Noble's eyes widened. In her wildest dreams, she could not have imagined what was before her.
It was a treasure trove of one of her favorite things. Well...almost favorite things?
For they weren't Memories.
They were relics.
"I was excited too when I first saw them," Syrce's eyes danced with merriment.
There were dozens of things stored neatly in the back of the wagon.
How had Imagination acquired so many? Had she made them? Found them? Stolen them from others?
"You collected all of these?" Noble continued to stare.
Beside her, Flint was less impressed. Either he didn't know what he was looking at, or being part of a Legacy clan had jaded him.
"Mirage had these stored away in the mountains. Since we found clues that led us to them, I think she wanted them to be found. To be remembered even after she was gone..." Syrce sighed, before her face returned to its normal jovial expression. "Want to see all the goodies?!"
Indeed, Noble did. Behind the subdued nod, she was filled with anticipation.
'We get to see actual relics!'
'It's not like they are legacy relics. These have to stay in the Nightmare.' Flint reminded her.
So, that was it. The man couldn't take it with him, and so his interest was minimal. It made some sense. Flint wasn't an academic like Noble. He probably would have found her Academy classes very boring.
But right now, Child of Promise was in her element, and not even Flint's disinterest could dissuade her from her excitement.
Some of the things were covered in linen or stored in ancient boxes, but others were sitting loose in the wagon. Syrce pulled something from the cart, which looked like a miniature silver cow.
"What do you think?"
The professor frowned slightly as she studied it. What could a cow do to save them from the Darkness?
"Is this what you went to the mountains for?"
"What? Goodness, no, Bel. That would be silly. What will I do with you and your crazy notions?" The lady touched the pendant around her neck as she laughed. "Yes, she is very funny, we agree."
The Saint touched the metal back of the cow, and it sprang to life. Noble gasped as it roamed around the lady's hand, looking for grass to eat.
"Amazing!" Noble smiled.
Although it wasn't a weapon or even a charm, there was a beauty to it that neither lady could deny.
"I think this came before the bigger versions like the Pink and Violet Ones. Perhaps Imagination molded it to get a better idea of what she wanted in full size."
The mossy-haired woman touched the silver cow's back a second time, and it grew still. She returned it to its place in the wagon. "I plan on sending it to my sister by the shore. If anyone needs something to make her smile just now, it is Lyra. Ruling over our people is no easy task."
The next item was wrapped in a silk cloth. Remembering the moths she had fought the day before, Noble shivered.
But the object inside quickly drew her attention away from the horrific thought.
Inside the wrapping was a jeweled harp. The instrument was heavily laden with gems of every color. Only the fair maiden carved on the front of the harp was completely unadorned.
Her melancholy expression evoked a sense of longing in Noble that she couldn't name.
Flint's expression softened. "Now that's pretty."
"Seems like even you can't resist precious jewels." His floating companion chuckled.
"I like wealth as much as the next man. But it was the harp itself that I admired. I could play once. I was a bit of a virtuoso, actually!" Flint puffed out his chest.
"You…were musical?" Noble smothered her guffaw.
The man took the instrument from Syrce to feel its weight. "Naturally. "Why?"
He was serious!
Child of Promise scratched her head. "N-nothing. Only, what happened?"
"Steel cut the strings and told me to do something worthwhile." Flint stared intently at the harp, his mind lost in the past. 'Maybe one of these days he will admit I have...'
The man must have realized he had leaked his private thought, for he scowled at the two women.
"What, you don't believe I can play? I'll show you!"
Before the ladies could respond, Flint strummed lightly on the strings. The tune was hauntingly beautiful and ethereal. It was mesmerizing.
If only...
Noble blinked. "Wha–"
A mouthful of green leaves choked her words. Her body was wrapped around one of the upper branches of the Fortress. How had she gotten here?!
'The harp!'
Pushing away from the limb, Noble lowered herself back inside the walls. All around the wagon, mundane humans and Awakened were still slumbering.
Only Syrce and Flint were stirring from their places on the ground.
"Wasn't that exciting!" The Saint smiled widely.
"Exciting?! That was horrifying. One second I was on the ground. The next, I was floating away. If not for the tree, who knows where I might have woken up in the sky!"
Cursing, Flint rubbed his head as he stood. "Blast it, that thing is better than any potion. Too bad it works on both sides and not just the enemy."
"I guess Mirage must have had a little insomnia. Ha! What a funny thought." Syrce laughed.
It was strange to think that beings that powerful might still have mundane problems. But why else would she make something that would put even the one playing it into a deep slumber?
"Did you know it would do that?" Noble asked the Transcendent.
Syrce laughed again. "Of course not! I haven't touched most of these. I only ordered them to be put in the wagon. We were in a bit of a hurry. We got chased off by a Turquoise One after killing his kin. But there is a silver lining. Now we get to discover these things together. What a joy!"
The pair continued to dig through the relics. Syrce touched and prodded them, wanting to find out their secrets without fear for the consequences.
"Imagination wouldn't have made anything too terrible," she reasoned.
For her part, Noble proceeded with caution. Even if the Daemon hadn't meant to harm humans with her things, some of the items could still inadvertently be problematic...or even deadly.
"Look at this!" Syrce pulled out a golden platter. Holding it out, a feast appeared in ample portions for the three of them to eat. "All this time we have been making Cook work to the bone when we had food at our beck and call. Go on, Bel, try it!"
"I think I will hold off for now," the floating Master eyed the food warily. "I am not sure my stomach is ready for divine cuts of meat."
The Saint shrugged. "Suit yourself." She popped a grape in her mouth before setting the plate aside. The food immediately vanished.
They found a spyglass that could see through walls and a tapestry that seemed to be missing its lower half. The part that could be seen depicted a set of ruins, proud but desolate.
Noble was still studying the image when Syrce opened a trunk.
The Saint reached into the box and pulled out a billowing cape. Noble drew close, captivated by the deep blue fabric that resembled the night sky. The wind caught it and it stretched across the courtyard, covering the few people who had yet to wake from their harp-induced slumber.
"That is stunning!" Noble's eyes sparkled. "But it is so big!"
Something even larger than the panther must have worn it. How did it even fit inside the trunk to begin with?
Syrce nodded. "And you are petite, dear friend, but that doesn't mean it won't look stunning on you. Let's see!"
Noble opened her mouth to object. But it was too late.
The cloth was already on her shoulders.
And its enchantment was activated.