The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Noble skipped a floating step. The words total destruction crashed against her. Was this Nightmare taking place when the last people of the Dream Realm perished? 

That would be quite a central conflict! 

But it sounded more like a fifth or even sixth Nightmare than a third. 

'How are we supposed to survive if literally everyone is doomed to perish?!' 

Child of Promise swallowed. "When you say all of humanity...what exactly do you mean?" 

Syrce gave her companion a strange look and laughed lightly. "I suppose my wording was a bit dramatic. My sisters and I must save our people. Maybe your people in the far-off place are not struggling like we are." 

"My people struggle also." Noble could not offer her any safety or comfort. The people of Earth were fighting to survive as well. "What is the danger that threatens you?" 

The Saint's laugh became more genuine. "What a precious little thing you are! That fall has made you as innocent and empty-minded as the day you were born. I shall not spoil your day with that kind of news. Now, we must be on our way." 

The Saint climbed up into the carriage, but Noble pulled free of her grasp. She had been bossed around in her second nightmare by a woman more powerful than her, and she didn't intend to have it happen again.

Sure, this Saint was far friendlier than Emira and seemed less likely to challenge Noble to a duel to the death. But that didn't mean Noble wanted to fall under the control of some ancient Saint.

'This is my Nightmare, not hers. I will make my own choices.'

Noble bowed deeply.

"I appreciate your offer to join in your mission, My Lady. I do. I wish you well on your journey. But I must head to a great fortress, and I don't have time to divert my attention just now. So if you can just point me in the direction of the—"

"Fate has truly entwined us together. Our party is heading for the Fortress to rest and resupply!" Syrce clapped her hands.

'She…she's not lying!'

Noble hesitated. She could fly in the air and try to locate the place herself. But with her questionable sense of direction, was she willing to rely on her own navigation when there was a better option?

"Is it far?"

Syrce shook her head. "We should reach there by tomorrow evening." The Saint held out her hand. "But only if we get moving."

Noble chewed her lip. Coming to a decision, she accepted the woman's hand and climbed onto the driver's bench.

She would attend the Saint, but only because she wanted to. And only as far as Bastion.

After that, she would have her cohort, and together they would conquer the Nightmare.

Orrin whistled, and the column of people and carts began to move. With two quick strides, he alighted the steps of the foremost wagon to take over the reins from his leader.

Only now his seat was occupied. Orrin frowned and climbed on the smaller bench behind the ladies. While he didn't say anything about the change, Noble could feel his annoyance.

"Thank you for the ride," Noble smiled graciously. "Both of you. It is most gracious of you to accept me so willingly."

"As if we would leave you stranded!" Syrce seemed genuinely hurt. "We are civilized people. We take care of our friends."

"Do you always make friends so easily?"

Perhaps everyone was her dearest friend as soon as they met her.

"Goodness, no!" The peculiar Saint pursed her lips.

"My mistress simply makes judgments about people quickly, for better or worse," Orrin explained.

"I chose you, didn't I?" Syrce turned in her seat to look at her subordinate.

"You did, My Lady." The man nodded.

"And did I choose wisely that time with my quick judgment?" The Saint raised one eyebrow.

"Indeed, you did," Orrin's face softened, accepting the gentle chastisement. "And I am sure you did this time as well. We are happy to have you, Lady Bel."

His words were sincere, and Noble relaxed slightly. It would have been very hard to travel two days with someone staring daggers into her back, especially since the man could very well attempt to plunge a sword into her spine if he desired.

He wasn't any ordinary bodyguard.

Orrin was a powerful Awakened. So powerful that Noble guessed that he was an Ascended. He carried himself like he knew his way around a blade, and Noble wasn't keen to test that theory just now.

So it was very good that the guard's emotions had settled.

"Thank you for the kind words and the welcome, Sir Orrin."

"Just Orrin, my Lady. My official title is Shieldbearer, but that is a mouthful." Orrin chuckled.

"You may call me Bel. I'm not actually a lady. I mean, I am a woman! …just not a gentlewoman." Noble rubbed the back of her neck.

"Nonsense! You are Lady Bel because I said you are. Anyone who calls you otherwise will have to face my wrath, and no one wants that." Syrce smiled brightly.

"Indeed, they do not." Orrin shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't know what they are so afraid of." The grey-eyed Saint shrugged. "It's not like I've turned anyone into a frog recently."

"You can turn people into frogs?" Noble unconsciously slid away from her on the bench.

'I want a Saint transformation, but a flying frog is not what I had in mind!'

"You sweet summer child, anything is possible in this land! Imagination is your only limitation…was your only limitation."

The Saint flicked the reins.

"For example, you fell from the sky! Who would have imagined that? At first, I was afraid that my wondering if anything interesting would happen had caused me to hallucinate, but then everyone else saw it too."

"How would your wondering cause you to hallucinate?"

The floating Master felt puzzled.

'Is she insane?'

Fortunately, her Shieldbearer came to the rescue with an explanation. He motioned to the world around them.

"This is the Wonder Woods. Letting your mind wander and wonder can cause some fanciful sights, and lead the wanderer to get lost." Orrin shivered. "That is why we cannot rest here. Even stopping to investigate you was risky. Now you know why I urged us to keep moving."

"I see," Noble looked out into the forest.

Was the place enchanted, cursed, or possessed by some ancient malignant being?

The trees looked beautiful, like a forest of mythical nymphs ready to come alive when no one was looking. The colors of the trunks would be elegant dresses, and the leaves would transform into glorious coifs of hair.

The fantastical thought made Noble smile.

There were no Nymphs. The trees felt completely normal.

Noble frowned.

Feeling normal in the Dream Realm was strange in itself. Even the most mundane object still felt foreign to those who belonged to the Waking World.

It was something Noble had become accustomed to, and the absence of the feeling was eerie.

'I wonder how this place came to be?'

Her eyes went wide.

The forest transformed.