Chapter 233 - Paul's Devastation

"Do you think anything will happen? to us again." I questioned Anna as we appeared to be making our way to the sight we fought the monster.

"Of course, sadly this world is very dangerous." She answered my obscure question.

"I meant today, the near-death experiences...." I answered still a little shaken by the whole thing, still vividly remembering my own consciousness almost fading.

She instantly looked at me with caring eyes as her posture softened pulling me in for a hug, "I'm sorry I can't possibly fathom what you must be feeling, but you have nothing to worry about as long as we draw breath we will always be here. You will grow to become a great and strong sorceress." She smiled trying to cheer me up a little.

"I dunno, it seems that trouble always follows me, like every time I leave the school something horrible happens," I questioned wondering why trouble normally follows me.

"To be fair there's always something going on sadly, maybe it's because back in your world you weren't able to travel to vast places in an instant and lack of monsters and things," Anna answered.

"Hmm, maybe you're right." I pondered. "Have you been back to my world?" I questioned curiously.

"On occasions with Paul, at first he didn't but eventually my constant badgering changed his mind." She chuckled as we made our way through the lower district.

"How is it for you? Do you like it?" I questioned a little interested.

"It hard to pin but it feels oddly welcoming like I belonged there." She smiled.

"And are you..... as strong over there as you normally are here?" I proceeded to question.

"I do feel stronger there but luckily it's rather peaceful so I just relax and enjoy having fun. Have you ever been to, what do you call it, the place with loud music and dancing!" Anna smiled questioning excitedly I can see from the sparkle in her eyes how much she enjoyed it.

"You mean a club?" I questioned a little unsure.

"YES!!!!! It's so fun! to just relax and let the music flow." She smiled closing her eyes in imagination.

"I know what you mean," I smiled back.

"What is the next best thing you love over there?" I questioned curiously.

"Reading is quite awesome, especially fantasy novels," She smiled.

"Like the stuff we're living through?" I questioned slightly confused finding it odd why she thought it was interesting.

"Yeah, they are a bit like the stories we hear and read but so much more wonderful and exciting a little unrealistic though." Anna chuckled.

"I love reading too, never in my wildest dreams did I think something like this would ever happen to me." I smiled.

"Coming to a world with magic?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Not only that but other races, fantasy technology and wondrous things," I answered hoping she didn't find me a little crazy.

"Your world is just as wondrous if not more! Those big-box metal things that are like carriages with no horses, instantaneous messaging to just about anyone who has those small things with buttons, and don't get me started with that projector thing Paul has and TV's and movies! Also, those things you call taps that dispense drinkable water whenever you want, oh! and that things that can create fire to cook food on that seem to be powered by some dial!" She talked about her experiences with just as much excitement, "and do you know what the best thing is? it's anything beyond my imagination! We have no stories nothing that comes even remotely close to your world, your world is truly something to behold." She smiled gleefully looking in wonder.

"So, what are your plans when we get back this time?" I questioned curiously.

"It all depends really, Paul sometimes has some jobs for us but defiantly I want to visit more restaurants and more reading." She smiled.

"Jobs? like to earn money?" I questioned curiously.

"Yeah he said we need to earn gold otherwise all our shopping would drive him homeless." She chuckled.

"Ha, you guys spend a lot?" I chuckled with her.

"That's what he says, especially Scarlet, she loves just about everything." She laughed

Walking through the streets observing the damage Paul did to the city was truly devastating, homeless people wearing inadequate amounts of clothing hovering around a makeshift bonfire trying to keep warm in just about every street corner. "Is there nothing we can do for them?" I questioned looking worried a the sight of even children maybe orphaned from the event hovering around a dying fire.

"I'm sure Paul and Atlantis have a plan to help everyone, sadly something this large scale will take lots of time and effort from all parties," Anna answered.

