A young woman with red hair stood in between buildings, clutching a bag. Unlike Tamar, she had no escort with her and looked utterly lost.
Ideally, all students would have someone greet them when they came to the Awakened Academy, but as arrivals were sometimes erratic and often unscheduled, some poor souls only had the guard at the gate point them in the right direction to their dorm.
Noble walked over with a sympathetic smile. Tamar followed her at a measured, stately pace. The girl watched them come near with wide eyes, clearly startled at having been noticed.
"Are you looking for the dormitories?" The professor felt the girl's immediate relief.
"Yes, ma'am." She ducked her head and passed over a synthetic scrap of paper. "I am trying to go here, but I seem to have gotten turned around."
Glancing at the page, Noble's smile grew. "Happens to me all the time. I will be happy to help you. I'm Professor Noble. And this..."
Stepping aside, Noble motioned to the somber girl behind her.
"...Is Tamar of Sorrow."
The young woman seemed suitably impressed by the introductions. Her head ducked a second time.
"I'm Fleur."
"Of which Clan?" Tamar's question caused the redhead to flinch.
"No clan." Fleur clutched her bag. "Unless you count when I played Smile of Heaven in our school play."
"I don't," Tamar responded dryly.
"If you ladies will follow me, I'll take you to the women's dormitories." The professor noted how Tamar gravitated to her right side while Fleur passively moved to the left.
'Well, this is getting off to a great start...' Noble resisted the urge to slap her own forehead.
She coughed, "So, Fleur, tell me about yourself."
"Like what? My aspect?" The girl shrugged. "There isn't much to tell. I make people less fatigued."
"Hm," Tamar's grunt was soft but audible.
Fleur leaned around Noble, "I know it isn't a combat Aspect, but it did help me finish my Nightmare. What's yours?"
"I can walk on air," Tamar answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The redhead's eyes widened. "You mean you can fly? That's amazing!"
Happy to finally have something in common with the legacy, Noble opened her mouth to comment when she noticed Tamar stiffen.
"Flying is a strong word." The stoic girl quickened her pace slightly. "I can only take a limited number of steps."
"How many?" Fleur hugged her bag, imagining what walking on air must be like. Tamar's answer made her stumble.
"One."
The redhead stifled a laugh. "You're kidding! No, really, how many can you do?"
"I answered. One." Tamar's icy stare wiped the mirth from Fleur's face.
"Oh! I mean, one step is still one more than I have!" The redhead nodded.
"Every Aspect has its perks." The professor added. "Around Clan Sorrow's citadel are countless ravines. With an Awakened body, a jump and a single step may be all it takes to cross most of them."
Noble had lived in the cliffside of one such ravine for many years.
That one would have taken at least two monumental leaps to cross, but the professor wasn't about to say that just now.
"If you want a course to explore your capabilities further, I recommend Instructor Nezha. He had a class on Aspect Utilization that is second to none." Noble motioned in the direction of the class in question.
"Thank you. I will manage on my own," Tamar gave a curt nod.
Clearly, she had taken their positivity and advice for mocking. While Noble had meant what she said, her tone was too comforting for the legacy to receive as sincere.
"Suit yourself."
Noble gave up trying to force conversation until after they reached the dorm. When she dropped Fleur off at her room, Noble invited the redhead to her seminar happening later that day.
The girl nodded shyly. "Thank you. I will be there."
The professor motioned to the building around them.
"This is a women-only dormitory. There are protections to ward off unwanted guests, but should you see a male student or faculty member here, please alert me or another person on the staff. immediately. We believe all of our students should be safe."
"I understand." Fleur chewed her lip.
"If you have no other questions…" Noble prepared to bid the young lady goodbye.
"You've been very kind, professor. I don't suppose you know how quickly I will hear back from the Awakened Affairs Office about my application to awaken early? There isn't much time until the Solstice."
The professor understood the implied request.
"I will check on the progress of your application. In the meantime, if you want help making a schedule to make the most of your time here, I will be happy to assist you." Noble sent the girl a small amount of comfort.
Fleur's tense shoulders relaxed. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you again."
As the door to the room closed, Tamar tilted her head at the professor, her lips forming into a thin line.
Noble strode down the hall. "Something on your mind, Sleeper Tamar?"
The girl fell into step beside the older woman. "When my father said you would make introductions, I do not think Fleur is who he meant."
Noble stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look the legacy in the eye.
"I will be frank with you, Lady Tamar. I have been away from the Academy for a while and need to get back to my work. I don't have time to track down every scion in the school for you to become acquainted with them. But even if that were not the case, the connections you make naturally on your own would be much stronger than any I could contrive for you." The Professor's eyes began to swirl. "As for Sleeper Fleur, you would do well to be careful how you view others."
Seeing the genuine surprise and confusion on Tamar's face, Noble's severe expression softened. The girl had grown up with a legacy mindset. Noble sighed.
"Do you know the ancient story of the lion and the mouse?"
Of course, every self-respecting legacy had an extensive education, so Tamar's nod was the expected response.
"A lion sets a mouse free, and then the mouse comes back to help him in his time of need." Tamar recited
Noble nodded. "I know you were trained to form a pack of lions, and while that is well and good, don't look down on us mice. We have value too."
Having spent most of her time around government officials, Noble had never been tempted by the desire to be a legacy. Even now, when she had that power in her grasp, she resisted the opportunity more than ever.
"I understand." Tamar didn't, but Noble did not feel like pounding the knowledge in her head would do any good.
The legacy would learn or she wouldn't. The choice was hers to make.
They reached Tamar's door, and Noble opened it for her. "I know you heard what I said about men in the dormitory."
"I did," the girl nodded.
"And if you need help with your schedule, I will be happy to help you." The professor offered.
"I appreciate the kindness." Tamar dipped her head as she entered the room.
Placing her hand on the doorknob, Noble smiled. "Be well, Tamar. I will check on you when I am able."
The girl placed her pack on the bed. "No need, ma'am. I am capable of taking care of myself."
Noble noted how well the room had been furnished. Indeed, it was nicer than the professor's own room that she kept in the waking world.
"I am sure you can, Lady Tamar. Still, I will see how you are doing."
Tamar's polite upbringing ultimately prevailed. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
After a goodbye, Noble shut the door.
Her first day back at work was already shaping up to be an interesting one.