Noble arrived at the Awakened Academy earlier than intended. It seemed that she was more anxious to return to work than she let on.
Her communicator was already buzzing.
Are you here? There is a VIP Sleeper at the front gate who needs an escort.
Noble rolled her eyes. It was silly to her that some students got such special treatment while others were left to walk in alone with barely the clothes on their backs.
While she understood the reasoning, it still irked her a little bit to know that she would have to postpone her work even longer just because some Legacy wanted their child to be personally pampered by the Academy staff.
With a sigh, Noble responded to the message.
I will be there in threeminutes.
Thankfully, Noble had gotten ready at her house, even though she hadn't made use of a mirror. If the Legacy didn't like her appearance, that was fine with her. The professor was there to teach students, not win a beauty contest.
At the gate, Noble found a tall man in austere armor. He was likely around her age, though his serious expression and cold eyes made him feel much older. A retinue surrounded him as he stood outside a stretch PTV.
Noble frowned. 'He's certainly not the Sleeper.'
Indeed, the man was a Saint.
As Noble neared, she could hear him talking to someone in the crowd.
"Remember all I told you. You are a Legacy. Don't lose sight of your goal."
"I won't." The solemn promise was made without hesitation.
As Noble neared, the Awakened retainers parted, and the professor could see the one who had spoken.
The somber girl had the same ashen hair and tan skin as her father, resembling him enough in both looks and demeanor that Noble wondered if the young woman had gotten any traits from her mother.
"Ah, Master Noble, I presume," the man greeted her.
Noble dipped her head, unwilling to correct him that she was usually called professor on campus. "Greetings, Saint Sorrow."
She had received the names of the auspicious guests on her way across campus.
While Noble had not met the man before, she had passed through his citadel on the way to the Stormsea. It was beautiful in its own way, but viewing its saint, the austere nature of its buildings and people made more sense.
The grim Saint motioned to the woman beside him. "This is my daughter, Tamar."
"It is nice to meet you, Lady Tamar," Noble held out her hand.
The young woman took it with what Noble thought must pass for a smile.
"Master Noble."
"Thank you for coming. When I found that you resided in Ravenheart, I wanted to make sure my daughter met a sympathetic soul before I left." The Saint of Sorrow's expression remained neutral.
'His emotions are so muted. Why would he care about sympathy? Oh…'
Suddenly, the real meaning behind his words hit her. The Saint was looking for his daughter to make connections.
It was why legacies went to the Awakened Academy even though most of them thought their own training was superior. The Saint of Sorrow wanted his daughter to make very specific connections—ones that were aligned with Clan Song, and by extension, his vassal clan as well.
It was a smart move on the part of the father, but Noble couldn't help but feel a little unsettled by the expectation that was put upon her.
"I understand." The professor nodded slowly. "Your daughter will be well looked after at the Academy."
"I would expect nothing less from the auspicious staff here." There was no irony in the man's voice.
Unlike some legacies, he respected the work of Noble and her colleagues. Perhaps he had been a student himself once upon a time.
The Saint of Sorrow turned to his daughter and placed one hand on her shoulder. "Goodbye, Tamar. I will see you in the Dream Realm."
"Goodbye, Father," she answered in the same stilted tone.
However, Noble could feel the familial affection between them. For a moment, she felt sorry for the pair of legacies.
As the PTV pulled away with the Saint inside, Noble turned to Tamar with a furrowed brow.
"I know it's none of my business, but wouldn't you have liked to tell your father that you loved him or at least hugged him goodbye?"
The girl shook her head. "He knows how I feel. There is no need to say it aloud."
"I see—"
Tamar allowed her mouth to turn slightly into another almost smile. "As for the hug, perhaps when I return."
Satisfied with the answer, Noble let the matter go. Who was she to judge their family dynamics? As long as they were both content, that was enough for her.
"Welcome to the Academy, Sleeper Tamar. You can follow me."
Noble turned to the campus, now faced with a dilemma.
She hadn't agreed to what the Saint had asked of her. The professor still had to make a choice about how to proceed with her VIP.
The easiest thing would be to ignore the request altogether. She could politely show Tamar around the campus and then leave the girl to her own devices.
However, that didn't sit well with Noble.
She could alternatively introduce her to every legacy from the Song Domain registered at the Academy. That would take time and energy, but it could be done.
That didn't seem fair either. Noble had promised herself that she would be neutral in the upcoming conflict, and helping one clan form bonds over the others, even if it was the place where her own family lived, seemed very hypocritical.
So what could the professor do that would allow herself to sleep at night with a clear conscience?
"This is the library. Anything you want to know, the Library will have a book on it. Oh, if you want to find a physical book faster than the databases, ask Ren. She knows where everything is."
Noble pointed to the large building with the reinforced sliding doors.
"My class is in the far building. I teach Memory Utilization if that interests you."
Tamar nodded. "It does."
'Not the most chatty student I've ever had,' Noble smiled politely.
"Well, I will have a lesson this afternoon. You are welcome to join once you have settled in. What room is yours?"
Noble waited as Tamar fished out a communicator from her jacket.
"Here."
"Ah, that's not far from here. I'll get you there directly." Noble would let the girl go for now and check up on her later. That would give her a little more time to think.
But Tamar cleared her throat. "Excuse me, Master Noble. I think my father wanted you to make some introductions."
"Ah, yes." Noble realized that she would not be able to postpone after all.
The professor looked around, coming to a decision.
She would treat the young woman like any other Sleeper, which would mean helping the girl find at least one friend before they parted.
Scanning the crowd, Noble combed through the myriad of students trudging through the cold and snow. She discarded the emotional signatures of those who seemed too haughty and also too happy.
Neither of those personalities was likely to get along with the even-tempered young woman before her.
So who would? Noble closed her eyes for a moment before finding someone in need of a friend just as much as Tamar.
'Got you!'