213 Stealth Op

(Just for brevity I'd prob skip most class as they probably are uneventful. Give me a message or a comment if you'd like to hear classes as they would be good for lore or world development).

"Are you sure you two will be okay?" Helen asked her hands fidgeting with worry.

"Ohh yeah this would be maybe the first time we won't be out as a group," Jay replied.

"I'm sure we will be fine, Paul is coming with us and you saw how powerful he is." I smiled trying to reassure her.

"I guess..." She answered.

"Helen, you saw him yesterday! Paul was obscenely strong, the rumours and stories don't even do him justice!" Grace replied.

"See I told you he's the greatest!" Daisy smiled with pride that she never lost faith in him.

"Well actually he did say Gilgamesh is even stronger then he is and maybe his lieutenant Artura Pendragon." I told Daisy making her look at me in shock and betrayal.

"So Grace what do you reckon? think Travis still has a chance after seeing Paul in action?" Jay asked fully aware that Travis is way out of his depth.

"Well, don't count him out just yet, did you see him siege the Dark Elves with extreme range and accuracy," Grace answered.

"She's not wrong, as much as I despise him, he did save my life taking out those weird illusion beasts with one shot with deadly precision, and shot a very high impact shell," I answered.

"Yeah, but did you forget that he was able to shield the entire city from the front blast of several moonbeams from several Dark Elf casters? and held off a army of Dark Elves long enough for us to get him out with an emergency teleport." Jay replied making me remember that he risked his life for the school and the citizens and no one even knew.

"On that note, why didn't he blast the army, I'm sure he has many apocalyptic spells in his arsenal," Grace questioned.

"Who knows, but I'm sure he had a good reason," Jay answered.

"I'll ask him, maybe he'll tell me." I smiled.

"I do wonder what else he has in his pool of spells," Morgana looked in the distance wondering.

"He did say one of his most devastating abilities was erecting an Anti-Magic field," I answered.

"That's impossible!" Grace gasped in shock.

"Yup, that's what he told me," I nodded.

"Why would he want to do that?" Jay questioned.

"Well I can't remember what he said exactly, but I guess it's if he's overwhelmed by counterspells and several casters, so he can then combat them with his hand to hand combat," I answered.

"Wait is that what he used to defeat the Dark Elf casters?" Jay questioned.

"That's what he told me, he said a previous mentor taught him how to use his Ki to create spells but they aren't spells," I answered.

"What!!..." Jay looked at me utterly stunned.

"That's what he said," I smiled and shrugged.

"Well this is us, he said he'll meet us here." Jay smiled.

"Hey Paul, we're here." I spoke into my badge.

"Ohh sure I'm coming." He replied and in an instant he a red portal flashed and Paul came stepping out. "Hello everyone!" He smiled greeting all of us and giving everyone a nod.

"Hi, Paul! Helen is a little worried something might go wrong." Daisy instantly told Paul making us all look at her in shock.

"Don't worry Helen, nothing will happen, their guards and thugs are mundane humans, I'm sure even you guys would be able to deal with them easily." He smiled reminding me how despite us being ambushed we defeated the paid mercenaries surprisingly easily.

"Anyways, I've got some equipment that will make or life a little easier." Paul smiled reaching into his pouch and pulling out two pairs of boots.

"Hey is that the same as the one you got me?" I questioned noticing it could carry more than the actual size of the bag.

"Yes this is the same type of bag he smile," Anways take this, sorry I have;t got anything that looks fancier on in your colour." He joked handing me a pair of boots.

"Okay... what do they do?" I questioned as I put them on.

"Helen and Grae would know what these are, just standard Elven boots, designed to be extra quiet, no matter how hard you try they won't make footstep sounds." He answered with a smile.

"Ohh wow that's nice." Helen and Grace smiled as I began stomping my feet not he ground making no sound at all.

"Wow, this is amazing but also very jarring," I replied.

"I know the feeling." He smiled, "Okay, next is the Earring of messaging." He smiled taking out a set of earrings.

"You know you should get Ashley to put some gems or something in them." I joked at the very basic metal design.

"I dunno, bring it up with him, my understanding of Artificing is very limited." Paul chucked. "Testing testing," Paul spoke into our heads as Jay and I put them on.

"Ohh this is weird," I replied back half telepathically and a half with my voice.

"Wow, this will take some getting used to." Jay laughed.

Paul proceeded to pull out what I can best describe as something invisible, "WHAT NO YOU HAVE A INVISIBILITY CLOAK!!!" I jumped in excitement.

"Nah I was only joking." He laughed loudly.

"IDIOT!" I punched him as hard as I could.

"Ouch, that hurt." He flinched rubbing his arm.

"If you really wanted, I could easily cast invisibility on you." He laughed.

"You're horrible!" I scolded him.

"I'm sorry I took it too far." He apologised but was still smiling and giggling. "Okay, now here are some invisibility coins by yours truly Ashley." He said passing us both a coin. "As you may know these had three charges each, we should only need one." He answered.

"Do you have something to help us see in the dark?" Jay questioned.

"Hmm I don't expect us to stay that long or even need it, but I'll cast darkvision on you both if we do." He smiled. "Ohh and if anything dangerous happens to take these," He said taking out two pairs of gloves. "Now these are very rare gloves it allows the wearer to cast scorch ray without needing any Arcanum, but it only has five uses then they become mundane, so only use them as a last resort." He explained.

"Do you think anything will happen?" Daisy asked looking at all the equipment we were getting.

"Nothing should happen and even if anything does I'm almost certain I'll be able to handle it, but no harm in being prepared." He gave me a smile.

"How are we gonna get there?" I questioned him looking a little worried.

"So from what I remember Maynard is the closest city with a permanent waypoint right?" Paul questioned.

"Yes," Jay answered him.

"So we'll head to Maynard and from there. Wait no, that will take too long, I'll just portal us there." He smiled.

"You sure it safe?" I questioned.

"You've been to Thralkeld? Jay questioned a little shocked.

"Ohhh yeah... Emilia mentioned it to me so I went today to scope the place out." Paul quickly answered thinking on his toes. "And yes it should be alright." Paul smiled.

"Well, put everything on and we'll being heading out." Paul smiled. "Apologies to the rest, since this requires the element of stealth I'd prefer taking as few individuals as possible." Paul apologised to everyone else.

"That's no problem, we're sure you know what you're doing." Helen smiled.

Paul nodded back in respect, "We'll be a quick as we can so you'll be able to get enough sleep and be ready for training tomorrow." Paul informed everyone. "So we're ready?" He asked Jay and I.

"Yes," We both nodded.

"Okay let's go." Paul smiled opening his unique red portal.