203 Small favours

"By the way sorry for always asking so much from you but could I ask for another favour?" I hesitantly questioned.

"For you, anything nothing is too much to ask." He smiled in return.

"So we met a nice girl who is stuck in a bad family." I began to explain to him.

"Okay, that happens often." Paul nodded in understanding.

He's also Jay's childhood friend." I informed him.

"Ohh the Carvell's lovely family, they deserve much more than what life has given them." Paul instinctively replied.

"So he has a friend Jennifer Vancliff." I carried on exploring.

"Ah yes, the Vancliff family small fish in a tiny fish tank." He chuckled remembering them.

"Yeah, so as you may know the Vancliff family aren't the best..." I included.

"Yeah, I can see how they come off like that." He answered.

"Anyways Jennifer Vancliff like Jay would love to practice magic but her family won't let her practice it or enrol," I answered.

"Okay, did they have a previous mentor, or how did they manage to learn spell casting?" He questioned.

"They had a previous mentor, but he's no longer part of the picture," I answered.

"Hmm, that's very sad to hear, mentor's shouldn't abandon their students," Paul replied a little saddened by the news.

"I'm not quite sure why their mentor left, I never delved deeper into it," I answered.

"That's a very irresponsible mentor, he should be out there watching over his mentee's like children," Paul commented being extremely judgemental.

"I think so too, but maybe he had something very important to do," I replied.

"Maybe, but I still think it's a little irresponsible, lemme guess you want me to get her a place in Atlantis like Morgana?" He questioned.

"Umm, I'm not sure if that is advisable." I hesitantly answered.

"And why's that?" He asked curiously.

"Well, I think Helen has feelings for Jay and is a little jealous of her and Jay's past," I answered.

"Elf and human relationship, that sounds dreadful." He answered.

"How comes?" I asked a little shocked at his reaction.

"Well Elves live for hundreds of years maybe, druid's especially live thousands and we humans only live for 80, 100 if you're lucky, I'd hate to imagine living hundreds maybe thousands of years losing every friend you make out living loved ones." He said making me begin to think.

"Yeah that does sound pretty heartbreaking," I agreed with him.

"Anyways forget about that what do you purpose then? Do you want me to look for their mentor?" He questioned.

"Is that even possible?" I asked in utter shock.

"Well, I can ask around maybe find out what happened to him or her." He smiled.

"Hmm, I can't quite remember their mentor's name though." I began to ponder scanning through my memory. "I think their mentor was named Dildazed." I tried to recount.

"Yeah, I think so." I jumped in the excitement that Paul knows of him.

"Dildamzed, Master of the four elements?" Paul questioned with a look of shock.

"I guess, is he famous? was he previously a mentor to yours?" I asked noticing how shocked her was.

"No no, he wasn't a mentor of mine, but I have heard stories of him, he only ever has four disciples who always seem to be strong in one of four elements fire, water, earth, air," Paul answered.

"Woah really? Jay uses blue flames and Jennifer specialised in air spells." I said noticing the similarities.

"Impressive, he probably left to find the other two disciples, I can definitely ask around to see if anyone has seen him." Paul nodded.

"Have you ever seen him fight?" I questioned curiously as what a master of elements means.

"Not personally, I've heard stories, apparently he can effortlessly control the four elements even to the point of throwing back fireballs and channelling lightning bolds back to the caster." Paul explained, speaking in a tone that showed extreme respect for him.

"So aside from enrolling her into Atlantis, what else can you do for her?" I questioned.

"Well, maybe I can visit her every so often and try and mentor her, but I'd doubt I'll be better than her former mentor." Paul offered.

"Nope, don't like that idea." I instantly replied.

"Do I sense a hint of envy, you're going a little green." He chuckled.

"Yeah of course! You don't even help or mentor me, you're always too busy." I ranted a little annoyed how he's treated me thus far.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Do you want me to mentor you?" He chuckled.

"I dunno you say you're busy, yet somehow find time for Calista," I argued making him chuckle even more.

"My agreement with Calista and her father was only so I can do more to help the people of Arcadia." He smiled finding my jealousy amusing.

"Still wouldn't mind getting some tip and training from Atlantis ranked number one 'The Black Dragonslayer'," I replied sarcastically making him chuckle more.

"Okay okay we can do some training if you'd like, all you had to do was ask and it probably won't be much different to everything Scarlet does anyways." He smiled. "Oh and on the Jennifer Vancliff issue, if you want I can try and make her a citizen of Perpetua." He answered.

"What would that mean for her?" I questioned.

"Well firstly it means she can live there if she wants, I'll get her a nice apartment in the middle district, there she can find work and maybe a mentor in spell casting but they wouldn't be anywhere near as good as what Atlantis can offer or Master Dildamzed." Paul explained.

"That does sound a little better than the current situation. Can I come with you when you do decide to meet her?" I questioned.

"Sure, then if you want maybe bring it up in your group see if they are okay with her enrolling into Atlantis, feels a little unfair to her." Paul offered his opinion.

"That is true, it does seem rather harsh, especially since her or Jay show no feelings for each other." I added.

"That's great, I do hope your friends change their mind." He smiled.

"Oh, I also have one more request." I politely asked.

"Sure." He smiled.

"In Maynard we meet a nice young waitress girl called Mary I think, who was super excited to meet Students of Atlantis, and it would make her dream come true if she was able to see you or Scarlet." I tried to persuade him.

"Oh, well Scarlet doesn't do well meeting other people, her ability to cause fear around her thing." Paul chuckled. "But I'd definitely make a showing, where is it?" He smiled.

