บท 250: The Free Folk of Trisvala
"The Free Folk of Trisvala, welcome welcome." Paul smiled approaching a group of humanish individuals dressed in suits and what I can best describe as a tall strong very muscular man with bull horns, ears and nose, a tall and slender woman with rabbit ears and nose also a little weirdly her legs seemed proportional longer, thicker and more muscular than a normal humans, a shorter very slender boy with cat ears and a long tail that seems to sway and move exactly like how a normal cat's tail would, and finally a small gentleman with a monocle with tiny fluffy rounded ears and I think was an otter's tail.
"Ah, Black Dragon Slayer we were hoping we could talk to someone prominent in Atlantis." The otter person smiled.
"Aledak Sparheart a pleasure to meet you." Paul smiled and bowed his head. "I made my way over as soon as I saw everyone, please how did your people fare with the evacuations?" Paul asked eagerly cutting quickly through formalities.
"Thanks to Atlantis' early warning we were able to evacuate everyone before anything serious happened." Aledak smiled.
"There were no complication and casualties I hope? I do know how steadfast and stalwart your people are." Paul questioned looking a little concerned.
"Well it was harder persuading the more elderly and stronger folk but we managed to evacuate everyone in the end with no casualties, we just hope there are homes left for us to return to, it was only recently we managed to gain basic rights and freedom and finally managed to make our own place we could call home." He grimly answered Paul.
"Is it true that they are on a direct path to the capital?" the small Cat boy questioned Paul but his voice was a lot more maturer then I expected.
"That does seems so currently, but we cant be for certain of course. Also very nice to meet you, I'm Paul." Paul answered him and introduced himself holding a hand out to shake.
"Aalnei Quickpaw." He answered shaking Paul's hand surprisingly despite his cat-like features he still had a human hand.
"Mr Black Dragon Slayer Sir, if you don't mind me asking why hasn't Atlantis done anything to quell the threat? I'm sure Atlantis could have easily stopped it from doing any damage and harm." The bull like man questioned Paul with a very deep voice.
"Sadly, we were given explicit instructions to not get involved, despite our insistence the royal family has declined our offer of help, telling us that they will handle it their own way." Paul answered.
"Seriously? homes and cities razed because of some intercity politics?" The rabbit girl scoffed at Paul's answer.
"Unfortunately that's how it works, we are bounds by the laws and agreement that Atlantis drew up with the royal family centuries ago." Paul shrugged.
"And I bet they wouldn't even move a finger to help rebuild everything we lost." Aalnei cursed.
"Rest assured, we'll make sure to assist the Free Folk in every way we can to help your rebuilding." Paul smiled.
"Your words are reassuring, I'll be sure to inform the rest of the Free Folk leaders of our continued friendship." Aledak smiled.
"So is the young lady beside a new member of your team?" The rabbit woman questioned.
"Oh this is Emilia, she's my current mentee." Paul smiled causing me to give them a small wave.
"Odd all the years I've known you, you've never taken on a mentee or student." Aledak looked curiously.
"What do you mean? I train Atlantis students and many others." Paul replied quickly.
"Yes, that is true but I've never heard you have a mentee, someone you mentor personally." Aledak looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"I made a promise to take good care of her during her stay in Atlantis so I've taken responsibility to train her as well." Paul smiled.
"Do you think Atlantis would be in a position to accept any Free Folk individuals in the future?" The rabbit woman asked.
"Well as you many know Atlantis is the most inclusive of all the schools so hopefully in the future we can welcome young budding Free Folks, but even then I know most our students are still humans. My apologies for it taking so much time." Paul answered the question.
"About that, I have been hoping to see you personally since you're one of the only ones that seem to get things done in Atlantis," Aledak began to change the topic of conversation.
"Oh?" Paul questioned as if he was utterly unsure what he is gonna ask.
"Ah yes, since Atlantis can't currently accept Free Folk citizens as students, we were wondering if Atlantis could spare some time to help teach and train our more younger and talented children." Aledak requested.
"Hmm it might take a little time to setup, unfortunately I may not be able to attend personally, my scheduled is quite packed as it is, but I'll bring the topic up in the next meeting. We do have many talented Alumni that come to mind that could defiantly help your situation." Paul nodded.
"Alumni?" The bull man questioned Paul.
"Alumni are basically students that graduated Atlantis, so they will be of a certain caliber that will should be up to the task." Paul smiled.
"Even more great news I can bring back to the leaders." Aledak smiled.
"Yes, just let me sort it out with the senior faculty members and we'll contact the Free Folk to draw up an agreement." Paul smiled.
"Oh an I've been meaning to ask, please don't be offended in any way, but how is the kidnapping situation? If needed Atlantis can offer some protection during these unstable times, since I know trying to get help from the Kingdom is long arduous full of petty bureaucracy." Paul answered.
"Words cannot even express how indebted we are to your decree, I believe last year was the first year that we the Free Folk have zero reported kidnappings." Aledak thanked Paul his words filled with deep respect and thankfulness.
"I'm deeply sorry I was so blind to the atrocities before hand, and that I cant really help your race in other regions," Paul apologized to him with a sense of deep sorrow.
"Don't beat yourself up to much, we're all only human after all, don't worry the Free Folk of Trisvala will remain a bastion for good and refuge for all races and kinds that seek to escape oppression and slavery." Aledak bowed his head.
