Chapter Seventy-Nine: That Man Symbolizes Freedom (Part One)

The next day, the witcher apprentice, for once, did not rise for his morning run. Yesterday had been too thrilling, too joyous; his spirit had grown, and he needed more sleep to recover. Thus, he remained unaware that, by this hour, the people of Vizima were already in an uproar over Batman.

Many had been out and about in the bustling trade quarter last night, and the whole episode was so sensational that those who witnessed the street chase were hardly going to keep silent.

“Clad in skin-tight leather both shameful and audacious, the black-clad man running toward freedom with the Royal Guards of Temeria, symbols of honor, and the young, beautiful Princess Yada in hot pursuit behind him.”

Though those in the know understood this was a comedy of errors, it did nothing to stop the public’s imagination from running wild. Stories beginning with “rumor has it,” “I’ve heard,” and “let me tell you in secret” began to multiply.

…

At the headquarters of the Flaming Rose Knights, Siegfried knocked and entered the inner chamber, bowing to his commander—Jacques of Aldersberg. “Commander!”

“Siegfried, there’s something I need you to handle. It’s an order from Princess Yada herself.” Jacques wasted no time on pleasantries.

The knight’s face twisted into a wry smile. “Could it be about… that man of freedom?”

Jacques nodded. “That’s right. Go find this Batman. Lead a squad to investigate the taverns, ask your friends as well, but remember—Princess Yada wants him alive and unharmed.”

Siegfried rubbed his nose, an uncharacteristically informal gesture in front of his superior. “With respect, Commander, I’ve already heard so many ludicrous rumors before I even arrived. If you want me to track down this so-called Batman, I’d like some concrete intelligence. For instance, what is his true relationship with Her Highness?”

Thinking back on the incident, Jacques’ usually stern expression betrayed a rare chuckle as he handed Siegfried a note. “I was about to show you this. It’s last night’s report. Vincent has a copy as well. I’ve questioned the knights involved in the pursuit and the witnesses. This is the truth as best we know it.”

Siegfried unfolded the note, which read in plain, concise terms:

“Last night in the trade quarter, two men in black intervened when a drunk harassed a woman, resulting in a brawl involving six people. The victorious man in black left, crossing paths with Princess Yada as she returned from a hunt. Finding him suspicious, the princess ordered his capture to determine if he was dangerous. The man in black called himself Batman, fled through the quarter, refused to surrender, and finally fell from the city wall, vanishing into the wilderness outside.”

Looking up, Siegfried stared blankly at Jacques. Compared to the wild rumors circulating among the public, this account made the entire episode seem absurd.

But if the commander vouched for it, this note was as good as fact. Jacques would not cover for the princess, which meant that this time, the rumors truly were nothing but slander against her.

After a moment, Siegfried pointed to the last part. “He fell from the city wall and didn’t die?”

Jacques of Aldersberg, Grand Master of the Knights of the Flaming Rose, shook his head meaningfully. “No. According to the knights on the scene, Batman could fly. But from their accounts, it was more gliding or floating—he descended gently into the woods beyond the city.”

“A mage?”

“Some knights carried anti-magic gear. Though it’s possible it didn’t work at that distance, there’s another possibility.”

“A monster,” Siegfried said calmly, understanding.

The commander leaned back, eyes closed in contemplation. “Exactly. In the dark, it’s hard to say if what they saw was a cloak or wings. In any case, try to find him. If he’s a monster, destroy him. If he’s human… fulfill Princess Yada’s request.”

Siegfried bowed deeply. “As you command.”

The reaction of the Flaming Rose Knights was just one among many factions in Vizima. Many other groups, for reasons of their own, began to take an interest in Batman.

As for the common folk, unaware of the official reports and oblivious to the lofty moniker “Batman,” they named him by his deeds. Since he had escaped the clutches of Yada, they called him “the Man of Freedom.” Some children, for reasons unknown, preferred “the Black Banana.”

…

Fate’s workings are ever strange. Siegfried wore a pained expression, finding himself saddled with a troublesome task, for Batman could be an unknown monster, a mage, or some other being with special powers.

No matter which, the search would be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. He never expected that he would find his quarry immediately.

Suspecting a connection to the supernatural, Siegfried first visited the home of the witcher apprentice. It was Batman himself who opened the door to let him in.

“What’s this? You actually have time to come visit me today?” Victor, still drowsy from sleep, fetched milk from the kitchen for himself and offered Siegfried a beer.

“At this hour, you’re usually already up. Why are you and Angouleme sleeping in so late? Don’t tell me you two went out on some escapade last night?” Siegfried had visited before; he sat down and took a swig of beer.

“No such thing, don’t overthink it. Sometimes you just want to sleep in. Now, tell me what brings you here.”

“Alright! Since you just woke up, you probably don’t know about the trouble in the trade quarter last night…”

Yawning, Victor sipped his milk as Siegfried recounted, from an outsider’s perspective, the events of the previous night—his own misadventures—and the outrageous rumors now spreading far from the truth. Throughout, Victor worked hard to keep his expression unchanged.

When the tale was done, Victor was at a loss. “So, according to rumor, he was once a special slave trained by Princess Yada, who finally couldn’t stand it anymore and escaped—hence ‘the Man of Freedom.’ In reality, it was just a cross-dresser who appeared out of nowhere.

But as long as someone captures this ‘Batman’ alive and intact, they’ll receive a generous reward from the princess. Now, the knights are starting to suspect he’s some kind of flying monster.”

“You understand perfectly. That’s the situation. All the major factions—the City Guard’s Vincent, the embarrassed Royal Guard’s Roderick, the King’s Hand Roche, and our Flaming Rose Knights—are searching for this Batman who just appeared out of thin air,” Siegfried replied, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

Victor scratched his nose. “Isn’t this a bit much? From your description, he’s just a guy in a weird outfit.”

The knight rapped the table. “His escape was a slap in the face for the Royal Guard. The most prestigious knights in Temeria couldn’t catch a naked man running wild in the streets—now they’re the butt of every courtier’s joke.

‘With power and dominion, do not contend with the king.’ Since Princess Yada wants this man, we’ll find him.”

Victor had no mind to mock or pity the knights who had become laughingstocks. Instead, he was considering whether he had left any other clues last night that could be traced back to him.

If he had, he would soon become a laughingstock himself. Whether or not it would lead to the gallows, at the very least, history would remember him with a flourish.

He very much hoped “the Black Banana” would not become the footnote to his own life.