"It's a small eatery called 'the hungry bear'" I answered.

"Oh okay sure, I'll make time for a visit." He smiled.

"Thank you for all this." I thanked him.

"No need to thank me, You know I like helping people." He smiled.

"On that topic how are you doing?" I asked concerned for his well being.

"It's getting better." He smiled as if relieved that I asked the question.

"You really shouldn't blame yourself so harshly." I said reaching for his hand to comfort him.

"I know I know, I can't save everyone." He sighed.

"You do take breaks, to recharge right?" I questioned.

"Yeah sometimes." He smiled.

"Also what happened to that soldier that sacrificed himself to deliver the message?" I questioned.

"Ohh that's a secret I don't tell many people." He answered.

"Oh?" I asked.

"So you know how in sci-fi they have a common concept of travelling vast distances using sub-space?" He questioned.

"Kinda." I answered.

"Well it's kinda the same here, have you noticed that most other people's and waypoints are blue flashes or blue portals, but mine are red?" He questioned.

"Yeah, I noticed that." I nodded.

"Well, their's are blue because they use safe planes of existence to travel through, whereas mine are red because they use unsafe and dangerous planes of existence to travel through." He explained.

"So what happens?" I question.

"Well Arcanum users can only sustain a few travels per day based on how strong they are, Non-Arcanum users, normal people the results are always catastrophic." He answered with a saddened look.

"Catastrophic?" I questioned.

"Yes once used too many time or a normal individual uses it, the outcomes vary from death, to utterly warped and mutations into nightmarish monsters, driven mad to the point of no return, complete possession, it's all pretty bad." He answered.

"I hope you're immune to it" I asked knowing he would be stupid enough to risk himself.

"Yes Scarlet and I and completely immune to these adverse effects, Ashley and Anna, on the other hand, aren't but they can sustain numerous travels," Paul answered. "By the way sorry about that, I was a little excited when you came that I totally forgot the adverse effects of my travel, I had to be reminded by Ashley that it's still very dangerous." He apologised.

"Ohh that's okay none of us seemed to have goten any of the adverse effects." I answered.

"Thank God." He smiled. "Also how is Daisy doing?" He questioned.

"I think she's a little crazy for you." I chuckled.

"I know." He smiled.

"But she's doing very well, she's easily the strongest in our group." I answered.

"That's good, she's also doing well mentally?" He asked.

"Well aside from being crazy possessive and obsessive over you, she seems great, bubbly and full of optimism." I smiled.

"That's great," He smiled with relief.

"Yeah when we was fighting the Demon she was the only one who could even cause damage to it and even then she broke bother her arms striking it with all her might," I answered.

"That does sound a little like her." He chuckled.

"On that topic, great job in discovering the Demon incursion." He smiled.

"That mostly Morgana," I confessed.

"Is she doing well?" He questioned.

"Yes she's fitting in, just finding it a little awkward," I answered.

"That's a relief I was afraid she might have just have done some bad magic on anyone who annoys her." He laughed.

"Yeah, she's still a little distance maybe she still trying to fit in and learn our ways." I laughed.

"And the rest of your group, the two royal Elves and Jay was it?" He asked.

"Helen and grace are going great." I smiled.

"That's a relief they are fitting just fine here." He smiled.

"Are they really important royals?" I questioned.

"They have some importance I think," Paul answered.

"Jay is doing great as well," I answered.

"That's great, I got a feeling you guys would get far in the new team duels." Paul smiled.

"Really?" I asked feeling a little excited.

"Sadly you guys are a team of six and I think the party size is five." So you might have to have one player on the bench sadly." He informed me.

"But overall you have a good setup, you have one very strong capable front liner Daisy who also doubles up as a healer, you also have Helen and Morgana druids are versatile and also heal, then you have Jay and yourself Wizards and sorcerers both function as ranged damage, support and crowd control and lastly you have Grace who most likely excels at sniping key target." He explained the basic dynamic of our party.

"So if you entered what would you guys be?" I questioned.

"Well we'll have two front-liners Scarlet and Anna, Scarlet excels at being the tank since shes impervious to damage, Anna is a brilliant assassin but also very skilled duellist, Ashely and I tend to revert to support roles, often I'd support Anna and Scarlet making them even stronger than they normally are and Ashley would focus on crowd controlling VIP targets. If anyone tries to take me on in close combat will also be surprised that I'm also very adept in melee and most likely easily handle them." He explained.

"You don't have a fifth?" I questioned.

"Currently we don't but if I had a choice, I'd definitely prefer some sort of cleric." He answered.

"Hey, do you wanna grab dinner?" I'm gonna meet up with the others for dinner." I smiled.

"I would love to, but I'll pass, I never get any peace when I show up in the Great hall." He chuckled.

"I keep forgetting you're super popular." I laughed.

"Yeah it sucks, I would some peace and quiet." He sighed making me chuckle.

"Well let's make our way out." He smiled waving his hands making all the books and scrolls magically float away.

"How did you do that?" I questioned.

"It's our innate casting, it allows us to do spells with a thought and hand gestures." He smiled.

"When can I learn to use my innate casting?" I questioned.

"You're already using it, remember out the ability to cast spells isn't linked to the words or the wand gestures, they obviously help at first but once you being practising it more and more you'd eventually be able to cast without it." He smiled. "Eventually you'll be able to do this." He looked back and smiled and began levitating slightly off the ground and began floating ahead of me.

"Show off." I grinned making him land back down on the ground.

"Don't worry just progress at your own pace, there's no need to ever prove yourself or compare yourself to others, you do you." He smiled and opened the gate for me to walk past.