Arcanum - Chapter 149

“Quickly!!! All ranged casters and fighters make your way onto the wall!!! Stay in cover do not make a move till they engage us on the bottle neck.” Paul ordered.

“Most experienced Close combat students with me…”We’re the front line!” He instructed loudly and clearly to everyone. Then I want all the less experienced close combat combatants behind us…. Cover our openings and watch our backs….. Other mid ranged fighters try and hit who you can without endangering fellow students….. And remember to pull pack injured students!” Paul yelled out to everyone clearly causing all the students to being forming up.

“Paul why are you going on the front line?…. you’re a caster..” I asked questioning his decision.

“You do remember…. I’m also very good in close combat.” He smiled.

“You are?….” I asked totally surprised…. he was never really a fighter to begin with…. yet alone being good with his fists or weapons.

“Don’t worry…. I’ve also trained in Monk fighting styles as well as many weapon styles.” He smiled trying to reassure me…..

“But you said you’re spent…” I objected.

“Yeah…. I haven’t got many spells left in me…. but I can still fight….. Besides I’m the commander I need to be beside my fellow students.” He smiled.

“Paul… are you sure you’re gonna be okay?….” I asked worried for him.

“That’s why you’re here….. You’re here to watch my back…” He smiled.

“This isn’t a joke Paul…” I replied clearly angry at his no nonchalant attitude in a situation like this.

“Okay look… don’t worry…. I’ve been in much dire situations…. there’s nothing to worry about…” He smiled…. “I have a special job for you…. When I give you the Signal… send off this Red Flare for me.” He smiled.

“Okay…” I agreed taking the flares from him.

“AND ONE MORE SPECIAL ORDER…. WHEN YOU SEE A RED FLARE EVERYONE MUST TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!!!” Paul ordered yelling as loud as he can.

“Don’t worry!!! …. I’m gonna be fine….” he smiled noticing my worried expression…. “Ohh and take good care of this for me…” He smiled taking off his coat and giving it to me.

“Is this the same one your mum bought you?..” I asked recognizing it putting it on over my robes….. His familiar smell forcing me to smile brining back nostalgic memories.

“Of course…. Lucky for me… there are spells here that lets you repair clothes and things….. So now it won’t wear out.” He smiled.

“Do you remember this?…” He said showing me the white gold ring I bought him back when we were 17.

“It can’t be…. you still have it?..” I lied pretending I didn’t recognize and it the first time I saw it.

“Yeah…. a part of me couldn’t bear to take it off despite us no longer being together and stuff…” He replied staring at it spinning it around his finger.

“That was a very …. Weird gift for a girl to give to a guy to be honest…” I admitted.

“That’s true…Maye I should have been the one who bought you one.” He chuckled.

“Really Paul?…. you’re still like that after all this time?.. And you was the one that broke up with me… I swear…” I replied to him.

“Yeah… the one biggest regret of my life….. But I had something I needed to do.” He replied.

“Is that why you ended up here?…” I questioned.

“Yes ….. It ultimately landed me here.” He smiled, “To be honest I’m surprised you wasn’t married yet…. it’s been over 5 years…. and you know…. your parents wanted to marry you off…..” He awkwardly asked.

“Yeah…… I dunno….. Everyone who I ended up meeting was weird in some kind of way….” I admitted to him, I could tell from his reaction that he was over the moon but did a really awful job of hiding it.

“Ummm…. yeah… I’m sure there’s someone out there…” He hesitantly replied.

“Maybe… anyways let’s deal with the matter at hand….” I reminded him.

“Yeah…. yeah…. you’re right…” He said gathering himself and began wrapping his fists with a piece of cloth.

“Paul… are you a monk?…” I asked recognizing the wrapping on his fists like Bo.

“Ohhhh Yeah…. I’ve also studied under a Monk Master…..” He smiled.

“So you can use Ki?..” I asked remembering Yuna very briefly describing it.

“Yup…. I can utilize Ki as well. And martial arts….” He smiled, “Is that why you was so worried?… you thought I was useless without my spells?…” He asked with a cheeky smile.

“A little…” I admitted.

“Well there is a reason Scarlet is training you guys in combat without spells and ranged attacks. I hope.” Paul smiled.

“Yeah I know it’s just so weird… that’s all.” I answered.

“See there’s nothing to worry about…. I’ll be safe.” He smiled trying to reassure me as a series of explosions began erupting in quick succession along the outer wall.

“Right everyone Prepare for battle!!! Remember my orders!!!” He shouted to all the other students.

“Let’s go Emilia.” He smiled making his way through to the front lines the student making a path for him saluting him looking excited.

“So remember when I signal… send off the red flare….. And watch my back.” He smiled.

Everyone fell silent as we waited for the upcoming battle…. starring forward into the darkened outer district. The students on top of the walls kneeling down hiding themselves from sight as ordered by. Paul standing at the front… closely followed by a loose semi-circle of students around the entrance of the wall. With the rest of the students closely lined up behind them.

“How do you know commander Paul?..” A male student beside me whispered.

“Huh?… Ohhh we’re friends.” I replied.

“What’s it like to be friends with the commander?..” He whispered.

“It’s normal….. He’s a pretty normal person.” I replied focusing ahead as the sound of distant drumming began to resonate into my ears.

“Is he really as great as the stories say?..” He asked looking extremely excited to be in the same place as Paul.

“Well I myself haven’t seen him in action much but yeah he’s a pretty amazing person.” I replied.

“I wish I can do half the things he can.” The student stared at him like worshiping an idol.

“I’m sure you will…” I replied with a smile.

The familiar silhouette of tall slim elves appeared in the distance…. but instead of charging they just stood there waiting…. something felt off… why weren’t they charging in???…. What where they waiting for?…….

Suddenly even the wardrums fell silent quieting the battlefield to an eerie silence. Thousands of strange white particles began appears in the sky coalescing into several points creating a dense bright light.

“Ground force fall back!!!” I heard Paul ordered everyone.

Before we could even turn to run the lights released a Beam of light streaking towards us. The whole world slowed….. Everyone was trying to run…. some caught off guard just fell back shielding their eyes from the bright light… I instinctively looked at Paul standing there in front of everyone, barely being able to keep my eyes open from the bright light….. Slowly I watched his body became a silhouette of shadow…. and eventually engulfed by the beam of white light before I had to shield my eyes from the blinding radiance.

“Paul…” I tried screaming out to him but I doubt he can hear me anymore…. Did I really come back to see him die in front of my eyes?…. Was I better off staying back at home?….

“Commander!!!” The student beside me yelled as if running onwards towards the beam.