210 One Step Forward Two Steps Back

"Are you really going to duel him?" I questioned a little worried.

"Well, I said I would." He smiled.

"You're going be okay right?" I questioned.

"I'll be alright, I feel he wouldn't be. He doesn't have many friends he can rely on, nor did he make n effort to have a meaningful connection with someone." Paul answered.

"I think you may be right...." I replied feeling a little sorry for Travis, "By the way where are we going?" I questioned.

"Ohh shoot, I totally forgot you still had classes." He smiled.

"Yeah sadly, It all feels such a waste of time, why don't they let us learn the higher level spells?" I questioned.

"Professor Meha didn't explain it to you?" He questioned looking a little shocked.

"Ohhh about spells being stronger the more you practice and master them?" I recounted.

"Yup," He chuckled at my attempt to sound like Professor Meha, "But she is totally correct, the more you practice on cantrips the stronger they become." he smiled.

"Just saying that If you taught me some of those awesome spells you did, I'd be pretty cool," I mumbled.

"I will when you're ready, they aren't easy spells, only a handful of casters would be able to cast them." He chuckled, "In fact, the Prismatic Beam is a very high-level spell that can only be achieved by individuals who master all the elements." He smiled.

"What was that spell by the way?" I questioned.

"Ohhh so the spell takes time to charge up to its the final stage, it has a very wide area of effect dealing all sorts of different types of damage, as the cone converges the area of effect is smaller but more concentrated, as the final stage is reached all the beams are merged into one devastating condensed beam." He smiled.

"What about that sky stuff?" I questioned.

"That's a special type of magic called Heavenly Magic, it involves drawing runes into the sky invoking various devastating spells, all focused around large orbital strikes." He explained.

"Are you also a 'monk' as well?" I questioned.

"Yes, I have learnt the way to manipulate chi." He smiled.

"See I never really understood that," I questioned hoping that he'd explain more.

"So how we cast spells is absorbing the Arcanum around us and manipulating it into spells and effects. Chi on the other hand is another energy source that comes from within the body. AS you may have seen earlier, the disadvantage casters have is when overwhelmed especially against several other casters, counter-spell can be extremely oppressive, so I used a special Monk technique that allows the manipulation of Chi to replicate spells in the process also making them un-counterspellable." He explained which made a little more sense.

"What about those insane swords?" I questioned.

"So how do God's and thing's work in this world?" I questioned curiously.

"Well, they believe the God's dwell in space, in their own pocket dimension they have complete control over and only allow to influence the world. The difference is there are many powerful and alien things out there, they may call themselves a God or see themselves as one, but they could very well be mortal and not a true divine being. Like the previous owner of Ragnarok, he called himself a Fire God, but I can't be sure if it was or not, could have easily been an extremely powerful firey being." He tried to explain.

"Did you kill it to claim it's the sword?" I questioned.

"Oh, no no, Ragnarok I looted from an abandoned temple." He smiled.

"When would I ever get a chance to find such amazing stuff?" I rhetorically asked.

"Well, you do have a lot of gold I gave you, that you could use to buy some nice stuff." He smiled.

"I know but I kinda wanted to earn it on my own merits," I confessed making him smile with pride.

"It's still dangerous for you to adventure into dungeon and things," He smiled, "Patience is key." He smiled.

"Easy for you to say, you've become so strong so quickly," I replied.

"You have to remember I have had many many years over you." He chuckled.

"By the way, Travis said you picked me first, is that true?" I questioned.

"Yes, I didn't want to risk you going anywhere else." He smiled at me earnestly like he didn't regret the choice at all.

"Did you get into a lot of trouble for that?" I asked feeling a little guilty.

"A little, but don't worry nothing I can't handle." He smiled.

"What on earth can you not do?" I joked.

"I maybe be very strong, but even I pale in comparison to Headmaster and the other Heads of the other institutes, Headmaster Bran has a Legendary spell of the apocalyptic level of destruction. His daughter Hanna, despite focusing solely on artificing she is the child of two immensely powerful individuals, I wouldn't be surprised if she surpasses me with easy." He smiled and began leading the way to the main building.

"So how is Atlantis run?" I asked feeling intrigued.

"So Atlantis is run like a council, faculty members and S-Ranked students have a vote and is privvy everything that happens, but ultimately Headmaster Bran has the final say no matter what." Paul smiled.

"Is that why you never told the school about the Demon Incursion?" I questioned.

"Yes it was voted by a majority of Teachers to keep it hush-hush, we also believe there is at least one Teacher involved since somehow a permanent teleportation way-point was established, so this has been going on for a long time and most likely at least One teacher involved. There's nothing to worry about now, we are aware of the problem and we're now keeping an eye out." He smiled.

