"Excuse me?" Noble was immediately on her guard.
"Forgive me. I couldn't help but note how quickly things changed when your eyes started to swirl. I just assumed you had something to do with it." The man shrugged.
Noble usually kept her eyes blue, but they didn't always cooperate. This seemed to be one of those times where her colorful irises had betrayed her.
"We all hope for peaceful conclusions to conflicts," the professor nodded. "If I helped meet that end, then I am glad I could be of service."
"Well put," the man answered, pushing off the wall and offering his hand. "Awakened Forge."
Having given up on worrying about people's odd name choices, Noble shook his hand. "I'm Noble."
"It is good to meet you." The man stepped back and passed his cup to his dominant hand. "You are one of the award recipients, if I'm not mistaken."
Noble nodded. "I am."
"Congratulations! Your mother must be very proud." Forge lifted his cup and took a sip.
"My…mother?" Noble looked the man up and down. "Do you know her?"
"Ah, yes. Ambassador Lena is very well known in Bastion and for all the right reasons. She talks about you constantly. I feel like I know your family." Forge smiled pleasantly, yet Noble knew the man was lying.
He might know her mother, but they were not close enough for so much information to be shared.
The professor could not help but feel uncomfortable about the direction things were going.
"You were not standing beside me just now by accident, were you?"
"Straight to the point, I see. I respect that." Forge's pleasant smile dimmed a little. "In fact, I did come to strike up a conversation with you, but there has been no great way to break the ice until now."
Noble understood. Other than a few polite conversations in passing, she had been mostly alone.
"What is it you want, Awakened Forge?"
The man adjusted his collar. "I've heard all about the progress being made in Ravenheart, and I've come to offer your son a business proposition."
Noble blinked.
"You mean Blaze?"
"That's the one. That little genius has made quite the stir!"
"What kind of business proposition?" Noble was not interested in flattery, even if what Forge said was true.
"I want Blaze to leave his current partner—the man is a dead end anyway—and join me to further his research. Unlike my colleague, I will be happy to pay the young man for his work and not just wait for results."
Noble furrowed her brow. "You realize my son is still a teenager?"
"Brilliance is not limited by age," Forge chuckled amiably.
"Do you plan to relocate to Ravenheart for this venture?" Noble pressed.
The man's smile grew. "Dead gods, no! I would be willing to equip Blaze with everything he needs to move to Bastion. If you do not think he would do well on his own, I would be happy to pay for you to join him as well, or I'm sure he could stay with Ambassador Lena."
'He can't be serious!' Noble inhaled sharply through her nose.
"Awakened Forge, Blaze is mundane. That trip would throw him into his first Nightmare before he ever got to you!"
"That's a small thing for a genius like him. He would come through it without a scratch, I'm sure of it!" Forge nodded.
Noble frowned. 'What is his angle?'
Was Forge really wanting to recruit Blaze simply because he saw promise in her son?
Maybe, but she doubted that was his main goal. If that were so, he would have shown at least some spike in his emotions at the thought of losing Blaze in a Nightmare. His feelings had barely changed at all.
It was far more likely that Forge wanted to hurt his competitor, or worse, all of Ravenheart, in favor of his own interests and those of Bastion. For all Noble knew, Forge was banking on Blaze dying and saving him the money that he would have had to pay.
"It sounds like quite an offer, so I won't waste your time. I am afraid I have to decline." Noble dipped her to walk away.
Forge caught her elbow. "Give me a moment to give my pitch. It's a fantastic opportunity for Blaze!"
Another lie.
Noble had heard more than enough. She would have someone investigate Forge's business practices when she got the chance, but for now, she wanted to be as far away from him as possible.
"Have a wonderful evening."
The floating Saint pulled away from him, but Forge persisted in following her. It was not just annoying. It was infuriating.
"Master Noble!"
"I have said all I am going to say on the matter." Noble was ready to turn on her heels and use her power for the second time in the span of a few minutes.
If the man would not listen, she would make him listen.
"There you are!" A man with a weathered face and tired eyes stepped between Noble and Forge. "Is this man bothering you?"
He turned his head, and Forge's face changed from determined to fearful. "No, Sir. I was just leaving."
"Then be on your way." The older man flicked his wrist and summarily dismissed Forge from his presence. He turned back to Noble. "He knows I can find someone to cancel his construction contracts in Bastion in a heartbeat. I hope he didn't give you too much trouble."
"I am fine, though his construction projects should be cancelled just the same." Noble released the anger inside her, replacing it with calm. She smiled at the kind, elderly gentleman. "Thank you for your help."
"I am a wallflower myself when it comes to parties, but when I noticed your distress, I could not stand aside." The man explained.
Noble could see the earnestness in his eyes.
"I appreciate it. You were much kinder than I would have been. Some people do not understand that no means no."
The man regarded her with a winsome smile. "I have no doubt you would have. Perhaps Forge should be thanking me for saving him instead."
"Indeed, you let him off easy." Noble nodded firmly. "He would be wise not to bother me again."
The old man chuckled softly. "You remind me of another passionate woman from when I was younger. Ah, my dear niece could learn a thing or two about having a strong will. She is very amiable, but sometimes she can be too easily swayed by her dear uncle."
"Your niece sounds like a wonderful person." Noble did appreciate a woman who loved her elders. "I'm Noble, by the way."
The professor could not quite place the gentleman before her. Had she met him at the Academy years ago? He certainly looked and felt familiar.
"Ah, yes, Master Noble! You are the one who saved 'Brose's granddaughter. He mentioned you were here when I entered."
"Brose? Do you mean the host of our party?" Noble was surprised by the casual nickname.
"Yes, I call him Brose, and he calls me Orie. He's my contemporary, of course. Old friends never let things go. Not even my dear niece calls me that."
"Orie?" Noble's eyes widened. "You wouldn't happen to be Master Orum, would you?"
"Ah, I see my reputation precedes me!"
He looked past Noble and smiled.
"Speaking of my niece, there she is. Darling, over here!" The man waved at a blonde woman across the room.
Noble turned. Her face paled. A familiar face was heading her way.