Arcanum - Chapter 170

“Woah what is that?!” Jun asked in shock seeing the computer.

“Ohh that the equipment we use, it tells us which rooms are free and we can then book the room.” Grace explained using the computer.

“Amazing, truly amazing….” Jun uttered in awe staring over Grace’s shoulder.

“Ohh looks like we have a room free on the third floor.” Grace said pressing the screen to book it.

“Let’s go!” Jun said rushing up the stairs.

“The way everyone describes it I thought Aspa would be filled with these things.” I said following him up.

“I guess they have some things but not computers?” Jay answered.

“Guess so.” I replied.

“This is our room Jun!” Helen called out to him as he excitedly began looking through the glass into the other room on the floor.

“Woah..” He starred in awe at the room in complete shock, “So this room changes?” He asked.

“Yup!” We all answered.

“So what shall we do?” He asked filled with excitement.

“It’s up to you.” Jay smiled.

“Ohh wow..” Jun began to think but didn’t know what to pick like a child in a candy store. “What can I choose from?” He asked absolutely lost on what to pick.

“How about we go see what Paul did yesterday?” Jay suggested.

“Sure we can try!” grace said.

“Computer can we see the Battle in Catavan yesterday Pauls perspective Please.” Grace shouted out asking the computer.

“Please specify time of event.” The computer asked.

“A few moments before he enters Catavan.” I requested.

“Affirmative…” The computer answered as the whole room shifted into Ashley’s Room.

“No way!!!” Jun said in shock look at how amazing this simulation is.

“Can I touch stuff?..” He questioned feeling some of the things in Ashley’s room.

“In recreations you can touch things but you can’t move them.” I answered.

“Aren’t you a little worried?” Ashley voice spoke out asking Paul.

“A little.. but all the precautions have been made.” Paul smiled leaning back on his chair.

“What about the other class?” Ashley asked.

“Think they are headed to Bruntson.” Paul answered.

“Ohh they should be fine then.” Ashley answered.

“Yeah…. relaxing day for me.” Paul smiled leaning far back on the chair putting his feet on the table.

“By the way what was you doing in Eshia anyways? Anna was with you right?” Jay asked.

“Yup I needed Anna to make contact with an old acquaintance of hers The Ruby Trader.” Paul answered causing Jun to gasp in shock.

“Wait isn’t he rumoured to be a slave trader??” Ashley asked in shock.

“It was a special request so I had to make some deals.” Paul answered.

“Wow didn’t think Paul would make deals with same traders..” Jun said in shock

“None of this make any sense.” I said to everyone noticing they all started pondering on something.

“I thought something might have been off about him.. And how crazy rich he is.” Grace suspected him of being a bad person.

“Weird.. I sense a lot of students suddenly appearing..” Paul said looking at his watch.

“That’s defiantly odd both classes aren’t due back for hours.” Ashly said.

“Hmm I’ll go check it out.” Paul smiled standing up straightened his clothes and opened a portal for himself to step through. We instantly travelled to the court yard where all the students were exiting, Paul instantly walked towards a faculty member I haven’t met before. “What’s going on?” Paul asked looking worried.

“A group of freshman said the city was infiltrated by Dark Elves so we had to evacuate the first years.” He notified Paul.

“Thank you professor Tuss.” He thanked the professor and walked off to the side.

“Ashley I got a bad feeling, can you cover for me on Atlantis?” Paul questioned talking into this magical communication device. “I don’t have time I need to leave now.” He replied to Ashley, “Thanks bro I owe ya.” he smiled and opened a portal to the city stepping through.

“Wow just amazing his ability to portal around…” Jun said in complete awe.

“What’s going on here? I need a report.” Paul shouted out as scenery changed to the city of Catavan.

“Commander?..” A student asked looking at him surprised at his arrival. “I’m not quite sure.. We were told to stations and fortify the outer wall.” The student reported.

Simultaneously the beam of darkness rocketed into the sky around the city darkening the sky, everyone stared at the sight unsure what’s happening. “Everyone get ready here they come.” Paul said.

Out of nowhere the ground began to tremble as four worms erupted out the ground signalling the beginning of the assault. “Shit.” Paul yelled blasting two worms with two pointed finger vaporizing it into dust with his green beam. The sound of battle cries began to echo out as Dark Elves began to emerge from the holes weapons in hand. “I don’t have time for this.” Paul said in anger and with one hand closing his fist causing the ground to shake quickly and the four holes closed themselves sealing the opening tightly. In quick succession Paul vaporised the remaining Dark elves and Worms with his sickly green beams that turns things to dust.

“Wow he can cast without needing a wand?” Jun commented watching the whole event.

Paul looked into the sky as a set of over watch fire shoot through the sky high over the walls instead of down into the city “Emilia? Where are you I can’t sense you!” He asked and began running down the city walls quickly blasting and vaporising Dark Elves and Worm where he could see them. “Seal the holes don’t let any more in here!” He ordered every student that he passed, and began running again “Emilia?” he kept repeating himself every so often.

Suddenly he came to a stop and began looking around scanning his surroundings quickly. “Yeah!…. where are you?…. you and your friends weren’t with the returning group…” He asked sounding extremely worried. “What’s going on?..” He asked looking more panicked with each passing second. “Quickly explain to me the situation.” He replied trying to sound as clam as possible. “Okay…. I’m coming… This is very important…. I need you to or make an empty space around a meter in diameter and send me a signal.” He urgently instructed me over the communication device we have.

Quickly he walked towards the closest student with gloved fists who I now recognise is Yuna, “Commander!” She looked at him in shock and surprise.

“I need your assistance it might be risky.” He requested her aid.

