"No! It is nothing of that sort," Noori internally protested, her hand instinctively reaching to cradle her aching head. The pain had only just registered, her senses previously heightened by the urgency of her situation.
"It is natural. You will have a headache for a while. The medicine will wear off and it will be alright," the girl reassured, her attention still fixed on scaling the fish in her hand. There was a mysterious aura about her, palpable even without turning to face Noori, who couldn't help but feel intrigued.
"How did you find me? Why did you help?" Noori's voice dripped with suspicion and curiosity, her gaze locked on the girl's back.
The girl paused momentarily, then glanced over her shoulder at Noori, her expression fierce. "I went fishing and I saw you on the rocks," she replied tersely.
"To catch fish?" Noori added, her tone questioning.
The girl halted her task and turned to face Noori fully, her gaze piercing. "Shouldn't you be thanking me? I saved your life," she retorted sharply.
"I wouldn't have died, I am sure of that, so technically you didn't," Noori replied, a hint of arrogance coloring her words. The girl huffed in exasperation and rolled her eyes. "Typical royalty," she grumbled under her breath.
Noori's smirk betrayed a hint of amusement, as if she had caught onto something. "So you saved me because you knew I was royalty?" she mused aloud, rising from her spot with practiced silence, as if attempting to catch the girl off guard. "Or was it that you were part of the scheme? You knew I would be there," she continued, her voice laced with suspicion.
Just as Noori almost closed the distance between them, the girl swiftly turned around, her hand moving with remarkable precision as she pressed the knife against Noori's chest, the tip of the blade grazing her skin. The girl shook her head, her voice calm yet resolute. "It was here, right? The knife that was about to kill you?"
Noori froze, her eyes locked onto the girl who stood before her with unwavering determination. Noori had always considered herself a strong person, capable of intimidating others when she desired, but the girl's steadfastness left her feeling unsettled. A shiver ran down the back of her neck as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"Who are you?" Noori's voice was barely above a whisper, her usual confidence faltering in the face of the girl's enigmatic presence.
"You must be hungry," the girl deflected smoothly, as if changing the subject were the most natural thing in the world.
"How do you know that?" Noori persisted, her curiosity piqued, her mind still reeling from the encounter.
"The meal will be ready in a few moments. It won't be long," the girl replied calmly, withdrawing the knife from Noori's chest.
"It was a dream. How did you know that?" Noori's voice trembled slightly, her skin prickling with goosebumps as she struggled to comprehend the inexplicable familiarity of the situation.
"Was it. thought?" the girl looked back on her shoulder. Noori was left speechless.
"Sit!" The girl's authoritative voice filled the air, commanding obedience. Noori felt as though an invisible force enveloped her body, compelling her to step back involuntarily. Her tongue felt heavy, her limbs sluggish as she found herself unable to resist. With each step, her body seemed to move of its own accord, guiding her back to the bed she had just vacated. Noori sank down onto the mattress, feeling a sense of powerlessness wash over her.
As she sat there, immobilized, the heavy wooden table slid across the floor, gliding effortlessly towards her until it came to a halt mere inches from her feet. On the table sat a candlestand, its unlit candle casting eerie shadows in the dimly lit room.
"Would you be kind enough to light it for me?" The girl's voice softened, her tone almost gentle despite the supernatural display of control.
When she made a request, Noori felt her limbs regain their freedom, and she lifted her hand, placing her finger on the wick. Instantly, it ignited, casting a soft glow on the table. Noori was now completely sure that the girl was not someone ordinary.
"What do you want from me? Is it gold?" Noori asked in a deep voice.
The girl slowly poured the soup into a pot and then started to bring it to the table. She went back to make another round and grabbed some bread, placing it in front of Noori before taking a seat beside her.
"Have some food. It will help," she said before digging into her bowl of soup.
"By the looks of it, you don't seem to be from Solyria. And by the powers you use, I am sure of it now. Tell me, who are you?" Noori pressed on, asking her, and this time the girl looked at her.
"You are right, I am not a Solyrian. If that is what you wanted to know, then I gave you the answer. Now eat."
"Then what is your purpose here?"
"Well, I am looking for someone in Solyria," the girl replied briefly.
"Who?"
"Why should I tell a stranger about that?"
"I am technically not a stranger anymore because you seem to know everything about me," Noori replied, referring to how the girl spoke to her a while ago.
The girl rolled her eyes back to her and spoke.
As the girl's words hung in the air, the flickering candle flame cast dancing shadows across the dimly lit room, adding an eerie atmosphere to their conversation. Noori's heart pounded with a mixture of fear and intrigue as she stared at the girl, her mind swirling with questions and doubts.
"If I tell you, will you help?" The girl's voice was almost pleading, cutting through the tense silence like a blade.
Noori hesitated, her eyes darting between the girl and the flickering candle, her thoughts racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something significant about the girl's request, something that could change everything.
"Me? How could I?" Noori finally managed to respond, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She lifted the spoon to her lips, the savory aroma of the soup filling her senses and momentarily distracting her from the weight of the girl's words.
"A Vessel." the girl stated matter-of-factly, her gaze intense as she watched Noori's reaction. The candle flame flickered ominously, casting long shadows that danced across the walls.
"The what?" Noori's voice caught in her throat as a chill ran down her spine, the warmth of the soup forgotten as she struggled to comprehend the girl's revelation.
"You definitely don't seem like a princess, do you know that? No elegance whatsoever," the girl remarked, her tone almost accusatory as she observed Noori's clumsy attempt to wipe the soup from her face. The candle flame seemed to burn brighter, casting a harsh light on Noori's discomfort.
"Well, I can't blame you, can I?" The girl's sudden smile sent shivers down Noori's spine, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows across her features.
"The Vessel. How can you not know about it, When all you are looking for is a Nymph Whisperer."
"How do-" she paused. Knowing by now that the girl knew everything about her. so she rephrased her quesiton. "What does A vessel have to do with Nymphs?" Noori's voice confused.
"It is a long story, but in short, I need to find him, Just tell me, would you help me?" The girl's words hung heavy in the air, the flickering candle flame casting ominous shadows that seemed to dance in time with the girl's plea.
"Why me? How could I be of any help?" Noori's confusion was palpable, her brow furrowed as she struggled to make sense of the girl's cryptic request. The candle flame flickered, casting fleeting glimpses of uncertainty across Noori's face.
The girl's gaze shifted slightly, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for something unseen. "There is a reason unknown to you. But you are the only one who can find him." The candle flame wavered, casting a wavering light that seemed to illuminate the gravity of the girl's words, leaving Noori feeling more unsettled than ever before.
As the conversation unfolded in the dimly lit room, the flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows, adding a sense of mystery to their exchange.
"Well, that is a very sudden way of choosing someone to help you out," Noori remarked, her tone tinged with skepticism.
"It is not sudden. I have kept my eyes on you for a while now. Especially since you burned the palace to the ground. It shows how badly you want to find the Nymph Whisperer, So i thought i would help you if only you help me in return." the girl replied, her voice calm but tinged with a hint of intrigue.
Noori lifted her gaze from the bowl, meeting the girl's eyes with a mixture of curiosity and acceptance. She had come to terms with the girl's uncanny abilities, realizing that there was more to her than met the eye.
"Hmm… then you must know who was behind the carriage incident," Noori casually asked, her voice betraying a hint of suspicion.
"I do know that," the girl replied almost instantly, her demeanor unwavering.
"I bet you wouldn't tell me," Noori countered, a skeptical edge creeping into her voice.
"Try asking," the girl challenged, her words hanging in the air like a silent dare.