บท 93: Gossip and news
A heavy knock on the door and the alarm sound blaring in my mind forced me awake. "Comming.." I groggily woke up walking towards the door, in an instant as I approached closer to the door my spine stiffened and my body straightened out, the familiar fear feeling shocking me awake.
"One minute... Scarlet!" I yelled taking a step back and rummaged my pockets for the coins Ashley gave me. Shuffling through them I quickly clutched the silver one holding it tightly to me and quickly went to open the door.
"Morning Sis!!!" Scarlet yelled with a giant smile totally unaware of how she gave me a mini heart attack a few seconds ago.
"Come in!!!.... I'm sorry I just woke up.." I said quickly heading to the bathroom to quickly get myself ready.
"No problems!!! I was too excited and wanted to come wake you up, take your time we have loads of time…. If ya know what I mean…." She replied sounding jolly.
"So.... Where's Paul?.. I thought he was meant to tutor me...." I asked through the door as I began to get ready.
"He said he had important things to do." Scarlet replied.
"Ohhh I see... what's he up to?... he was here yesterday...." I said.
"He's on a mission .... He didn't tell me what it was either... but he will be back soon don't worry." She replied.
Quickly brushing my teeth and taking a quick rinse in the shower I dashed out to get dressed. "So.... what we gonna do today?.." I asked as I went to the wardrobe to get dressed.
"Ummm... Paul told me to do the basic physical training and maybe help you do higher level spells..." She said turning around to give me privacy.
"By the way I was wondering why You and Paul don't have House Tattoos..." I asked.
"Ohh we do.... just ours is special... they are golden to represent we are S-Ranked you wouldn't have seen them before since you wasn't officially enrolled into the Atlantis Family." Scarlet answered.
"Ohhhh how comes?.." I asked.
"It's so Freshmans can't influence the Houses they want to be in." She explained.
"Ohh I see" I replied, slipping on a simple dress and robe blue robe." Okay I'm ready." I said turning around showing off what I was wearing.
"Ohhh the classical sorceress look.... I like it." She smiled
"Yeah.... I've always wanted to wear witch robes." I said twirling in glee.
"Hmmm a witch….. Generally witches are considered bad or evil….. We call male and female spell casters wizards, sorcerers or mages… anyways ready to go?" Scarlet asked.
"YUP!" I replied filled with excitement.
"Don't forget your stuff." She said opening the door.
Quickly grabbing my bag I followed her out, "By the way is it meant to be a secret that you're helping me train?.." I asked.
"Not really... but don't go around boasting it... though.... always stay humble." She smiled.
"By the way.... why aren't we doing anything to the goblin invasion?.." I asked.
"..... Headmaster Bran hasn't given us the order to make a move." Scarlet answered.
"Ohhh..... A friend told me it's much worse than a goblin invasion." I said to her looking worried.
"Yeah..... We know.... but still we aren't allowed to act unless given the order... despite the loss of innocent lives and displaced families sadly..." Scarlet replied sounding a little down.
"You want to help?..." I asked.
"Yes I do....." She replied.
"Then why don't you just go and do something." I asked.
"If there was no repercussions I would... but Paul said we can't just go charging in blasting everything..... Stupid politics complicate things..." She said angrily punching a wall.
"Politics?.." I asked.
"Yup.... Arcadia... doesn't like us if we disobey orders... they see us as loose cannons..... So the Arcadia council politically keeps us in check and that's why Calista is so important.. She is here to help strengthen the trust between Arcadia Council and our School." Scarlet explain still gritting her teeth.
"Do you know why the invasion happened?... My friends told me it's weird... that those races are working together especially for once cause." I asked.
"Yeah....Paul thinks it's something to do with the other continents trying to create instability." Scarlet replied.
"Other continents?..." I asked.
"Yes there are other continents.... the closest to us a military state that controls a large army that worship Solius the God of the Sun... they believe that Humans are the only clean race and all other races should be purged by Light." She explained.
"..... Humans like you and I?.." I asked.
"Yes Humans.... Elves, Tiefaeni, Dark Elves Dwarves etc etc... Are considered unclean...." She answered.
"That's so horrible...." I replied.
"Yup..... They consists of Humans and Svargmar's they think the Svargmar's connections to the Gods mean that they are doing their God's will therefore doing good." She said.
".... what are Svargmar?.." I asked.
"They are like humans... except touched by Angels or Angelic beings... Opposite to Daisy...." Scarlet replied.
"I see..." nodding in understanding.
"Yup Paul thinks that the child smuggling operation you guys interrupted were children heading to them so they can indoctrinate them into their cult...." Scarlet explained.
"Why don't someone do something to them?.." I questioned.
"We are a small school... and at best a kingdom including Arcadia.. Whereas they are a whole continent consisting of multiple Kingdoms....." Scarlet explained. "The only reason they don't launch a large scale invasion is the fear that all four of our kingdoms unite... So they send Envoys for 'Negotiations and Peace'.... But there's no mistaking where there's an Envoy there's an increase in kidnappings... but stupid politicians and the council don't allow us to deal with them..... Paul says they have Diplomatic Imunnity." Scarlet said angrily.
"Have you guys encountered them?.." I asked feeling curious.
"Yeah we have.." Scarlet answered.
"What happened???" I asked.
