Astonishing

Hidden in the center of the Clan Song's palatial manner, away from prying eyes, was the Dreamgate.

Teddy was not the only one stunned by its astonishing appearance. The few videos that had surfaced of the Dreamgates did not do them justice. 

Even Noble, who had seen the King of Swords' portal up close and personal on a projection, was taken aback at the scene. 

The edges of the Dreamgate were tinged with black, pulsing slightly like the embers of a dark flame. They were what separated the dome sky of the NQSC from the alien world of the Dream Realm.

It was a flimsy barrier, and yet Noble was confident it would hold its shape as long as Queen Ki Song willed it to be so. 

Inside the black picture frame, the picturesque garden was missing from the courtyard. Instead, it was replaced by a sweeping scene of ice and snow.

A magnificent palace stood on the slope of a pristine mountain. 

'The Jade Palace.' 

Though the same stone as Crestfall was likely used to build the impressive structure, the walls of it were no longer white, but looked like obsidian glass. 

The reason why was easy to guess.

The palace was situated at the very edge of a bottomless chasm. That chasm and the others nearby had housed volcanic activity for thousands of years.

The ash would have turned anything as black as tar with enough time, and the palace had long passed the season where its color was forever altered. Contrasted against a pure white background, the Jade Palace's unrelenting beauty had only become more remarkable.

In front of the black fortress, a massive stone bridge spanned the vast chasm between the mountain and the one standing opposite it, connecting the two peaks of the chain with a colossal road. The design of the bridge was a marvel all on its own, and Noble had a hard time believing that it could have possibly been constructed by human hands. 

'It probably wasn't,' she reminded herself as she remembered who had first owned the beautiful citadel. 

Whoever had built it had made it stand the test of time. Now the mysterious Ki Song was the mistress of the keep. Noble wondered if she found the view as impressive after so many years. 

"That's so cool!" Brock yelled when he looked up from his labor. He let go of the wagon for a moment to shield his eyes from the sun of the NQSC. 

"Brock!" Blaze tried to shush his brother. The quietness of the rest of the group, when they entered the Song's manor had made him think twice before acting up. 

"Seriously, look! Have you ever seen anything so amazing?" Brock only got louder. 

Noble looked over her shoulder to give her son a sharp look and press her finger to her mouth, but Lady Seishan had already heard his words. She stepped to the side and looked down the column of people. 

When she found Brock, her crimson lips twisted into an alluring grin. "You think it is beautiful from this side? Just wait." 

The grey-skinned princess turned and resumed her walk toward the Dreamgate with her two generals by her side. She spoke with them casually, perhaps to put the rest of the party at ease.

The Princess of Song seemed like she did not have a care in the world. Inside these protective walls, maybe she didn't. But Noble suspected it was just an act.

'This is probably her one moment of peace all day,' the professor mused. Many things could be said about the Great Clans, but Noble knew they were not idle.

Even the compound had a false sense of stillness. Behind the beautiful walls and even on the terraced rooftops, Noble could feel the emotional signatures of many other Awakened. Under the surface, the manor was a beehive of activity.

Looking up, Noble spotted a woman tending a rooftop garden. The professor wondered if the young woman was going about her day as usual or if she was strategically placed to make sure no trouble happened.

Somehow the professor guessed it was the latter.

'Surely they wouldn't expect any trouble from the government. But I cannot blame them for being cautious.'

The battle of the Great Clans in Antarctica might have come to a close, but that didn't mean the tension had ceased. Likely the opposite was true, which made Noble sad.

'I wish they would just get along. What could be so important that we would pit human lives against one another?… It's so senseless…'

Rain pulled Noble's hand, stopping her forward float a moment before she ran into Renle, who had halted in front of her.

At the front of the line, Seishan passed through the barrier to the other side. Reality rippled around her as she passed between worlds, but no sound was made.

The daughter of Song took her place at the edge of the bridge and folded her hands.

Only the two Generals stood between the caravan and the Dreamgate.

General Blizzard's voice boomed over the crowd reaching the back with relative ease, "You will give your name to General Derby. Once you are cleared, you will be able to enter the citadel."

This was the final checkpoint. The last chance to turn around and say she had changed her mind.

Yet Noble had no intention of going back. There were many reasons for this, but one in particular made her want to act with utmost urgency.

Beside her, Rain yawned. It was her second yawn since they began moving. Noble could see her eyelids slip shut for a moment.

"Rainy, are you sure…"

Rain jumped at her name and skipped a step. "I'm fine! I just stayed up all night packing."

"Alright." Noble hoped she was right.

They had been going nonstop for days and Rain had worked extra hard to get her exams done early before they left the NQSC. The teen had looked increasingly exhausted over the past couple of days, and Noble had noticed that last night she had avoided sleeping at all.

If it wasn't normal fatigue, then the family needed to get through the gate as soon as possible before the Spell could take hold.

At last, Renle passed the checkpoint and it was their turn.

General Derby looked at the family with an indifferent expression. "Names?"

"Ambassador Fort, my wife—Noble, and our three children—Rain, Brock, and Blaze," Fort spoke calmly as he indicated the members of his family.

Derby checked against the synthetic paper in his hand while Blizzard examined them more closely.

"Is there anything we should know about?" Blizzard's eyes turned completely white.

Noble hesitated.

Did he suspect the same thing she did, that Rain was infected?

Would that even make a difference once they entered the Queen's protection?

"No," Fort said firmly, alleviating Noble from answering.

She smiled at General Blizzard and squeezed Rain's hand encouragingly.

"Everything seems to be in order," General Derby announced, his catlike eyes flicking toward Blizzard.

The second General continued to stare at the family.

"It was sticking over the sidewalk and I stepped on it on accident!" Blaze cracked. "I panicked, bent down, and stuffed the crushed petals in my pocket. I didn't want to cause trouble!"

Blaze fished the red petals out of his coat and held them out to General Blizzard, who accepted the crushed flower with an unreadable expression. His fingers closed around the plant with a gentle nod.

The poor child looked ready to faint. Had Blaze cost his family's entrance into Ravenheart by hiding his mistake?

The plants certainly didn't look normal. Would something bad have happened if one of them crossed into the Dream Realm?

Noble held her breath, ready to plead her case if things went sideways. Thankfully, it did not come to that. 

"I appreciate your honesty," General Blizzard nodded and took a step out of their way. "You are now clear to go. Welcome to Ravenheart."