The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Feeling her days were numbered, Rain swallowed. 

"She must be a wise and wonderful person if she sounds like me," Vel came to Rain's defense. 

"I did mean it as a compliment," the dark-eyed girl looked away. 

"I see." Noble's eyes swirled as she took in the scene. She had just watched her daughter knock someone to the ground amid a cajoling crowd. 

At least the other girl didn't look hurt. And she had helped Rain when she didn't have to. That was refreshing. 

Since neither girl seemed angry, only embarrassed, Noble decided not to pursue the matter. 

"I see you have made use of our practice arena," Noble spoke loud and clear. "Anyone is welcome to take advantage of the facility for training purposes…once we get the lines redrawn and flags planted better, of course."

The girls both looked down. The red markings had looked beautiful and pristine when they started. Now, the snow was smudged and smeared with shades of pink.

"Sorry!" The ladies both looked mortified, but Noble waved their apologies away.

"Once we get a permanent facility, things like that won't be an issue. Until then, we will make the best of what we have."

The woman with the colorful eyes floated above the field so everyone could see her.

"I had intended to use the stage," she began, "but since you are all here, let me take a moment on behalf of the Awakened Academy to welcome you. I am Master Noble or Professor Noble—whichever is more comfortable for you. I am an expert in Memory Utilization, but I also have a long history of hand to hand combat. I will be helping you with that second skill while also working to keep things running smoothly today. First, allow me to introduce my colleagues."

Out of the crowd, a few Awakened filtered toward her.

"This is Master Rock. He is the Awakened Academy's battle expert and will be running a demonstration on techniques followed by some exercises in the far arena." Noble pointed to the indicated location. 

Rock tipped his head. "If you come with me, be ready to sweat." 

"This is Awakened Halo. He has recently returned from a short expedition into the wilds of the Moonriver Plain. He will give an overview of known topography in the area protected by Queen Ki Song as well as some general distinguishing marks in other parts of the Dream Realm. He will be holding weekly courses whenever he is here, so I recommend you check back with him to hear more about his expeditions."

Noble noted that the girl next to Rain seemed excited by the prospect. She might have been sparring with Rain, but she seemed to prefer knowledge to fighting. The professor had been the same before her first Nightmare also. 

"And finally, our third guest today will be talking about skills needed for survival in some of the most desolate places. Starvation and overexposure are just as likely to kill you in the wilderness as an animal. If you want some practical knowledge about how not to die, Awakened Ody is the one for the job. He will be meeting on the stage for a demonstration shortly." 

The third gentleman with coal-black hair and hazel eyes bowed. "I will give you as many tools and tricks as possible and point you to resources to gather more information." 

Noble nodded at the three instructors. 

"Thank you all. Once you have a taste of what we offer today, enrollment will open for those who wish to enter their First Nightmare. While it is not required that anyone take on the Trial just because they are here, that is the primary purpose of the courses we will offer. A schedule will be posted at the beginning of each week and we will have different classes and guest lecturers as people are willing and available." 

Noble tried to think of what else to tell them. She could go on about how for now most of the classes would be offered in the evening both because the students would need to carry on with their regular lives and because that was when her lecturers were most often available, but that would be better to do in a question and answer session once the preview of courses was completed. 

"Feel free to stay with one instructor or try all three. Today is getting a feel for what you can gain by studying. We will meet back at the stage in a couple of hours before we break for lunch. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns." 

The professor smiled and dismissed the group. The potential students distributed more or less evenly, much to Noble's relief. She watched the young lady in the blue scarf split from her friends and head to get a lesson in topography. 

However, Rain stayed close to her mother's side. 

Noble raised an eyebrow, though she already knew the issue.

The pale teen was still feeling guilty about her faux pas. Rain rubbed her boot in the pink snow sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." 

"Which course are you going to try first?" Noble cut off the apology.

While she was a little bothered by the mess the girls had made of her arena, that was due more to the nature of the surface than the students' eagerness to practice. 

Rain scratched her head. "Oh, I...I have already had many survival lessons from Grandpa Julius over the years and I can learn topography another time, so I think I will go see what Master Rock has to say since he is only visiting for today." 

With Clan Song's permission, Rock had come through the gate of the NQSC. When he completed his time with the prospective Dreamers, he would head back home and not remain in Ravenheart. 

"Wise choice." Noble nodded. 

She shooed Rain in the direction of the far field before checking on each of the groups.

Awakened Halo had his pupils studying a map as he pointed out distinguishing features and the perils that lay there. While the latter would be more useful during the solstice, it brought no end of questions from the teens. Only the old man with them was pensively taking it all in. 

Ody had a group of students working to light a fire. Thankfully they had moved off of the stage. While they tried, he explained the best way to break down Nightmare Creature meat while alone in the wild. 

It was the third group with Master Rock that was by far the most rowdy. Rock had already summoned his sword and was demonstrating techniques to disarm the enemy including his personal favorite—a move which involved an upward thrust to the gut.

"This only works on creatures with a soft belly, of course, so know your monster anatomy!"

Rock patted his armor with a soft clang.

"The more you know about your opponent, the higher the rate of your success. Any piece of information you can get on your enemy could be crucial to your survival. So always be ready!"

Rock held out his sword and grinned fiercely.

"So…who's ready?"

Dozens of hands shot up, but Noble could already tell who Rock was going to pick.

Rain was in for her second duel of the day.