The uneasy feeling from the final exchange settled in Noble's soul as she bid her colleagues goodbye. Heading down the hall, Noble mulled over all she had seen and experienced in the arena, particularly that final battle.
'That boy...'
Keth was more than just a typical Legacy.
The professor had seen over a decade of young clansmen and clanswomen, many of whom were desperate to prove themselves. Most were respectful. Some started out hot, only to realize they were not the biggest fish in the pond, coming out humbled but wiser.
A few retained their haughty demeanor, of course, but most left the Academy different from the way they found it.
Today, Noble found a different fervor within Keth. His firm allegiance to Valor led to disdain, verging on unrestrained hatred, for those who resided in the Song Domain. It was hyper-focused, fanatical even.
And in that crowd of students, he wasn't the only one. People on both sides of the aisle seemed ready to throw their hat in the ring, and not for a practice round. And for what? Blind faith in people who planned to use them as cannon fodder for their own personal gain.
'I don't like it.'
Part of what made humans so adaptable was their ability to think and reason.
Noble's job was supposed to help students with the tools that they received: their Memories from the Spell. However, she also hoped to provide them with skills to problem solve and think critically.
It seemed the second part was needed now more than ever.
Heading into the frigid air did not divert Noble's thinking. If anything, it turned her mind towards Antarctica, where the Great Clans had barely helped until the continent was already lost and so many lives with it. Who would be proud to be part of that level of indifference to humanity?
If the world knew the farce that had gone on with the Supremes, Noble hoped the people who revered them would be few and far between. She sighed. Even if she tried to tell people, they wouldn't believe her.
Noble wasn't sure she would want to believe it herself if she hadn't witnessed so much of it firsthand.
The lawn between the buildings was brown and covered with a dusting of snow. It wasn't enough to cover the grass underneath, looking more like white flowers on brown stems. In a few weeks, the white drifts would certainly grow. It was shaping up to be a brutal winter.
While most of the students had moved out of the cold, three lingered, still talking about the events of the match.
"That witch! She should have known better."
"I don't know why they bother; the only time they ever win is by cheating. It's laughable."
"Keth taught her the perfect lesson. The girl across the hall from me is one of them. Maybe I should..."
Seeing the professor, the group ceased their gossip.
The Sleepers began to scatter.
"Wait." Noble's words held weight, and the students froze in place. One of them shivered, though whether from the cold or being caught was anyone's guess.
"Good Afternoon, Professor Noble," they greeted her.
"You were at my lesson just now, but I didn't catch your names."
"Bors." The taller young man dipped his head.
"Caradoc." The thinner boy whispered.
"Laudine." The girl gave a modified curtsy.
"Yes, well, I couldn't help but overhear something about teaching a lesson. Perhaps I might be able to help?"
The Sleepers all shook their heads.
"No, no. It was just a talk. Friendly banter," Bors lied. "You know how it is."
"I do? I suppose we do have banter in Ravenheart, but I don't allow my students there quite as much liberty as you just took." Noble watched as realization dawned on the faces of those around her.
"R-Ravenheart?" Caradoc boy stuttered. "But you can't be...I just assumed you dismissed class like that to maintain order, not to save face. No, you can't be ..."
"Can't be what?" Noble met the young man's eyes until he looked away.
"N-nothing..." Laudine held up her hands. "You're wonderful. We never would have guessed that you are..."
"That I am one of them?" Noble raised an eyebrow.
The students stared at the ground.
"Like the rest of the residents of Ravenheart, I am not a them. I am a me. I'm a mother, wife, and teacher—well and occasionally Queen Bee."
"W-We're sorry…" Laudine began, ready to kowtow to avoid punishment.
"Don't be sorry. Be better. Don't let bias blind you. " Noble's expression softened as she sighed. "Ah, well then, since it seems that I cannot be of assistance, perhaps you should all head inside? I think I see the beginning of another flurry. The cafeteria has some hot tea and cider this afternoon for everyone, I believe."
"Yes, ma'am," the students chorused. They bowed together and hurried away.
She watched them go with a pensive expression. Her eyes swirled as she sensed their emotion.
'They are feeling shame. They still have some conscience then...'
Deep down, most of these Sleepers knew that making an enemy of other humans for no reason except their home citadel was both silly and wrong. The desire to be included in a group was strong, though, and Noble knew how hard it was to resist going with the emotions of a crowd, even if it meant giving up some principles in the process.
'If only there were more people with level heads and a vision that doesn't involve infighting...'
Even then...if the whole rest of the world wanted peace, would it matter if Ki Song and Anvil wanted war? A Sovereign was not easily denied, if one could be denied at all.
In a sour mood, Noble spent the rest of her afternoon in her office catching up on communications on her data pad. Even Bee Two could see her mood was grim, and so the Android refrained from any questions about the match, instead turning to the many videos and comments posted by students who were there.
If Noble had known, she might have cut off the Android's access. Instead, she answered yet another government request for an interview to discuss her experience with the Skinwalkers.
They did that every so often, though Noble was unsure why. She had given them all she knew.
Politely declining, Noble checked the time and put down her datapad.
"Bee Two?"
"It wasn't me!" The android answered.
"What wasn't you?" Noble cut her eyes at her assistant.
"Whatever you were going to ask me about." Bee Two shrugged.
Noble was too tired to pursue the particular infraction just now. "I was just going to tell you that I will be checking on Lady Tamar and then heading home."
"Lady Tamar? The one who lost today?"
Noble's expression darkened. "I am not going to ask how you know that, but yes. I want to make sure she is alright for my own peace of mind."
The obligation to the Saint of Sorrow had little to do with Noble's decision. Tamar's first day at the Academy had been memorable to say the least. Checking on her was the least Noble could do under the circumstances.
Packing up her things, the professor reiterated her policy on fair treatment to her android. Then, she spread out her emotional sense to search for the lady in question.
'Seems she headed back to her dormitory.'
Outside, the professor shielded her eyes against the drifting flakes as she floated toward her destination.
Her communicator began to vibrate rhythmically. Noble's heart skipped as she fished out her device, hoping the category gate was too far away for her to help or was at least estimated to be a low category.
Noble blinked as she read a very different message.
[ACADEMY BREACH!]
Clicking on the notification, her mouth dropped open.
'You have to be kidding…'