Noble's mouth dropped open. The entire place was filled with stacks and stacks of paper.
"I didn't realize the Dream Realm had this many trees." Of course, the Director knew the paper was synthetic, but that did not lessen her shock.
How had so much piled up? Not even she could have managed this amount of paperwork between both academies!
"I might have gotten a little overzealous with my note-taking. Anything and everything anyone told me was recorded for you to review." Zenkai rubbed the back of his neck. "Feel free to throw all of it out."
"I would never!" Noble was offended at the suggestion. "I will read every word. Thank you for your diligence."
Thankfully, with her Clarity, she could read it all in a matter of hours, maybe faster now that she was a Saint. Knowing that it was reading and not forms to be filled out was a huge relief.
"Is there anything I should know immediately?"
Zenkai considered the question for a moment. "I've had many Awakened apply to hold classes. I was unwilling to hire any instructors until your return. I've numbered them in the order they arrived."
Dismissing his naginata, Master Zenkai gathered a particular pile of papers and passed them to the Director.
Noble thumbed through the pages. "Some of them are very promising. I'll reach out to the best candidates in a few days…"
The Director paused, flipping back and forth between pages.
Zenkai noticed her confusion. "What's the matter?"
"Where is number twenty-six? It goes from twenty-five to twenty-seven." Noble flipped a few more pages to make sure it wasn't misplaced.
"Oh. That's a bit of a strange thing. That application came via a messenger. He said he was only allowed to give it to you, but when I said you were on sabbatical, he reluctantly handed the page to me. The next day, the same young man came back and asked for it to be returned to him. He seemed very nervous. I tried to ask some questions, but he took the paper back and ran as if his life depended on it. That was a couple of weeks ago. I had nearly forgotten!"
"Do you remember the name on the application?" Noble peeked over the pages in her hands.
"That was even stranger. It just said 'a friend'. I guess they assumed you would know who it was. I didn't look at it much past that because it felt like prying, but judging by your face now, I think I should have delved into it."
Noble dismissed the frown that had formed on her lips as she shook her head. "No, it is fine. It's just odd, that's all."
"So I'm guessing you've no idea who this friend is, then?" Zenkai leaned back slightly against the desk.
Noble pressed her lips together. This was the second time today that a mysterious friend had reached out. That was either one doozy of a coincidence or the two incidents were connected.
'Very strange.'
"I'll look into it." Noble set down the papers. "Is there anything else I should know before I read your extensive notes?"
"This isn't in my notes, but your son…" Zenkai seemed to think twice about what he was going to say.
"Which one? Brock?" All other thoughts flew from her head. "Is everything alright?"
The explorer held up his hand to stop the mother from worrying. "Everything is fine! Both your boys are exceptional, but I thought you should know that Brock has been here almost constantly while you were gone. He is very dedicated and a talented fighter. While I would never tell someone to take on a Nightmare, I think he is very well prepared."
"Thank you, Master Zenkai. That means a lot." Noble could not help but smile when her children were complimented.
It was nice to see Brock so committed to something. He had really blossomed after joining the track team, and his commitment to training was commendable. While Noble did not like the idea of her children entering a Nightmare where she could not help them, she appreciated that Brock was taking his preparations seriously.
"All your children are exceptional, really. Blaze has had quite a few ideas on how to improve the efficiency of the Academy. I have included them in my notes, of course. As for your daughter, I heard about Rain's latest hunt, or at least what she brought home from it. Why hasn't that girl become Awakened already? Surely her excursions would be easier with some powers to back her up." Zenkai furrowed his brow.
"Rain's reasons are her own." Noble wasn't about to admit that her daughter had a tutor who was helping her ascend naturally.
An amused smile played along Zenkai's mouth. "Like mother, like daughter."
"What do you mean?" The Director pretended not to notice his smug grin.
"Your 'sabbatical' to help the government. My guess was that it was really a ploy to go and conquer a Nightmare. Yet here you are and still a Master." Zenkai's eyes were full of questions.
"For the government? What makes you think I was working for them?" Noble pursed her lips.
"Ah, uh, well. I might have stumbled across an urgent request in your desk while looking for another writing stone." Zenkai winced.
"I see." Noble nodded slowly. She had left the paper there, hoping he would stumble across it. People were always more likely to believe things they discovered for themselves. "Well, what can I say? Helping the government is helping everyone. I think they are our best chance at having any unity in the Dream Realm."
The instructor seemed to catch her meaning. "Let's hope they can do something soon, then. The Domain loyalty is becoming a bit extreme among some of the new students. Rivalry is one thing, but…"
"I noticed that in your class. I will add it to the things to watch out for." Noble wasn't sure how much she could do about it here. But if they wanted her recommendation to leave for the waking world to conquer a Nightmare, they would have to want to protect all humanity, not just part of it!
"That's good. I've never liked people being treated as second-class citizens." The man ran his fingers through his dark hair with a sigh. "Well, I think that's all I need to tell you. I'll let you read my notes, then answer any questions."
"You are sticking around for a while? I thought being planted in one place for so long would make your wanderlust go crazy."
Zenkai chuckled. "It did, but I also found the beauty in helping others. I will probably stay until the solstice. That will give you a little time to get back into the swing of things as well."
"That sounds wonderful, thank you." Noble could not have asked for a better person to have run things while she was away.
Zenkai stretched. "I suppose my break is over. Back to a discussion of the gods and daemons I go!"
"Sounds interesting," Noble smiled at him.
"Feel free to join!" The instructor offered.
But Child of Promise shook her head. "Some other time. I was just checking in to let you know I'm back. I have a more urgent matter to deal with just now." Noble smiled, looking at the light outside.
Her husband was waiting for her.