Noble glanced at her three charges.
'Yuma, Mei, and Lumi…' she reviewed the names and the girls. They held her gaze evenly, with different emotions held in the depths of their eyes.
Yuma bore the quiet confidence of one who is used to the burden of responsibility. She was, as Noble had once heard it said, "born old."
Mei was wary. Why wouldn't she be? She had just survived her First Nightmare, and her body had undergone a fundamental change. It made sense that her mind would still be grappling with the differences. That was not to mention the change in scenery. All of the princesses spent their early lives either in the Song Manor or in the Jade Palace, so the outside world would be new and strange.
Lumi's expression was full of wonder. She had not lost the childlike pudge to her cheeks, and her smaller frame made her look younger than she was. Her excitement overshadowed her fear, and somehow she had managed to maintain some of her innocence despite having just survived a Nightmare.
While the princesses didn't look much alike, Noble could feel the connections between them. They were sisters in the truest sense.
Ki Song might have been the one to adopt them, but they had chosen each other to care for and, if rumors were to be believed, had chosen to honor Silent Stalker by entering a Nightmare at the same time.
Noble had a soft spot for chosen family. She had chosen not one but two children to love and adopt as her own, and she never once regretted it.
So feeling the love these three girls had for one another melted any of the iciness left in her heart. Her smile became more genuine.
"Welcome, once again, Lady Lumi, Lady Mei, and Lady Yuma."
The smallest of the princesses wrinkled her nose. "Could you call me just Lumi?"
The other two girls exchanged glances. Noble could feel their uncertainty. The professor nodded. "I can call you Sleeper Lumi or Dreamer Lumi if you prefer. That is how we refer to most students at the Academy."
"Dreamer Lumi, then!" The girls smiled, looking like a cherub from some ancient painting come to life.
Yuma and Mei both nodded.
"I would prefer Dreamer Yuma as well," the willowy student added.
"Me too! Only…with Mei, not Yuma," the third young woman added with a hint of awkwardness.
"I will make a note so other staff can know," Noble promised. "Now, if you will follow me, I will show you what our campus has to offer while you stay with us." The professor paused. "Are you planning to remain with us until the Solstice?"
For any other student in past years, that would be a given. The sleepers would want as much experience as they could get before the solstice. Now, the students this early in the year would certainly have their transfer requests approved and awaken long before the air turned cold again.
Legacies generally were not allowed to awaken early. The solstice was a rite of passage, and they were expected to complete it.
Unless something had changed…
"We will stay as long as you will have us," Yuma answered for the three of them.
It was a strange response. Except for misbehavior, the Academy had never told a student to leave.
"You are always welcome here." Noble nodded. "Please follow me."
There was still a large crowd gathered around to get a rare view of a daughter of Song. Noble turned, and with a harsh look and releasing a bit of her oppressive presence, she encouraged the crowd to part to let her through.
That didn't mean the other students were silent. Whispers permeated the crowd. The princesses might not have been able to hear the murmurs, but Noble certainly could.
"Are they really Ki Song's daughters? I've never heard of them."
"The Queen has many children. I would be more surprised if you could name them all."
"I would love to be a princess."
"Not me. Crowns look funny on my head…"
"I am surprised they are here at all. Aren't they ashamed?"
"It's not their fault that their sister attacked Changing Star."
"Maybe it is. The Queen is their mother, and she trains them. If one goes off the rails, more can easily follow…"
"Do you really think Silent Stalker did it?"
"If she were innocent, then she would have no trouble meeting with Valor to answer questions."
"Agreed, the lack of cooperation certainly points to a guilty culprit."
"Anyone from Song should be ashamed. I know I wouldn't tell anyone I was from there!"
Noble's eyes swirled, and the crowd around them suddenly felt a sense of urgency pressing upon them. They couldn't tell what they needed to do, but they needed to do it now.
The students dispersed, and Noble took a deep breath.
'I could have done much worse.'
The professor was long-suffering when it came to attacks on herself, but when people were rude or ugly about those she wanted to protect, she felt like a momma bear defending her cubs.
Noble could understand the general misconception. She would be concerned herself if she didn't know the truth. What bothered her more was the generalization of behavior.
Even if one person from a family acted a certain way, it did not mean everyone did.
Telling people they should be ashamed because of the choices of others was demoralizing.
Noble could have lashed out and put the students in their place. But this was not the time or place to lecture, especially when bringing the comments to light would insult the princesses and the Great Clan.
So Noble held her tongue and her frustrated comments.
Instead, she brought the ladies away from the gate and to an open plaza with a fountain.
The campus was starting to thaw in earnest in many ways, but the carved stone fountain still sat empty.
"Would you prefer to go to your rooms first or see the other buildings first?" Noble left the offer open-ended.
This tour was for their benefit.
"Our belongings should be transported to our room already," Yuma gave a small nod.
Noble had noted that the girls had no baggage with them. Another staff member or servant of Clan Song must have moved their things before the professor arrived.
"Ah, I see. Then, is there any place you would like to start? If not—"
"I would like to know where the library is. I have heard it is very extensive." Yuma showed a hint of excitement.
"I want to head to the combat arena and meet the instructors there." Mei rolled her muscular shoulders.
Noble noted that her flowing robes were actually split into wide-leg pants. She was already ready for action.
"I heard there is unlimited food at the cafeteria?" Lumi smacked her lips.
"Indeed, there is," Noble addressed the youngest princess's question first. "But I doubt it will be as delicious as what you are accustomed to."
"If it's hot and edible, I'm in," Lumi assured her guide. Her smile broadened. "I think I'm going to like it here."
"I hope so," Noble returned her grin. She waved them forward. "Alright, let's get started!"