The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

In the end, three semi-destructive Memories were enough to quell the frustration Noble was feeling. The last one—an object which resembled a tent stake but would explode after it was drilled into something solid—was particularly satisfying to see.

'Nothing like a little controlled mayhem to clear the mind.' Noble thought to herself.

But her good mood plummeted as soon as she got on the afternoon train toward government headquarters.

Every communicator and datapad was fixed on one thing. Every conversation was centered around one person.

"Alright, if you are so smart, who do you think Nobody is, Cinder?"

Noble scooted away from the four people sharing her train car and tried to find anything out the window to distract her.

Yet the words continued to assault her ears.

"Clearly, it is a reference to Odysseus."

"Who?"

"You know that ancient myth about the guy who traveled and encountered the gods."

"What are you saying? You think the author of the article is some ancient god?"

"What? No! They are well-read though."

"They would have to be a scholar to publish something so detailed."

"None of you answered who you think this person is. Who would risk making the Great Clans angry for a paper?"

"Maybe one of the first generation is sharing their findings before they die?"

"No offense, but who cares about some ancient tomb?"

"The clans do."

"I would say who cares about the clans, but then I'd end up a Nobody too."

"That wouldn't be the end of the world."

"Hey!"

"As long as it isn't some mongrel trying to become a legacy." 

"You are just jealous, Finn!"

"Liko's right. And if the person who wrote it is a Saint, I wouldn't recommend calling them a mongrel or any other name. They might hear you."

Things went silent as the four people looked around for some invisible being. At last, the final person spoke with a voice so soft that the sound of the tracks almost overpowered it. 

"Guys, I had a thought. What if this Nobody can't actually be remembered? Like, they chose the name because if they tell people who they are then we won't remember the article or that this conversation even happened. They are literally Nobody." 

The other three looked at their friend before bursting out in uncontrollable laughter. 

"I didn't know you were a comedian, Toru!" 

"That's the funniest theory I have heard all day!" 

"Tell us, if Nobody is real, is nothing real?" 

Toru looked toward the ceiling with a pained expression. "It was just a thought." 

Mercifully, the train doors opened and a new crowd of people flooded in, causing the conversation to take a less controversial turn. 

Noble's communicator buzzed. 

She looked down, happy for the distraction. 

Her meeting had moved locations. The new place was suspiciously close to Fort's old office. 

'Curious.' 

She would still have to drop off the papers from her husband and receive the new communications beforehand. Maybe she could ask about the change of venue during that time. 

"Can you believe how fast this Nobody became famous?" A new passenger said to his companion. 

"Open your eyes, Kordri! It's a conspiracy by the powers that be to take our eyes off of the real problem right under our noses." The woman beside him tapped her face gently.

Kordri seemed just as confused as Noble. "What problem?" 

"Cheese. There is a shortage and the coverup goes all the way to the Sovereigns, mark my words." 

The man regarded the lady with a pained smile. "And here I thought you were going to say they were hiding something crazy like a war." 

Noble floated from her seat and headed toward the exit the moment the train stopped. Her head felt like it might explode. 

Were people always this nonsensical and she had just failed to notice? Or had living mostly in the Dream Realm without technology altered her thinking?

'If it's the latter then I am glad my kids are no longer glued to a screen. I think even if I admitted the truth to these people, they wouldn't believe me. They like their theories more than facts!' 

If her family had their communicators and datapads just now, they would be caught up in the madness like everyone else. At least in Ravenheart, they would be removed from the strange trend sweeping the NQSC. 

Even as Noble flashed her credentials at the gatehouse, she could see a copy of the article displayed on one of the monitors. 

'Even you, Praised?' Noble kept her thought to herself. 

"The truth will bring you home, sometimes faster than planned." Smiling brightly, Praised waved the professor through. 

Noble found the gatekeeper's words comforting for once. Who wouldn't want to find their way home?

"Thank you," the professor took a deep breath as she continued into the facility. 

Even though nothing had physically happened to her, it had been an emotionally draining day. Home sounded nice, and in a few hours, Noble would be there with the people she loved most in the world. She would draw a large bath and forget about the waking world. 

Hiding—remaining in the Dream World for a few days sounded heavenly. A family game night was well overdue and maybe she and Fort could give the kids another cooking lesson using some of the newly arrived monster meat that was delivered by Sarai in their most recent care package. 

If Rain was going to move out soon as Fort predicted, then cooking skills were particularly important for a person living on their own. A girl could not live on bread alone, no matter how good Sarai's bread might be. 

Thoughts like these are what occupied Noble's mind as she passed her father's statue and blew him the customary kiss. It wasn't until she made it to the hall to exchange papers that Noble found the strength to concentrate on her task. 

The trading of papers was all but routine now, and so Noble was surprised when the government agent handed her the documents with a sad expression.

"I will miss seeing you. Give Ambassador Fort my good wishes."

"Are you leaving?" The professor stored the papers, careful not to let the agent see the brown wrapping paper which was addressed to her from Nobody. Reminding herself once again to dispose of the evidence, Noble dismissed the Memory. "Are you finally getting that well-deserved promotion?" She asked to distract the man in case he had caught a glimpse of what he shouldn't see. 

The agent straightened his back. "Wouldn't that be nice! I am not going anywhere. I was told this is your last day visiting our department because your replacement was ready for duty."

"My replacement?" Noble scratched her head.

She had asked to be relieved of this responsibility more than once. It seemed the government had finally listened but had failed to inform her.

"Yes. I believe that she is waiting for you upstairs to get any special instructions you may want to give." The agent held out his hand.

'So that's why the meeting was moved!' Noble began to put the pieces together. 'Another item has been added to the agenda—or rather another person.'

Noble's communicator buzzed. They were ready for her upstairs.

Bidding the agent farewell for the last time, Noble headed for the elevator.

'I wonder who they got to replace me? Surely it's someone already stationed in Ravenheart. I'm pretty sure it was implied that the agent is a woman. I wonder if I know her?'

In fact, Noble did…