"It's my Flaw." Flint blurted before he thought the better of it.
Noble paused, her eyes opening slightly. "Your Flaw is what causes you to be so rude to others?"
The man nodded slowly. "Surely you have guessed that by now."
The woman had had an inkling about it, sure. She smiled at him.
"So all those insults and revolting comments were just a manifestation of your Flaw!"
Flint crinkled his nose. "What are you going on about?"
Child of Promise patted her forehead with her palm. "It makes so much sense. Your Flaw is that you cannot speak kindly."
"My Flaw is that I cannot whisper." Flint derailed his companion's train of thought.
"...what?" She stared at him with her mouth open wide.
"What?" Flint said a little louder than necessary. He rubbed his forehead. "I can't say things quietly, and so people assume I am rude! It is a difficult burden to bear."
Noble regarded the tree closest to her and thought about beating her head against it.
Was he kidding? His emotions indicated that he was telling the truth. Flint's flaw was that he could not whisper.
'Come on, Spell, really?! I can't touch the ground, and his only problem is that he cannot lower his voice. You are slipping!'
Taking a deep breath, Child of Promise returned to the problem at hand. The man had enough character flaws to make the Spell's Flaw superfluous. At least those other problems could be addressed.
'Here goes nothing…'
"Flint, have you ever considered that what you say matters just as much as how you say it?"
Noble had given the same advice to Aether only the night before, but in a very different context. Aether needed to find a way to be firmer, while Flint...he needed all the softness that he could get.
The surly Master frowned. "I don't understand."
'Of course he doesn't...'
"Kindness is not solely dependent on your volume level." Noble had to stifle a laugh as she realized how genuinely astonished Flint was. "Maybe, just maybe, if you insult people less, they will not think you are rude."
"If people cannot handle the truth..." The dark-haired man tilted up his chin.
"So you spoke the truth when you said that our cohort is full of losers?" Noble arched her brow.
"Have you won the Nightmare yet?" Flint retorted. As Noble continued to stare, he coughed and added. "Loser might have been a bit of an exaggeration."
Noble chewed her lip.
"Just, maybe only say half the mean things you think and sprinkle in something nice once in a while. Even without a soft tone, I can promise you it will make a huge difference."
"I already do the first part!" The man's face lit up.
"Then try saying only a quarter!" Child of Promised amended her statement quickly. "In the case of insults, less is more. A little banter makes you seem playful. A lot makes you unpleasant to be around."
"That doesn't sound right…" The older Master frowned. "Are you sure?"
Noble nodded
"I specialize in emotions. If anyone should know, it's me."
"Less is more?" Flint stroked his chin. "Huh, maybe someone should tell Steel that."
"When we get back, I will make sure he gets the message." Noble nodded.
While she wouldn't be able to confront the man herself, she had other means of communication. If all of the things that Flint said about his brother were true, then Noble had a few choice words for the elder sibling. For now, that would have to wait. Noble squinted at the sky.
"I think it is time to return to Bastion."
Flint gazed toward the south. "But Helie..."
"Will find her own way to us, or we will think of a way to get to her together. Now, let's get back and apologize before Syrce follows through with her threat."
The older Master chuckled. "I guess she isn't pleased with my sudden departure."
"She threatened to make your insides into your outsides. Titus is her third in command. If you don't come back soon, you will be a fugitive."
Flint turned a little green.
"I would prefer to keep my handsome features where they are."
"That sounds like a decent plan." Noble nodded. "Do you want me to fly you or do you want to fly yourself?"
The man touched the leather on his shoulder.
"You mean use the belt?"
"That was the one good thing that came out of last night. You got upset enough to actually want to sever the tie, and I accepted. Now that we know how it works, it isn't so scary." Noble shrugged.
"You'd be willing to risk being stuck with me again just so I can fly myself home?" Flint eyed her incredulously.
"I trust you," came the reply.
The words filled the man with unexpected warmth.
"Oh, I did lie a moment ago," Child of Promise winced.
The surly Master's expression hardened. "About?"
"There were two good things that came out of last night. You might have been belligerent and wrong about a lot of things, but you were right about one—you confirmed my cloak can use my fire charm to protect me. It was the most comfortable I've been in a fiery inferno. And trust me, I have been in more than my fair share of those."
Flint regarded her for a moment, trying to discern if she was serious. Few people in his life were able to stand up against his strong personality, and even fewer were able to endure it to the point of being friendly. Eventually, a smile broke across his face.
"You know what? For a woman, you aren't all bad."
"And for a compliment, that was almost one." The lady grinned. "While we travel, I will give you some pointers that you will totally ignore and do your own thing anyway."
"That sounds...acceptable."
Noble wondered how many words Flint went through before he found one that was neutral. She decided it was better not to ask.
Flint shook the belt, knocking off the remaining blood from the beautiful leather. The silver stitching glittered in the late morning sun.
"You sure about this?"
Child of Promise shrugged. "No, but it costs less essence not to carry you, so I am willing to risk it. Worst case, I can make you hate me all over again so you do whatever you did before."
"That's cute: assuming I don't hate you now." Flint strapped the belt around his waist.
Almost instantly, Noble felt the anchor in her soul. Either Flint had gotten much better at controlling it, or it naturally went to the last place it was connected. By the man's satisfied look, she guessed it was the former.
Opening the connection between them, Child of Promise then lifted off the ground. Flint followed suit.
"You know how to get back?" he smirked.
Noble tilted up her chin. "As a matter of fact, I do!"
Flint whistled loudly. "A small miracle!"
"We need a big one to get back before the sun reaches its peak. Race you to Bastion!" Not waiting for a response, the floating Master took off at full speed.
If Flint could keep up, they might just make it in time.