One week later.
Roland Cathedral.
"Francis, are you all right?" Wally asked.
"I feel pretty good." Francis looked like a completely different person now. She had dyed her blond hair white and traded her old clothes for a tank top and cape, cutting a striking, heroic figure.
"Really? But I can tell something's weighing on you," Wally said worriedly.
"How do you know?"
"We grew up together. I even had a crush on you—you can't hide something like that from me. I just know."
"All right. Honestly, I'm still a little torn." Francis sighed. "I called my mom. She still thinks I'm some kind of terrifying demon who should've died with my dad and brothers. We've completely cut ties now."
"Well..." Wally wasn't surprised. Francis's mother had already made her feelings clear that day, so their estrangement had been inevitable. But he still didn't know how to comfort her.
"It's all right. Father Roland talked me through it, and I'm feeling much better now. It won't be long before I put it behind me," Francis said.
"That's good—but what did he say to you?" Wally asked curiously.
"Uh..." Francis thought for a moment. "Nothing particularly special. He just showed me a path—the path of the strong."
"Huh?" Wally froze. That wasn't quite what he had expected. What did she mean by the path of the strong?
"Since you're here, let me show you what I've accomplished lately." Francis's gaze sharpened. "Roland Cathedral has a ring for combat training. Let's go."
"Are we going to fight?" Wally was even more confused, but Francis was already dragging him toward the ring.
In the ring, Cassandra was fighting Nightwing, Tim, and Damian three against one, keeping all three firmly on the defensive.
"She's amazing!" Wally couldn't help marveling. None of the four in