The Aquarium [NOEL]

Noel woke up.

Same bed. Same room.

The morning light filtered through the ornate curtains, casting delicate golden patterns across the silk sheets. The faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, a signature fragrance used in her chambers to ensure a restful sleep. But today, it had failed in its purpose.

Her body felt damp, her nightgown clinging uncomfortably to her skin. She blinked, adjusting to the waking world, before realizing...she was drenched in sweat.

A soft knock came, followed by the familiar creak of the door. The maid entered as usual, carrying a tray with fresh linens and a pitcher of water. But today, there was a hint of hesitation in her steps, a subtle crease of concern on her otherwise composed face.

"Young Miss," the maid spoke gently. "Are you alright? You are sweating heavily."

Noel exhaled, steadying herself. She sat up, brushing a few strands of damp hair away from her face. "It is nothing. Just a terrible nightmare." She forced composure into her voice, though her mind still reeled from the lingering visions of the dream. "Prepare the tea as usual."

The maid hesitated, searching Noel’s face for any sign of distress, but in the end, she simply bowed. "Understood, if you say so."

As the maid exited the room, Noel took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts.

She remembered. Every single detail.

The towering cityscape beneath the murky sky. The ceaseless motion of people moving through neon-lit streets. Leon. His familiar presence, waiting for her in that strange world.

And most of all, the shadowed entity.

Those glowing red eyes, like embers burning through the darkness. The way its presence alone sent a sharp chill down her spine. The spear...long, ominous, and deadly.

She could still feel it. The moment it pierced through her. The sheer agony of impact, the suffocating weight of death, then the jarring pull back to reality.

Noel clenched her fists. "What was that?"

Her mind raced.

The way it moved, it was too fast. Faster than anything she had ever encountered, even among skilled magic users in her world. It was almost inhuman.

Yet, Leon had told her there was no magic in his world.

She had sensed it too. The mana in that world was weak, diluted, almost non-existent. So if it wasn’t magic, what was it?

"Could it be some kind of technology?" she murmured. But what kind of device could replicate such raw killing intent?

The thought unsettled her.

But she couldn't afford to dwell on it. Her day as a noble awaited...duties, responsibilities, and expectations. She had no luxury of time to chase answers to questions that made little sense.

So, with a final breath, she pushed the thoughts aside and carried on as usual.

The Other World Calls Again

The night fell.

Noel slipped into bed, closing her eyes.

And when she opened them again...

She was back.

The same dream. The same world.

The air was thick with the scent of concrete and steel. Towering buildings stretched endlessly toward the sky, neon signs flickering against the dark, polluted atmosphere. People bustled through the streets, lost in their own lives, oblivious to the unnatural nature of her existence here.

And there, in the exact same spot...Leon.

He stood with that same calm expression, his hands tucked into his pockets, waiting as if her arrival had been expected.

"Welcome back, Noel," he greeted her with a gentle smile.

Noel exhaled. "Yes… I suppose I am back again."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

She had been wondering about this for a while now, how did he always know when she would arrive?

Was it truly coincidence? Or something more?

This time, she voiced her thoughts, tilting her head slightly. "Leon… how do you always know I'm going to appear?"

His answer came effortlessly, without the slightest hesitation. "As I said before, you were the one who told me about this."

The exact same response.

Noel's lips pressed into a thin line. Again with that answer.

Was he lying? Or was this truly something she had done, something she had somehow forgotten? His tone gave nothing away...genuine, yet strangely unreadable.

But pushing for answers now wouldn't get her anywhere.

So, she chose to let it go.

For now.

Instead, they fell into casual conversation once more. And, just like before, the thrill of discovering a new world soon overtook her previous worries.

They went to a small restaurant, where the scent of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries filled the air. Noel marveled at the variety of dishes, some familiar, some utterly foreign. The warmth of the place, the idle chatter of people...it was surprisingly… comforting.

As they finished their meal, she looked at Leon with curiosity. "So, are we going to the game center again today?"

