The scream echoed in Noble's head so loudly and violently that for a moment, the floating Master forgot what she was doing.
The pain from the man below her hit her like a hurricane, bringing her back just in time to descend.
She returned to the ground to find Flint lying on the ground, his eyes shut.
"Flint?" She whispered, touching his shoulder gently. "What happened?"
He was breathing shallowly, but he did not immediately stir.
"Wake up!" Noble punctuated her command with a jolt of emotion.
Flint gasped, his dilated eyes opening in a panic.
"Are you trying to kill me?" His scream caused Noble to cover his mouth.
There were still people nearby sleeping, not to mention the night watch was somewhere around.
He spoke through her hand. "I knew it! You are trying to kill me! "
He summoned a dagger to stab her, but in his weakened state, Noble was able to suspend his arm easily.
"Shhh. No one is trying to kill anyone." She removed her hand and backed slowly away from the man's blade. "What happened?"
Flint stared daggers at the woman.
"You shredded my soul, that's what!"
"I…what?" Noble's mouth dropped open.
Holding his chest, Flint breathed heavily.
"Your little flying antics— The tether couldn't force me into the air, so it ripped my core instead."
"Oh no! W-will you be alright?" Noble could feel his pain.
Pain she had caused by suggesting they try to break the bond forcefully.
"Yes, no thanks to you! That fracture spilled an ocean of my essence. If not for my Ability to heal, I would have died on the spot." Flint dismissed the knife, his brow relaxing slightly as the essence from the item returned to him.
"I'm sorry." What else was there to say?
The man continued to rub his chest. Some of the color seemed to be returning to his face. Noble envisioned the tear in his core repairing itself. The pain he was feeling subsided slowly.
"The tether?" She asked tentatively.
Flint's eyes glazed over for a second. "Still there."
Noble could feel the anchor in her soul as well. All that pain, and they were back where they started. That was depressing.
Noble helped the other Master to sit and then stand. Flint grunted.
"Next time you want to murder me, there are less painful ways to do it."
"I said I am sorry! I wasn't trying to harm you. I got a little distracted by the sky, so I wasn't as responsive as I should have been." Noble lowered her gaze.
Flint furrowed his brow.
"What was so alluring? The moon isn't even out to make you crazy."
The professor shook her head. "It wasn't the moon. It was another streak of light just like the one at dusk."
"Another comet?" Flint rubbed his forehead. "I am glad my life was worth a pretty light show."
"I don't think it was just any light. It was heading in the same direction as the first and followed the same pattern. If you are well enough, I would like to check it out."
"I will be fine. I've suffered worse. But you are forgetting one detail. You can't leave without punching a new hole in my core." Flint rubbed his forehead. What was this woman thinking?
"Can't you just transfer the anchor to another person until I return?" The professor tilted her head.
"I...could. I just...don't want to..." The surly man averted his gaze.
Noble tapped her foot above the ground. "You don't know how you moved the anchor, do you?"
"Of course I do! I did it once already, didn't I?" Flint rolled his eyes. "I will figure it out again...eventually."
Clicking her tongue, Noble shrugged. "There is only one other option then. You get to come with me."
"I don't think..oh!" Flint waved his arms as he felt his feet lift off the ground.
'Finally, something we can agree on...' The floating Master smirked.
"I wanted to do a little reconnaissance anyway. It would be good to have another pair of eyes."
Summoning the [Bread Crumbs], Noble made sure the trail of green was glowing in the darkness. It would be very embarrassing if she couldn't find her way back after she was done.
Thankfully, once they were in the air, Flint's desire to argue dwindled.
"I am the brains of this operation. Injured or not, I shouldn't let you wander off on your own..." He decided.
"Very thoughtful of you..." Noble smiled.
The cool air brushed against their faces, refreshing them both.
"Roan thinks he is so amazing with his griffin. He didn't even earn that echo. Tyris gave it to him. Anyway, your way of travel is much more efficient."
"Was that...a compliment?" Noble took her eyes off the sky for a moment to look at her companion.
"No. Just an observation. I was just saying this is better than a stinky griffin. " Flint turned up his nose, suddenly becoming very interested in the horizon.
"I am glad I am not stinky at least."
'Deep down, he likes me a little. I think.'
It didn't matter how the man felt about her as long as he wasn't going to cause her trouble. And he seemed content to be along for the ride.
They fell into silence as they alternated between searching the sky and the ground for anything of interest.
The ground was not terribly interesting. Aside from the rivers that reflected the dull starlight, very little was discernible below.
'I wish I could see in the dark.'
She could use her second sight, but it would require a lot of essence to cover the wide area below for extended periods.
At least bringing Flint along beside her wasn't using any of her reserves. The anchor seemed to have not only physically tied her to the man, but also connected them on a magical level.
Carrying him through the air cost her nothing, as if the Spell counted him as an extension of herself.
After over an hour of quiet travel, Noble slowed their rapid pace.
They had not seen another flashing light.
Noble was about to suggest they turn back when Flint finally spoke a thought into her head.
'Curious.'
He had been pensive for the last bit, and the word was full of hesitation.
'What?' Noble tried to figure out what had caught his attention.
Flint pointed at the horizon.
'There!'
In the far distance, the light reflected off a large body of water. It spread wide, bathing the edge of the world in an ethereal shimmer.
'The Stormsea?'
'I need a closer look.' Flint's serious tone took Noble off guard.
She complied, and another half hour of whirlwind travel brought the pair to and inlet of the distant shore.
As Flint's feet landed on the sand, he frowned.
'This...this isn't right.'
'What do you mean?' Noble looked around, feeling like a monster might jump out at any moment.
Flint took a handful of water, sniffed it, and then took a sip.
'What are you doing?'
The man pointed to the waves lapping up on the shore.
'Taste it.'
Noble cringed. 'I'm not thirsty, especially for salt water!'
Glaring, Flint continued to indicate the ocean.
Reluctantly, Noble dipped her finger in the water, careful not to touch the sand underneath.
She touched her finger to her tongue. Confusion filled her senses.
'It's sweet.'
'The air smells sweet too, not at all like an ocean.' Flint wrinkled his nose.
'What does that mean?' Noble had ridden with Neave recently. The air had indeed seemed different.
'First, the mountains looked strange, and now this...' Flint looked his companion in the eye. 'It means this isn't the Stormsea. But more importantly, it means I have no idea where we are…'