บท 66: Reunion : Parting
After parting ways with Revaan and the rest of the former slaves, Paul made his way to a brick building that resembled a miniature bastille. Like the rest of the Academy, it was constructed from a combination of Magic-proof bricks and rudimentary concrete that could resist up to Saint-Rank Magic. The exterior was predominantly red, but there was an ashen-grey trim around the base, while the expensive glass windows were shielded metal bars and bright green awnings.
Passing through the invisible, Saint-Ranked Barrier that surrounded the property, Paul was slightly startled when Lynette attempted to pounce on him. Unfortunately for her, Paul's training at the Sword Sanctum had made him a lot more difficult to surprise. The moment she attempted to jump on his back, he promptly spun around, startling the petite and lithe-looking cat girl quite a bit as he caught her in his arms.
"Well, hello there..."
Since she had intended to ride on Paul's back, Lynette's legs ended up locking around his waist as his hands supported her bottom. Her usually impassive expression remained so, but her face became beet red as she averted her amethyst purple eyes and muttered, "I didn't say you could touch my butt..."
"That just makes me want to enjoy it even more..."
Contrasting his words, Paul released Lynette's butt from his grasp and hugged her as he said, "I know I've already said this, but I missed you..."
"Nn..."
Though she promptly released her leg lock, Lynette made no attempt to escape Paul's embrace. It had been more than two and a half years since their separation at the Red Dragon's Upper Jaw, and, while she had never come out and said it, Lynette was rather fond of Paul. Her original reason for getting close to him was to incentivize him to summon her sister. It was only after seeing how tirelessly he worked to achieve his goals that Lynette began viewing her interactions with Paul as something more than just a means to an end.
He also smelled nice...
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After his brief reunion with Lynette, Paul made his way into the Bastille-like residence to find a young, silver-haired girl waiting for him. Unlike the others present, including a very mature-looking Rosaria, Andromeda had not benefitted from the near-death experience that caused Paul and the others to mature. She looked much older than twelve, especially around the chest, but she still had a lot of growing to do.
"Welcome back, Master Paul, Lynette..."
Though Paul had lost his status as a Noble, the time Andromeda spent at the Notos Estate had opened her eyes and fundamentally changed her worldview. She believed it was only a matter of time before Paul regained his position or attained an even greater one, so she had no qualms about referring to him as her Master. Everyone else seemed to.
Returning a smile, Paul said, "Sorry for the delay. I had to meet with the Principal and grease his palms a bit. How have you been, Andromeda? I trust the Academy staff have treated you well...?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Andromeda answered, "Thanks to your Lord Father's recommendation and the contributions of Lady Ningguang, my life at the Academy has been nothing but pleasant. My only regret is that I could not prepare a more fitting abode. I had not expected Master to visit the North personally..."
While waving his hand dismissively, Paul sat on the luxurious sofa across from Andromeda and said, "It's nothing to fret over. It's not like I enjoyed having to travel more than a kilometer just to move between the wings of the Notos Estate. So long as they have the essential amenities, I actually prefer cozier residences such as this. Now, about your schooling..."
Lowering her head, Andromeda expected Paul to admonish her since she had been slacking off ever since reaching Saint Rank in Earth, Water, and Fire Magic. Instead, he adopted a friendly smile and said, "Principal Georg was full of praises about you. When he discovered I was your Benefactor, he even attempted to return my bribe."
Exhaling a silent sigh of relief, Andromeda raised her head and was about to reply to Paul's words when he caught her off guard, asking, "Have you given up on your revenge? Where's the Vision I entrusted you?" in a much more severe tone.
Swallowing hard, Andromeda raised the silvery chain wrapped around her neck to reveal a nearly inert Geo Vision. She hadn't given up her revenge, but, after living the relatively peaceful life of Ranoa Magic Academy's top student, she no longer cared as much about the affairs of the Kingdragon Kingdom.
Surprising Andromeda yet again, Paul nodded his head in approval rather than shaking it in admonition as he said, "Good. Living solely for the sake of revenge isn't healthy. If you've found happiness here in the North, you should pursue it. I heard you received a marriage proposal from the First Prince of the Neris Kingdom...?"
"Yes...I would not be the Queen, but he has promised me a position as his Court Mage if I accept..."
"Mmm...well, as long as he isn't pressuring you, I have nothing else to say on the matter. Just do what you believe is necessary for your happiness. I know I am."
Hanging her head, Andromeda began to feel ashamed of herself as she asked, "Is it okay for me to be so selfish? After everything Master Paul and Lady Ningguang have done for me...I feel as though-"
Raising his hand, Paul said, "Just stop. If you'll recall, I never once asked you to become a weapon or fight at my behest. When I granted you that Vision, it was to provide you with the opportunity to seize your destiny by the reins. If you truly wish to respect my and Ningguang's intentions, then live your life to the fullest without compromising your integrity and beliefs. That is the essence of Geo."