Leon leaned back slightly, considering. "Huh. I wouldn’t mind, but… how about we go somewhere else first?"

Noel raised an eyebrow. "And where exactly?"

"Aquarium."

Noel blinked. "An… aquarium?"

"It's a place where aquatic creatures...fish, plants, and other sea life...are kept for observation. You’d like it," he said with a knowing smirk.

Her interest piqued. "So, a place where they store fishes and let people watch them?"

Leon laughed. "Well, that’s… one way to put it. But it’s a bit more magical than that. You'll see."

And so, after a short visit to the game center, they made their way to the aquarium.

A Glimpse of the Ocean's Beauty

Noel was not prepared for what she saw.

The entire place was bathed in shades of blue. A vast, ethereal world encased in glass. Schools of fish swam in synchronized harmony, their scales reflecting the ambient light like scattered jewels. Towering tanks stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with strange, wondrous creatures she had never seen before.

She stepped closer, placing a gloved hand against the cool glass. A manta ray glided past, its wide wings moving in slow, rhythmic pulses.

"It's… breathtaking," she whispered.

Leon watched her reaction with a small smile. "Told you."

They explored the aquarium together, admiring the variety of marine life. A narwhal swam in slow circles, its long, spiraled horn casting rippling patterns in the water. The creature seemed to mimic their movements, tilting its head as if acknowledging their presence.

Noel chuckled. "It acts as though it understands us."

Leon grinned. "Some animals are more intelligent than we give them credit for."

As they continued walking, their hands brushed, a fleeting touch, accidental.

Noel felt a faint heat rise to her cheeks, but before she could dwell on it, her eyes caught something in the distance, penguins.

Her curiosity flared.

Forgetting herself entirely, she instinctively grabbed Leon’s hand and pulled him forward. "Hurry, I want to see those!"

Leon let out a surprised laugh but allowed himself to be dragged along.

By the time they had finished exploring the aquarium, the day was still young. Leon suggested visiting the zoo, as it was close by. Noel, still lost in the joy of discovery, agreed without hesitation.

And so, their adventure continued.

The zoo was filled with even more wonders...majestic lions, towering giraffes, and creatures she had only ever read about in books. The sheer diversity of life fascinated her, making her realize just how small her own world had been until now.

For the first time in her life, Noel felt truly free.

It was, without a doubt, one of the happiest days she had ever experienced.

The streets were still bustling, the neon glow of the city casting a dreamlike hue over the sidewalks. The air was thick with the scent of street food...grilled skewers, roasted chestnuts, and something faintly sugary.

Leon stopped abruptly, his eyes landing on a small vendor stand. His lips curled into a knowing smile.

"Noel, wait here a second."

Before she could question him, he stepped forward, exchanging a few coins with the vendor. A moment later, he turned back, holding a cloud of pink fluff on a stick.

Noel stared, utterly perplexed. "What… is that?"

Leon grinned and handed it to her. "Cotton candy."

She hesitated, cautiously reaching for the unfamiliar treat. Bringing it to her lips, she took a small bite...

The texture was strange. Soft. Airy. And the moment it touched her tongue, it simply… vanished. A burst of overwhelming sweetness filled her mouth, light yet rich, dissolving like some sort of ethereal magic.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"What in the world?! It disappeared!" She turned to Leon, half expecting an incantation or a trick. "Is this some kind of magic?"

Leon laughed. "Magic? Not quite. It’s just sugar."

"Just… sugar?" Noel repeated, looking between the cotton candy and Leon as if he had just told her the most ridiculous thing in existence.

To think something so simple, so ordinary in his world, could feel so utterly wondrous to her.

She took another bite, giggling softly at how quickly it vanished again. So fleeting.

Leon watched her with amusement. "She’s like a child discovering the world for the first time," he thought. And somehow… he didn’t mind.

They continued their walk, the city lights reflecting in her crimson eyes as they chatted.

A Quiet Confession

"You know, Leon…"

Noel's voice was quieter than usual, a touch softer as she broke the comfortable silence between them.