“Yes sir what do you need done?” Yuna nodded.

“You three with me!” He said pointing at three guards which ran towards him and nodded for some odd reason listening to him. “Stay close hold onto me!” He said as he waited staring eagerly into the sky. “Come on Emilia…..” He uttered under his breathe getting very impatient. “Just stay calm…. I’m here with you.” He replied to my message.

It was so interesting to see everything going on from his side of the whole event. In the sky I could see the beam of fire I let out high into the sky to signal him. “Stay there!!! I’m coming!!! And cover your ears.” He instructed me, lightning began to channel around him as small crackled of bolts flashed around them until one large boom struck down on Paul. With an Echoing boom Yuna, Paul and the guards were all transported outside the city with hundreds of confused Dark Elves looking at them.

Before any of them could react there was another resounding boom and they were transported into an empty dark area with the city in the background. This occurred seven times in total making strides towards the signal I sent him.

There I was in an empty area my clothes bloodied and dirty from everything that happened on the verge of tears that he’s here to save me. I really was reckless if he didn’t come to save me I would most likely be taken or killed. We conversed for a little before he ordered me to go with Yuna back to the city and quickly departed leaving him and the three guards to set up the teleportation runes.

He closed his eye letting out a deep breath calming himself physically smiling a little before opening his eye again and waiting for Yuna’s signal flares. A total of four flares shot out in the distance before a bright yellow barrier erected at each of the flares shining brightly in the darkness like an impassable bastion.

“Truly a sight..” Jun uttered while everyone remained silent like watching a weird movie of our lives.

One by one each of the guards made their way to Paul side. Sir anything we can assist you with?” They questioned as Paul concentrated on holing his barrier his face and body physically showing strain with each Moonbeam that struck the barrier.

“Quickly move any stray refugee I need….everyone densely packed a possible.” He tried to issue his command while being blasted by a Moonbeam.

“Yes Sir!” they all answered and went to work.

At one point it looked as if his barrier was going to break the impenetrable cube began to warp and contort at locations with each moonbeam slamming into it. “Shit….” Paul uttered falling to one knee.

“What can we do to help sir?” The guards asked running back towards him watching him kill himself trying to shield the refugees.

“I’m okay….” He replied to them out of breath and closed his eyes, with a burst of energy Paul looked physically renewed and the barrier strengthen returning to its original impenetrable cube shape. “What was that?!” everyone else all asked in unison completely shocked at what just happened.

“I’m sorry but I’m going to need to ask one of you to help me with something he asked calmly the Moonbeams striking the barrier doing little to interrupt his request this time.

“Whatever you need sir!” They all replied to him.

“It’s not that easy.. You’ll be giving up your life in the process.” He informed them.

“It’s our duty sir.” They all answered with without wavering a millisecond.

“You all are great soldiers.. Your city doesn’t deserve such honour and valour.” Paul praised them as he struggled to pick one.

“Sir… take me… the rest have a family waiting for them to come home, I wouldn’t be able to look at myself knowing their kids won’t see their father and grandfather again.” The solider notified Paul.

“.. Okay solider what is your name?..” Paul asked him sincerely like the whole situation outside the barrier was nothing but a mere inconvenience.

“Seth.. Seth Dalehorn..” The solider answered him taking off his helmet revealing a young solider in his prime.

“I’m sorry, I’m asking you to do this but I have no other choice.” Paul apologised to him.

“Sir I have one request if I may.” The solider asked.

“Please Paul from not on and whatever you need.” Paul answered him.

“I have a cousin and niece they are my last remaining family left.” He informed Paul.

“No need to say anymore.. I’ll personally take care of them, you have my word.. As long as I draw breath they will encounter no hardship and be looked after for.” Paul nodded in understanding.

“Thank you Sir Paul!” The solider thanked him on the verge of tears.

“I’m sorry for this…. You won’t survive the journey even Arcanum sensitive users can only withstand this form of travel a couple times a day..” Paul explained to him, the solider nodded and kneeled down placing his sword on the floor and began to pray closing his eye.

“Sir take me instead.. I’m old and already lived a long and fruitful life.” A solider requested seeing the young solider praying to his Gods.

“.. It’s been decided there no going back now..” Paul denied his request, one by one each of the soldiers laid down their swords and began to pray with him.

“Sir I am ready.” The young solider stood up walking towards Paul with no fear or hesitation in his voice.

“I’m truly sorry asking for this sacrifice.” Paul apologised to him sounding very sorry.

“Sir if I may.. I’ve heard stories of how you help the innocent and less fortunate and now I saw you first hand almost sacrifice yourself for these refugees.. It’s is my honour to serve you.” The solider replied.

“I will make sure you’re gonna be remember as the hero who saved the city.” Paul nodded to him, “Before you pass through close your eyes and keep them closed no matter what.” Paul explained to him.

“Yes Sir what’s my order?” He questioned.

“You are to step through the portal with this note that is all.” Paul instructed the solider pulling out a piece of paper with his one remaining hand and opened a red portal for Seth Dalehorn to step through.

“When you’re ready Seth.” Paul notified him.

Seth closed his eyes taking a deep breathe, “May you ascended to the tops of Mount Caelestis along with other heroes of the realm befitting of your heroism.” Paul announced before he stepped into the portal and closing behind him. “Sir what are we to do now?” The remaining soldiers asked.

“We hold the fort and pray everything goes as planned if my barrier drops I’ll be dead or unconscious so it will be up to you to stem the tide of Dark Elves till we get saved.” He said in a mournful tone holding back his tears.

“Ohhh… so that was the message High Admiral Yurika must have received.” Jun determined.