Arcanum - Chapter 148

“Everyone…. Please make your way to the next bottle neck…. I will be sealing this one off….. All A-Ranked students please make your way to the other side and speak to Sven.” Paul instructed everyone causing groups to split apart and head different directions.

“Watch my back.” Paul smiled instructing me.

“Really Paul?.. You need me to cover you?..” I asked finding it funny that he wants me to protect him.

“I mean….. I do get nervous when you watch me.” He chuckled pulling out a yellow piece of paper. “Not to mention I’m still quite weak right now.” He smiled.

“How can you joke at a time like this?..” I asked shocked at the idea.

“I dunno… you know me….. I don’t take things too seriously… besides…. It’s all going to plan.” He smiled.

“Do you think we can hold the wall for 4 minutes?…” I asked.

“Yeah I’m sure the confusion of the sealed bottlenecks…. will buy us plenty of time.” He answered.

“Paul Do you miss home?” I questioned.

“I do sometimes…. but I have a lot of responsibilities here… So it’s hard for me to go back.” HE answered.

“How many people know you’re here?..” I questioned.

“Ummm… Just Jaymesh and Family…” He answered writing a symbol on the yellow piece of paper in a language I don’t understand.

“So if I never came here I would never have known?..” I asked saddened by the thought.

“…. I guess so…..” He replied sounding saddened as well.

“What if you died here…. I would never know…. all I know is that you disappeared…..” I asked as if his decision was unfair.

“… I’m sorry….. I honestly thought you moved on and didn’t care anymore..” He answered.

“…” I didn’t know what to say…. it all came back to me…. we didn’t speak for years not even a whisper…not even a small message on a birthday or Christmas… To be honest with myself.. I didn’t even realised he disappeared off earth..

He slapped the paper on the empty opening in the wall, like magic it seemed as if it was stuck in the air. He muttered something causing the rune on the paper to glow and slow the same rune word began spiralling outwards in the air. “That’s one done.” He smiled.

“What language is that?..” I asked as it was unrecognizable.

“They say it’s the language of the Gods….. The Language used to create and make rules…. That’s why this ancient magic is so strong….” He explained.

“Seriously?..” I asked in disbelief.

“I’m not joking…. It is said this very Language is the same Language the First God used to create this reality….. Only the user can dispel the runes…. or the rune fades. The length depending on the user…. My runes can only last an hour at best… whereas the Deputy Headmistress’s hers last a month.” He answered, “Right let’s head to the other one… this one should be safe now.” He smiled.

“Paul… are you sure?…” I asked feeling cautious since he dismissed all the Atlantis students.

“Yup we’re totally safe…” He smiled.

“Can you teach me stuff like this?..” I wondered as we made our way to the next spot.

“This type of magic in particular is very hard… The only Word of Power taught is Word of Power Stun… and even then that’s a very high spell very few in the world can even use.” He answered.

“Is there anything else you can teach me?…” I hesitantly asked.

“Worried with your upcoming duel?..” He replied.

“Yeah….. A little I guess..” I answered feeling hopeful.

“… To be honest….. There’s a very slim chance of you winning.” He hesitantly admitted.

“Really?… Even you think so?…” I replied feeling disheartened as the one person who always had my back thought that I couldn’t win…

“Scarlet and Ashley has kept me up to date on your progress….. You’re doing very well…. but even then…She’s also very talented….. She’s been practicing magic since the age of 6…. Learning under High Magister August… who even at once tutored me…. and even after all that…. she’s also the champion of a Storm Giant….. She maybe a freshman…. but with all her training she will easily give most Rank-A students a run for their money…..” He explained.

“So it’s completely hopeless?…” I asked knowing it’s useless to fight her.

“Well I wouldn’t say it’s hopeless…. you’re always one to surprise me.” He smiled, “Just remember the most important thing is… your strength is the confidence you have in yourself.” He reminded me.

“Great…” I sarcastically replied.

“Emilia….. You really need to be-….” He tried to say to me.

“I know I know….” I interrupted him.

“You know…. of all those things I wish you could change….. It would be that…” He replied with a frown.

“You do have a wish spell….” I sarcastically replied.

“I could also alter your memory….. But I’ll never do that to you….. I’d never use magic to mess with you….” He answered seriously.

“So you won’t teach me anything?..” I asked.

“It’s not that I won’t….. It’s that I can’t because you’re not ready yet… Like a building you need a good foundation.” He explained… “Okay… I promise when you’re ready…. I’ll teach you something…” He promised.

“Okay…..!” I smiled knowing that he has never broken a promise since the day I’ve known him.

“By the way what does it mean to be a chosen champion of a Storm Giant?…” I asked wondering.

“Well… that mean’s she’s somehow gained favour of a Storm Giant….. So she can borrow or ask for his power….. And temporarily get even stronger for a limited time.” Paul explained.

“Is that why you think I will lose?… Because I have beaten her in some Hologram fights…” I asked.

“Yeah pretty much… A storm Giants blessing is nothing to sneeze at…” He added.

“Great… why does she get everything….” I cursed.

“Emilia… you have nothing to worry about… you will very quickly reach her level….. You just have to give it time…. you’ve only been here for two weeks.” He tried to make me understand.

“It’s just that she’s a stupid bully…. her smug smile really pisses me off.” I growled in anger remembering that stupid silver spoon baby looking down on me.

“Do you want me to tell her to stop?..” Paul offered.

“I think that will make it worse…” I replied.

“….Ohhh by the way….. When I do rain hell fire on the dark Elves… Please don’t look at me different…..” He hesitantly ask but sounded more like a desperate plea.

“Paul… nothing you can do will make me see you differently…” I earnestly answered him.

“You say that now….. But there’s a reason why I’m so feared….. And I….. I…. I won’t be able to live with myself if you looked at me that way…” His voice cracked almost crying at the thought.

“You’re still so silly.” I laughed nudging him.

“Wait if you can only make two barriers….. And you’re almost spent how on earth are you meant to protect me?..” I asked just now realising the situation.

“Okay… I lied….. I just wanted to spend some time with you…” He confessed.

“You know you never need to make an excuse to see me….” I replied.

“I know….” He replied still saddened.

Like before all the students stepped aside letting us pass following Paul’s orders to reroute them to the other bottle necks. “Okay…. this should just about do it…” He said placing another yellow piece of paper with a rune written on it in the air and similar runes began to spiral out of it.

“Now time for the hard part…. Holding off a horde of fanatical Dark Elves for 4 minutes.. and I can’t even do much to help.” He sighed.