"Provost Noble?" The person on the other side of the screen looked younger than Rain.
'They really did send me the lowest position possible. Why did they even bother with a call then, when they could have just messaged me the answers?'
Noble smiled at the young man. "That is me." She took a deep breath, ready to launch into the current predicament.
The secretary nodded.
"Identity confirmed. Please stand by while I transfer you to Saint Athena."
"Transfer? To whom?" Noble's confusion fell on deaf ears as the young man disappeared.
A moment later, a tall woman with stunning, tan features and a muscular build appeared on her screen.
The government Saint smiled. "Provost Noble! Is that really you?"
"It is, Saint Athena." Noble managed to find her voice in time to answer.
The other Saint clicked her tongue. "Please call me Effie. I never cared for titles. Makes me sound old and responsible for things…"
Effie crinkled her nose.
Noble blinked. Saint Athena was in charge of a vast number of projects lately, especially in Bastion. She was doing for the Sword Domain what Saint Kai was doing for the Song Domain.
What did she mean she didn't want to be responsible for things?
Maybe the idiosyncrasy was how she kept herself from breaking. People had many different ways to decompress. Whatever the reason, Noble would honor the informality.
"Only if you call me, Noble. I don't think the title of Provost suits me either."
"It is good to see you, Noble. I don't suppose you remember me?" Effie's teasing grin widened.
'Why does everyone do this to me?'
Noble had a good memory, but knowing every student who walked through her classroom was not only unreasonable; it was very nearly impossible.
Fortunately, this time, Child of Promise was ready.
"It has been too long. You look very healthy and full of life, Effie. I am happy to see you doing so well."
"I've come far from the poor cripple girl I once was, you mean?" Effie winked.
"Every Awakened has overcome trials. You have overcome more than most." Noble vividly remembered the girl in the wheelchair who had more vitality in her eyes than most people had in their entire body.
When she had not come back from the solstice and eventually was transferred to her parents' home, Noble had lamented the loss. Seeing how far she had come truly was a victory for not only Effie, but for the human spirit, and Noble was willing to celebrate it wholeheartedly.
But that wasn't the purpose of this call.
Noble coughed.
"Forgive me, Effie. I am grateful to speak with you, but I am surprised. I was checking on the progress of paperwork. Have you been put on administrative duty?"
Noble could have understood hearing from Saint Cor or Saint Jet. Both of them had a good handle on how the Academy and government worked together. Even Saint Kai had a decent grasp of the inner workings of the bureaucracy. However, Noble had not once read any documents or reports from the woman whom the Spell called Raised by Wolves.
"Ah, I can see how it must be strange. I was just about to head back to the Dream Realm when I caught wind of your predicament and, well, here we are."
"So you know about the pending requests to transfer some of my students to the Dream Realm? Some of them have been approved for many weeks, but they seem to have stalled…" Noble had been searching for ways to expedite things for a few days now. The request to speak to a person was a last-ditch effort to get some answers.
"Yes, well, the transfers were being handled by volunteer Saints. Things have become complicated, and the legacy clans are no longer willing to lend their resources for this purpose. Using the Dream Gates is not an option either." Effie shook her head, clearly disappointed.
Noble balled her fist against her skirt.
"So, what you are saying is there is no one to take these Dreamers to the Dream Realm to help them awaken early. Does that mean the government is planning to postpone the program or are they going to scrap it entirely?"
The Provost was already imagining the disappointed looks from her students as they received the news that despite their approval for transfer, they would most likely still have to experience the solstice unless the war concluded before then.
Noble's heart sank.
"We aren't getting rid of the program. It is one of the government's crowning achievements—allowing our youth to avoid being plunged into Death Zones. Saint Kai and I were both victims of the Spell's merciless placement, and we don't want anyone to be trapped like we were." Effie somehow didn't sound unhappy about her own experience, but she was resolute about preventing future victims
She continued.
"That is why Kai, Jet, Thane, and I have decided to volunteer our services for the time being to transport the Dreamers that have already been approved. Between us, we should be able to get it done by the end of the week."
"Thank you, Effie. I know that it will make all the difference to those students." Noble was touched by the government Saints and their willingness to step in to fill the gap. It was a small bright light in the world even as it grew darker.
Even one life saved from the trials of the Spell made a huge difference in that person's future.
Unfortunately, Noble wanted more.
"What about those whose applications are still in progress? We have twice as many applicants going through the process that have yet to be approved. Next month, that number could double over again."
This would especially be true if some of the legacies could not wait to join the fighting and petitioned to awaken as well.
Effie hesitated. "I cannot promise anything beyond this week. At the very least, I shouldn't."
It was a difficult situation. Noble could press the other woman for a commitment, but that would only lead to her word being broken. No one knew what tomorrow held, but it would certainly be messy.
"I understand. I'm thankful for any help you can give." Noble forced a smile.
It wasn't Effie's fault that the clans had gone to war and taken their common sense with them. It would have been smarter for them to bring as many of the Dreamers to their citadels as possible before they headed out to give themselves more troops, but Noble was a little glad they had not taken that route. Noble hated the idea of people having to face the solstice against their will, but she hated the idea of them becoming war fodder even more.
"It was good to talk to you, Noble. You are doing good work. Don't let those fools stop you from doing what's best for the future."
"I won't. Thank you, Effie."
Saint Athena dipped her head.
"We'll be in touch with a transfer schedule. Until then, goodbye. And good luck."
The call ended, and Noble leaned her head back. She had solved the immediate crisis, but the long-term problem of getting students to the Dream Realm still loomed in the distance.
She tapped her finger on the desk.
How could she efficiently transfer people to the Dream Realm without a gate or government Saints?
Well…there was one option.