"Enough!"
Noble had always tried to keep her emotions to herself as much as possible. Even when she used her power on others, it was on a single person or monster for a specific purpose.
Emotions were a dangerous thing, and Noble never wanted to misuse her powers. Just now, though, all bets were off.
There were no other people in the vicinity besides the enemy, and she could not deal any damage to them individually.
So she would do what she had never dared to try before. Instead of resisting the power of the Zenith when activating its enchantment, she embraced it fully. The strange exchange of power that occurred when the sword was in the other woman's hands had somehow only enhanced its power. So when it returned to Noble, she was flooded with strength.
So she channeled her fury… and released it.
If she could not act directly on her opponent, she would exert her power on the entire world around her.
The result was a percussive force unlike anything she had ever made before.
The burst was not physical, but that didn't mean it was not full of might. It ripped through the air on an intangible current, striking out against any breathing creature unfortunate enough to be in its path.
The four assassins grabbed their heads, unleashing unearthly wails of agony. The first man's nose began to bleed, not from the break, but from some other unseen damage that was ravaging his body. He fell to his knees, dropping his sword and continuing to scream.
Now, Noble could feel their emotions. Their pain. Yet she did not feel any sympathy.
Having released her anger on the world, Noble's own emotions were drained. She felt numb, leaving behind only her logic to guide her thoughts.
And logic dictated the threat must be neutralized.
Stunned, the assailants were no longer able to control their powers. The effect was so jarring that they could only scream.
Even though the explosion of emotion had already detonated, the assassins' fear only seemed to be growing.
It was like the radiation from the event was continuing to poison their souls.
Finally, they could take it no more.
"Mercy! Mercy!" The third man cried.
Eyeing them indifferently, Noble subtly shook her head. "What mercy did you give me?"
With no way to answer, the victims of Noble's catastrophic detonation had only one choice. "Run!"
'Oh no, you don't.'
Noble's eyes swirled. She could not lift their bodies off the ground.
The humans still had the ability to evade her, but their armor no longer fell under their control.
Instead of pulling the armor into the air, Noble drew on a different power entirely. She made the metal heavier than a PTV. The weakened Awakened crumpled under the pressure, pinned to the ground like a collection of metallic insects.
They writhed as they continued to scream.
Noble narrowed her gaze. Perhaps squashing them like insects would be a mercy considering what Syrce might do to them, but Noble would not give them the mercy they desired.
Floating over her captives above the hillside, Noble looked like a malevolent deity exacting revenge on those below her. And her presence was finally noticed.
"Lady Bel!" Roan called to her. "What's happening?"
Explaining would take more energy than she had left. Her emotions were gone, and her remaining energy was dedicated to keeping the killers in their places.
Noble took a deep breath, turning to him and pointing with her sword. She chose the fewest words to get her message across.
"They are over here."
Hearing her, Roan summoned his sword.
"You, go get Lady Syrce! Something has happened. The rest of you, follow me!"
Noble heard the words but barely registered them. When she looked back at the scene below her, her eyes went wide.
The four suits of armor were exactly where she had left them, but the four people that should have been inside were gone.
How had that even happened?!
The assassins had forgone decency, shedding their armor, and were now running down the street with nothing but their skin to keep them warm. It was like each of them had a Portcullis Key at their disposal. How annoying.
Noble dove, chasing after them with the indignation of one who had been duped. They ducked into the first building that they came to, but Noble was hot on their heels. Sword in hand, she burst through the door. Supplies were scattered in crates, but there was no one in sight. She resisted the urge to destroy everything in her search and instead used her senses to try to locate the direction of her adversaries.
Her second sight spread wide as she listened for any movement.
"Come out," Noble's voice was strained.
A whimper resounded from the corner by the far wall.
Noble flew over the supplies and directed her Zenith at the corner. But the girl there was not one of her assailants. Her body and most of her red hair were covered in a blanket as she looked terrified at the warrior hovering over her.
"Which way did they go?" Noble managed, each word a labor.
The servant girl pointed out the back. But when Noble flew out the rear entrance, she nearly crashed into three more startled servant girls. They held baskets of cloth close to their bodies, startled by Noble's sudden appearance.
"Where did they go?" Noble repeated the question.
The ladies' emotions spiked, and they stepped back under the heat of her gaze.
"You are the first person we have seen come out of there, My Lady." The bravest of the servants answered.
Noble blinked.
That… that was impossible.
Noble looked in every direction, determined to prove the girls wrong. But the alleyway was narrow, and they were the only occupants.
"You don't look well," another of the girls said when the first did not get her head bitten off.
Ignoring them, Noble flew above the buildings, searching the streets of the fortress for any sign of life that would indicate which way her attackers had escaped.
But all she could see was Roan leading the charge toward her position with a dozen soldiers in tow. As she lowered herself to the ground beside him, he awaited her instruction.
"Which way did they go?"
Noble gripped her head. "I'm not sure. They just…disappeared."
"Who were they? What did they do? How many of them were there?" Roan motioned for the men with him to scour the surrounding streets.
"Three men. One woman. Assassins."
Noble closed her eyes. Each word was coming at a high cost.
The use of the Zenith's power to enhance her own had come at a cost, and now the payment was due.
And what did she have to show for it? Her attackers were gone, and her body felt drained.
"Scour the streets. Bring back anyone that you find." Roan ordered the men around him. He turned back to continue his line of questioning, but the words died on his lips. "Bel, you don't look well."
"I don't feel well," Noble rubbed her forehead. The world went in and out of focus.
At least she was safe now. Roan would defend her until his dying breath. The danger, for now, was over.
Taking a deep breath, Noble placed Roan's hand on her shoulder.
"Don't let me float away…"
Then, dismissing the sword, Noble released the only thing that had been keeping her conscious…
And slipped into slumber.