joke. Within months, however, she reached the highest ranks in taekwondo and karate, earning tenth-degree black belts in both disciplines. Kara displayed exceptional skill and strength, achieving feats like defeating professional martial artists and landing punches powerful enough to fell a bull. Despite her restraint to avoid showcasing extraordinary abilities, her prowess was undeniable.
With few challenges left, Kara turned to learning martial arts through movies and sparring with club members. Though she found this approach less structured, it sufficed for the time being. Running off to train with world-class masters wasn't yet an option.
Over time, Kara grew distant from her friends Jennifer and Dani. Her rigorous academic pursuits left her no room for socializing. She spent her days immersed in the university library, devouring knowledge across a staggering range of fields—astronomy, biology, physics, mathematics, engineering, theology, law, criminology, and more. Her thirst for understanding extended even to the light spectrum of stars, particularly the effects of red and yellow suns on Kryptonians, and she resolved to study kryptonite to find a way to neutralize its harmful effects.
Kara's intensity sometimes alienated those around her, even her closest friends. In her final semester, she didn't return home at all, prompting Jennifer and Dani to bring her living expenses. At twenty-four, Kara graduated from Metropolis University with far more credits than required, capable of pursuing postgraduate studies if she wished. Instead, she left the city immediately after receiving her diploma, saying goodbye to her friends and disappearing without a trace.
Even Jonathan, Martha, and Clark received only sporadic updates from Kara. She reported on her explorations—visiting both polar regions, scaling Mount Everest, and roaming bustling metropolises and remote wildernesses alike. Her journey was a deliberate quest to expand her knowledge and skills. Over three years, she mastered virtually every fighting style on Earth: Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga, sambo, Systema, savate, wrestling, kickboxing, fencing, arnis, sanda, wing chun, jeet kune do, tai chi, shaolin kung fu, and many others.
Kara's travels even brought her face-to-face with Bruce Wayne, who was on his own journey of self-discovery. Their encounter was brief but meaningful—they shared a drink, exchanged thoughts, and parted ways amicably. Though their paths diverged, Bruce's advice helped shape Kara's approach to her mission.
While others in her hometown speculated that Kara had lost her mind, she alone understood her purpose. Each step brought her closer to her goal—preparing for a destiny she hadn't fully articulated but instinctively knew awaited her.