"When I was a child, I loved coming to this area. Under that oak tree, I took the first swing of my life; on that path behind us, I learned how to ride a bicycle."
In the northeastern outskirts of Gotham, not far from Wayne Manor, lay a stretch of rolling hills, neither too large nor too small. The slopes were carpeted in grass, while farther away, strange-looking trees of every kind grew along the road leading toward Gotham City.
Compared to the chaos in the city, this deserted place was much more peaceful now. At least the mushrooms here were normal and would not turn people into zombies or lunatics.
The breeze carried the faint scent of grass, and if one paid close attention, perhaps a hint of berries as well. Yet even in daylight, the air here still held a faint chill.
At that moment, a figure in a brown Cloak hid within the shadow of a dense canopy, muttering to himself.
Perhaps it was not as simple as talking to himself, because after finishing that sentence, he switched to a shrill, ridiculous voice and began chatting with himself.
"Aha! What a fine start. Returning to Gotham always makes me happy. Even if I'm only watching the mushroom clouds rise over the city from afar, I can practically hear the people calling for me in their hearts. Oh, right, I always thought rich kids learned new skills in Hawaii. You really are as different as ever, hee hee hee."
The pair of pointed ears atop the figure's head twitched. He raised a hand over his mouth and stifled his laughter.
Only after a long while did he calm down and continue. "I once asked my father why such a vast area around the manor was left empty. He