Chapter 3

I finally got Lady Shiva's martial arts knowledge. It included a vast repository of techniques for unarmed combat and the use of cold weapons, spanning multiple styles and traditions. However, absorbing all this knowledge turned out to be far more overwhelming than I initially expected.

The sheer breadth of information—from precise stances and movements to strategic philosophies—felt like trying to drink from a firehose. My mind struggled to organize and process it all at once. Every style had unique nuances, and each weapon demanded its own approach, timing, and precision. While the knowledge was mine, mastering and integrating it into my body's muscle memory would take far longer than I had anticipated.

Every practice session revealed just how intricate and interconnected the techniques were. A single kata could take hours to fully understand, let alone execute perfectly. Despite the challenge, I could already feel my skills improving. But I knew that to truly embody Lady Shiva's expertise, I'd need time, discipline, and relentless practice.
I set the Grimoire to gather knowledge about light-based illusion techniques. It would take two months to accumulate even the most basic information - two months before I'd have access to any actual chants or ritual circles.

I chose illusions for several reasons. First, watching Itachi's genjutsu techniques had shown me how devastatingly effective illusions could be. While I couldn't replicate his Sharingan abilities, the principle was sound - why waste energy on flashy attacks when you could control what your opponent perceived?

Batman was another inspiration. His mastery of psychological warfare and ability to analyze and manipulate opponents' minds showed just how powerful understanding human psychology could be. Illusions would let me apply similar principles, creating fears and uncertainties in those who might threaten me.

I had considered focusing on mind arts instead, given their similar applications. But those seemed better left until I had more experience with my awakened psychic abilities. Jumping straight into mind manipulation without fully understanding my current capabilities seemed risky. Better to start with illusions and develop that psychic foundation gradually.

During the two-month waiting period, I focused on understanding light and shadow through observation. I spent hours watching how light behaved - how it bent through windows, how shadows shifted throughout the day, how different materials reflected or absorbed it. This wouldn't give me the ability to manipulate light, but it would give me a better foundation for when I finally received the techniques.

I also used this time to practice with my existing magical energy, getting a better feel for how my mana responded to my will. Even without specific illusion techniques, I could work on my magical control. Every bit of practice would help make the actual techniques more efficient when I finally learned them.

The waiting was frustrating, but necessary. In the DC universe, rushing into magic without proper preparation was a recipe for disaster. Two months wasn't really that long, considering the power I'd eventually gain. And in the meantime, every shadow I studied, every light pattern I observed, was another piece of knowledge that would help me use those techniques more effectively when the time came.

I also played hide and seek and other children games with other children, focusing on honing my agility and awareness through rigorous physical practice. I relied on the assassin basics I had learned, refining my stealth and evasion skills with deliberate precision. Additionally, I drew upon Lady Shiva's martial mastery, not to directly improve combat abilities but to deepen my understanding of how stealth could be seamlessly woven into martial arts. By experimenting with her techniques, I explored ways to remain undetected even during high-intensity movements, learning to strike from blind spots and retreat without a trace. These sessions emphasized precision and adaptability over brute force, making every step, breath, and action a calculated part of the art of invisibility.

It has been close to eight months since my arrival in this world, in Gotham. Here in the orphanage, we are somewhat isolated and shielded from the chaos that defines this city. However, I am still far from reaching the level of preparedness necessary to survive, let alone thrive, in Gotham's harsh environment. I have decided that achieving this level of competence will be my first major goal.

To achieve this, there are several sub-requirements I must focus on:

Bulletproof Body- This goal is very difficult to reach using rituals alone. There are very few rituals I can do now that don't require me to venture outside Gotham for exotic ingredients. Once summoning starts working, I should be able to use it for summoning armours or similar equipment.

Supersenses- My empathy sense barely qualifies for this but still requires a lot of training to become truly useful. Currently, I have difficulty completely activating it, lack direction or awareness of whose emotions I might be sensing, and its range is barely two meters. It's pretty useless unless I'm within two meters of another person. This will require a significant amount of focused training.

Hiding/Disguise Ability- I am searching for illusion magic for this very reason. I want to be able to hide from others and avoid detection. Light-based illusions, and potentially invisibility magic, are my short-term goals. These will help me disguise myself and avoid being caught on video cameras, which might cause issues in the future.

