The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

"…Sleeper Vel!"

Noble smiled at the girl as the student held out her helmet proudly.

Bee Two nodded.

"The helmet would have been the best Memory to use in a fight against the worm. The wrench was a close second. However, dodging a worm while actively switching the nature of the tool is risky for one's earwax. Third is the belt. Its main deficiency was that it did not provide a clear method of how to get the worm into its pocket. The pen would be fourth. Although with the worm's speed, it is unlikely that the barrier would be drawn in time, there is a possibility that success could be achieved. And the boots would provide a method of escape, but since they can never touch the ground, they would never be able to attack. Not the best enchantment for this scenario. At best it would be a stalemate."

Noble scrunched her nose at Bee Two. "Floating has its uses, but I agree that doing it without being able to land is a drawback. You explained why the others were rated as second through fifth, but why did Vel get first?"

Bee Two motioned to the Memory in question. "Sleeper Vel's helmet would give her valuable information on how to move forward in defeating the tiny worm. And although that is a great advantage, the bigger one is that it protects her head. The worm would have to get through the helmet to reach her ears. While all five of these students would likely survive the encounter, Vel's chance of success is ninety-five percent."

"Well done, Vel!" Noble led the class in a round of applause as she dismissed the group to their seats.

One student, who Noble recognized as a legacy, raised her hand. She could tell by her emotions that she was displeased.

"Professor Noble, how is that fair? If we had known there would be a specific enemy, we would have selected differently."

Noble pursed her lips. "Did you ask?"

The legacy looked down. "No."

"Did you make any attempt to research?" As the second question was rhetorical, Noble continued with her lesson.

"I get how tempting it is to show off your most impressive and devastating weapon. But not every enemy will respond to physical might in the same way. Knowledge is power, and while you don't always have the luxury to study and research. Today you did."

Noble motioned to the girl in the blue scarf.

"Vel chose the Memory that she thought would be the most versatile, and she was willing to expand upon my initial premise to ensure her victory. And, in part, she got lucky that the creature went for the ears." Noble winked at the girl.

"I weighed the odds," Vel corrected her teacher with a grin. "And knowing my teacher, I picked accordingly."

"That's cheating!" The legacy objected.

"I would argue that she used all her resources—As any Awakened should during a struggle for survival." Noble found it funny that the Legacy was so invested in a competition that had no prize.

'Competitive nature runs deep in many of the clans,' she reminded herself.

"I'm sure most of you would have selected differently if you had known the ultimate objective. And that is part of the point. In a situation where you are attacked, you will have more information about your opponent, but around the same amount of time—or less—to react. Know your Memories and their capabilities as well as you know your own limitations. Then the next time something wants to snack on you, you'll be ready."

Some were still skeptical but many nodded, at least pretending to understand her point.

"Now that you know your enemy. Please bring any Memory you have that you think may beat it. If you don't have anything, this might be a good time to think of a strategy that would be good for dealing with small, fast creatures in the future. They are more common than you might think."

The next round brought new Memories for Bee Two to scan. Many more passed the exercise on the second pass. Some swelled with pride that they had accomplished the goal.

A small mountain of synthetic pages formed on Noble's desk, growing with each scan. Today was going to push her printer to the limit.

Bee Two kept going without pause.

Noble wasn't sure that any computing problem would be able to stop the determined android. The assistant was scanning fast enough to strain the other equipment, so eventually Noble moved on to a less data-heavy topic.

By the time class had finished, it was well into the lunch hour. Her own growling stomach had alerted Noble to the fact that she should end her session while she was ahead.

The students filed out, many discussing what Memories they wished they possessed while others bragged about their arsenal. The girl in a blue scarf took a little extra time collecting her things.

"Allow me," Noble used her Ability to lift all the supplies and tuck them into Vel's bag.

"Thank you and thanks for the great class, Professor!" The lovely girl chirped as she slung her bag on her shoulder.

"You are most welcome," Noble smiled, "and congratulations on completing your first Nightmare. I know how much you wanted to conquer it."

Vel's smile faltered. "It…wasn't what I expected, but I know I succeeded partially due to your influence. That's why I'm coming to as many of your courses as I can before the solstice."

"That's months away, yet. Make sure to pace yourself." Noble had seen Sleepers be very enthusiastic and then burn out around the time they really needed to focus.

"I'll be careful," the girl promised. "And my parents might try to pay to have me transported to the Dream Realm before the solstice to Awaken without risk. Do you think that would even work?"

Noble nodded, "It should."

"Then I can relax and go to whatever classes I like, including all of yours!"

The young woman was delighted by the prospect.

"That sounds nice." The crucible that was the Winter Solstice would still be suffered by most, but knowing Vel might avoid it was a weight off of Noble's mind. "I will see you around then."

"You will," Vel promised, then paused.

She glanced nervously at Bee Two.

"Uh, Professor Noble, could we speak privately?"

The Master looked at her assistant.

The android was wholly uninterested in the human conversation, gathering together the findings of the day and organizing them.

"Bee Two, can we have a moment to talk?" Noble asked politely.

"Of course, I have no control over your speaking ability, but I suppose you mean you want to do it without my presence." Bee Two rolled robotic eyes toward the ceiling. "I will be in my alcove when you need me."

The android let out a robotic sound resembling a huff and set the papers aside. Then, with more attitude than any android had the right to have, Bee Two shut the panel of the hideaway.

"Don't mind Bee Two. That's all bark and no bite unless you try to open the back panel and do maintenance work." Noble chuckled. "Now what were you wanting to say?"

Vel sighed, "It's about Rain…"