Doctor Fate had traversed the universe and many parallel universes, knew more than most souls every dreamed of knowing, and was part of an existence that held off beings of pure chaos, and yet…he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise as 7 pairs of bat-children's eyes and one butler's sharp glance bore into him. It was eerie and unnerving, affecting his human side and even his mystical side a little. There was an expectation to the air that dared Doctor Fate not to find answers.

Luckily, there was…something… "Well?" Nightwing inquired, brows lifted.

"His soul isn't in his body." Doctor Fate answered, internally cringing as the batkids' expressions tightened, seeming to get hostile.

"What do you mean?" Red Robin asked.

"His soul has been pushed out of his body, I'm not sure by who or how, but that's why he doesn't wake."

"So how is he still alive, because he is alive, if he doesn't have a soul?!" Red Hood demanded loudly.

"That's what's curious…" Perhaps 'curious' was the wrong word, as those frowns got deeper, "I mean, something, some sort of magic is maintaining his body. A very…ancient magic." So ancient I can't identify it…

"That means he's going to get better, right?" Batgirl asked.

"His soul gone! It's not like getting over a fucking cold! That's not something you 'get better' from!" Red Hood snapped.

"Hey! Don't be yelling at her." Red Robin hissed.

"Well if she didn't say something stupid!" Red Hood retorted.

"Excuse me!?" Batgirl turned on Hood.

"Guys! Guys! Stop it!" Nightwing stepped between Red Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood.

"Its not stupid, it was a valid question if its something he can recover from." Red Robin ignored Nightwing, "He said the soul was pushed out, not that its gone!" And all the attention was back on Doctor Fate, making his skin itch. "Right? His body is being kept alive because his soul is coming back to it, right?"

"I'm…not sure." Doctor Fate admitted, and Red Hood let out a snigger. "I haven't encountered this magic before, so I'm not definite on anything. However, since the body is maintained, it is possible that the soul can return."

"Great, so we're back to where we fucking started with, what was it, oh right, nothing." Red Hood growled and then stomped out of the room.

"I am sorry I can't be of more help. I don't have power over the soul." Doctor Fate apologized.

Nightwing shook his head, offering a smile, "No, its okay, you've done your best and that's all we can ask for. Thank you for coming."

"Is there anything else you can tell us? About the magic that is maintaining it, or how a soul might get pushed out of a body? Anything?" Red Robin asked.

"The magic that is maintaining it, is, as I said, very old, and that means it's powerful. I don't think it's responsible for pushing the soul out, but perhaps actually trying to help. I thought I caught a hint of what might've made the soul come out, but this other magic is repairing damage as we speak. As just a guess, I believe it may be Wiff, a spiritual being that sometimes inhabits mortal vessels for short periods of time. They feed on fear and anxieties of the soul, but they are weak and any damage that comes to their vessel directly effects them. I only say this, because that's what I was dealing with off-world, a few planets had Wiff infestations. They can be banished with magic and ritual, but I can't reverse what has already been done." Doctor Fate looked the Batman's family in the eye, "We can only trust that his soul is as strong as his will and he will find his way back to you."