From the upper part of the city, Fort was walking toward the Academy at a relaxed pace.
He had someone with him who was speaking in an animated tone. The emotional signature of the second gentleman was just as recognizable as his perfect red hair and green eyes.
Already the group under Ody's tutelage had noticed the visitors and he stopped to watch them approach.
Noble's stomach tightened. She forced a smile and flew across the makeshift campus to intercept the guests.
"Welcome! I did not expect to see you here, Ambassador Fort." Noble glanced at the students, who turned back to Ody and the water purification system he was now building from scratch.
Fort motioned to the floating woman. "This is my wife, Master Noble. I don't believe you have officially met Saint Nightingale before."
"I have not had the honor," Noble managed.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance," Kai bowed formally. The air brushed his fiery red hair against his porcelain face as he lifted his head and smiled.
Noble felt her mouth go dry.
'Just great. I was afraid of this...'
The professor had only been around the charming archer a couple of times before and not since he became a Saint. One of those times was at a concert with hormone-filled teens.
The experience had overwhelmed her senses at the time until she was forced to join them in their zealous screaming.
Those feelings came flooding back to her now.
The worst part?
She could tell the feelings weren't hers, but the excited students around her. And now that Nightingale was a Saint, the pull toward him was even stronger.
Noble's cheeks flushed as she could almost read the thoughts of the teens around her.
'Sometimes I hate being an emotional radar.'
Pushing back against the young people's feelings, Noble shifted uncomfortably.
Sensing something was wrong, Kai frowned. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion. I was invited by a few of the Princesses of Song to visit, and the Government asked me to also take a look at the city. Fort has been very generous with his time as he has shown me around. When he mentioned the Academy's extension, I requested a visit. If this is a bad time..."
"Not at all, it is just a surprise." Noble slowly pieced together her composure. "Did my husband tell you it is our first day? We don't have much to show for ourselves yet."
"I don't mind," Kai grinned again and Noble felt another assault on her senses from those around her.
Saint Kai was known for having a persuasive voice, but Noble quickly realized that his effect on emotions was even more absolute.
'Look away, ladies!' Noble wanted to scream at the teens nearest her. 'I promise you that he isn't interested in you like that...'
Kai graciously ignored the stares and continued with his thoughts.
"I remember my time at the Academy fondly. I hope you don't mind if I stay and reminisce for a moment."
Noble looked away as she felt another of his dazzling smiles incoming. She glanced at her husband, who shrugged slightly.
"As long as you have the time. Not that it will take long. We only have three classes going on today."
The professor checked on the duel going on behind her using her extra sight. Rain and Soup were still playing a game of cat and mouse behind her.
'How is the match not over yet?!'
Noble would save that class for last then.
"Here we have Awakened Ody and his lessons on survival."
"Ah, I wish I had more of those skills before my first solstice." Kai's brow knit. "It would have saved me some trouble."
Since Kai was a long-time survivor of the Forgotten Shore, Noble didn't ask him to elaborate. Instead, she whispered to the students closest to her.
"Did you hear that? A Transcendent wishes he had more of these lessons when he was in your shoes. Maybe you should pay attention."
The young people nodded and turned around, much to Kai's amusement.
A cheer rang out from the combat arena, pulling all three's attention.
"What is going on over there?" The handsome Saint asked.
"I am guessing it is the end of a duel," Noble said optimistically.
The Saint shook his head. "No. It's still going. Shall we?"
Noble smiled tightly.
"We can go check on them after we go talk to those working on Navigation. I'm sure you must have a word or two about how important getting one's bearings can be."
Kai seemed mildly disappointed, but he didn't argue.
"The Hollow Mountains are one of many death zones. I doubt even the Sovereigns know what is hidden in their depths..." Awakened Halo explained as he pointed to the dark looming peaks on his map.
Kai chuckled softly.
"Did you know I went under them?" he whispered so only Fort and Noble could hear. "I would strongly not recommend it. If not for someone in our group being able to see with their eyes closed, we wouldn't have made it out at all."
"A person like that sounds very handy to have around," Fort winked at his wife.
"You are right." Nightingale smiled. "I wonder what happened to them. I guess they must have died in the siege."
His expression became far off as he looked in the direction of the solemn peaks.
"Saint Kai?" Fort cleared his throat lightly. "Are you alright?"
The dashing archer did not answer immediately. "What were we talking about?" he asked when his eyes focused.
"I think we were about to visit Master Rock and his class." Fort didn't want to make the Saint relive painful memories, so he graciously changed the subject.
"Not yet," Noble bit her lip.
Kai looked at her carefully. "Is this about your daughter?"
"What about Rain?" Fort was startled by the question.
"I think Master Noble may be worried I will get offended that after my archery lessons with your daughter, she has chosen to wield a sword in combat instead. I can assure you my feelings are not easily hurt. Both long-range and close combat skills are useful, especially for those who cannot fly."
Kai's lilting speech was meant to put the Master at ease, but it had the opposite effect on both of his listeners.
"Where is Rain?" Fort began to scan the students.
Nightingale pointed, and Fort marched in the direction of the practice arena.
"I was avoiding Rain. You are right," Noble admitted, "But it wasn't because of you. Excuse me. Fort!"
Flying after her husband, Noble slowed his footsteps by making his shoes heavier. But that wasn't enough of a deterrent for the determined father. Finding a gap in the crowd, he dragged his feet through the snow to find his most precious daughter duking it out with a behemoth who was about to crush her.
"Rain!" Fort called out to warn her.
But instead of protecting his daughter, the man's cry caused the pale teen to lower her shield a fraction of a centimeter to look at who was screaming her name.
And the math, sadly, no longer added up.
Soup's club hit the shield and instead of glancing above Rain's smaller frame like it had done dozens of times before, it caught her forehead, knocking her chin toward the sky.
Her eyes lost sight of the landscape and then her vision dimmed.
By the time she hit the ground, there was no tension left in her body.
Rain was deathly still.