The man looked ready to turn around and return to the kitchen, but a single word stopped him in his tracks.
"Sunny?"
Noble's question caused his smile to grow strained before blooming into a more natural expression. He strode toward the corner table with a leisurely gait.
"Ah, yes, that is me. I suppose you saw my sign on the door." Sunny nodded.
Noble had noticed the sign but had written it off as a strange coincidence. What were the odds that the same man living in her daughter's shadow would own a cafe in Bastion?
Hadn't she spoken to him before going on her journey? How had he gotten here and opened a shop while she was still traveling?
Yet here he was, her daughter's brother...The powerful and mighty Saint was...wearing an apron and being oggled by hungry patrons?!
'This can't be right. Maybe I hit my head.'
Noble looked at the man again and frowned. Something wasn't adding up.
Noble had already observed that she couldn't sense things well through the walls of this cafe. She had blamed an enchantment, but what if something more was going on?
Then there was Sunny himself. His aura was not the same at all. The power he exuded was that of a Master, not a Saint.
More than that, the man living in Rainy's shadow was– for lack of another word–happier.
The establishment's owner looked charming and content, but Noble could feel his underlying longing. It felt the same and also very different from the man she knew in Ravenheart.
'Does Sunny have a twin?'
No, the recognition in the man's eyes and spike in his emotions meant he knew exactly who Noble was. Yet he hadn't called her by name and introduced himself as a stranger.
'Why? How?...'
Noble felt her head begin to hurt. She had enough problems without trying to unravel the mystery of the pale young man.
When she got home, perhaps he would explain the odd occurrence. Or he would hide from her and hope she forgot.
'That seems more likely.'
Either way, causing drama in Bastion was not in Noble's best interest.
She swallowed her curiosity and smiled softly.
"You have a lovely cafe."
"Thank you." Sunny visibly relaxed. "May I take your order?"
Lena glanced between Noble and the charming owner. If she thought anything about their interaction, she kept it to herself.
"My daughter and I are reuniting after years." The grey-haired matron motioned to the blonde Master. "We would like something to celebrate."
The handsome owner bowed deeply and backed away. "I have just the thing."
'Hmm, he isn't coming back.'
That was just as well. Noble wanted to soak in every moment with her mother, even if the conversation was going to be awkward.
To Noble's relief and surprise, Lena was not interested in making her daughter pour out her soul. They were both adults, and each was free to live her own life.
The grandmother was far more interested in her favorite topic. "Tell me all about my grandbabies!"
Happy to oblige, Noble began all the updates that she had on her three children. Blaze and Brock were closing in on their sixteenth birthday, which was one of the reasons Noble was determined to finish her mission quickly, and Rain was close to twenty and leaving her teenage years behind.
Soon, Aiko floated two near-perfect waffles and cups of steaming liquid and set them on the table. For a moment, it felt like they were reliving their days in the Waking World.
Everything seemed as it should be.
"Brock attends the Dreamer Academy daily, much to his father's chagrin." Noble sipped on the fragrant tea.
"Fort isn't handling it well?" Lena raised one eyebrow, unsurprised.
"He is doing much better than when Rain tried to join. His outward appearance doesn't give it away, so Brock has no idea. But I can feel the worry Fort has for when Brock inevitably tries to take on the first Nightmare. I both dread it and long for it to be over."
Noble knew how hard her son had been training. If anyone deserved to finish a Nightmare with the best possible evaluation, it was him.
"Blaze isn't interested in being Awakened, I guess?" Lena picked up a knife to cut her waffle.
"He is, but I get the feeling that it is more because he doesn't want to be left behind by his brother. That human calculator is far more interested in helping Fort solve the world's problems in mundane ways. Right now, he only goes to the Academy when Brock asks and is trying to finish up his regular studies first."
At least she had one child who didn't seem keen on running headlong into danger. If Blaze chose to enter a Nightmare, it would be after careful consideration of every angle. Noble could only hope his levelheadedness would rub off on the elder twin.
"And Rain? Still chasing monsters?" Lena's mouth twitched slightly as she swallowed.
"More than ever." Noble chewed her lip. "She got her own place not too long ago where she sometimes stays. She claims it is so we can have more space, but I think she is just trying to hide the worst of her injuries. She won't let me take her to a healer anymore. She claims it is wasting our money."
"That girl!" The grandmother clicked her tongue. "Does she think she is invincible? I admire Rain's bravery, but what's going to happen when she gets in some real trouble? Does she expect something to swoop in from the sky and save her at the last moment?"
"No, not from the sky. The shadows, maybe..."
Noble heard a small crash in the kitchen as a dish fell to the floor and shattered.
The floating Master smirked. 'So he is listening. I knew it!'
It didn't matter. Noble wasn't about to say anything he couldn't hear from outside her kitchen window.
But eavesdropping was rude! So, Noble didn't mind making him squirm.
"Don't worry, Mom. Rain is turning into a fine young lady. You would be proud of her. She hopes to visit you very soon. All the kids do. Has there been any progress on that front?" Noble leaned forward in her chair.
Fort had hinted that progress was coming, but he was also quite focused on delaying the inevitable war looming on the horizon. So while Noble hoped for progress that might unify the two Domains, she also worried that it might expedite a confrontation.
Lena shook her head. "Things are moving slowly. Some days, I think we are a breath away from having electricity in Bastion, and other days, it feels like it will be years from now."
It made sense. Noble had seen how wild the Dream Realm was. Things were highly unpredictable.
The women continued, talking about the lives they had formed in their new homes. It was bittersweet to hear how well each of them was doing.
Touching her pocket, Noble felt the slip of paper that Aiko had given her. The window to meet with Roan would soon close.
Reluctantly, Noble pushed her plate away, dropped her payment on the table, and rose from her seat.
"It was nice to see you, Mom. I am sorry it couldn't be for longer."
Lena nodded, her eyes betraying her disappointment. "I hope you will come back and visit again soon. For real next time."
"I will try. I love you, Mom." Noble hugged the older woman one last time. "I will see you again."
"Good luck, Noble." Lena kissed her daughter's cheek. "Whatever it is, I know you will make me proud."
Turning, Noble wiped a tear from her cheek.
'This won't be the last time I see you. I promise.'
Noble wasn't sure if the promise was to herself or her mother. It didn't matter. All she knew was that she meant it.
As the soft bell announced her exit, Noble turned the corner and headed away from the lake and the bushy-browed professor who was running late for lunch with his wife. As much as she wanted to look back and greet her stepfather, the young Master set her gaze firmly forward.
She had a meeting to attend.