"Big plans for today, Mom?" Brock asked as he shoveled some scrambled eggs into his mouth.
It had been amazing enough that they had had cake and real meat for dinner. Now they were having real eggs for breakfast. And it wasn't even his birthday! Brock marveled at his luck.
His dad had been just as excited about his impending graduation as his mother. If he had known his accomplishment would bring this much joy — and good food —to his house, he would have found a way to do it much sooner!
Now he was noticing the big smile on his mother's face and wondering if there was more to the meal than he thought.
Noble shook her head. "Just a normal day at the Academy. Only paperwork and the usual daily routine. Why do you ask?"
"What is that expression you say, Mom? You look like the cat that ate the canary..." Blaze answered on his brother's behalf.
Noble lowered her cup from her mouth. "Oh? I just suppose I'm in a good mood."
"It's those new glasses, boys." Fort indicated the item in Noble's hand. "She's positively giddy that she can hold a piece of earth in her hand."
"I am not giddy!" The woman frowned. She glanced at the clay cup and a new smile crept onto her face of its own volition. Her cheeks were beginning to hurt from so much facial exercise. "Alright, I am excited to have made this discovery, yes."
"I wish you would look at me like you look at that cup." Fort jutted out his lips in a mock pout.
"I look at you much better than the cups. They should be the jealous ones, not you." Noble leaned over and kissed her husband.
Fort glanced at the cup in her hand. "You hear that? She loves me the best."
Noble rolled her eyes. What a silly man she had married, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Will you boys head to the Dreamer Academy today?" The mother changed the subject.
"Yes, Blaze and I will be attending there full time. Before too long, we will be so muscular that even Awakened will have a difficult time sparring with us." Brock flexed his arms in anticipation.
"I am planning to attend more seminars than spars, big bro," Blaze shook his head.
"I suppose we will have to see about that, won't we?" The elder twin wiggled his eyebrows.
"Whatever you learn, just make sure you learn it well. Every skill is valuable if you apply it correctly." The amusement was gone from Fort's face. "Don't let anything go to waste."
"We won't," Blaze assured him. "I'll keep Brock on track."
"Maybe I'll keep you on track!" Brock countered.
"Keep each other accountable. No one survives the Dream Realm alone." Noble loved how animated her boys could get, but they needed to use their competitive side to better themselves, not one-up their twin.
Breakfast wound to a close, and Noble was early for work for the first time in a long time. Of course, she put in far more hours at Provost per week than she ever had as a lecturer, so she was never in a hurry to be anything but on time whenever possible.
With her extra time, she took a walk around the campus grounds.
Spring in the NQSC was halfway through now. That was strange to think about, but the warmer air and budding flowers were proof that time was continuing to pass with or without her permission.
Although her sons had graduated, the lower-level schools here had another couple of weeks before they would have a break. However, classes at the Academy only ever stopped around the new year.
'I do like the routine,' Noble decided. 'But a break sounds nice right now...'
She had had a little taste of freedom with her day off the day before, but that had ended in a frantic search for missing traders. If she had more time off, would that lead to bigger catastrophes?
'If that's the case, I will never take a break again!'
Of course that was terrible logic. The world was going to continue to fall apart and be consumed even if she worked herself to the bone.
Maybe she should introduce a summer break into the Academy's schedule.
If beaches were still places that could be visited, it would have been fun to take all her students for a chance to learn how to swim in salt water.
It was a silly notion, of course. Instead, they would have to use the available pools at the Academy or in the surrounding areas of the NQSC to hone their aquatic skills. For the most part, that would suffice.
"Provost Noble!" A voice pulled Noble from her thoughts.
Noble turned to see a chipper young woman rushing toward her. The dreamer barely managed to stop before crashing into the head of the Academy.
A smile bloomed on Noble's face as she saw her student's cherubic grin.
"Dreamer Lumi! Good Morning!" Noble's gaze then fell on the other two slightly embarrassed ladies with her. "Dreamer Yuma, Dreamer Mei. It is good to see you."
Two of the princesses dipped their heads courteously while the smallest continued her excited speech.
"Did you hear the news? Juno arrived yesterday. She has taken the room next to mine just like when we were kids!" Lumi bounced up and down, making Noble wonder if her energy ever waned.
"I was not here yesterday, so I will have to pay her a visit and let her know that she is welcome. If she is anything like you three, then the Academy is fortunate to have her."
"Juno will keep her head down and work hard, I assure you," Yuma quickly vouched for the most recent arrival.
"Though if we spar, the battle arena might be put to the test." Mei shrugged.
"I'll make sure to notify Master Rock that his floor may be in jeopardy." Noble smiled.
It would take more than a couple of Sleepers to permanently damage anything in that building, but Noble appreciated the ambition.
"If we spar, will you come and watch?" Mei's invitation surprised Noble.
"Today?" She thought for a moment. "Let me check in at my office and see what I have on my schedule. I'll then go to welcome Lady Juno, and I can let you know if I have time to spectate a match. How does that sound?"
"Have you had breakfast?" Lumi looked at the Provost expectantly.
"What?" Noble furrowed her brow.
"Your plan didn't include any food. I just wanted to make sure you had eaten." Lumi patted her stomach lightly.
"Yes, I had breakfast at home this morning. You don't have to worry…"
Noble paused and inclined her head. The ground shook, throwing the princesses off balance. The sky suddenly darkened as plumes of smoke billowed into the air. Noble furrowed her brow.
"I take it back; you do need to worry, but not about that."
The Provost squinted as another explosion thundered beyond the Academy walls. She smiled reassuringly.
"Everything is going to be fine, but get your sisters to the safe place while things get sorted," Noble told Yuma, who nodded.
Turning away, Noble pulled out her communicator and called her head of security.
"Mori? Lockdown mode. I am going to check things out."