The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Chapter 802 802: Namecalling

"You Neanderthals are all the same!"

"I bet you can't even spell Neanderthal!"

Noble viewed the two young men as she neared. The altercation had gathered a crowd of onlookers, many of whom were encouraging their respective side.

"Worm!"

"Mindless blade!"

The two boys hurled insults at each other like stones.

"I'd rather be a blade than something that crawls on its belly." The boy with jade armor mocked, earning him a chorus of cheers and boos.

"Better to be a worm than a tool!" The second young man with a leather breastplate jeered.

Noble pushed her way through the crowd right as sparks formed in each boy's hands.

"Let's see if your Queen can make you a puppet from here!"

"The only puppet here is you!"

The two weapons caught the noonday sun as they swung toward one another. Their hits never landed. The combatants floated into the air, relieved of their weapons and rendered helpless in the sky.

"Enough!" Noble's voice pushed apart the crowd with a tangible force.

Those who had been vehemently calling for blood stopped their clamoring, many averting their eyes. Even Keth, who was among the crowd, knew better than to run his mouth. The two offenders dared not answer the professor either, instead choosing to stare daggers at one another with balled, immobile fists at their sides.

A moment of silence ensued. In the presence of the instructor, the students all held their breaths.

Noble plucked one of the swords from the air, examining it with ardent attention.

"Hm, excellent craftsmanship..."

Releasing it to hover beside her, Noble gripped the hilt of the other blade and swung it experimentally, further scattering the Sleepers nearest her.

"Well, balanced." She hummed softly.

The two weapons were left to stand beside her like sentinels.

"I appreciate that you both want to show off such outstanding Memories, but the place to do that is not out here. That place is in my classroom." Noble addressed the two young men hanging like marionettes. "Or perhaps you were looking for a spar? I am sure Master Rock would be happy to find you an arena where your technique could be monitored and improved."

"We weren't trying to spar! He was trying to kill me!" The student in the leather breastplate managed to shake his head.

"If I had wanted to kill you, you would be dead by now." The second sleeper leaned toward the first as if he might try to tear him apart with his teeth.

The boys moved farther apart under the control of the treacher. "From now on, you may speak to me or not at all. Now, who would like to tell me what happened?"

The two boys began speaking at once, prompting Noble to raise her hand and silence them.

"Let's try this again. First dismiss your Memories, and then you go first." Noble motioned to the one wearing leather.

"I'm Hage, ma'am. And I was minding my own business when this lowlife--"

"No name-calling." Noble held up a finger before allowing Hage to continue.

"I was minding my own business when Alden tripped me and insulted my mother by calling her wormspawn."

Alden's back straightened. "I did not! We bumped into each other, and Hage said I was about as graceful as he would expect any tool to be."

'Not this again,' Noble wanted to place her face in her palm.

The war hadn't even begun, and yet these two were willing to wage it all on their own with the slightest provocation. Noble wasn't sure who had started it–both boys believed that they were telling the truth. Not that it mattered. Both had jumped into the fray without a second thought.

"This childishness will stop right now. It is one thing to have a personal score to settle based on past grievances, but if I hear any more about who belongs to what clan being the basis for an altercation, I will lobby for expulsion of those students from the Academy. Do you hear me?"

Noble had never personally had someone expelled. She could count on one hand the number of people who had been asked to leave, and all of the cases were due to a concern for student health and safety.

That was the case here as well. Students needed a safe place to study.

Seeing the anger in both boys' eyes, Noble sighed. "Alden, Hage, and the rest of you. It is fine and good to be proud of where you come from and who you represent. Build up your clan by your own excellence instead of tearing others down. The Academy is a neutral place where all come to learn. If your goal is to acquire new skills, then you must realize that the very people you snub could be the ones who could teach you the most."

Some in the group seemed to heed her words, and their demeanor changed with their emotions. That was a start.

Noble crossed her arms. "Now, both of you boys apologize."

Alden pursed his lips. "I won't say sorry to a worm."

"Tools can't talk!" Hage shot back.

The professor had had enough. This was ridiculous.

'This ends now.'

"Apologize." Noble pressed a feeling on both boys.

Her frustration at their behavior had flared, yet it was a very different emotion that she placed upon their consciences.

Compassion.

She had no connection with the students, so her method was neither clean nor pretty. The air around them filled with sympathetic concern for the misfortunes of others. The boys had no choice but to accept her will.

Noble felt essence drain from her, but she didn't care.

"I said, apologize."

"I'm sorry!" Alden blurted, tears forming in his eyes.

"Me too!" Hage sniffed back a sob.

Noble released the two young men to the ground. To her surprise, they embraced.

It wasn't just for show. Even when Noble had released her hold, the anger didn't immediately return.

"That's better."

Would they go back to fighting as soon as the sympathy wore off? Probably. Noble couldn't babysit them and their emotions all the time, even if she wanted to. It was a drain on essence and inefficient.

But for the moment, there would be peace.

"Everyone, go about your day." Noble's swirling eyes encouraged the crowd not to test her. They had gotten a taste of her medicine and were not inclined to get a second dose. "Alden and Hage, one more thing. If I see that red arrow fly out of anger or accident again from either one of you, I will destroy that Memory. It was very reckless."

The boys seemed confused by her comment but agreed. They bowed and parted ways in different directions.

'Something about that felt off then and still does.'

Noble mulled over those final moments again as she delayed getting out of bed. Her gut told her that she had missed something, but the answer did not present itself.

"What are you looking at?" Fort interrupted her thought.

Noble glanced at him, a smile blooming on her face. "Right now? I'm enjoying the view."

The ambassador kissed his wife. "Good morning, my love. While I'm glad you are here, I expected you to be gone at first light."

Noble leaned against her husband's shoulder as he pulled her close. "I intended to, I just got caught up in my thoughts."

"I don't suppose you could spare a few thoughts for me?" Fort raised an eyebrow.

The woman thought for a moment before nodding. "A few."

The moments passed all too quickly, and soon Noble was on her way out of Ravenheart.

While the mystery at the Academy might have no answer, the one waiting out in the ashen plains certainly did.

'Let's go find a squirrel.'