"Mr Dragon Slayer, Sorry for my rudeness earlier, you see I lost my dear niece years ago just after your decree was established. and unfortunately she wasn't one of the ones you managed to save." The rabbit woman apologized to Paul making his eyebrows and posture drop a little and his smile turn more solemn.
"I am so very sorry I couldn't save everyone, please believe me, I really did try my hardest to find and get back everyone that was reported." Paul humbly apologized with a sense of very deep sorrow.
"No I must be the one to apologize to you, I was so blinded by my personal loss, and and to be honest still am that I sometimes forget to see the overall good you've achieved over the years for our people." She apologized back.
"I know I can't do anything to make the loss hurt any less, but if it helps I still do try and look for those that slipped through, I still have rewards out for any information or sightings and I do have many contacts and comrades still looking for them," Paul tried to reassure her he was still trying.
"Let's not sadden the mood, on behalf of the Free Folk please accept this as a gift, a small token of our thanks for your hard work and everything you have done for us Free Folk when all else looked only to exploit us." Aledak pulled out a large sized flask.
"If I may mayor Aledak may I be allowed to present to him the gift, I would like the opportunity to attempt to right my wrongs." The bunny women request making Aledak nod firmly and hand her the flask.
"Mr Black Dragon Slayer, please accept this gift on behalf of the Free Folk. The good you alone have provided to our people is unparalleled, as long as Free Folk draws breathe your name, soul and deeds will transcend generations and eons.
"I humbly accept your gift, and please let all the Free Folk and everyone you meet know, as long as I draw breathe I will defend and protect you and all races from oppression and injustice." Paul spoke out while taking the flask.
"I'm sure you heard that us Free Folk produce one of the best wines in the land." Aledak smiled.
"I am, thank you for the kind gesture, not only is it better then the fabled Elven wines, it is also much harder to obtain, even the most extravagant establishments limits customers to one glass per night." Paul smiled.
"Luckily for us limited supply drums up demand," Aledak winked with a smile.
"Truly thank you for this gift, and Please," Paul paused facing the bunny women unsure of her name.
"Sanna, Sanna Swiftfoot." She answered.
"Sanna please believe me, I have not forgotten the one's that are still missing, if they are still alive rest assured as soon as I hear even a whisper of them, I will investigate the matter personally." Paul reassured her.
"If you do hear of any news on a bunny girl, she will be about 14 now, she has dark brown skin like mine but has white hair, please could you let me know, even if it's bad news." She requested.
"This I will do." Paul smiled with a nod.
"I'm sorry but I must take my leave, unfortunately, there are some pressing Atlantis matters I must tend to, please enjoy your stay in Atlantis and may I recommend the recreational facilities our simulation rooms are one of a kind." Paul smiled at them.
The big bull-man that easily towered over Paul in both height and body span placed one big meaty hand on his shoulder even pushing down Paul a little, "Thank you for everything you have done for us, please look after yourself as well." He smiled.
"Thank you, big man." Paul smiled giving his hand a reassuring pat.
"You're truly a good man." He smiled pulling away his big hand.
"Sorry we didn't converse much Emilia but once everything is resolved and the rebuilding finished, please stop by, we'll have a feast in Paul's name." Aledek smiled before the group of them began to leave.
"What decree did you make?" I questioned Paul as soon as they left earshot.
"In Arcadia, any sort of human trafficking is banned, unlike other laws which are dealt with by the police or guards, human trafficking matters are personally dealt with by Me, Scarlet and now also Anna." Paul answered.
"Woah.... Was it that big of a problem before?" I questioned in shock.
"Unfortunately the decree initially wasn't as effective as I hoped, all it did was sky rocket the price of slaves and kidnappings. Criminal began taking on the challenge and kidnappings actually grew for the first one to two years, but as we took down each criminal organization and group one by one, they found out how serious we were and cases began to rapidly decline." Paul answered.
"Did you ummm kill them?" I questioned curiously.
"I tend to prefer to to kill them, but sometime the unspeakable things they did, well Scarlet on the other hand is less forgiving them I am." Paul basically explained that Scarlet probably did the killing.
Unsure how I feel that Paul is somehow an accomplice to murder I had to ask him, "How do you feel about killing people?" I questioned a little disheartened how much he's changed.
"Well, like I said I don't personally like murdering people, I'd rather hand them other to the authorities. Scarlet on the other hand prefers retribution, and well some of the thing's we saw and experienced I don't feel guilty letting her deliver her version of justice." Paul answered completely sure of his choice. "Like the things they did to the young children, or even go far as to killing them to hide the evidence, honestly if Scarlet wasn't the one doing it, even I would find it hard to contain my rage." Paul carried on explaining.
"How many did you save over the years?" I questioned trying to change the conversation to something slightly warmer.
"Should be well over five hundred, sadly I probably failed to save hundreds as well," Paul answered clearly taking those he couldn't save to heart like he was an utter failure.
"Stop beating yourself up, like you always told me. As long as you have good intentions." I smiled patting his back trying to cheer him up. "Now who do we see next?" I questioned trying to distract him from himself.
"Well well well, the famed Black Dragon Slayer finally deciding to step up to his rank." A very chilling and shrill voice spoke out and began making himself present.
"Who the heck is that?" I questioned as a very tall slender bald man dressed in an extravagant gold and red robe with pale white ghost-like skin began walking towards us
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
Vanilla_Crown
Vanilla_Crown Apologies for not noticing earlier but thank you! sam107 for your continued powerstone support despite my abrupt and prolonged hiatus and dissaperance.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง