'Please stay safe.' Noble's wish activated her Kingdom Crafter attribute. With that, she had done all that she could do.
'You too.' Aether dipped his head. 'When this is all over—the war, I mean—we need to have a reunion. You, Saint Roan, Saint Helie, and I need to have a meal together and properly reminisce.'
'I would like that.' Noble hoped that day would come quickly…. And peacefully. She rubbed the back of her neck. 'I really should go. The Academy needs me.'
'I should help Saint Bloodwave search for more survivors.'
Noble wanted to argue that she had just saved him and he shouldn't go out again, but she would be doing the same thing in his place.
'Don't you think that someone should stay here at least until Naeve returns?'
Aether glanced at the people around him and sighed. 'I suppose you are right. Hopefully, Saint Naeve won't be long, then. Every moment matters.'
On the other side of the mystical gateway, Noble noticed many people moving to and fro in the stronghold. Some glanced their way, but none ventured to exit. By the look of things, the unexpected visitors had caused quite a stir.
Noble knew she needed to leave before Helie returned. Now that Aether had confirmed her identity, he might unintentionally help Helie come to the same conclusion he had about Noble's alter ego. Or worse, Noble might give a clue herself.
One reveal was enough for the day.
"Be well, Saint Aether," Noble dismissed the Memory and spoke aloud. "Good luck."
"To you also, Master Noble. Give my regards to the Academy." Aether ended with a far too formal bow, but no one around them seemed to notice, or at the very least, they didn't mind.
Leaving behind her companion, Noble sought out Master Rhys. Most of the people guarding the House of Night had relaxed or decided to engage the newcomers in conversation. Rhys, on the other hand, had sheathed his sword but was still very alert.
Noble approached him slowly with her hands in a neutral position. The last thing she wanted was to cause him stress. Things were already stressful enough as it was.
Noble coughed lightly, and Rhys abandoned his swivel-headed surveillance to regard her.
She smiled gently.
"Hello, Master Rhys. As you may have heard, I am not a member of the House of Night. I got caught up in this, and although I appreciate the shelter you have provided for me in my time of need, I would like to be on my way."
"You don't want to speak to Lord Anvil?" Rhys raised an eyebrow at her.
'Surely he isn't serious!'
Noble could usually tell by emotions how people meant their words, but just now the man seemed curious, not jovial.
The provost shook her head. "I am sure Lord Anvil has better things to do. I will take up none of his time and no more of yours. If you will let me out, that is."
"Ah," Rhys motioned to the Awakened at the gate, who gave the all-clear. "Please open the gate for Master Noble."
A moment later, Noble slipped through the gate and out into the formerly pristine street of one of the wealthiest areas in the NQSC. Between the two groups of refugees, both directions of the street were torn up in a way that only a powerful Awakened or Nightmare Creature could manage.
'I'm glad I'm not a construction worker. That will be a pain to repair. The government will have their work cut out for them if they try to make it look how it did.'
The government…did they know what was going on with the House of Night? Sure, they had seen the destruction, but Noble doubted that they knew the cause.
After making certain the area was clear of Mordret, Noble took to the air and pulled out her communicator.
She sent the chancellor a quick message.
Just thought you might want to know the House of Night was infiltrated by Mordret, and now he seems to be trying to kill everyone who might not side with him. He is possessing 13 or more Saints that he has weaponized. Yeah, that's about it. Oh, and I still haven't gotten that recipe from Mom. I'll get that to you soon, sorry!
'Surely Gui won't be too mad. About the recipe, I mean…'
Noble tucked her device away and, rather than braving the thick smoke above the city, she flew closer to the dome than she ever had before to navigate through the haze and collect her thoughts. Up there, the emotions of the citizens below faded away.
She wasn't looking forward to explaining the situation to those at the Academy.
The House of Night had been forced from their neutrality. How long would the government hold out now that they were gone?
If only there were a stronger power, one who could overcome both the so-called King and Queen and unite humanity in peace.
Ah, that did sound nice.
It's only too bad there isn't another Sovereign, one who actually wants everyone to get along…
Noble nodded slowly and then frowned.
'Isn't that what Sunny said that Nephis is trying to do? Unite humanity?'
An uneasy feeling came over her as she wondered where the initial idea had even come from. Her mind had been drifting in quite a different direction.
No one was around to influence her; the closest person was far below her, and even if she could see them, they would be a speck.
Yet there was a feeling beyond her own…
Noble's gaze shifted to the world only she could see.
Her eyes opened wide.
A strange anomaly existed in the absence of the tides of emotion. It hung like a subtle mist among the smoke, weakly drifting like a dandelion on a breeze.
Noble looked down and noticed some of it sticking to her like pollen.
"Shoo!"
Child of Promise punctuated her reaction with a pulse of emotion. It took tangible form, clearing both the smoke and the eerie presence it contained.
She had seen the shapeless emotion once before—mingling with the emotions of the protestors outside of the Academy.
'A new kind of Nightmare Creature, or are people's negative emotions breaking free and collecting like pollution?'
Noble knew that either was less than ideal, but at least the second option wasn't inherently malicious.
Feeling around for the emotions which she had dismissed, Noble no longer sensed the unwelcome presence.
'I am going to have to keep an eye on that…'
Of course she was, simply because she didn't think anyone else could.
At least whatever it was had seemed weak. Noble had had no trouble combating it either time she had recognized its influence. And now that she had paid attention, Child of Promise was pretty certain that she would be able to find it quicker if she ran into it again.
That was something, wasn't it?
But it wasn't enough.
Noble felt the heaviness of the day weighing down on her.
The world felt like it was falling apart because it was. It was sobering to see things changing again so quickly.
Lowering herself as she came to the Academy, Noble sighed and shook her head.
'Just once… I would really like some good news for a change…'