The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Advancing Beyond Tomorrow

With daylight starting to fade off into the horizon and the emotional day at the beach starting to settle, we made our way into the heart of one of the more prestigious institutions in the entire state.

No one really said much on the drive there. Lyra had dozed off, while Livia was taking in the towering skyline of Los Angeles with awe. Noah stayed quiet, calm as ever, but I caught him glancing out the window a few times with interest as the city buzzed past.

One by one the lights came on, and the beauty of electricity unfolded. We had enchanted lamps in the castle, yet most spaces still burned candles unless you were rich.

So outside of the main areas, it was practically pitch-black at nighttime.

It didn’t take long to find one of the campuses I was hoping to see.

Huge stone buildings wrapped in glass, trees lining walkways, and small crowds of students moving in clusters with backpacks and iced coffees.

In short… exactly what I was looking for...

We found a small lot tucked just off the main road and parked without hesitation. If we got a parking ticket, who cares? There wasn’t much of a chance we would come back here anytime soon. After this I plan on heading east.

“Let’s just walk,” I said as I unbuckled Lyra from her car seat and tucked her into the stroller. She was sleeping soundly and looking super cute. “Just act like you belong here… because right now we do.”

The others crowded in behind me as I walked confidently through one of the most prestigious colleges in this part of the United States.

Heads turned in our direction occasionally; Noah was impossible not to notice, but otherwise, no one tried to stop us. We were just another group of weirdly fashionable people exploring the academic world.

We walked by the Department of Physics, the School of Engineering, and Mathematics & Applied Sciences. Overhead, a bold banner proclaimed, “Advancing tomorrow’s innovation.”

“Cute slogan,” I muttered. “Let’s put that to the test.”

After a few minutes of wandering, we found a wide glass entryway with a touch screen directory mounted just inside.

“Bingo.” I exclaimed.

I walked straight to it, ignoring the receptionist behind the desk, who didn’t seem sure whether to acknowledge us or call security.

The directory loaded up without much effort. It was clean and responsive. I scrolled until I found what I was looking for…

Faculty Directory: Department of Engineering and Advanced Systems.

Beneath it, a full list of names appeared, complete with tiny portraits and areas of focus.

“Here,” I said while pointing. “We need someone who specializes in mechanical systems, maybe energy transfer as well… anything really that’s close to cross-disciplinary design or invention.”

Noah leaned in closer. “Like the ones your professors back home need support with?”

“Exactly, we’re already teaching them about pressure systems, thermodynamics, and basic circuit logic. But… if I can get a real expert to help us design a framework, we can skip decades of trial and error.”

I scanned the names, filtering through the usual academic titles until one in particular stood out…

Dr. Rebecca Alden: Applied Energy Systems, Mechanical Interface Theory, Modular Device Design.

There was also an insert below it:

She was known for her unconventional approaches to practical innovation and student-led invention labs.

I tapped her name with a grin. She seemed perfect and also encouraged her students to follow her lead. Would probably be a great addition to our growing educated community.

“She’s bold and probably much easier to convince than a textbook-obsessed traditionalist. Let’s go find her office and hope she’s in.”

After asking a handful of students and staff, I was struck by how quickly they guided us. Were they not wary of how we looked, or did the baby make us seem harmless?

“Looking for Dr. Rebecca Alden?”

“Oh yeah, you can find her on the third floor of the Innovation Wing.”

“Her door’s usually open; just go on up.”

No questions about why we were there or any suspicion of any kind. Apparently having mostly women and a baby allowed for free access to this college, go figure.

We followed the signs, wound through a few echoing hallways, and eventually found her office and the woman herself.

Her door was half open, and she was hunched over her desk with a pair of goggles resting on top of her head. She was surrounded by parts of what looked like a disassembled drone and several cups of coffee in various conditions.

I knocked once, and she waved without even looking up. “Come in… Please don’t be another intern with a broken 3D printer nozzle; I swear I’ll scream.”

All of us stepped inside as she looked up. Her pause was comical as she sat there and studied our appearances.

Her eyes narrowed in curiosity, not fear; something clicked behind them.

Noah stood beside me like a statue, with Elowen and Livia just behind, both clearly out of their depth but trying to keep up. I had Lyra still soundly sleeping in the stroller I was pushing.

Dr. Rebecca Alden blinked once and then asked, “How… can I help you?”

I smiled. “I’m here to make you an offer.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “An offer, you say?”

“Yes,” I said, stepping closer with confidence. “I need someone with your particular skill set: brilliant, unconventional, and capable of teaching what they know. I'm willing to pay top dollar for it.”

Her gaze sharpened. “What kind?” The words were short and to the point.

“One that’s worth more than your current salary,” I replied evenly. “A whole lot more and something you can only see in your imagination.”

