"…And that's why we can't move to the Dream Realm." Noble took a deep breath and waited for the response.
"I see. Anything else?"
The professor swallowed. Was there something she had forgotten?
'I said I don't want to leave the place we have made a home. I don't want to rip our children from their schools and lives. The Dream Realm isn't safe and I don't want the kids to be trapped there unable to leave....' Noble ran through the entire speech in her mind.
She shook her head at last.
"No. I don't think I forgot anything." Noble bit her lip.
Sarai propped her head up on her chin as she looked at Noble from the bed. The beautiful baker had needed to bring the large piece of furniture into the Dream Realm in pieces before assembling it, and she was determined to enjoy the fruit of her labor.
Noble alternated hovering over the imported sofa and pacing as she spoke. If her feet had been touching the ground, she might have worn a rut in the royal bedchamber. The professor stopped her rhythmic motion to look at her friend.
"So, what do you think?"
Sarai tapped her chin gently. "It's quite a speech. I had no idea you were dealing with so much. But it does explain why you have been spending so much time in the Dreamscape with Helios these past few days. You tend to fight extra hard when you are stressed. You look exhausted."
"That's not exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for..." Noble rubbed her forehead.
'Has she been talking to Rain?'
The teen had made a similar comment that morning before school.
"Mom, is everything alright?" Rain had asked after her brothers rushed out the door.
"Everything is fine, sweetheart. Why?" Noble had stopped her clean-up to look at her daughter.
"Is there something going on between you and Dad?" Rain's eyes darted away. "I have hardly seen you two talk all week."
"We are fine. He is just giving me space to think." Noble reached out and squeezed the girl's arm.
Rain furrowed her brow. "Space to think about what?"
Noble's eyes swirled. "I will tell you this evening after I talk about it with your father. It isn't fair if I tell you first. I hope you understand."
Rain pressed her lips together. "Fine. But if you disappear into a gate, I am going to know it was on purpose this time."
"Understood." Noble brushed back Rain's hair from her face with a smile. "I'll see you this evening."
"See you later." Rain picked up her bag to go. "And mom? Maybe skip the Dreamscape and take a nap between now and then. I think the stress is getting to you."
At the time, Noble had been slightly offended when Rain indicated the circles under Noble's eyes. Now a second person had commented on her frantic state.
The redhead raised one eyebrow. "Am I wrong though? You look like you haven't slept in days."
"Thanks for that..." Noble took a spot next to Sarai on the bed. "You aren't wrong. I am stressed. My week is up, and I have to tell Fort tonight that I am not moving to the Dream Realm with the kids."
Sarai sat up and patted her friend's back. "You said he would go with your decision."
Noble looked helplessly at her friend. "What if he decides to go without me? I don't want to lose him again."
"Fort would never do that to you or the kids." The redhead shook her head. "You know that and so do I. Which means you are using that to hide what you really fear. What is the problem?"
Leaning her head back, Noble stared at the canopy overhead.
"What if he stays, but he resents me for the choice? I know he wouldn't do it consciously, but that might not stop his mind from wondering about what might have been. If his career takes a bad turn after this, won't that be my fault also?"
"If you think you are doing the right thing, then the other stuff will fall into place," Sarai comforted her. "Don't worry too much about what you cannot control and focus on what you can."
"Such as?" Noble had to admit she felt rather unfocused lately. A little guidance from her friend was most welcome.
"How about this? I will play Fort and make the points I think he will make and you can think of your answers." Sarai offered.
Noble narrowed her gaze. "I think this may be a clever way of you making your objections without me getting mad at you."
Arching her brow, the baker straightened her shoulders indignantly. "Do you want my help or not?"
"I do," the professor conceded.
"Well, Noble." Sarai lowered her voice in a facsimile of Fort's. It was nothing like what Nickel could do, and it made Noble chuckle silently. "I see you have been thinking about this a lot. I have a few concerns about your assumptions."
"Proceed." Noble motioned for her faux husband to continue.
"You are worried about our children's education, but haven't you raised them to be world-changers? Maybe you just didn't know which world you meant. Aren't the skills they would learn forging a new civilization just as valuable as getting an A on a test? Those kids are resilient. They will shine anywhere they go."
"I don't like this game anymore," Noble mumbled.
Sarai ignored her. "As for our home. Sure we have lived there for many years and we are comfortable, but is there any growth in comfort? And if we aren't growing as people, what are we doing?"
"Dying…" Noble had heard Sarai say the expression before and though she didn't like it, there was a small amount of truth in the words.
"You also said that you are worried about the Dream Realm being unsafe: When was the last time you heard about Ravenheart being seriously attacked? Ki Song and her daughters have eradicated all the biggest horrors. I would argue that it is safer than the NQSC where gates can pop up unannounced in your living room or on your train ride home."
"…that's a low blow…" Noble crossed her arms. "You think I haven't considered that?"
Sarai nodded slowly.
"I am sure you have. And if I may address your biggest concern: being trapped in the Dream Realm." Sarai looked at Noble seriously, her voice returning to normal. "I know I'm young, but from my point of view, we are already trapped. The Spell is now taking people from outside of the normal range. Even if Rain makes it another year, there is no guarantee that she will be safe from the pull of her first Nightmare. Sure they would be stuck in the Dream Realm, but at least the choice of being infected would be placed in their hands. What would you have done to be able to make that choice for yourself?"
Noble pressed her lips together. "Is that you or Fort speaking?"
"It would be both, I assume," Sarai brushed back her red hair unapologetically.
"Then I hate you both," Noble held no malice in her voice.
The baker grinned. "For making you think?"
"Yes." Noble dropped her hands in her lap.
"I love you too." Sarai hugged her friend from the side.
Noble floated closer. "Ok, Faux Fort. What about Crestfall? I cannot go to Ravenheart because I would leave the best friend in the world behind in the citadel we helped found."
Sarai furrowed her brow. "That is the biggest problem you have listed by far. But the solution is simple...I'm surprised you didn't think of it before…"
Noble leaned forward, curious what the baker would say. As usual, Sarai surprised her.