The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Chapter 801 801: Shot in Broad Daylight

As another morning dawned, Noble stretched and sighed. The sound of the new cords creaked lightly above her as she did so, bringing a smile to her face.

They were an upgrade from what was there before, constructed of long, coarse hairs of an Awakened Monster. Fort had called in a few favors to get some of the rope in order to hang a new hammock-like bed, but the results spoke for themselves.

Noble breathed deeply, feeling the emotions of a city waking up just like her.

Some awoke with a chip already on their shoulder, while others were full of hope for the promise of what the day might bring.

Noble was able to feel them all. In the weeks since her breakdown and subsequent breakthrough, she had grown used to their constant companionship.

She, too, had begun to gain mastery over her influence. Before her Transcendence, Noble had to actively exert her feelings on the world around her. Now, the opposite was true; her feelings naturally permeated the air. By bottling them up, she had made it easier for others to sway her emotions.

Now she had reached a balance. Noble could feel and be felt by those around her. The interaction was peaceful and was, as far as she could tell, unnoticed by those in her vicinity. That was, unless Noble wanted to make her presence known.

That had only really been the case once in the past couple of weeks.

Noble had run into Tamar, Fleur, and her new boyfriend, Ray.

The young man had been describing how he was glad that his application to go to the Dream Realm early had been revoked. Fleur's application had been tied up in mountains of paperwork, and he stood in solidarity with her plight.

"I wouldn't accept an approval now anyway," he told Professor Noble. "It isn't fair to leave Fleur here. Though maybe if I had gotten it, I could have transferred it."

"Don't talk like that!" Fleur pushed against the boy's shoulder. "I never would have accepted it!"

Ray shrugged, "Then I guess it is better that I didn't get that choice. We are in this together."

Fleur blushed.

"That's…sweet." Noble chewed the inside of her cheek. The sentiment was romantic, but really, either one should have taken the offer if it had been presented.

"You shouldn't reject the opportunity to skip this trial based on each other." Tamar crossed her arms.

Noble raised her eyebrows, surprised at the young lady's interjection. The professor hadn't seen fit to contradict them because the point was moot, but Tamar had other ideas.

"The chances of you both being thrown into the same part of the Dream Realm are so slim that it's silly to say you are in it together. If you really had the opportunity and rejected it for the one you loved, you could be signing your own death warrant."

Tamar's voice was even, though the judgment in it was clear: love was well and good, but it shouldn't make them act stupid.

"Are you saying that those who can leave for the Dream Realm ahead of the Solstice should do so?" Noble was genuinely curious about the girl's response.

Tamar's father was a Saint, after all.

The young woman shook her head. "I think if you choose to go into the Solstice, it should be because you want to get stronger, not for the sake of romance."

"Why not both?" Ray's comment was met with a stony silence from the legacy. He coughed. "Well, I do want to get stronger for…reasons."

His pinky finger brushed up against Fluer's in what could have been an accidental gesture if Noble had not been able to sense their feelings.

'Ah, young love…' she sighed silently.

Tamar noticed the action too. She shifted away from them, hiding her discomfort behind her impassive expression.

Noble smiled at her in understanding. Being the third wheel wasn't fun. Noble thought about how she might help.

"Lady Tamar, I have more time today if you want me to make any additional introductions."

The Legacy glanced at Fleur, who frowned. The redhead pulled away from Ray.

Tamar shook her head. "Thank you, Professor, but I will have to decline right now. We were heading to a combat class."

"I understand." Noble nodded slowly. "Feel free to find me in my office later today if you find some time."

"I will," Tamar lowered her head respectfully. Seeing the other two students' inquisitive glances, the girl allowed herself a small smile. "Come on, you lovebirds. Let's get to class before I find there are better options out there for friends."

'Friends.' The meaning of the word was not lost on Noble. Legacies usually had many colleagues, teammates, and allies, but few real friends. If Tamar considered the other two Sleepers as friends, then they should count that as the highest honor.

The sight of the three of them getting along after such a rocky start warmed Noble's heart. Despite her initial reservation, Noble found the trio to be endearing in their own way.

'Cherish those bonds.' Noble wished them well. 'I hope your friendship will endure long after the solstice is over.'

Noble felt a slight tingle in her soul. Usually, when that happened, Noble felt her connection to a person, or more than one person, grow. This time, however, was different.

Noble couldn't quite explain it, but her Attribute was affecting the three people walking away from her.

'Did I just deepen their connection instead of my own?'

While there was no way to confirm, Noble felt somehow that it was true. Though she had to admit that the connection must have already been present, for although she had strengthened it, Noble knew she had not created it.

'What a strange development...'

Noble had little time to mull over the development, for she felt something moving at great speed in her direction. Noble turned to view a thin arrow cutting through the campus and heading straight for Fleur.

"Get down!" Noble called, her telekinesis forcing the sleepers around her to the ground.

Locking onto the missile, Noble's eyes swirled.

Without warning, the arrow changed trajectories and went sailing into the sky. It came to a stop and floated toward Noble's waiting palm. She released the red-tipped projectile into her hand and examined it.

But before she could give much attention to the irregular fletching, the Memory disappeared.

Noble paused, sending her second sight far and wide. She waited many seconds.

'Nothing else is coming this way. Could it have been an accident?'

A few more heartbeats and Noble's shoulders relaxed.

"Everyone, clear the area. I will get to the bottom of this." Noble frowned. "Go!"

Few had seen the arrow, and Noble's instructions confused them. It wasn't until they received a dose of her concern that they felt the urgency to move.

As they hurried to any nearby building, Noble calculated the angle and distance the arrow must have traveled.

'That way…'

The professor opened her communicator as she moved, apprising Mori and the security team of what had just happened.

However, she couldn't stay on the line long. Stashing her device, Noble raced forward.

In front of her, there was an incident requiring her immediate attention.