Leon glanced at her. "Hmm?"

"I'm… very thankful to you."

Leon blinked. "Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden?"

She let out a small breath, looking down at the ground as they walked. "I mean it. Today might have been… one of the happiest days of my life. I don’t know why you're helping me so much, but I… truly appreciate it."

A slight blush dusted her cheeks.

Leon rubbed the back of his neck, visibly flustered. "It's nothing, really… I just—"

Then, almost too quietly for her to hear, he murmured under his breath, "Just like how you helped me."

Noel turned sharply. "Did you say something?"

Leon quickly shook his head, looking away. "No, I was just wondering what we should have for dinner."

A blatant lie.

But she let it go.

They returned to the apartment, had a quiet dinner, and retired to their respective rooms.

Noel stood by the window, gazing out at the night sky.

The moon hung high, unbothered, unchanged. A peaceful night.

Or so it seemed.

She had been waiting.

The dream...no, the realm beyond reality had come for her again and again. She had walked its streets, breathed its air, marveled at its wonders. Laughed with Leon. But each night, it ended the same way.

And now, she was here, in her own world, watching.

Waiting.

Would it appear again?

Her fingers tensed against the cold glass.

She exhaled, slow and steady.

Then, it happened.

A single blink.

And it was there.

A shadow against the moon, a silhouette wreathed in darkness.

Crimson eyes gleamed like molten embers, burning with an eerie, unrelenting focus.

And in its hand...

The spear.

A weapon of merciless precision, gleaming in the moonlight, stained with a darkness that swallowed all light.

Noel’s breath left her lungs, but her body did not freeze.

"What even is that thing…?" she thought. "This isn’t just some advanced technology. This is something else entirely."

Not this time.

The figure moved.

A blur, an explosion of motion.

It descended.

Not like something falling.

Like something hunting.

Noel's pulse surged.

"You think I’ll cower before you?" she spat, crimson eyes blazing with defiance.

Her posture shifted, regal, poised. The stance of a noble.

"Do you even know who I am?"

Her voice rang clear over the howl of the wind.

"I am Noel von Redlaw, a noble of the prestigious Redlaw family. We do not run. We do not submit."

The spear lunged forward, aimed straight at her heart...

And Noel...

She jumped.

A Collision of Fate

Wind roared past her ears as she threw herself into the night.

Straight into the spear.

A violent clash erupted in the air.

For a moment, time fractured.

The sheer force of impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, shattering the fragile stillness of the night.

Metal met flesh.

Noel felt it.

The spearhead pierced her side, the cold bite of steel digging into her body.

A flash of agony.

But she did not falter.

Her arms moved on their own.

One hand grasped the spear’s shaft, stopping its deadly path from driving deeper.

The other...

Shot forward.

Her fingers seized the entity’s face.

She gritted her teeth, suppressing the scream that threatened to escape.

But Noel didn’t let go.

She held on.

Her body was failing, her limbs burning with exhaustion.

Yet, she forced herself forward, tightening her grip around the entity’s face.

Her eyes met its glowing red ones.

"Who…" she snarled, "are you?"

Silence.

The being did not speak.

But something about it shifted.

For the first time, hesitation.

That was all she needed.

Through the haze of pain, through the suffocating pressure of the wind, through the sheer force dragging them downward...

Noel grinned.

"Did you think I would die so easily?"

The entity twisted the spear.

Pain exploded through her body.

A raw, excruciating sensation ripped through her chest.

She coughed...blood spilled from her lips.

Her vision flickered.

Her limbs grew numb.

Even as darkness threatened to consume her, even as her body betrayed her strength...

Her fingers did not let go.

"I don't care…" she gasped, forcing out the words through ragged breaths, "how many nights or days it takes…"

Her grip tightened, nails digging into the entity's cold skin.

"I will uncover your secrets."

Her voice was a vow.

"Mark my words..."

The entity tore the spear from her body.

Darkness swallowed her whole.