Chương 196: Unprepared
The enchantment of the wall at last overcame its two attackers. Its magic was deep and old, unwilling to allow anything to stop it from becoming whole again.
Under the intense pressure, Counsel and Kosi were forced back into the arena.
Suddenly separated, Noble raced toward the quickly closing hole.
But in her heart, she knew she wouldn't make it.
The light, which was being pulled from the other room, was fading as fast as her opportunity for escape.
"Brenna!" Counsel scrambled to stand.
"I'm coming!" Noble abandoned any attempt to run and flew at full speed.
It still wouldn't be enough.
Gritting her teeth, Noble held out her hand and closed her fist as the rain of sparks materialized.
The hole shut, leaving Noble in complete darkness, but still, she rushed forward.
Her breath caught just as she hit the wall.
The magic imbued in the rock fought against her, trying to push her back from where she came.
Just when Noble thought she would suffocate within the stone, she tumbled out the other side with a gasp.
Noble clutched the [Portcullis Key] to her chest, silently dismissing it before Counsel could see.
The man rushed to her side.
"How did you—?"
"I almost didn't!" Noble took a deep breath to calm her erratic heartbeat.
She had not even considered the magical interference. If Noble had remotely considered that she might get stuck in the wall, she wasn't sure that she would have tried it.
Though it was very likely that the extra fear she had by being stuck was what finally helped her get through. Noble wasn't sure whether to thank or curse the little object for feeding off of her emotions.
"Are you hurt?" Counsel moved his hand to remove her helmet.
"I'm fine," Noble leaned away from his touch. 'That's the second time I have had to say that…'
Oblivious to her thoughts, the man balled his fist and glared at the wall. "I should never have let you go in there. I'm supposed to protect you."
"You could not have stopped my curiosity. I am far too stubborn for that," Noble chuckled.
"I know that first hand, My Lady." Counsel somehow managed not to grin. He helped her stand.
Kosi whimpered.
"I'm not hurt. I promise," Noble held out her palm to the furry Demon. His rough tongue shot out and ran the length of her arm before covering her helmet in slobber as well.
"I like you too, Kosi. And I'm very glad your saliva isn't toxic." The lady shook out her armor.
Turning back to the stone wall, Noble frowned.
"What do you think that drawing means?"
There was no other entrance that Noble could see, yet the picture seemed important. Had the arena been built to hide whatever truth the mural held?
If so, why not just destroy the etching? The grooves were deep, but it wouldn't have been hard to deface the images beyond recognition.
'Maybe the arena was built without knowing the chamber was there, or the person who made this magical room just didn't care.'
There were many possibilities, and Noble knew she would probably never get the answer.
Counsel hummed softly as he considered her question. "The man sounds like a hero of old, but not any I have heard of. Are you sure the last image was of the Lord of the Mountain?"
Noble chewed her lip, trying to recall the picture in her mind without altering it. "The similarities were remarkable. If it was not the Tyrant who torments the kingdom, then it looked like his kin."
"Was the man given the creature by the Beast God or forced to fight it?" Counsel stroked his chin.
"I…I am not sure."
The pictures were close enough together that they could have been the same image or two separate ones. It was possible that the Tyrant had nothing to do with the Beast God at all, but Noble doubted it.
"Perhaps the hero fought the Lord of the Mountain and set up the protective barrier for our kingdom." Counsel suggested.
"But then why would the story not be common knowledge?" The professor felt that a story like that would be part of every child's bedtime story, not hidden and forgotten.
"Her Majesty probably knows the reason and the story…" Down here, Counsel did not hide his disdain.
His words were innocent, but Noble could feel his bubbling resentment.
'He isn't wrong. Emira has a lot of secrets.' Noble nodded slowly.
"I will see if I can ask her about it…And about your pardon." She added. "Who knows, we might get lucky on both counts."
"I would be lying if I said I shared your optimism." Counsel gave a ghost of a smile.
"Then let me be optimistic for the both of us. We will find out soon enough."
Sighing, Noble pulled her eyes away from the wall and the mystery hiding behind it. "It's time to go."
Reluctantly, the trio returned to ground level and hurried along to the front foyer.
Pausing briefly, Noble looked up at the stained glass. The colors of the glass reminded her of her home in the Dream Realm, and now she knew why.
'The glass could have come from the same source as the light catcher in my room. I doubt there are many artisans with that kind of talent.'
"Where did the glass come from?" Noble asked her human protector.
"I can find out. Do you want something made for you?"
"I might. It was more curiosity." She shrugged. It would be nice to have a better lay of the land, but the few maps Noble had seen were unhelpful at best.
'Wouldn't change anything anyway,' she reasoned.
Grabbing a quick bite to eat, Noble returned to her room where Lenore changed her into a simple frock. The form-fitting garment would allow the seamstress to easily take her measurements.
'I only hope she doesn't try to sew me in like a stuffed synthetic sausage.'
Clothing should fit the person in Noble's opinion, not the other way around. But she supposed she could wear almost any dress for a ceremony.
'I really hope we can do this fast. I am not looking forward to being a human pincushion.'
"Shall I attend you?" Pen asked as she opened the door for her mistress.
"Oh!" Noble flushed. Of course, she should bring an attendant. Every other time the seamstress had come to her room so the formality had been unnecessary.
"Lenore is coming with me," Noble answered to cover her mistake.
"Yes, My Lady."The younger servant curtsied and followed her out of the door.
Dismissing her protectors for the afternoon, Noble and her maid continued on alone.
As they traveled, Noble tried to play out how the interaction with the Queen would go.
The best and least likely case would be that Emira would be kind and understanding. The odds were better that Emira would be uncomfortable with how much she had opened up the night before and be cold and aloof to counter the warmth and affection.
Noble planned for both situations, playing various conversations over in her mind.
But all of the theorizing was for naught.
When Lenore opened the door for her mistress, Noble's eyes went wide.
'I wasn't prepared for this…'
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