Helie winced, rubbing the back of her neck. "I promise I didn't mean any harm."
"Didn't mean any harm?!" Flint sputtered. "You have done the worst kind of harm! You stole the Terror's kill from me. The least you could have done after getting us all into that kind of trouble was let me get the credit from the Spell."
"You were falling," Noble pursed her lips, "I don't see any way you would have been able to complete the job."
"If not for your unnecessary 'help', I would have found my own way and escaped through one of the breaches in the Terror." Flint waved his arms wildly. "But nooo, you had to hold me back while Helie got the kill. I bet she got some spectacular Memory from that creature, too!"
Helie flinched.
"You can have it if you want. It's the least I can do after—"
"Oh no! I won't be owing you any favors, little missy. I know better than to trust assassins who have come to kill me." Flint flicked his wrist.
"I didn't come to kill you!" The newcomer blinked, "If that is what you believe, then you must think I am an awful failure."
"Why did you come?" Roan narrowed his gaze.
"I didn't come to kill you…" Helie repeated slowly. "I came to… join you."
"This is Blondie's fault!" Flint pointed his finger at the floating Master. "I saw how well you two worked together. You had this planned so she could tag along and we wouldn't ask questions."
Swallowing her anger, Noble answered evenly. "That is a remarkably wrong theory. I have never met this woman before today."
"Oh?" Flint puffed out his chest. "Then how did she know how to find us?"
"Uncle Orum told me." Helie stepped in front of Noble to block her from her accuser's view. "He sent me. He said where I would find you and everything."
"O-Orum?!" Flint's emotions spiked. "You're Orum's Helie?!"
Noble leaned around the taller woman's shoulder and smiled sweetly. "Is there something you want to tell us?"
Flint chewed his lip. "No, you can't be that Helie. It's been years since I have seen her, but the last time I was around her, she had fiery red hair. Yours is clearly brown."
"A girl can't change her hair color every so often? I have heard even Lady Nephis makes her hair black to go through town without being mobbed. You're a woman, tell him it's not a crazy thing to do!" Helie pleaded with Noble.
"Indeed, it's not," the floating Master felt her ears burn. She quickly redirected the conversation. "I don't understand. Why is Flint so upset about you being someone's niece?"
Helie allowed a ghost of a smile. "Perhaps we should ask him?"
The man in question cursed.
"Orum…that old codger tricked me! He invited me for drinks a few days ago. You don't turn down someone from the first generation—it's bad form. I felt my tongue getting a little loose with their special brew, but Orum said that he wasn't interested in another Nightmare, so I didn't think much of it. That man is craftier than a snake!" Flint's words spewed like venom.
Helie frowned. "Uncle Orum is a good man."
"It sounds more like you got chatty, and he took advantage of the opportunity. You were blaming me when really…" Noble shrugged and then winced in pain.
Now that she had stopped fighting, the injury from bursting through the Core and the wall of earth was beginning to set in.
Flint marched toward her, raising his hand with a scowl.
But instead of slapping her as Noble initially expected, he laid his hand gingerly on her injury. A feeling of cold coursed through the blonde's body. It was startling, but not unpleasant. Slowly, the pain in her shoulder dissipated, evaporating like the morning dew. While her soul had damage that still needed repairing, her body felt as good as new.
That was when Noble noticed that Flint had not a single scratch on his exposed skin, even though he had been cut by the shards of falling ice.
'A healer!'
The man's power reminded her of Oko's back in the NQSC, only this power was much more potent and directed. It was like the pain was freezing and melting out of her body in soothing waves.
Now it made sense why Roan was willing to tolerate Flint's unpleasant disposition. Noble had assumed it was because the two had known each other a long time and had a history, but it now appeared to be much simpler.
Among the Awakened, there was a cardinal rule.
'Don't cross a healer.'
"Thank you, that feels much better," Noble smiled at him. "And don't worry. I forgive you."
"Forgive me?" Flint pulled his hand away like he had been shocked.
"I assumed this was an apology for accusing me of treason before we even began our journey." Noble felt the man's emotions shift. She had guessed right.
"Young people think they know everything these days…" Flint muttered. "You think I only heal people when it suits me?"
'Yes.'
Thankfully, Noble didn't have to give an honest response.
Aether cleared his throat lightly and dipped his head. "Forgive me, but it seems we have much to discuss about the prospect of Lady Helie's future. I am not sure this is the most appropriate location."
Roan nodded. "The boy is right. Let's head out before this carnage attracts new creatures. I don't know about you, but I've had enough murder for one day. Perhaps I might get some of that healing, too, Master Flint? I will be sure to sing your praises from now on."
Flint grunted, held out his hand, and placed it next to the man's blue scarf, mumbling about wanting a statue in his honor.
Roan's blue eyes relaxed, and he took a deep breath. Noble hadn't noticed how labored his breathing had been before.
'He must have broken or bruised a rib when I wasn't watching.'
Roan smiled. "Much better."
As soon as he was done, Flint took care of the two other Masters without being asked. Soon, both Aether and Helie looked fit and ready for action.
'Maybe Flint isn't so bad after all.'
As if hearing her, he clicked his tongue. "You young ones have no tolerance at all. At least this way, I don't have to hear you whine."
'…Or not.'
"I have never been one to complain," Aether straightened his shoulders. "But I do have a concern. Our camp…should be right over there…"
Noble looked in the direction the youngest man had indicated.
The brown and desolate landscape stretched out behind them, but the land around it had been broken by the collision as well. The forest floor had fissures in it.
And one of those fissures was where the tents and fire pit should have been.
Roan sighed. "Let's see if there is anything we can salvage for dinner. You can explain everything over a meal, Helie."
"I appreciate the opportunity," the elegant woman dipped her head respectfully. "And you don't need to scavenge. You are welcome to any food I have stored in my Memories."
"That is most gracious of you, Lady Helie." The gallant young man swept a bow. "I don't believe we have been formally introduced."
"Don't give your name to that troublemaker," Flint tilted up his chin. "She won't be sticking around long enough to use it."
"I'm Aether of the House of Night."
"It's nice to meet you, Master Aether." Helie smiled at him. "As you might have heard, I'm Helie."
"You are someone named Orum's niece," the handsome young man confirmed.
"Yes, that is true." Helie coughed as she looked away. "Thank you all for coming to my rescue. I know you didn't have to, and I'm grateful. I will try to make it up to you with a hearty meal and a good explanation."
"That would be good." Roan adjusted his armor as he shot Flint a look.
The surly man shrugged.
"Like I would ever say food is bad."
Helie took Noble's hand and squeezed. "Thank you, especially. Masters Aether, Flint, and Roan were helpful, but you are the one who pulled me out of the dirt when I had lost hope."
"I am glad I could help," Noble smiled. "I'm…"
Holding up her hand, Helie laughed lightly. "You don't need any introduction. I already know who you are…"