Martial Strength- There is little I can do to improve this ability further while in the orphanage. I possess both the knowledge and barely sufficient physical strength (still a seven-year-old body, though enhanced). Continued practice is the best way to refine this further.

Summoning Ability- reactivating summoning function of the grimoire is extremely important heroes and villains here both group up for protection and very few heroes/villains I might be able to recruit would agree to leave with me once I leave this world.

I don't recall enough about the DC universe, especially Young Justice, to confidently identify potential recruits. However, two possibilities stand out. The first is Cheshire, who seems like the kind of person who might consider leaving her family behind, provided they wouldn't face any immediate danger and remained secure. In the original plot she stepped away from the villain life after becoming a mother, she might find such an arrangement appealing. The second is Raven, who, while not part of Young Justice, could be swayed by the promise of protection from Trigon. Once I leave this world, Trigon would no longer be a threat, making this offer a potentially compelling reason for her to join me. Though since she was not mention in original YJ show she might not exist or be born in this world.

I have now started exercising whenever I find the time and can remain relatively hidden from the orphans and matrons in the orphanage. If someone were to observe me closely, they might notice me performing exercises that no seven-year-old—soon to be eight—should be capable of.

My birthday is just two weeks away, and I need to activate the summoning feature of the Grimoire soon. Being alone on my birthday feels unbearable.

I can't help but think about how birthdays used to be with Diana Prince, Wonder Woman in her civilian persona. No matter how busy she was saving the world or handling her work responsibilities, she always made time to celebrate my birthday. She never missed it, not once in the four years I lived with her.

Her warmth and dedication made each celebration special. Even her friends would join in, arriving in their civilian identities to make the day unforgettable. Whether it was Bruce with his gruff yet thoughtful gifts, or Clark bringing his easy-going cheer, they added their own unique touches to the celebrations. Diana's presence, though, was always the most comforting. She had this way of making me feel like the center of the world, even in the middle of her hectic life.

Now, as my birthday approaches, the thought of spending it alone in the orphanage is almost too much to bear. I need to bring someone into my life—even if it's through summoning—to fill the void left by those cherished moments with her.

I try not to dwell too much on my life with her, as it tends to make me feel quite depressed. Instead, I remind myself to stay optimistic and focus on getting stronger.
The light-based illusion magic search in the Grimoire concluded yesterday, and I can now perform minor tricks like changing the color of my nose or fingernails—perfect for a circus act. Jokes aside, I realize I'll need considerable practice to make meaningful use of light illusion magic. Hiding from cameras or achieving invisibility is entirely out of my reach for now. These are dynamic illusions that demand immense mana, advanced magical skill, and, most crucially, substantial mental capacity.

The basic light magic I've acquired requires a precise understanding of the changes to be made and an exceptional ability to calculate and implement them. This is why dynamic illusions are highly energy-inefficient. At best, I might be able to camouflage myself, but even that will take months of dedicated practice. Perhaps another enhancement ritual could help accelerate my progress.
I have decided on my next set of rituals. The first is the regeneration ritual, which requires ingredients I cannot procure here. It will necessitate 7-8 different types of animals capable of some form of regeneration. To obtain them, I might need to visit a pet store in Gotham or seek out an illegal poacher or someone dealing in such exotic wares.

The second ritual is the chi awakening ritual. Chi is essentially the life force or vital energy, and though it's not widely utilized in the DC universe, it should make me stronger and more resilient. I also hypothesize that this was the force I experienced during my body enhancement ritual. This ritual requires the sacrifice of large animals—most likely bovines such as cows or bulls, or possibly large pigs.

I will venture out to explore these options as soon as I am capable of adequately disguising myself, with or without the use of magic.

The Grimoire's summoning feature is partially repaired, with an estimated time of three months until item summoning is fully functional. After consulting the Grimoire, I've determined that avoiding the use of the knowledge-searching feature will slightly expedite the repair process. For now, I've decided to limit its use to acquiring minor skills and knowledge that take only a few hours to a day to learn, such as improving my disguise abilities, sewing techniques, and mastering voice-changing tricks.