"Do you have any idea what Paul is up to?" I questioned as we arrived at the site that now looks a lot tidier and a makeshift huge temporary seating area made from wood, set up to seat what must be the majority of the city and what must be a few hundred bodies ceremonially wrapped and lined up neatly with their own small bit of kindling, there must have been over a hundred followers of Serra, one by one respectfully placing them in their rightful place all facing the same way ready for the upcoming ceremony.

"There's so many," I uttered in shock.

"Yes, Paul's plan was rather naive, he saved many lives but if the few guardsmen didn't bravely hold the wall against the endless tide of Dark Elves hammering at the gates and walls for those extra crucial seconds we might have lost the city and even worse some Atlantis students," Anna answered looking at each humbly wrapped body.

"Yeah, but why them and not us," I asked feeling a little uneasy and guilty finding it unfair.

"Don't think like that, each and every man women and solider there gave their lives to the city, bravely defending those who can't protect themselves till their last dying breathe. Atlantis doesn't feel like it, but we are soldiers ourselves." She answered still staring at each and every body with the dignity and respect they deserve.

"I can't help but feel if I was a little stronger-" I began to reply.

"We all live with these ideals and dreams that if we were a little stronger, we could have saved more or perhaps all the casualties, but that's not reality. Paul told me and your friends all bravely tried to warn the refugees to retreat into the city before the attack started, you all saved many lives that day, take that with you, you all cared for the safety of those who the city deemed as leeches ready to leave them there to get ruthlessly slaughtered." She interrupted me respectfully.

"I guess you're right," I replied to her but still feeling a little down.

"Come, sit with Paul and I, we should be in the front with the rest of the royals." Anna smiled pulling me to the front row of the central seating area that looked much more comfortable and lavish.

"Ummm I was like a tag-along so I doubt there will be a seat for me." I hesitantly answered.

"Nonsense your Paul's personal guard, I'm sure they can reallocate and move some members," She smirked.

"Is there any chance we can get two more seats for Daisy and Grace?" I politely asked.

"I'm sure it won't be a problem." Anna smiled.

"Can fifty Dwarves really re-build the lower district in ample time?" wondering if the task at hand was too much for the Ironhammer Dwarfs.

"Paul has reassured us that they would be up for the task and not only that he's also using his contacts to help alleviate other pressing issues," Anna answered.

"But how?" I questioned feeling a little doubtful.

"You should know that Paul's level of meticulous planning, just have faith in him." She smiled resting a hand on my shoulder making me remember all those times he was always there for me when I needed him the most and was always the best at lifting my spirits.

"Do you think he always had magic?" I questioned quietly wondering if he lied to me for all this time.

"Well I first encountered him a few years ago, even then he was adept in many forms of magic and surprisingly extremely adept in combat as well, the only thing I know is, that he is surprisingly quick at mastering things he puts his mind to," Anna answered making me wonder more deeply. "Our seats should be here, Paul and I are a special guest to this event," Anna explained looking for our seats. "This is us," Anna said pointing at reserved seats with Paul the Black Dragon Slayer and Anna seated beside each other.

"Are you sure this is gonna be okay?" I questioned looking at the two names beside Paul and Anna, my heart instantly sank as Calista's name was beside Paul's, totally forgetting that she was here as well. "Who's Frederick Balthror?" I questioned noticing the name beside Anna's.

"Balthor's Son, the council are trying to ship us together to establish an alliance." She sighed.

"Are you sure it's gonna be okay?" I questioned again not feeling so sure.

"Yes yes... Frederick is a pushover and Calista won't dare argue with Paul." Anna chuckled as I took Paul's seat.

I felt rather guilty watching Daisy and Grace working hard making preparations for the ceremony while I just sat here waiting for it to all start. A red portal opened up near us along with the freezing cold wind as out stepped Paul, "Meet me at the ceremony." Paul said to someone through his portal before closing it.

"Paul!" I smiled.

"Eyyy wassup?" He smiled taking a seat beside me with a giant smile.

"Nothing much." I smiled back gleefully his presence seemed to always lift my spirits.