Noble barely waited for the boys to answer before she took off to return to the waking world.
She felt so foolish for not seeing it before!
The professor wanted to kick herself, not that it would do any good. She needed to use her strength and energy to get to the Awakened Academy. There was not a moment to lose.
Her heart was still racing even as her body materialized in the waking world.
Noble felt for the emotional signatures of the two Sleepers.
She hoped she wasn't too late.
———
Keth draped a cloak across his shoulders and pulled up his hood, making him virtually invisible in the dim morning light. The bright, fresh snow was falling in earnest, coating the scarf that was covering his mouth as soon as he left the dorm. No one else dared come out in the frigid weather without a good reason. Why would they? It was the Sleepers' last night in warm, comfortable beds before the solstice.
For most of them, it was their last night in a bed ever. Those who perished would make their journey to the Shadow Realm, and those who Awakened would need a pod instead of a bed for their nightly excursions between Realms.
Only those who went on to become Masters or planned to permanently relocate to the Dream Realm would ever have the luxury of sheets, a mattress, and a pillow again. The students were understandably reluctant to leave it behind for the harsh conditions outside.
Keth would have liked to have slept as well, but his failure the day before had forced his hand. Instead of a night of contemplating his upcoming trip to the Dream Realm, Keth had something far more pressing on his mind. That matter is what had brought him out in the snowstorm before it could wane.
The young man kept his head low to protect his face from the falling snow. He had intended to leave earlier, but he couldn't find a way to get past the security guard at the front of the dormitory. The guard claimed it was protocol to watch over all the rooms before the Solstice, but Keth didn't really believe him.
The young man waited until the guard found a sheltered spot under the awning to drink some lukewarm coffee and slipped past him.
Keth smirked at his own cleverness. Now the guard would either have to admit that he left his post or give Keth a rock-solid alibi. He cut between buildings to make sure no one was following him.
After a minute of no one coming into sight, Keth relaxed and pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket. There were cameras all over the campus, but not everywhere. This hand-drawn path would help him get through the maze of technology without being picked up by any of them.
Memorizing the route, Keth set out on his way. He had been known for stealth even before succumbing to the Nightmare Spell, and now his instincts took over as he picked his way through the gloom.
Thanks to the cloud cover, he still had another half hour before the light would become a real problem. That meant he needed to hurry. The young Sleeper tightened the covering around his face and pressed into his speed. Soon, one of the girls' dormitories came in sight.
His eyes sparkled with malevolence. Instead of taking the most direct route, Keth remained calm and selected his path carefully. Like a skipping rock, he navigated through the blind spots until he reached the door. His communicator buzzed. A quick check revealed a message from an unidentified source. All it had was an affirmative gesture.
That was all the confirmation that Keth needed. His contact had come through. The young man had learned early in life that wealth and influence could open any door and create any opportunity. This time, the metaphorical door was a physical one.
'Just in time too.'
Keth pushed his way into the building. No lockdown occurred, and no alarm sounded. There was not a hint that anything was amiss in the peaceful hours of the dawn.
A cruel smile formed under his scarf. Wasn't it ironic?
He never would have known about the alarm in the dormitory if not for Ray tripping it first. Now, everyone was aware of the protection surrounding the sleeping quarters, including the scion of Clan Aegis Rose. Keth's enemy had inadvertently helped him.
'I'll be sure to thank him never.' He silently scoffed.
Glancing up, Keth noted that the little light next to the camera was no longer on. He moved with less stealth and more confidence than before. The halls all looked the same, but the young man knew exactly where he was going.
He turned the final corner when the closest door opened.
"Why don't they have any towels in there? It makes it impossible to wash my hands without making a mess--oh!"
Gisel's mumbling came to an abrupt halt as she bumped into the other figure in the dim hall. "Excuse me!" She whispered quickly. "I didn't realize anyone else was awake. If you are heading to use the restroom, then you may want to bring something with you to dry your hands."
The other figure took a step back, and Gisel noticed the white covering the cloak.
"Oh dear, have you been outside?" She squinted. "Wait...who are you?"
The figure's strong arm darted out and clutched her shoulder. She gasped, then crumpled to the floor. Her face was very pale.
Keth turned away, not daring to look back and see the girl's barely breathing form.
'She will be fine. It's good she didn't see my face, or she wouldn't be...' The young man shook his head.
Why did it have to be Gisel of all people? Keth sighed and continued on his way.
Stopping in front of the door at the end of the hall, the intruder quietly pried it open and slipped inside. He prepared to intercept any countermeasure, but nothing came.
'Sloppy Song citizen.' Keth basically slept with one eye open even at the Academy. He knew better than to trust these walls if someone wanted to do him harm.
The scion of Aegis Rose was not here to educate his Legacy counterpart, though, nor was he going to complain about a lack of vigilance on the lady's part.
In the darkness of the windowless room, the bed was barely visible. The blanket lay lazily in a mound, helping contain warmth in the chilly morning.
Keth didn't need to summon a Memory for what he was about to do, but he couldn't be too careful.
If things went sideways, he wanted to be ready.
Beneath his cloak, he smothered the sparks of the dagger forming in his hand. Keth tucked it in his belt, then rolled his shoulders. He would do what needed to be done.
'It's for the best.'
Keth pushed back the folds of this cloak and crept forward noiselessly. He could hear the gentle breathing of the woman in the bed.
He held out his fingers. Even though he couldn't yet circulate his essence, Keth felt his hands fill with power.
It would all be over in a moment.