The thought was still on Noble's mind many days later after she had finished her classes at the Awakened Academy in the NQSC. Floating behind her desk, she mulled over the possibilities.
A war of willing participants was one thing, but conscription?
'Would the sovereigns really force people to join?'
Sadly, Noble knew the answer.
Even if they didn't formally force people to fight, the pressure to pick a side and support it would be intense.
'The boys are too young to join the fight, especially as mundane.'
If Brock had suddenly become Awakened, though? That would have changed things.
Right now, Rain was the only one old enough to entangle herself in a military force, but she was too busy trying to naturally Awaken.
'Suddenly I wish the war would come and go quickly so my kids won't have to be involved.'
Noble immediately regretted the thought. There was no guarantee that civilians would be spared. The King of Swords could send all his power to wipe out Ravenheart just as Queen Ki Song could send down her might on Bastion.
Noble sincerely hoped that wasn't their goal, but she would be foolish not to consider that it was a possibility.
'Having no war is better. Everyone should just learn to get along.'
The history between the two leaders of humanity was long and shrouded in secrecy. Whatever had gone on between them in the past, it prevented the government from getting the Sovereigns in the same room to talk out a peaceful solution.
Through Fort's correspondence, Noble had been aware of three attempts in recent months to bring about a summit with the two Supremes. Each time, something had prevented the meeting from moving forward.
Who knew how many other clandestine attempts had been made?
Now both Ki Song and Anvil were flatly refusing to come anywhere that wasn't neutral ground, leaving only the Stormsea, the waking world, or a death zone as the only possible locations.
'They have no intention of meeting face to face anywhere but the battlefield.'
Deep down, Noble knew this was true. It was heartbreaking.
"Professor?" Bee Two broke the silence of the empty classroom.
"Yes?" Noble pulled herself from her morbid thoughts.
"You've been staring at the door for seven minutes and forty-one seconds. Protocol demanded I make sure you weren't having a stroke."
"Awakened don't have strokes…" Noble wrinkled her nose. There was that one case where a dangerous Awakened supposedly died in his sleep of a stroke, but Noble suspected Soul Reaper simply hadn't wanted to take credit for the kill. Soul damage was practically impossible to detect once a person was dead.
"Then why are you watching the door? Are you expecting someone?" Bee Two turned to view the entrance as well.
"No, I was just thinking. I don't suppose you have any new calculations on how imminent a certain event is?" Noble chewed her lip.
"Do you mean the impending war of worlds?" Bee Two's metallic voice seemed to echo.
Noble paled. "Shhh! Not so loud. But yes, that…"
The android was silent for a few moments. "You don't want to know."
"That's not an answer!" Noble furrowed her brow.
Bee Two held up a metallic finger.
"You told me not to answer you again until after the Solsitce. You said to distract you when you ask and divert your focus."
Noble's communicator rang at that moment. The professor checked it. Her eyes slid back to the Android.
"This is your distraction, isn't it?"
"What? Are you not proud that your paper and research are gaining the recognition of the annual government awards?" Bee Two's alloy chin tilted.
"You mean the paper you wrote on the research you did with Song of the Fallen?" Noble corrected.
"Precisely." Bee Two nodded. "This is something you have wanted for a long time. You should be proud that your idea garnered so much success."
Noble's fingers tightened around her communicator as the edge of the screen cracked. Yes, she wanted a chance to be a recipient at the prestigious gala. Other than the Clan balls, the party and ceremony were the event of the season. The professor had dreamed of her name being called on stage. But not like this!
She had wanted to be the one to do the research and make the discovery. Instead, it had all been done while she was in a Nightmare.
Now, Noble was supposed to receive an honor for a paper published under her name. It was like copying and turning in someone else's homework!
She wouldn't accept the award.
'Wait. That will raise questions I don't want to answer. I will accept it and put it in Bee Two's alcove.'
Noble set down her communicator.
"I will send my response in a few days."
"Already done!" Bee Two nodded.
"Of course it is…" Noble rubbed her face with her palm.
"The ceremony is a few weeks after the solstice. I will place the event on your calendar, and I can even send you some options for appropriate dress from the evening gala and morning ceremony."
"Great…" Not only did she have to accept the acknowledgment, but she also had to parade in front of people like she was enjoying it.
"Usually, people smile when they are happy. Is this some form of smiling that I need to add to my compendium of knowledge?" Bee Two's eyes dilated as they scanned Noble's face.
"No, please don't add it. And before you ask. Everything is fine. Anyway, I still think there is more hiding inside Memories that we can find—"
"Would you like me to…"
"No!" Noble realized she had nearly sent the android into the opposing wall with her telekinesis. She took a deep breath. "I want to do this on my own. I'll conduct my own research. Then maybe I will have earned the accolades."
It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was the best one she had.
"Protocol updated. I will not pursue the inquiry." Bee Two responded rhythmically.
"Unless I ask." Noble didn't want to get herself into trouble down the road. She had already locked herself out of knowing the latest updates on when the war might start. If she wasn't careful, she could lose all access to her android—or worse, all control.
"Understood. I will not assist with the project unless you ask." Bee Two's words put her mind at ease. There would be no rogue robot actions today at the very least.
"That's good. Now on a different subject. I need to acquire a Soul Shard. Do you know of any way I could do that cheaply, legally, and with minimal risk to myself?" Noble mentally checked all the boxes.
A whirring sound came from the Android.
"The price of Soul Shards on the open market has skyrocketed due to our proximity to the solstice. If you want to try other means, there is reportedly an underground nest of creatures to the north of the NQSC that the government has had difficulty eradicating."
'Yeah, that's not happening.' Underground was a no-go. She wanted to help Blaze with his project, not test the limits of her Flaw.
"If you want the Black Market…"
"I don't," Noble stopped her assistant quickly before she was tempted to listen to the option.
Bee Two released a humanoid sigh. "Then my suggestion would be to ask at the Academy Labs. They have access to research that not even I can access…at least not without breaking rules in my protocol."
Was it Noble's imagination, or did her assistant sound bitter?
"The Labs?"
"You know, the underground facility where studies happen outside the view of mundane people…"
"I know what the labs are!" The professor arched her back.
Did her assistant think she was stupid? Wait, androids didn't have that capability. The woman shook her head.
"The Labs…" Noble muttered. "Now that's an interesting idea."