The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic Chapter 559: Sorceress

Noble wasn't sure how to feel about Flint's declaration.

While she felt a little pleased to have made him care, she also knew it ca at a great personal cost to him.

She was used to experiencing everyone's emotions every second that she was awake.

But Flint? He was not only less knowledgeable in the area of feelings, but he was outright adverse to having them.

Noble frowned.

'Do you hate ?' she asked him through their shared mory.

'Like I would ever say that out loud...' The man turned his back on her to continue their harvest. 'You're the feelings expert, so you already know anyway...'

'I know you are experiencing a lot of hate,' Noble answered slowly. 'I just want to know if it's about the situation or directed at ."

The latter was problematic. Flint wasn't the most friendly man to begin with. Being tethered to her was undesirable in the best situation.

If he had grown to hate her as well? Then the man might revisit his threat to end their partnership with a quick death.

Flint mulled over her question for a long while.

'It's not you,' he answered at last.

Noble was relieved to know he wasn't lying.

'That's good.'

Flint looked down at his bloodied hands, contemplating whether he could ask for his canteen back to wash them. Deciding it was not the best ti, he shrugged.

'This trip wasn't a total waste.' He grunted to punctuate his point.

'You an all the at? If we could harvest it all, it would be enough to feed the outskirts of the NQSC.'

Not that there were many people left in the outskirts. In hindsight, her statent wasn't all that impressive.

'I wouldn't know about that. I don't hang around in any slums, no less in the Northern Quadrant.' Flint rolled his eyes. 'But I'm not surprised you do...'

At least he hadn't lost his sense of humor. Noble shook her head. 'If it's not about at, then what is it?'

'I got sothing from those insects.' The corners of Flint's mouth twisted upward.

'What?' Noble's eyes opened wider. 'A mory?!'

Unable to contain her excitent, Noble's mind entertained all sorts of possibilities. What would be special enough that the surly Master would feel the need to brag about it?

"Bel. Titus. That should be enough. We need to catch up to the group." Having checked on Orrin and Drusus, Syrce called their excursion to an end. "The boy still cannot walk. He will need to be carried."

"I can help with that." Noble and Flint said in unison.

The floating Master shot her companion a glance. It wasn't like him to be so compassionate that he would offer to carry another human through the woods.

'Oh!'

Next to him, a ball of sparks gave way to an exact duplicate of one of the Mourners which they had spent the morning harvesting.

Syrce drew her sword, but the moth bent its legs to bow before her.

"He's ta?"

Flint nodded. "Yes, My Lady. He can carry Drusus."

'So that's it.' Noble placed her hands on her hips. 'And here I thought you were being gracious. You just wanted to show off your new Echo!'

'I am always gracious,' Flint tilted up his chin. 'And you are just jealous because you didn't get one.'

The floating Master scrunched her face. So what if she hadn't gotten any rewards from the battle? That didn't an she wanted what he had! 'I am not...'

"Oh, Bel!" Syrce interrupted the silent conversation as she regarded the moth. "He's magnificent! How did you manage it? I was sure they were all dead."

"They are dead, do not worry. This is rely a copy." Noble wasn't sure how else to explain the Echo.

"You didn't tell that you were a sorceress too! And after only having seen the creatures for a short ti. That is most impressive! Don't you think so, Titus?" Syrce's grey eyes danced with delight.

'I...she...she's giving you credit for MY ECHO?!' Flint struggled to keep a neutral expression.

"Titus is at a loss for words." Noble hid her grin as she wiped away the sweat from her brow. "The moth belongs to him. I guess you could say it's a gift!"

'A gift from the Spell, not from you!' Flint's mouth twitched.

The floating Master tucked her hair behind her ear. 'I get all the bla for bringing you out here, but I can't take any of the credit?'

'Now you've got it,' the man responded with a silent scoff.

Syrce bent down to inspect the Echo. "A gift! How lovely! You are always so generous."

"Titus deserves it, My Lady. I am jealous of how gracious he is." Noble received a sharp glance from Legacy, but she simply smiled innocently.

The Saint nodded. "I am very fortunate to have an excellent third-in-command. Shall we?"

Straightening, Syrce led the pair back to Orrin and Drusus. The young man had long run out of tears, but he was keeping Livia in his arms and rocking her.

"It's ti to go. This creature will carry you, Drusus, as we..."

"No!" The man shook his head. "I won't leave her."

"We will bring you both," Orrin assured his cousin. "But I do not think you will both fit."

"Then she can ride. I will find another way." Drusus insisted.

"I can fly you." Noble's essence had replenished sowhat from the battle.

But even with Syrce moving in her Transcendent form and Flint being a free rider, Noble didn't think she could take everyone the full way. One person, however, would be manageable.

Drusus watched helplessly as Orin loaded the body up onto the moth. The sharp, angular wings folded intricately until they wrapped around the lady, holding her in place on the Echo's back.

"I want to ride beside her." The young man held out his hand toward her.

"That shouldn't be a problem. Among her many talents, Lady Bel is a sorceress. She can make a companion for you to ride on. Bel?" Syrce turned expectantly toward the blonde.

Flint hid his guffaw behind a cough. 'Serves you right, Blondie,' he taunted. 'Let's see you make another moth appear out of thin air.'

Arching her back, Noble addressed the Saint. "I think a softer ride will be better for Drusus's legs. I have just the thing."

Beside her, a purple mammal with fur softer than velvet materialized. Helios nuzzled his Master, purring softly.

Syrce nodded. "That will do nicely."

Slightly disappointed at Noble's quick thinking, Flint joined with Orrin to help the guard onto his mount. Drusus gathered up two fistfuls of fur and steadied himself.

"Don't worry. He won't let you fall." Noble patted the Symncus's head.

All that was left was to gather the at. Stored mysteriously away sowhere in her tunic, Syrce brought out packs for the people to use.

"You're not the only one with tricks, Bel," she smiled.

They loaded the packs and lashed them to their backs. At last, it was ti to head out.

The trek back to the others was long, but at least it was uneventful.

The next day, however, was full of surprises.