The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Noble felt very out of sorts.

Being forcibly pulled to the Dream Realm was like the time she had fallen into the Nightmare Gate and entered the seed. 

For a moment, she panicked until she felt Cor's cold hand still gripping hers. 

Her stomach lurched, but she managed to keep down her breakfast. Was this how people always felt when being pulled into the Dream Realm by a Saint, or was that a special talent only possessed by Saint Cor? 

'I guess I will find out soon enough.' 

Noble blinked. The world around her came into focus as her eyes adjusted to the change of scenery. 

"You did better than most for the first time," Cor cut his eyes at the Master with a mild amount of amusement. "Next time don't fight it and it will be easier." 

"Thanks for the advice." Noble managed. Why had the man not told her that before taking her? 

She didn't ask, too enthralled by the stalactites around her that formed the gaping maw of the gateway. 

'Long time, no see.' 

It had been months since Noble had been anywhere in the Dream Realm and even longer since she ventured down into the bowels of Ender's Deep. Her mind was filled with years of memories. 

She didn't have time to relive them. 

"Are you coming?" Cor was already halfway across the cavern when he turned to look at the dazed woman. 

"Are you going with me?" Noble furrowed her brow. "I just assumed you would head back as soon as you dropped me here." 

"You know what they say about people who assume," Wake of Ruin chastised her. "Now come on." 

The professor maneuvered between the rocks to catch up with the impatient Saint. Not that she could blame him for his desire to hurry. They were running behind schedule.

As she got closer to the tunnels leading to the surface, Noble's body rebelled. They were still much too narrow for her liking. 

"I will meet you at the surface," she told him without explaining. 

The Master could have offered to bring Cor with her, but that would have used essence unnecessarily. While it was likely any essence used would be replenished before the mission began, it was better to be safe than sorry. 

Plus, if Cor wanted to, he could fly himself. That was part of his Saint transformation. If he wanted to remain in his human form, that was fine with her. 

Exiting into the open air, Noble looked down into the chasm. She could feel a dull presence below. 

'That's unfortunate...' 

Even with all of Sarai's and her careful slash and burning, it seemed at least some of the pollen-like seeds were still spreading down below. If only she had more time...

'Maybe I can arrange a reunion someday here with Sarai and we can make another sweep for old time's sake.' 

The thought bolstered her morale as she rose above the impenetrable darkness to the surface. 

'Whoa!'

The city stood proudly in the morning sun as if daring anything to come against it. 

The wall had been rebuilt and completed so that even if something came up from the ravine, it would have to face a wall before breaching the small kingdom. 

There were no longer temporary buildings, and the structures that stood were mostly made of solid stone. Even the palace looked different against the backdrop of the sprawling streets. 

Crestfall resembled the proud city-kingdom that it once was. 

'Or at least half of it.' 

Coming close to the wall, Noble spied a glint of metal. 

"Don't shoot!" She held up her hands. "I'm human!" 

The bow lowered and she met the archer on the wall. But before she could explain herself, Cor surfaced from the ground and ordered the soldier to stand down. 

"Master Noble is with me!" 

Waving apologetically to the Awakened warrior, Noble completed her entry into Crestfall and joined Cor in the streets. 

The walk toward the palace was pleasant, but Noble wondered why they were making the entire trek when it would have been easier to meet in the middle. Not that the Master would complain. Secretly, she wanted a peek at the gateway that she had helped found. 

"She's late." Wake of Ruin muttered, answering Noble's unasked question. "She is going to make us walk all the way to her." 

"That's not the worst thing. I don't mind." Noble smiled. 

"It's inconvenient," Cor frowned. His body morphed and split into a myriad of dark shapes. The crows took to the sky, heading toward the palace with frightening speed. 

'I guess we are flying to the palace after all.'

Noble lifted into the air, carefully maneuvering between the countless black birds. To be among them was strange, but thinking about how each one of them was a part of Cor's consciousness was even stranger.

She was in the middle of a Saint?

'No, that's too weird to think about.' 

Thankfully at the speed they were travelling, they arrived at the beautiful palace a moment later and Cor resumed his human form. 

With a salute from the guards, the mighty doors opened to admit the visitors. 

From a side hall, a woman with pale skin and icy blue eyes appeared as she adjusted her jacket. The room grew noticeably colder as she drew near. 

"Thank you for coming all this way." 

Jet waved at the soldier in the room. He cleared the area as the front doors shut. 

Unless someone came through the gateway, the three were alone. 

Noble checked to see that the memorial was still in place beside the shimmering exit. To her relief, the sword was still standing proudly. On the other side of the portal, a second structure had been erected: another sword, but this one was recently crafted. 

'For those who fell at the wall' the inscription read. 

'Good,' Noble gave the statue a nod of respect. 

The conversation between the two Saints went on without her input. 

"I still think this is a fool's errand. You can call it off." Cor spoke in hushed tones even though he knew that the Master could hear. "I will tell them that I shut down the operation. The dead gods know I want to." 

"I'll be fine, Boss. I have gotten through worse scrapes than this. I'm sure Noble has too." Jet shrugged. 

Cor pulled at his chin and sighed. "Be careful, Jet." 

"When am I ever?" Soul Reaper laughed. 

Wake of Ruin turned to the Master. "That goes for you too, Child of Promise." 

Noble felt something stir inside her as he said her true name. "I will try." 

"If anything goes wrong or things look grim, return to the Dream Realm before you become a vessel. I know it might hurt to leave behind the people you are trying to save, but it will hurt much more if you are taken."

"Understood," Noble nodded, unsure of how she felt about the advice. 

Dying would hurt in the moment, of course. But the guilt of leaving people behind would last much longer. 

'It won't come to that!' 

"Bye, Boss. I'll see you on the other side." Jet saluted the elder Saint.

 Soul Reaper held out her hand to Noble. "You ready?" 

"Ready." 

Noble hoped that would be the last time she was wrong that day.