Sparks filled the air as the three men and one woman called forth weapons.
Aether held a crystal harpoon. Roan's shimmering sword reflected his blue scarf. Flint gripped a leather slingshot.
Noble called forth the Zenith.
Roan nodded to his female companion.
Since she had sensed the intruder, she would take the lead.
Together, the group headed silently into the forest. Even though Noble was focused on the incoming threat, she could not help but also size up the cohort members.
She had studied Roan and his technique extensively. He was the only guaranteed member of the team and the obvious leader, so Noble had made sure to know him well.
The other two men, however, were complete unknowns. This was as good a time as any to see them in action.
Aether seemed to flash in and out of existence as he moved. Of course, he wasn't.
Noble knew the trick since it was one that she used herself. He was using the light and shadows of the forest to conceal his movement.
'Impressive considering he spends so much of his time at sea.'
It wasn't that the deep waters didn't have shadows. They were just as elusive and ever-changing as the waves that caused them.
In hindsight, hiding among the still shadows of the leafy trees was likely infinitely easier. Still, it was a skill that Noble could appreciate.
Flint was not agile like his companion, but that didn't mean he was in any way inferior. The elder gentleman moved with force and determination. His steps were sure and full of intent, almost as if they were set out to be that way from the beginning of time.
'Confident.' Noble wondered how long Flint had been a Master. Certainly longer than her. If he were a contemporary of Tyris, as Roan had suggested, he could have had decades of practice wielding his skills.
That kind of experience would be valuable.
What was even more precious was the indefinable quality that formed in the cohort as they moved forward. It took a few moments, but almost instinctively, the group began to move as one.
Roan fell into step alongside Noble first. Noble glanced his way, curious if he had a question for her. The cohort leader looked steadily forward, keeping track of Noble and the others out of the corner of his eye.
His stern expression was very different from the congenial smile he had made introductions. He was taking the threat to their mission very seriously.
Only a couple of strides later, Aether found the rhythm of their movements, and barely a breath later, Flint also caught their stride.
Roan tilted his head, and Noble responded by quickening her pace. Like a single organism, the cohort traveled forward.
Was their shared understanding the result of one of their Abilities? Noble wasn't sure, but she appreciated how naturally the fluidity came.
Seconds passed.
'What are they doing?'
The target had initially been moving toward them at a steady pace, but now the intruder seemed to be turned around.
Holding up her fist, Noble signaled her team. The others came to a stop with tense expressions.
'No, the tracker isn't turned around. They are scooting around the camp's perimeter.'
With her terrible sense of direction, Noble had taken extra time to realize the tactic.
Sensing the person's caution, fear, and determination, Noble could rule out that they were out for a leisurely stroll in the Nightmare Creature-infested forest.
By their evasive maneuvering, whoever had come wanted to catch the cohort by surprise.
Motioning with her hands, the floating Master let her companions know the intruder's movement. Roan pointed for Flint and Aether to go around to the left, while he and Noble would go right.
The stranger who was so intent on surrounding them would find themselves surrounded instead.
Following the trail, the four prepared to spring their trap. The trees around them seemed to sense the coming danger, for their leaves shivered in an unseen wind.
The roots, too, shifted subtly, digging deeper into the dark soil underneath the verdant foliage.
'That's not unnerving at all.'
Noble floated over the soil, lifting a little higher than usual to avoid any dirt that might be slung her way. Her companions shot each other wary glances.
But none of them dared speak. They were too close to the enemy. The slightest noise could let the stranger know they had been spotted.
A shock of blue passed between the trees as Noble caught a glimpse of a billowing cape. It was the same color as the scarf that Roan wore.
Noble's heart skipped a beat as she feared that Tyris might have found them. But the thought was dismissed as quickly as it came.
Noble had met the formidable Saint before, and this emotional signature was completely different.
If Tyris had wanted to come and break up the party, she would have done so with talons flashing and not by sneaking up to spy on them.
Another glimpse of the figure flitted between the stalky trunks.
There was no doubt about it. The hooded figure was a woman.
Studying the trajectory of the intruder's movements, Noble searched for the perfect spot to intercept their target. Her instincts flared as her second sight told her what she feared.
'Whelp, that's not good.'
They needed to hurry before the stranger reached the closest clearing.
Pointing her blade, the floating Master indicated their goal. Then she held up their hand, asking them to wait.
Noble locked on the woman in the distance and activated her Ability.
A small squeal escaped her lips as the hooded figure lifted off the ground.
Noble had been reluctant to use her power so openly without knowing the person they were trailing.
Experience had taught her not to reveal her skills too early lest she lose the element of surprise.
But this woman had no idea she was being followed, and Noble felt her shock keenly.
The figure began to thrash like a caged animal, and no matter how much Noble wanted to immobilize her completely, the amount of essence required to do so was too high a cost.
'She's an Awakened at the very least, possibly a Master or a Saint.'
Noble sincerely hoped it was not the latter. That would get complicated very quickly.
The woman slowly began to move closer to them. Bringing his finger to her lips, Roan tilted his head toward the camp. He would take their new prisoner away for questioning.
But just as the intruder was drawing near enough to speak, a small storm of sparks formed in her hand. A charm appeared and was quickly inserted into the lady's armor.
'That's a…Oh!'
The massive weight shift sent Noble's power off balance as she struggled to adjust. For a moment, she lost control of her target.
But a moment was all it took. Whatever the Memory was, it kept the figure firmly planted to the ground. The cloak flapped as she rushed into the clearing.
"Don't move!" Noble shouted.
The figure froze. Not because the floating Master had been able to restrain her, but because the human voice had caught her off guard. She turned her head to look in the direction of the warning.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The monster in the clearing had been woken.
And it was not happy.