When Noble peeked out the window the next morning, there were no people with pitchforks and swords ready to march toward Godgrave to attack the Sword Domain.
Heading out of her home, the professor had almost expected to see a banner with a call to arms hanging from the Jade Palace. She was relieved to see that it looked just as it always did, cold and distant.
Fort had informed them over breakfast that a formal declaration would not be given for at least a week or two.
The boys had many questions, most of which had no good answer. Why all of this was happening was as much a mystery to the parents as it was to their children.
Fort did have an answer for why things would take some time to get started.
"There has to be some semblance of negotiations while people warm to the idea of a coming conflict." He had explained while sipping on his morning coffee.
Sadly, now that Noble was outside, she could already feel the "warmth" of those in the marketplace as she headed to the Dreamer Academy.
The streets were full of angry people.
"Valor sure has some nerve! I get that they are angry about Lady Changing Star, but they can't seriously think that someone from the Song Domain has anything to do with it!"
"Interrogation? My foot! They want someone to blame as fast as possible. Surely the Queen won't stand for this!"
While the citizens of Ravenheart should have been heading to work, most were braving the cold to complain and gossip about the shocking news instead.
Noble noticed a colored synthetic paper in many of the people's hands. It seemed to be the source of many of the comments being hurled at the absent leaders of Valor.
Spotting the butcher outside his shop, Noble detoured from her path.
"How goes it, Diego?"
The storekeeper glanced up from the page in his hand with a perturbed expression. "Are you the only one in Ravenheart who doesn't know?"
"Know what?" Noble watched as the butcher shook his hand.
"These papers were tucked under the door of every shop in the market. It was bad enough to get the news about the attack last night. But this…" Diego passed over the colorful page, giving Noble the first look at what was creating the outrage.
"Hm…"
The leaflet's message was written in bold, clear lettering.
Don't let Valor take our heroes or our princesses!
It was signed at the bottom with 'concerned citizens.'
"What do they mean by this?" Noble furrowed her brow. Had Valor abducted someone?
"Lady Nephis was attacked yesterday by a long-range arrow, and now Valor is demanding to interrogate the archers of Song. It's ridiculous!" Diego balled his fists.
"That's what they mean by the heroes and princesses…" Noble pursed her lips. "Who in particular are they targeting?"
"Dar and Silent Stalker." The butcher's answer caught Noble off guard.
"Silent Stalker? I had no idea that she was a good shot."
"Well, she is! She's one of the best in the world, one of the prides and joys of Song in the best way." Diego answered, puffing out his chest. "But Valor accusing her of such an atrocious act makes my blood boil!"
Noble wasn't sure about Silent Stalker's aim. Whether she could have pulled off that impossible distance or not was irrelevant.
Valor's princess had been attacked, and they were going to go after a princess of Song in return. They couldn't have made a more polarizing action if they tried.
And these flyers were no accident either. Looking around, Noble knew that the sheer number of pages was too much for any single printing press in the Dream Realm to have made in such a short time.
No concerned citizens would have been able to rally and create something so quickly anyway. There was only one conclusion that Noble could make.
The Queen had commissioned the prints to be made and carted them through the Dreamgate overnight. That meant the propaganda machine was up and running on both sides.
The lines were drawn, and all around her, Noble could already see the people of Ravenheart picking which side of the conflict they would land on. Soon enough, the ground on both sides would be painted with blood. That was a sobering thought.
'It's a good thing I can fly...' Noble knew it would be hard to remain neutral.
"Surely the government has something to say about Valor's demand," the professor hoped to calm the man's indignation.
"Oh, they had better!" Diego shook his head. "They need to put Valor in their place and find the real culprit, and fast."
Noble knew from the morning communique that was delivered to her husband that the government had already released a statement condemning the attack and asking the public for patience as the matter was investigated. However, that hadn't been distributed through town on colorful pages, and Noble doubted it would be.
Even if everyone saw the message asking for sanity to prevail, most people would ignore it. People enjoyed gossip too much to let such a sensational event go without being experienced to the fullest.
Unfortunately, that played right into the Sovereigns' plans.
"I hope we will get good news on that front soon," Noble wasn't exactly sure what she hoped that good news was. Helie being caught was not ideal, and neither was any other solution that she could conjure up that might avoid war.
Handing back the page, Noble bid Diego goodbye. She wanted nothing more than to block out the angry conversations around her as she headed to the Academy, but her transcendent hearing had other ideas.
"As if we would hand over one of our princesses to be manhandled by those so-called knights!"
"They should examine their own archers first. I would bet my left kidney that it was an inside job."
"I heard five of Ki Song's daughters plan to enter their First Nightmare today. They are doing it in protest against Valor's treatment of their sister."
"I heard it was nine daughters."
"How many daughters does our Queen have again?"
"I am not sure, but it's more than the measly two that Valor has. Maybe that's why they want to claim one of ours."
"Well, they cannot have her! They cannot have any of them!"
Noble shook her head.
When they went to war, Ki Song was sure to send her strongest soldiers, which included her own daughters. The very person the citizens vehemently wanted to protect would be willingly putting herself in harm's way very soon.
Noble thought about her own daughter. She was an excellent fighter, but Noble would never ask her child to fight her battles.
And speaking of Rain, why hadn't Sunny reached out yet? Was he hiding from her? Unless something dire had occurred, surely he could have spared a moment to speak with her.
'I will just have to be patient.'
"Perhaps I will follow the princesses into my First Nightmare as well. Then when I awaken, I can storm Bastion and give that horrid king a piece of my mind, and, if needed, my blade!"
Those around him nodded.
'Idealistic fools…' the professor sighed.
The people meant well, but what could they do against the King of Swords if he wanted to take someone away?
Nothing.
Turning away from the main road, Noble ignored their idle chatter and headed to the Dreamer Academy.
If Fort was right, it was going to be a very long couple of weeks, and the professor needed to be prepared.
She had plans to make.