Lady Nephis was good on her word, and not long after, a Fire Keeper came on behalf of Lady Cassia and arranged everything as if she were in direct contact with Cassia in real time. The method of transport was even more secretive than Chip's.
Although the students knew that they were being officially taken to the Dream Realm, none of the teens had been able to tell who had taken them once they returned. It was like their memory of the entire event was gone. Noble wasn't sure what to make of it.
But between the assistance from Nephis and Chip filling in the gaps, Noble was able to retire from her late-night excursions.
That was one problem solved, but there were too many others appearing to relax.
As the weeks wore on, things for humanity went from bad to worse. Noble tried to maintain her work schedule, but she felt stretched thin. When she was in the waking world, she worried about her family at home. When she was at home, she wondered how her students were faring amid the chaos of the NQSC.
Riots were regular occurrences outside the Great Clans' Manors, happening almost like clockwork.
Shortages in both great citadels and the waking world led to heightened tensions all around, but at least no one was openly rebelling in the city that wrapped around the volcano.
Actually, Noble's biggest problem had nothing to do with the people of Ravenheart at all...
That was a small mercy, but Noble wouldn't take it for granted. She sighed. Today had been quiet. The provost had a rare day off, and the emotions around the city were mostly muted. No news from the front line had reached them in many days, so there was nothing to be excited about or discouraged by. The floating Saint reveled in the momentary peace, knowing it would not last.
After brewing some tea–it was never too warm for tea in Ravenheart-- Noble retrieved a pan and fished strips of monster meat from the icebox. She was still placing the slabs on the hot metal when two rambunctious teens burst in the door in a fit of excitement.
"Mom. MOM, they are here!!!" The two boys' voices overlapped in a cacophony.
'The silence was nice while it lasted.'
Noble couldn't resist her children's excitement. It affected her almost as much as her own. Leaving behind the pan and floating spatula, the mother turned as her boys barreled into the kitchen. She held up her hands.
"Whoa, slow down. What's happening?"
"Our school posted the exam results!" Blaze answered.
"The final grades are out!" Brock spoke over his brother.
"And? How did it go?" Noble watched as the boys exchanged glances.
"It was a close call, Mom." Blaze shook his head, barely managing to contain his grin.
"But I passed! I passed all my classes, Mom. Can you believe it?" Brock pulled a page from his pocket, where he had scribbled down his scores, and handed it to his mother.
Examining the page, the mother could not help but be impressed. "Excellent work, I always knew you had this in you. Does that mean you are going to graduate?"
"Yes! I am not even at the bottom of the class, either!" The muscular teen said like he had won the greatest prize. "And Blaze is at the top! Not that that should surprise anyone. He's a genius, after all."
"Nice work, Brock. And Blaze! Are you really at the top?" Noble's smile grew as her youngest child nodded slowly.
Blaze smiled shyly. "It's not a big deal, Mom, really."
"What do you mean, it's no big deal? My boys are graduating!" Noble had hoped that this would be true.
Brock had been working extremely hard to make up for his less-than-stellar start. And he had done it!
"This calls for a celebration. I'll order a cake from Auntie Sarai, and tonight we can start planning a party for you and your friends." Noble wasn't about to let a moment of happiness slip away.
Amid all the chaos in two worlds, it was becoming more difficult each day to complete formal education. Fort would also be delighted when he got home. Finally, a reason to be joyful!
"I am so proud of you both." The mother let her emotion fill the room. "You both will do amazing things."
"You know what this means? I can finally attend the Dreamer Academy full time!" Brock's sudden realization made him pump his fist in the air. "If I apply myself, I'll be an Awakened in no time!"
"Oh? Are you going to try to naturally Awaken like a certain someone we know and love?" Noble raised her eyebrow at her son.
She had told the boys of Rain's adventure and awakening, figuring that no one would believe them even if they accidentally spilled the secret.
"If she would hurry back and teach me, sure." The elder brother allowed a small amount of bitterness into his voice. Brock missed his sister. "But if not, I'll have to go about it the traditional way. Not until after the war, of course. I don't want to be Sovereign fodder."
"Brock!" Noble gasped.
"I didn't mean it like that. That's just what some people are calling those who are joining up. Rain would never allow herself to be anyone's fodder. I...shouldn't have said it like that." Brock hung his head.
"If it means you aren't heading off to war too, I will let the term slide as long as you don't use it again." Noble could understand why some students at the Dreamer Academy felt that way.
Inexperienced warriors going into a Death Zone could only end poorly. Awakening now for the purpose of joining the war was like signing one's own death sentence. She would prefer Brock not follow in his sister's footsteps toward Godgrave.
"What about you?" Noble glanced at her youngest son.
He had grown quiet, pensive even.
"I would like to continue my research and help bring electricity to Ravenheart. I think the best way to do that is to study at a university in the waking world..." Blaze sighed.
"Ah," Noble understood. She would have been overjoyed for him to attend her alma mater, but that would mean having to cross the Realm boundary. The only way to do that would be to become an Awakened.
That left him in the same place as Brock—waiting until the war was over.
Noble's heart ached that he could not pursue his dream, at least not now.
Seeing his mother's expression, Blaze shook his head. "Don't sweat it, Mom. If I'm going to take on the first Nightmare, I'll need even more training than Brock. I've got time, and anyway, I'll need to save up the money to attend!"
"Don't even think about the money! When you get into a university, we will handle all the finances." Noble was not about to let her son worry about that.
There were enough worries that she couldn't fix. Solving even one felt like moving a mountain.
"Now, I was cooking up some meat for a snack, but I can share. Take up a seat, and I'll bring it over shortly."
The boys complied, grabbing plates as they sniffed the air. Noble strode over to the stove and took over for the invisible hands.
As soon as she grabbed the handle, disaster struck.