Cassandra was an illegitimate Indian fakir who Bruce Wayne learned the art of enduring pain from.
History[]
Batman: Gotham Knight[]
Growing up in a rural Indian village near New Delhi, Cassandra learned the knowledge of enlightenment through deception, for no girls were allowed to learn such religious sect. She came before a group of fakirs to be trained under them in such art while masquerading as a boy, and despite being aware of her true gender, they agreed to show her the path so that she could fail as it became a game for them. However, the girl succeeded each challenge after many years that the fakirs became tired and cast her out, saying she had tricked them.
Years later, Cassandra was assigned by Arman to teach a young Bruce Wayne to minimize his pain to the point where he can control it, spending several days helping the industrial heir demonstrate sleeping on a bed of needles or standing on hot coals without reacting. One night, several young men appeared to harass Cassandra, who took their blows without seeming to feel them. Bruce stepped in to defend her, not only demonstrating his ability to withstand their attacks, but defeating them all with his martial arts skills. Cassandra then told him to leave, saying that he had learned what he came to learn. She then commented on how Bruce's pain was beyond her, or possibly even his, ability to handle, but how it also appeared to be leading him down a path he desired.