As soon as she arrived at the Academy, Noble checked to see who had seminars that morning.
Her heart leapt when she saw a certain teacher had a class scheduled for just before lunch.
'I can't feel him on campus yet, but he is bound to be here soon.'
If the Awakened from the Sword Domain were unable to make it back to the waking world, then that would be a significant problem.
Just then, Noble spotted someone wearing black with dark brown hair plaited in two braids. Noble sped up, trying to catch her before she slipped into a building.
"Teacher Zie! Wait!"
"Yes, Madam Provost?" The Awakened Instructor stopped mid-stride. The unhurried look on her calm, practical face suddenly made Noble feel silly for rushing over like it was an emergency.
The Provost coughed. "Uh, you live in Bastion, right?"
Zie tilted her head. "Yeah, that's my citadel. But if you're worried about my neutrality, you have my pledge. I'm not one to pick sides anyways."
"What? No! That's not it at all. I have only heard nice things about your classes. It's not everyone who can conduct a class on Aspect Abilities and How to Apply Them. Keep up the good work." Noble nodded. "Also, I heard you were recently able to use your mirroring Aspect to help a student get a better handle on his abilities. That is most impressive."
"Thank you, ma'am. Is that why you wanted to see me? I can always make space in my class if you know of a student in need of help." Zie glanced at the door.
It was almost the top of the hour, and Noble remembered seeing her on the schedule for a seminar that morning.
"No, though if I do hear of someone, you will be the first person I call, I assure you. It's nothing like that. I just had a quick question. I wanted to know if you've been to Bastion since the..." Noble didn't finish her sentence as she felt a set of emotions enter the NQSC. "Never mind. My question has been answered. Have a wonderful day!"
"Okay…you too!" Teacher Zie watched as the head of the school flew away at breakneck speed. "Is her Flaw not being able to finish a conversation or something?"
If Noble had been paying enough attention to hear the woman, she would have laughed. It certainly looked that way, sometimes, especially to newer staff who did not interact with her directly too often.
But Noble's mind was on a completely different thought.
As she neared the Academy's gate, Noble found the man she had come to see. When he spotted the provost, his busy eyebrows shot upwards and a delighted smile bloomed on his face.
"Madam Provost!"
Before he could finish his greeting, two arms wrapped around his neck as Noble pulled him into a hug.
"You're here!"
Startled by the collision, Julius then chuckled and patted her on the back.
"Ah, my girl, usually I am the one who shows so much affection. To what do I owe this effusive display?"
The Provost could feel the eyes of those around them watching her, but she didn't care. "I was worried about you. I had half a mind to fly to Bastion this morning, but I came looking for you here first."
Noble watched the mirth drain from Julius's face as she released him.
"Ah, you've heard the news then?"
The Provost nodded. "Fort got it this morning. Are you and mom alright?"
Looping his stepdaughter's hand around his arm, Julius led Noble away from the gate.
"Not to worry, my girl. Your mother was quite safe when I left, and everything was running as it always does. Even the Dream Gate appeared on schedule. As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed."
"But Mordret…" Noble paused, realizing she was much too loud.
"Is attacking what I am led to believe is a 'real version' of our city. I'm not exactly certain on that point. The official message from Clan Valor was vague. What I do know is that they encouraged everyone not to worry and to have faith in Lady Morgan." Julius nodded.
"And do you? Have faith, I mean?" Noble was genuinely curious.
"I think Lady Morgan would rather die than allow Bastion to be breached. Just because she never attended the Academy does not mean I have not followed her career. The Princess is not an easy one to kill." The teacher's smile returned to his face.
Noble shook her head. "You haven't seen Mordret in action, though. He might be impossible to kill."
If Mordret could possess so many and not bat an eye when losing them, then he could send his vessels against the real Bastion and never use his real body until it was safe to do so.
'If that even is his real body…'
Perhaps that was just the body that Mordret liked best. Noble shivered.
"I guess we will find out if that's the case very soon, won't we?" Julius continued to lead Noble through the commons and past the bubbling fountain.
"How are you so calm?" Noble could not fathom how he wasn't a ball of nerves, knowing that his wife, home, and citadel were under a serious threat.
"What good does worrying do when I cannot control it?" Julius looked at her meaningfully. "I will eat up my remaining time worrying about how much time I have left. I will focus on what I can control. And if the day comes that I have to fight against that madman, I will know I lived today to the best of my ability."
Noble could understand his answer, and she respected him for it. To some extent, she had the same attitude toward the Dream Realm consuming Earth.
"But what if there was something you could do to prepare yourself in case the worst happened?"
Julius furrowed his brow as he thought. "Of course I would do it. A thimble of prevention is worth a bushel of cure, after all."
"Good." Noble pulled her arm away from her mentor and dug in her trouser pockets for a small packet of synthetic paper. "Here."
"What's this?" The teacher took the packet, which was lovingly tied up with twine.
"A bit of prevention. Maybe not a thimble's worth, but forewarned is forearmed. Mom can explain how I know some of it, but on the rest you will just have to trust that it's all true." Noble knew the words she had written would garner a lot of questions, but it was worth it if it would help two of the people she loved most.
"You know how much I enjoy a good informational report." Julius's eyes seemed to sparkle with anticipation as he cradled the gift. "Thank you, dear girl."
They had come to the entrance of the building where they would have to part ways.
"Give Mom my love." Noble hugged the man a second time.
"Give Fort and the children mine and your mother's." He responded with a gentle squeeze. As he turned to leave, he held up the packet of pages with a smile. "You can be sure I will memorize every word."
"May you never need them." Noble wished her mentor well.
She watched as he disappeared into the building, her heart full of melancholy. In the warm late spring sun, she stood there for a long time.
While she didn't regret giving him what she knew about both Bastion and Mordret, Noble wished there was more that she could do. She would have to choose to live her life as Julius had suggested.
With a sigh, she turned to her office.
'May you never need that information,' Noble repeated silently, 'and may the conflict be over quickly so I can stop worrying…'
She got half her wish…