Arcanum - Chapter 145

Slowly the large jumbled crowd of Atlantis students formed into groups and formations positioning themselves, every student standing firm and confident without an ounce of fear or doubt, resembling trained soldiers rather than students of a school. The artificial darkness created but those weird beams having no effect on the student’s morale….. ‘Is this what we will eventually become… trained soldiers for battle?….’

“It’s so weird….. How everyone we’ve met so far seems normal…. but when the time comes they are like trained soldiers…” I said to everyone.

“What was you expecting?….” Jay asked curiously.

“I dunno…. Just seems kinda weird to me….. That they can be so normal….. Then suddenly switch into soldiers ready for a large battle without an ounce of fear or remorse….” I looked a little worried.

“I guess you’re right…” Jay answered.

“She’s not wrong… soldier do generally follow certain trends in behaviour and personalities.” Helen stated.

“Ohh I think I see Sven.” Daisy said pointing towards the Deputy Headmistress.

“Ahh crap….. What should we do….” Grace asked.

“Let’s just go up there….. There’s no doubt the Deputy Headmistress knows we are here anyways.” I suggested.

“I guess you’re right…” Helen agreed.

“Sven…..” We whispered loudly trying to catch his attention but at a quieted tone to avoid the Deputy Headmistress form noticing.

“Ohhhh it’s you guys.” Sven smiled telling us to come over.

“Ummm Deputy Headmistress….. The first years have arrived.” Sven quietly notified her.

“The trouble makers?…..” She said turning around to face us, our postures instantly straightened standing to attention. “So did you manage to get Paul back in time?…” She asked sternly as if expecting an immediate answer.

“Ummm yes Deputy Headmistress….. He’s currently resting in the Infirmaries.” I answered her trying to talk clearly despite my nervousness.

“And what did he do out there?..” She asked curiously.

“Saving Refugee… Deputy Headmistress….” I answered again.

“Very well… Sven watch over these trouble makers… make sure they don’t get hurt, they are now your responsibility.” She ordered.

“Yes…. Deputy Headmistress.” he nodded and walked towards us. “Come, you all will be joining me on recon.” He ordered.

“Yes…” We all hesitantly replied.

“Yes Captain.” He ordered loudly but clearly smirking.

“Yes Captain.” We all corrected ourselves following his lead.

“Where are we going?” Jay asked quietly.

“Well firstly we’ll head to Paul see what he had planned as he issued the order to retreat…..” Sven answered.

“What are siege beasts?..” I asked.

“Similar to siege weaponry…. but instead living creatures….. Big and durable designed to take down fortified structures.” Sven explained.

“Yes creatures like earth elementals have the ability to meld earth naturally.. Or giants burrowing creatures like tunnel worms” Helen added.

“So what’s our duty?…” Daisy asked.

“We’re gonna be recon and support. Any we’ll keep a look out for tunnel worms and assisting flares…” Sven instructed

“S— On alert…..” Sven said as we turned the corner facing the triage tents.

“What’s wrong?…” Grace asked extremely concerned.

“I just saw a contingent of six guards enter the triage tent while the two guards distracted the Atlantis students at the front…” Sven informed us.

“What’s the plan?….” Daisy asked furiously.

“Grace lend me two arrows…. you and I will take out the guards immediately threatening the Atlantis students at the front… Emilia and Daisy you two go to the Atlantis tent make sure none of the guards broke off into that tent… and Helen and Jay you go into the solider tent… engage them if necessary but you’re outnumber so once you get their attention retreat back into the open.” Sven quickly instructed and began threading his string onto the arrows Grace handed to him. “Okay can you make two shot at the same time….. I need you to pierce through the armour.” He instructed her.

“I’ll try my best.” Grace nodded nocking the two arrows in her bow and pulling the string back.

“Remember you four as fast as you can, lives are at risk….” Sven reminded us of the gravity of the situation.

“When you’re ready…..” Sven quietly instructed Grace patiently waiting, as Grace focused in her aim taking a deep steady breath.

The moment the twang of the arrows rippled through the air into my ears I began to run. “Nice!!!” I heard Sven yell as the two guards came flying pass me the arrows impaled through their bodies.

A magical door of energy appeared in front the soldier tent and with a flash Jay and Helen stepped out of it weapons drawn.

“Emilia… my ranged spells aren’t as fast or effective as yours so if you see a target you need to hit them and buy me time to close the distance.” Daisy notified me glowing with her golden hue ready for a fight.

“Okay!” I replied drawing my wand.

Entering the tent an Atlantis student was approach the two guards unknowingly walking into two Dark Elves. “Get back!!!! It’s a trap!” I yelled blasting off a scorch ray at the closest it one without hesitation or trying to ration my Arcanum.

“What the?!” The guard in the rear shouted as the first one was caught off guard and sent flying out the tent.

“Get outta here!!! And send an Amber Flare!!!” I yelled at the other Atlantis student causing him to flee quickly.

“And here I thought today was gonna be boring.” The guard said removing her helmet to reveal a surprisingly very beautiful charcoal black skin, long flowing silver haired elf….. Slowly she approached us leaving the Atlantis student to run, removing the clips and straps that held her armour revealing a very beautifully slender figure, wearing a slightly transparent silk black dress that doesn’t look fit for combat drawing two menacing serrated short swords strapped to her thighs. “Little Demon girl… I wonder what wonderful sounds you will make when I flay your skin from your flesh.” She smiled menacingly assuming a very weird stance.

“My name is Daisy Paladin of Serra…. and this will be the last name you will learn and remember.” Daisy said drawing her large maul from her back, the Dark Elf effortlessly parried and dodged Daisy’s attacks beautifully with very artful steps and movements… almost like a dance.

‘Shit….. Daisy can’t hit her….’ “Orbis-Igna” I shouted casting an Orb of flame behind her just as she tried to dodge another of Daisy’s swings.

“F—ing witch.” She cursed in pain as the orb burned her flesh stopping her dodge.

“Dodge this.” Daisy yelled finally connecting her with a large baseball swing quickly followed with a cacophony of two thunderous bolts one with pure white radiance and second with a darkened shadowy bolt sending her flying through the orb and out the tent. Her scream of pain laced with laughter like some sort of masochist deriving pleasure from the pain.

“B—-” You’re gonna pay for what you did to my hair.” A voice spoke out behind me and a strange wet feeling like something licked my neck and the smell of scorched skin and hair.

“What the?” I tried turning around seeing the long flowing strands of silver white hair.

“Your smell… your taste…. it’s….. Intoxicating…..” She whispered giggling menacingly before the feeling of a thud on my side quickly followed with the familiar intense searing pain. “Yessssssss I love it!!! Louder!!!! Your screams… is like beautiful music to my earssssss.” She shouted as the feeling of her weapon effortlessly slowly cutting up my body tearing through me I felt like a piece of meat in a butchery, my vision began to go blurry my whole body paralyzed seizing in pain… “Dying so soon?…. Guess we’ll skip to the outro…..” She giggled menacingly, “It truly has been………. a pleasure…” She whispered seductively into my ear like this f—ing crazy psycho is getting pleasure from this, her other arm appeared in front of me holding a dagger to my heart…….. “A shame… in another life you would have made a lovely pet…..” She whispered licking my neck again.

“NOOOO DON’T!” The muffled yell of Daisy running towards me dropping her maul lifting her glowing hand pointing out a finger to me but there was no way she would make it to me in time.

I am truly F—ED…….. trying to lift my hand to stop her….. But it was no use my body wasn’t responding to me…..