Noble sighed.
The cohort wasn't in the Fortress, so they would have to keep looking for their crew. It was a bump in the road, not the end of their journey.
The next step would be to see if anyone had a map of the area. Maybe that would give them more clarity on where the others might be.
Donning her new clothes, Noble inhaled deeply. The others were fine, and they would reunite soon.
She just needed to remain calm. At least she had found Flint. Thanks to the belt, he wasn't going to leave her anytime soon.
'Not sure whether that is good or bad.' Child of Promise rubbed her face with a cloth as she looked in a mirror.
The last smudge of dirt on her face was wiped away, making the reflection look as good as new. Noble smiled.
'What isn't good or bad?' Flint asked.
Drying her hair, Noble wished she hadn't put back on The Other's Voice quite so soon. She sighed.
'I was just thinking about that belt. I think I have a better idea of what it was used for.'
She couldn't see Flint, but she could hear his audible scoff from the other side of the bathhouse.
'You mean besides being a glorified leash?'
Noble sat in the seat in front of the mirror. Since it was the middle of the day, she had the entire place to herself. Enjoying the ability to sit on the soft cushion, she began braiding her hair.
'While it is restrictive, I think the connection ran deeper than that. I was able to share my Aspect Ability with you. I have never seen anything else like that, have you?'
'Plenty,' Flint lied.
'Oh? Name one.' Noble smirked.
'I uh...we are getting off topic. We were talking about this belt, not all the wonders I have seen.' The surly Master coughed.
Noble ignored his blustering and continued.
'I also found I could lengthen and shorten the tether. I am guessing you don't have that same skill.'
'Is that what you were doing?! Wait, how long have you known? Have you been keeping me close this whole time on purpose just to bother me?'
Noble rolled her eyes at her reflection in the mirror. 'I discovered it during the battle. It's what gave me the idea to try and share my Aspect.'
Without that hint that the belt could be manipulated, Noble never would have tried the risky maneuver.
'Can you lengthen it indefinitely so I have my freedom back?' Flint's words were filled with a little too much hope.
Focusing on the tether, Noble mentally unreeled the line like a fishing pole. But, just like a pole, it could only go so far.
'I think you were already on the longest distance it would allow when you entered the Nightmare.'
Flint's delayed response was tinged with disappointment. 'What other powers have you got to share with me?'
The longtime Academy Professor didn't think giving him the ability to manipulate emotions was a good idea. She had seen too many students use power like that unwisely, and Flint wasn't exactly sensitive to begin with.
Instead, she tried to allow him to use her Weight of Doubt.
But the same flow of essence that she had experienced when sharing her levitation did not come. The connection opened as it had before, but the only way she could push essence through it was through the conduit of her Aspect.
'It looks like I can only give you my levitation. The others don't work.'
'Well, isn't that fantastic…you not only chained me to you. You turned me into a fairy!'
Flint's words caused Noble to miss a loop in her braid. She sat up straight.
'You tethered yourself to me! And I won't share my powers with you again, you can be sure of that.'
'Don't get your underwear in a twist, Blondie. You have no sense of humor.'
The surly Master paused.
Tying off her hair, Noble wondered if the man knew what a sense of humor actually was. Sarcasm was not a good substitute for wit.
'I will work on my humor if you will work on your kindness.' Noble blinked at her reflection.
'Ha! Nice try.'
Noble smiled. 'Excellent! You are being more polite already.'
Flint barked a laugh.
'I'm always polite. I let you get the kill on that monster, didn't I? I am the most humble and generous gentleman in two worlds.'
'Since you are so generous, how about you share your ice powers with me?'
Noble heard the wooden door on the other side of the wall slam shut. Flint had finished, and he was ready to go.
'Sorry, Blondie, no can do. My temperature Ability will only ever be used by me. I'm not sharing.'
Noble brushed her braid behind her shoulders. 'In other words, you are unable to share with me like I do with you.'
'That's beside the point. I wouldn't have let you use it anyway.'
Noble blew out her cheeks. 'And here I thought you were generous…'
'I am. I'm just not stupid.'
The man was insufferable, Noble decided. If not for the belt, she might be the one tempted to leave him. But a small part of her knew Flint was blustering. He was an absolute jerk, but if she had needed the power to save her life, she didn't believe he would just let her die.
Probably.
It didn't matter since the strange relic didn't work that way. And once they got it off, it wouldn't need to work at all.
Coming out of the bathhouse, Noble smiled at her companion. His mouth opened slightly.
"You clean up half-decent," he seemed shocked.
Flint had only ever seen her after travel or battle. She looked quite different in a flowy frock with her hair braided neatly down her back.
"Careful, that was almost a compliment." Noble's smile widened.
The curmudgeon's expression soured.
"Don't get any funny ideas."
"I won't." The beautiful Master raised her hand in promise.
Flint furrowed his brow as he saw the strappy shoes hanging from her hand. "You aren't going to wear your sandals?"
"Maybe eventually. Right now, I am enjoying the feeling of the bark floor against my toes. Isn't it lovely?" Noble flexed her feet.
She had forgotten the feeling of something solid beneath her. It was glorious! If she could feel like this all the time, Noble would be content to never fly again.
Seeing her elated expression at being barefoot, Flint shook his head.
"You really do have a screw or two loose, Blondie. I think Lady Syrce may be right about you having an empty head."
"You do remember I have control over the length of this tether, right?" Noble swung the finger holding her shoes.
"You wouldn't." Flint narrowed his gaze.
"Shall we find out?" The violet-eyed woman held his gaze evenly.
The other Master stared forward for a few seconds. Eventually, he looked away.
"Women…"
"We are wonderful, I know." Noble smiled sweetly at him.
Her eyes swirled subtly as she used her second sight for a moment. Her smile faded.
"And speaking of wonderful women, Lady Syrce is waiting for us by the wall. By her emotions, we should arrive sooner rather than later."