The sun was barely above the horizon when the twins, Noble, and Fort left their ho and headed out on their excursion for the day. It was colder than usual, and the weather seed like it might turn poor as the day wore on. So the group needed to make the best of what little ti they had.
Together, they traipsed along, toting crates and bags of various shapes and sizes.
"I never thought I would be a pack mule in a frozen wasteland," Brock grunted as he adjusted a pack across his shoulders.
"I have been helping you with your studies every day in addition to my school work and shifts at the cafe. The least you can do is help transport my gear. And this is hardly a wasteland. We haven't even left the city walls. Auntie Sarai's cafe is just up the road, right there!" Blaze clicked his tongue. His brother could certainly complain when he put his mind to it.
"Allow ." From the back of the group, Noble used her Ability to lighten all of the things in their possession.
When she was done, the items were practically floating through the air.
Brock rolled his shoulders. "No offense, Mom, but could you have done that when we left the house?"
"I could have. I also could have summoned Leo to carry all of it, but hard work builds character, and I didn't want to deprive you of that!" Noble smiled.
"We could all use the workout to stay in shape," Fort added. "I have been spending too much ti behind a desk as it is."
"I've changed my mind," Brock pulled his pack closer to him, "give back the weight. I need to build up extra muscle mass."
"Too late," the younger twin shook his head. "We are already here."
Before them, an outcropping of rock lood at the edge of the volcano. Beyond the edge, colorless smoke billowed out along with intense heat.
Blaze went ahead of them, examining the ground to carefully select a spot. He stamped at the hot earth, examining the cracks in it.
"This should do it." He coughed.
"Get back from the edge and change clothes! If the fus don't get you, the heat will!" Noble chided him.
The group relaxed, setting down the gear and resting for a mont. It hadn't been a terribly long hike, but the change in temperature from the freezing cold to the heat around the volcano was drastic. The boys and their father took off their outer layers and donned heat suits instead.
Noble felt warm, but not hot enough to put on extra protection just yet. With enough ti and proximity, the light and heat might give her a suntan, but she was in no imdiate danger. Even the fus from the volcano could not harm her Transcendent lungs enough to be worriso.
"I think we are ready to begin." Blaze's muffled voice ca through his helt. "If you will help ..."
"Am I late?" A woman ca running toward them.
Fort furrowed his brow. "Teddy? I thought I gave you the day off."
"You said we were going to work on Blaze's experint today, didn't you?" Teddy tilted her head.
"I ant 'we'..." The ambassador motioned to Noble and the two boys. "Not 'we', you and I."
"I don't understand." Teddy furrowed her brow.
The handso man rubbed the back of his neck.
"What I an is this is a family event."
"I know." Teddy nodded enthusiastically.
"And so that ans…" Fort paused.
The assistant's eyes opened wider, looking positively childlike. Fort glanced at Noble, but she was too busy hiding a smirk to help him. The boys were amused as well.
The ambassador coughed. "We are glad you could make it. Welco, Teddy."
"I am always here when you need , boss." The young woman's face lit up as she saluted.
Noble grinned. 'She knew exactly what he ant and also knew he was too soft-hearted to turn her away. Well played, Teddy. Well played.'
Child of Promise was not about to tell Teddy's secrets. The young woman joined them for als at least once a week and ca to the Dream Realm so she could continue to assist Fort in his duties.
'She thinks of as a mother figure. Why shouldn't she be part of the family?' Noble's protective nature took over, strengthening the bond between them.
As if sensing the change, Teddy flashed a brilliant smile at her. "Good to see you, Master Ma'am!"
"How'd you find us, Teddy?" Blaze raised an eyebrow at her. He was sure that she hadn't followed them from the house.
"Boss said you were working on geothermal energy inside Ravenheart. There are only three good spots in all of the city to try that out, and this is by far the best. I figured a smart kiddo like yourself would have co to the sa conclusion." Teddy nodded.
"You're not wrong," Blaze smiled, not even minding being called a child.
"That's right, he's the brains, and I'm the brawn." Smiling, Brock cracked his knuckles. "So what do we need to do?"
Blaze held up his hand, and they gave him so space to focus.
Fort handed Teddy a spare suit from his pack, but she refused.
"I work better when I can be hands-on."
The ambassador shrugged. She was Awakened, so he wasn't too worried about her constitution. He was slightly concerned by what her version of hands-on ant, but he knew that Teddy wouldn't harm anyone…probably.
Blaze was bent over one of the fissures close to the edge with a large thermoter. The red liquid inside looked ready to burst, and the young man gave a firm nod before removing it from the hole and stepping aside.
"This is the place!"
"How do you know?" Brock stepped forward to examine the spot.
Now that he had begun to study in earnest, the muscular young man had beco an eager pupil.
"The air current here is significant, and the fissure goes deep. If it connected to another place via a tunnel, that would be ideal, but I will be able to manage. What do you think, Mom? Dad?" Blaze turned to his parents.
"Oh no, this is your project. I'm just here for manual labor and supervision," Noble shook her head.
Other than her quick review of how electricity worked in the waking world, Noble had very little knowledge in this area of engineering.
Geothermal energy wasn't sothing heavily utilized in the NQSC, and much of the research of ages past was lost to ti. So what was available was housed in the Academy library in a few dusty books and many digitized articles.
'How did Blaze even find out about geothermal energy anyway?'
Noble was sure that her son had probably heard it in school and taken it to heart. Like his mother, Blaze had a natural propensity to learn, even if he didn't have the Quick Study attribute to back it up. However, the little knowledge Noble had acquired was unhelpful.
The magical interference did not allow the sa principles of the waking world to apply here. That was the obstacle that Blaze was going to try to overco. While Noble supported his ambition, she had little to add to his execution.
"What she said," Fort pointed at his wife.
Teddy smiled.
"I already said you picked the best spot. I've always liked the germs around here the best. They are so friendly and accommodating."
Noble blinked. 'What does that even an? Do I want to know?'
Emboldened, Blaze stood a little taller. "That's it then. Let's get to work!"
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