That got her attention. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

“Alright, I’ll bite.” She said, giving me a long look. “Who exactly are you?”

I gave her a half-smile.

“Let’s just say I’m offering something no one has done before. It will rewrite what you think you know about the world and give you a hand in shaping a society from the ground up.”

Dr. Alden looked over our group: the tall, silent man at my side; the nervous yet curious women behind me; and finally, the baby asleep in the stroller.

Then she laughed once, short and disbelieving.

“Well,” she said slowly. “This is definitely not about 3D printers.”

“You’re correct.” My smile is faint but still carries confidence. “This definitely isn’t about some 3D printer.”

Dr. Alden raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt.

“I could explain the truth,” I said, folding my hands, “but I doubt you’d believe me without seeing it. That’s why I’m keeping things vague for now.”

She watched me carefully, expression unreadable.

“But,” I added with a small grin. “I do want you to be excited. So here’s what I can promise.”

I stepped forward, my voice low and composed.

“My offer is five times your current salary, or name a reasonable price. I can pay in cash up front. I’m not here to waste anyone’s time.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s… a hell of a pitch.”

“I'm serious about bringing you on. This isn't a scam. It's a rare chance most people only dream of. Will you take it or watch it pass?”

Dr. Alden sat back, chin resting on interlaced fingers.

“Okay,” she said finally. “You’ve got a mysterious vibe, money, a strange entourage, and a baby. So what exactly are you offering me… It almost seems like this opportunity is in another world.” She let out a small laugh, but at the same time I just smiled at how correct she was.

I held her gaze without looking away. “You’re correct.”

There was a long pause. Her head tilted, and finally a spark of genuine curiosity lit in her eyes.

“You’re serious?”

“Very.”

She didn’t laugh or scoff at such an absurdity. The silence in the room stretched out as she just sat there staring at me like I had just cracked open the floor beneath her feet.

Someone in the field of science would obviously need a demonstration.

“I’ll need proof,” she said firmly. “Not money or words. If I’m going to even entertain such a claim.”

“You’ll get one.” A smile bloomed on my face knowing she was about to be shocked, and I couldn’t wait for her expression.

Dr. Alden looked at me expectantly.

“How about I show you a little something… magical?”

Her eyebrows twitched upward, obviously still skeptical of my words and at the same time fully engaged in our conversation.

I turned slightly toward Noah, who stood near the door like an elegant god of war.

“Noah, love,” I said sweetly, “would you be a dear and show Dr. Alden what you can do?”

He didn’t need further prompting.

Without a word, he lifted one hand in a slow, graceful motion. A quiet heat rolled through the air as a soft glow gathered at his fingertips, and then it ignited into a flame. The crackling heat was controlled and elegant as he laid it on top of his palm.

Noah held it aloft like a candle in the wind, except it wasn’t wavering; it was perfectly still.

“Please try not to burn down the place,” I added with a teasing giggle.

Dr. Alden was completely enamored by the sudden show, flabbergasted at what she was seeing. Her eyes were wide, mouth slightly parted as she watched the flame swirl in Noah’s palm with almost reverent fascination.

“What… the hell,” she let slip, but as a whisper.

“Oh, we’re just getting started.”

I nodded at Noah again.

He snapped his wrist, and in a flash of dark metal, a sleek blade appeared out of nowhere, catching the overhead lights and humming with a menacing aura. He twirled it once and let it vanish just as easily.

Dr. Alden stumbled back into her chair, blinking hard like she wasn’t sure she was seeing straight.

“As you can see,” I said, strolling forward and gently brushing Lyra’s hair back as she snoozed in the stroller, “my entourage is of the fantasy variety.”

I turned toward her fully, my tone even more confident and measured.

Her face focused on me as if asking, “Who the hell are these people, for real?”

“I’m sure you’re even more curious about our true identity. Let’s just say that in another world, this guy and I are basically royalty.”

Noah, still portraying his calm and stoic self, was just staring at Dr. Alden calmly, like it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

She, on the other hand, couldn’t contain her excitement and also had a bewildered face at the same time. Not quite figuring out if this was real or some elaborate magic show.

I watched on as our party chuckled at her response as she opened and closed her mouth with nothing coming out.

I smiled, certain we had already caught her. The reel would come soon enough. Her eyes told me she wanted more.

Something I’m sure many researchers have in common. Once they see something impossible, their first conclusion is to figure out how in the world it was done.

That curiosity, intrigue, and hunger is something I want in those who we bring over. It will be much more fruitful than anything else.

After such a fun and frustrating day, to come across such a gem was a great fortune for us. Now to close the deal and bring her over to our world, and hopefully she will enjoy taking on such a challenge.