The spring turned to sumr, and the city of Ravenheart was unrecognizable from its previous state. While the area on the bridge where most Awakened lived looked like it had for years, the mundane extension of the citadel underwent a vast transformation.
From her porch, Noble sipped her tea and took in the landscape with a satisfied sigh. Her husband and his team had been hard at work!
'It looks better every day.'
After harvesting materials from swamps further down the mountains and importing supplies from the waking world, hos were going up at a rapid pace.
Once the mundane workers were taught carpentry, they joined the workforce to construct orderly neighborhoods.
While none of the hos were as grand as the governnt housing, they were sturdy and, thanks to an Awakened with a special Aspect ability, they were also very resistant to the elents.
A market was also blossoming on the rim of the volcano.
'I need to pick up more vegetables before dinner.'
The volcanic ash had been used to turn one of the small patches of farmland into a vast hillside of crops. While not everything could thrive in the altitude and cold, so roots and other produce thrived under the harsh conditions. That was thanks to the valiant efforts of governnt engineers.
Noble could hear water draining out of the cistern. By how much was being used, soone was using the bath.
'I will refill it when I get ho this evening.'
The plumbers had promised to eventually get water running directly to the hos, but for now, they were more focused on draining the dirty water away than they were delivering clean water to citizens.
The results spoke for themselves. Yesterday when Noble had gone down to the Drear Academy, she hadn't even gotten a whiff of bad air.
That was good since the school was still being held largely outside. The funding to construct a facility was gathered, but finding the right location with enough space was proving challenging.
At least Noble had narrowed down the possibilities to what she believed was the best possible location. She would run her findings by her assistant later and make sure that her reasoning was sound.
There was a lot to do, but it would get done.
As the morning sun cast light on the wafting smoke above the mountain, Noble sighed.
'I have enjoyed this strange mont of quiet for too long. I need to get going.'
Cradling her cup, she went inside and checked on the progress of her family.
Everyone was awake and moving, so she heated so breakfast on their new wood-burning stove.
"Blaze, Brock, and Rain co eat! You are going to be late!"
'At this rate, so am I,' Noble lanted silently.
The twins ca barreling down the stairs, brought their plates to the table, and dug into their al.
The boys were technically on break from formal schooling, but today they had a field trip with their teacher to study the igneous rock and how it was ford.
"It's going to be amazing!" Blaze couldn't wait to get going.
"I can't wait to explore!" Brock agreed with a mischievous grin.
"Don't get too close to the edge, and whatever you do, don't go in the volcano," Noble warned her boys sternly.
"Why are you looking at ?" Brock scrunched his face.
"Because you were the one who fell in the hot spring two weeks ago," Blaze earned a withering glare from his twin.
"You are the one who wants to do all your special calculations! Who's to say you won't be the one to fall in this ti?" Brock stuck out his tongue.
"No one is falling in, and that's final. Listen to your sister if she tells you to do sothing. Otherwise, I will co on the next excursion as your exclusive chaperone." Noble stepped between the boys and kissed each of their foreheads.
The boys nodded. "Yes, Mom…"
"I'm just glad Rain will be there to keep you safe."
At that mont, the teen in question ca down the stairs wearing a sensible pair of trousers, and a grey linen shirt with a vest over the top.
Rain was full of excitent. She was even whistling a happy tune.
"Since when do you whistle?" Brock tilted his head in confusion.
"Hello to you too!" Rain patted her brother on the head.
Grabbing a piece of fruit from a bowl, Rain headed for the door.
"I'll see you all later. Have a good day at work, Mom!" In a raised voice, she added. "Bye, Dad!"
"Aren't you forgetting sothing?" Adjusting his tie, Fort hurried down the stairs.
Rain stopped mid-step. She turned and looked at her father, confused. "Uh…I love you?"
Noble frowned. "Are you not going on the trip with your brothers?"
Rain's chipper mood plumted. "That is today?"
"Yes," Noble realized she hadn't confird with the girl since last week.
"If you have other plans that can't be changed, I can rearrange…"
"I have plans…" Rain glanced toward the kitchen's window.
Noble noted a shift in the shadows out of the corner of her eye, but by the ti she turned her head the movent had passed.
"…but I can move them to this afternoon." Rain was clearly disappointed, but she nodded. "You have work. Don't worry about us."
Rain received a kiss on her head like her brothers. "Thanks for going. I hope it won't ss up your other plans too much."
"No, my plans are usually flexible. It's fine." Rain assured her.
Noble could easily guess what these mysterious plans were. Rain went out multiple days every week to train.
The pale young woman had confird that she wanted to try her hand at Awakening without the Spell not long after her strange encounter at the cafe.
The first few tis Rain had gone out with "plans", Noble had tracked her daughter to see exactly what Sunny had in store for Rain.
He was a stringent but fair teacher—and a little eccentric. Overall, Noble found no fault with what he was doing to make Rain stronger.
And nowadays the professor didn't have hours to observe the siblings or their interactions.
Already today, she was running increasingly late.
"Love you all. I will be back for dinner."
Noble waved.
"Don't forget these!" Fort handed her a stack of reports in an envelope.
Summoning a mory, Noble held out her hand. A wooden box appeared that would just fit the synthetic pages that her husband had provided.
The governnt saw fit to use Noble as a courier between her ambassador husband and governnt headquarters, so they had commissioned a mory for papers to store pages and deliver them between worlds.
Noble stuffed the pages into the box and dismissed it before giving her final kiss of the morning to her handso husband.
"Have a great day!"
Flying down the street, Noble did not even bother to make her steps fully match her speed. She needed to make up so ti.
Already the Dreamgate was open for new arrivals when she passed. Both refugees and people from the outskirts still poured in daily after being vetted both to make sure they were healthy enough to enter the Dream Realm and not a Skinwalker.
The latter was arguably more important.
Noble didn't have ti to check the people herself as she sotis did. All she could do was sweep as she flew by.
'Those people are clear, at least.'
The Awakened who she passed on the bridge were uninfected as well.
Other than Ginnar and Lindy, no Skinwalkers had been found inside Ravenheart, so Noble had never needed to call out the terrifying Saint's na for help.
Rushing through the outer courts of the Jade Palace, Noble found the gateway and touched it without hesitation.
A mont later she found herself in front of her desk with hundreds of eyes fixed on her sudden appearance.
Noble winced.
Class was already in session.
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