Seeing the Vision around Andromeda's neck regain a bit of its luster, Paul nodded his head in approval before rising to his feet and saying, "I'll be on my way, then. I wouldn't want to cause a misunderstanding or jeopardize your standing with the First Prince. I'm also not a student of the Academy, so it wouldn't exactly be proper for me to stay here."
Without waiting for Andromeda to recover from her stupor, Paul turned to depart, adding, "Take care of yourself, Princess." before gesturing for the others to follow.
"W-Wait a moment! Please wait just a moment, Master Paul...!"
Feeling more than a little panicked, Andromeda rose to her feet and tried to block Paul's path. She couldn't just kick her Benefactor out of his own home. Sure, she may have been using it for the better part of four and a half years, but the miniature castle was still Paul's. If he checked into an Inn while she was allowed to continue occupying a dwelling he had paid for using his own money, she would have no face left to give.
Surprising Andromeda for the umpteenth time, Paul plopped his hand atop her head as he said, "We were able to have this place constructed because it was a donation to the Academy. You owe me nothing, kiddo. Just keep doing your best to be happy...okay?"
"..."
Taken aback by Paul's words and actions, Andromeda found herself at a loss for words. A part of her wanted to insist they stay together from now on, but, just as when they were kids, Paul's existence was too large, too free to be held down by someone like her. She was constantly looking to make her life as comfortable as possible, while Paul never stopped trying to pursue something...more...
With her head hanging low, Andromeda's voice was barely a whisper as she said, "I wish I could go with you...I just...I don't have the strength..."
Adopting a wry yet affectionate smile, Paul wrapped Andromeda in his arms, gently caressing her back as he said, "Don't worry about me, kiddo. I have plenty of people walking this path with me...don't feel guilty about walking your own..."
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After bidding farewell to the teary-eyed Princess, Paul, accompanied by Ei, Eula, Xiangling, and Ghislaine, departed the Academy grounds to find a place to stay in the surrounding city.
The City of Magic, Sharia, was one of the largest cities in the Kingdom of Ranoa, as it had to cater to the more than 10,000 students attending the Ranoa Magic Academy. It also had to accommodate the people that had failed to enroll in the Academy, so there were hundreds of Inns, a thriving marketplace, and a massive Adventurers Guild.
Since they would be staying in the city for at least four months, Paul was planning to make some headway on his Adventurer's Rank in the weeks to come. For now, however, he just wanted to find a place where he and the girls could stay without disturbing others or being harassed.
One of the biggest downsides to traveling with beautiful women was the amount of attention they drew. Even when he had just been traveling with Reida, Paul had to fend off innumerable goons and scumbags. He thought things would improve once he matured, but, despite possessing the face and body of an Adonis, Paul could rarely enjoy so much as a walk without someone glaring at him or trying to hit on his women.
"Hey, what are you lasses doing with this baby-faced punk? How about ditching the kid and coming to experience what it's like to be with a real man?"
Though they were both wearing winter clothing, the beauty of Ei and Eula was such that other people couldn't help staring. Ghislaine and Xiangling certainly had charms of their own, but the aura of elegance and nobility exuded by Ei and Eula put them in a league of their own.
With Paul raising his hand, more so to stop Ei from cutting the men down than to prevent anyone from speaking, everyone else remained silent as he adopted a 'friendly' smile and said, "Each and every single one of us is a Sword Saint or higher. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
While Paul's words sounded like absolute nonsense, they were more than enough to sober up the group of half-drunken men. The strongest person within their group was merely Advanced Rank in the North God Style, and, while that was nothing to scoff at, it couldn't compare to a Sword Saint.
Looking Paul and his group over, the party of drunkards realized that their would-be quarries were outfitted with exceptionally high-quality weapons and armor. Only Paul's and Ghislaine's weapons showed any signs of wear and tear, but the size of Eula's Whiteblind was enough to give the group a reason for pause.
Realizing they may have bitten off more than they could chew, the man at the front of the group forced a smile as he said, "We may have had a little too much to drink. Sorry for bothering you, lad..."
Catching the men off guard, Paul flicked an Asura Gold Piece toward the group, saying, "The next few rounds are on me. Just make sure you get to bed without causing anyone else any trouble, understood? The next time something like this happens, I won't be nearly as friendly..."
Though they were a little stupefied by Paul's offering, the group of men promptly thanked him before making way and disappearing into a nearby tavern. This nearly tempted a few other groups to block Paul's path, but after hearing him mention how everyone in his party was at least a Sword Saint, they promptly decided against it...
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