"What precautions is the school taking?" I questioned a little worried.

"So we have a teacher who specialises in Demons and Devils, don't worry he's good at what he does, we also have Scarlet on patrol more, he natural true sight and smell should be able to flush out any more if they surface." Paul smiled.

"You'll be going away soon right?" I hesitantly asked.

"Maybe in a day or two I still need to fully recover," He smiled.

"Wait, you did all that and you're still not at full strength?" I questioned in utter shock.

"To be honest I'm almost there 90%ish." He chuckled at my reaction.

"Could you really take out a Demon Lord on your own if you fought against one?" I questioned hoping to find out more.

"So a Demon Lord can't come here I believe, their avatar might be able to but their avatars are a lot weaker. Now if you're talking about actually defeating one, I assume it would be almost impossible. Not only will you need to defeat them in their own realm where I assume they are almost a God-Like status you'd also need to go up against its endless horde of subservient followers." Paul answered.

"Have you heard of a Demon or Devil possession or owning a soul?" I questioned curiously.

"So from what I believe a Demon can possess your soul by force or willingly worshipping them, Devil's, on the other hand, will own your soul through a contract that for some odd reason by some divine process or something both parties must abide the conditions of the contract," Paul answered.

"Is there a way to free their soul?" I inquired.

"Hmm not that I know of, but I'm sure killing them would solve the problem, but killing a Demon or Devil lord is probably almost impossible, you'd prob need another rival to usurp them but then you're kinda signing away your own soul in the process," Paul answered making me wonder how on earth can I surpass Paul and be strong enough to free his soul, or even bloody find the Demon or Devil lord that contains or holds his soul...

"You okay? you have a worried look." Paul questioned looking at me walking in silence.

"Ohh nothing..." I lied to him.

"It's okay, you'll get stronger, don't compare yourself to me, I've had many many more years of training then you have." He smiled.

"I know." I faked a smile pretending that it was that which was getting me down.

"Paul, how is the time going to feel when we get back home? How much time would have passed?" I questioned curiously.

"Well I think from here, it's almost one to one, so two months here is roughly two months there." He answered.

"Wait, so if I stay in Atlantis I'll be like 30?" I asked in shock.

"Yeah kinda, but its a bit different here, the Arcanum technically makes us age slower or deteriorate slower, so despite being old in years, physically we'd still be a lot stronger and fit." He smiled.

"Wow..." I answered the thought of being here for several years, possibly more and the effect it would have on my life back home and here or even myself.

"I've seen that look before, worried about all the friends you've made here and everyone at home?" He questioned with a smile.

"Yeah... how do you cope?" I asked hoping he could make me feel better.

"You know me, I've always been a loner, and I've lost many friends after I left college, through time and life. Luckily for me, my close family knows and understands." He smiled.

"Paul..." I instinctively replied feeling sorry for him, being totally oblivious to his hardships when we broke up.

"You shouldn't feel bad like I said we weren't together and I hurt you and broke your heart, I don't deserve your sympathy and compassion." He replied. "But yeah, maybe you just need to find a balance." He answered me.

I began to think how having both lives would be almost impossible, staying here chasing a fantasy while leaving my family and loved ones behind, or letting Paul the only person that felt right for me, die here and losing his soul forever.

"Hey hey... what's wrong?" He stopped and turned to me extremely concerned.

"I don't know what to do Paul, everything here, everything back at home, what do I do?" I questioned him almost in tears thinking about it.

"..... I know what you mean, although the copy of you I made was just a quick fix band-aid, in the end, you're still away from your family and friends, I'm truly sorry this has all happened to you." He earnestly apologised.

"Did you know this would happen to me?" I questioned quietly hoping he wouldn't say yes.

"I had no clue, actually our worlds are one of the worlds that are actually on the restricted list," Paul answered.

"Restricted list?" I questioned in shock.

"Yup, that's why students from our earth are so rare, we're actually protected by something called Solomon's Law that stops us getting taken away," Paul answered.

"So how was I taken?" I questioned in shock.

"That I have no idea, I was utterly shocked to see your name appear in the list when we reviewed all the potential students this year." He answered.

"What's Solomons Law? I heard Solomon also owned this castle and a Dragon called me Daughter of Solomon what is that?" I asked in shock.

"I'm not sure myself, all I know is that Solomon was a Great king back in our earth, but aside from that no idea, and there's a countless number of realms and universes I can't even be certain it's the same Solomon," Paul answered.

What the hell, every time I take a step forward why does it always seem like I'm taking two steps back...