Arcanum - Chapter 146

“What the?..” The Dark Elf sounded in shock the hand holding the dagger shaking uncontrollably as if her hand was refusing to plunge it into me. In an instant her hand cracked backwards on itself the back of her wrist meeting her arm “What the hell!!!” She screamed in pain, in an instant her arm disappeared behind me coupled with the horrifying sound of cracking bones screaming in even more pain.

Daisy paused a little at the spectacle as surprised as we was, the pain in my side intensified as the feeling of the dagger pulled out of me…. my body involuntarily crumbled into Daisy’s arm….. I can feel the blood gushing out of my body like a hose on full blast, but thank God Daisy was here.

“You’ll be alright….” Daisy looked at me smiling the feeling of her healing touch bringing my vision back and making the pain fade away.

Quickly lifting my wand turning around back to the Dark Elf, “Sorry it took me so long to wake up…..” Paul was kneeling down on one knee holding out a hand smiling.

“Is she…” I asked still worried how she appeared behind with no warning.

“I’ve dealt with her.” He smiled holding my hand and helping me up.

“Daisy are you still good?…” He asked holding out his other hand.

“Yeah…. sadly I’m spent on my healing today…” She admitted.

“That’s okay thanks for helping.” He smiled with absolute no worries for the two Dark Elves we just engaged. “How long was I out for?…” He questioned.

“Maybe 5 or 10 mintutes…. are you okay now?..” I asked worried for his condition.

“Hmmm to be honest could do with a longer rest….. But duty calls…” He smiled straightening his coat.

“Daisy get your weapon… I need to update the Deputy Headmistress on the plan as soon as possible.” He asked… his nonchalant attitude was extremely unnerving.

“There were more Dark Elves… I notified him…..” worried for the others.

“They are fine….. I can sense them…. and there’s no Dark Elves nearby.” He smiled, “How are you feeling?… still in a lot of pain?…” He asked looking and feeling my wound.

“Just a little….” I admitted him…..

“Hmm sorry I came here in a hurry… so I can’t really heal you at the moment….” He apologized.

“Sorry for making you worry…” I apologized.

“I will always worry…. but you’ve grown so quickly soon you won’t be needing me anymore.” He smiled sincerely.

“What happened to the Dark Elf?…” I hesitantly questioned.

“Nothing to worry about…. I’ve dealt with her.” He smiled.

“Umm Paul… there was one more that we attacked is she still alive?…” Daisy questioned arriving back with her maul.

“I can’t sense her so you two must have dealt with her…. Well done!!! Next time remember Female Dark Elves are extremely deadly more deadly than their counterparts… so engage Female Dark Elves with extreme caution.” He answered.

“Come let’s meet up with everyone else.” He smiled leading the way stepping around a small pile of grey dust.

Exiting the tent…. the others defiantly had more on their hands then we did looking more weathered then we was. “House Leader!!!” Sven shouted out to Paul.

“Hey Sven…. What happened here?..” He asked politely.

“We engaged six Female Dark Elves dressed as city guards….. Lucky over watch helped us or we would have been done for.” Sven answered him.

“Any of you need healing?… I’m afraid I didn’t bring my spell books with me so you’d have to rest up in the Triage Centre.” He smiled.

“No I think we can push on…” Jay said dusting off his robes a part of his sleeve was torn off to bandage a wound he received on his arm.

“I can help you with that…” Helen said helping Grace up on her feet.

“Umm hold off for now…. I’m sure we have some Medic Division students on the front line….. So save your spells for now.” He instructed her.

“Sven I want you to send a message to the Deputy Headmistress… we need a few students to guard the wounded…. and make sure to include one Sensory student….. Tell her that Dark Elves are willing to use dirty tactics targeting the wounded” He instructed.

“Yes House leader.” He nodded and began sending a message with his fingers like sending a morse code message.

“Anyways well done you all… I’ll be sure to let the teachers know the lives you saved today despite being up against six well trained Female Dark Elf Assassins.” He smiled to everyone with a nod of respect. “Let’s go end this battle.” He said and began making his way to the frost line.

“Ohh my God…. I’m sorry I didn’t take you to the Deputy Headmistress…. I remembered in shock.” I apologized to Paul.

“Ahh don’t worry about… just a minor setback.” He answered with no sign of disappointment in his voice.

“So what’s the status report on the wall?..” He asked.

“As you asked. Guards are ordered to retreat through teleporters when they start getting overwhelmed, Atlantis students have already fallen back.. And the wall has been laced with bombs and traps. We’ve set up defensive position on the inner wall and bottle necks in several locations.” Sven answered.

“Ahh that sounds good…. have any of you heard the wall traps getting set off?…..” He asked.

“Not yet.. But. Ummmm House leader…. what did you have already planned?… you must still be pretty spent….” Sven asked politely.

“You’re right…. ideally I would have preferred being in a better condition and they also have around five priestesses and an High priestess which could render my spells useless…. but you know me Sven I always have a plan.” He smiled.

“And what plan would that be?..” He asked.

“I’m gonna rain Hellfire on top of them.” He replied, “By the way… anyone of you seen Scarlet?….. She could have easily forced to retreat….” Paul asked.

“But you said they would render your….” He stopped himself finishing the sentence…..”Ummm. No one has seen her since the left with guards on patrol…. and the artificial darkness has made it hard to see past the city outer walls.

“And I haven’t been able to reach her with our communication badge either…. and the darkness also caused some static.” I answered.

“Odd…. if they were stupid enough to try and ambush her she should’ve been back by now….. Maybe she’s busy doing something.” Paul pondered not even showing a bit of worry for her.

“How many casualties?…. have we received?” Paul asked.

“No fatalities so far for Atlantis students…. City guard has lost a good number…. and some key higher and middle class families have lost members…. But that all happened before we arrived…” Sven informed him.

Paul stopped in his tracks suddenly….”Ohhhh… what you’ll witness is going to be extremely inhumane…… if you’re not ready…please…. look away…” He warned us, but it felt more directed to me….. With a stern caring tone like he had no other choice and began leading the way again.

“Ummm…. Commander Paul….Dark Elves are fierce loyal fighters….” Helen tried to notify him.

“I know… that’s why I need to show them extreme excessive force that they have no other option but to retreat…..” He agreed in a sombre tone… “I need to show them a force so overwhelming so this will never happen again…So they’d never try and attack a city within the borders of Atlantis ……. Stop the killing of innocence and mindless deaths of soldiers..” He added deeply saddened by the role he has to perform.

“Is he gonna unleash the black flame on them?..” Jay whispered me like I would have a clue.

“I…. don’t know myself…..” I replied staring at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of me…..