"We was escorting a cargo ship..... We were ambushed by a ramming ship. We obviously made quick work of their Paladins and Clerics dealing with them none lethally... We even gave them a 2nd chance in life setting them free.... after a week we were called into the Arcadia council and had to explain our actions..... And then we got punished for it..... Punished for defending ourselves... how bloody stupid is that..." Scarlet sounding angrier then before.
"But if they worship a God why are they bad?.." I asked.
"I dunno how their God talks to them..... All I know is they are committing genocide and the way they even treat their own members are cruel... if I was allowed, I'd annihilate them myself." Scarlet muttered.
"... By the way.... what sort of impression did you get from Morgana?.." I asked changing the subject noticing how riled up she was getting.
"Well aside from Paul getting tricked by Granny Matilda.... which is quite rare.... he's normally so calm collected and rarely skips a beat... but she's a nice girl... Despite being the daughter of a Hag she's still a human....." Scarlet answered sounding calmer.
"Yeah.... I'll try.." I smiled.
"In this world... there are a great deal of people who have no control over their lineage or parents.... A baby born from a human and a baby born from the orc are the same.." Scarlet explained. "Ohhh!!.... By the way.... how comes you didn't tell me?.." Scarlet asked.
In an instant my brain processed what she just asked scrambling for anything that I kept secret from here and trying to process which one she was asking about.
"What you mean?.." I asked.
"Ashley told me that Calista already challenged you to a duel." She said to me.
"Ohh that.... yeah...." I replied quietly.
"You know what Paul would advise you to do in a situation like this?.." She asked.
I shrugged not really knowing what he would say, "I dunno as long as you tried your best?..." I assumed.
"Nope he would tell you to forfeit... because you're not ready yet... Fighting for what you believe in and for the right reasons is noble, but if you're not ready or can't accomplish it's important to know when to give up for the time being." Scarlet explained.
"So I should give up then?.." I asked.
"I don't know..... Only you will know the answer to that...." Scarlet replied.
"I personally think opposite to Paul... I think you should give it your all and try your best." Scarlet added.
"How strong is Calista?.." I asked.
"She's not bad... a bit overconfident... but she lacks in fundamental..... She's a good sorceress able to already cast some level three spells.... but lacks in everything else..." Scarlet answered.
"Hmmmm...." I said to myself thinking on what I should do.
"Don't worry I'll try my best to prepare you before your duel." Scarlet said turning around to give me a smile and a wink
"By the way where is your Tattoo?.." I asked.
"Mine is on my upper arm.. I'll show you in the training room.. where I can take off my arm plates." She said.
".... do other people see the tattoo?.... mines on my hand it's kinda obvious..." I said lifting my hand looking at it.
"Don't worry..... Only Students of Atlantis can see it... and anyone one else who you want to show the tattoo to… but everyone else it will just be a plain hand…." She explained.
"Ohhhh that's pretty handy...." I replied.
"Yah just remember..... Being a student of Atlantis affords many benefits but now you have to take into account the schools reputation when doing things." Scarlet added.
"So don't start fights and tarnish the Atlantis name?.." I asked.
"Yup..... Unlike the other Schools.... Atlantis works with Arcadia together... so there's bureaucracy and politics involved..." Scarlet explained.
"And it's not the same for the other schools?.." I asked.
"Nope.... the other schools generally hold most the power in their kingdom..... So they are more free to do whatever they want." Scarlet explained.
"Do we ever get to visit other schools?.." I asked.
"Maybe the city... but the schools themselves probably not..... Paul and I have made some friends in high places but you know politics..... it's complicated..." Scarlet explained further.
"Is that why he's helping Calista despite how horrible she is?.." I asked.
"Yup.... not only does Paul owe her father for letting him visit home.... but also being in the good graces of the princess would be extremely helpful in the future...." Scarlet answered.
"Do you think I'll be able to beat Calista?..." I asked.
"How badly do you want to beat her?..." Scarlet asked in return.
"Ohhh so badly I want her to know not to mess with me!" I replied gritting my teeth remembering the first time we met and how much of an ass she was.
"Don't worry I'll help you." Scarlet smiled, "Unlike the teachers..... I know where you're from so I can help you a little more.." She explained.
"Ohhhhh yes!!!" I said feeling excited.
"Just remember..... Individuals from your Plane..... Have the greatest potential..... So make sure you keep it a secret where you're from.... we don't want the distasteful parts of this world to take you...." She reminded. "If any of the other schools could.... they would have kidnapped Paul and convert him whatever means possible." Scarlet added.
"Are you and Paul the strongest S-ranked in all the schools?..." I asked.
"Yeah we are..... The other School S ranks are formidable though....." She answered.
"Who are they?.." I asked feeling curious.
"So in Eshia we have Abbraxsoth's Daughter Alexa, his first son Thomas and 'The butcher'..... In Zessia two Twins... Claudia and Malik and their third S-ranked student Remus. Aspa has Balzir, A sentient robot who goes by the name 'One' and Lerra. Scarlet answered.
"So each school only have three S ranked students?.." I asked.
"Well... officially yeah... but you can have students equivalent to S rank in power and strength just not Ranked S." Scarlet replied.
"Ohhh time to start your training!" Scarlet said with a large smile as we arrived at Paul's door.
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