Chapter 241 - Atlantis- Funfair

"Hey let's go check out the night stalls," Paul smiled and with a spell altered himself to a caucasian human with blonde hair and blue eyes donning an Atlantis badge.

"Is that really necessary?" I questioned sceptically that his appearance change was necessary.

"Everyone here today is to watch me and Travis, they gonna have so many questions and stuff that I just can't be bothered to deal with." Paul smiled.

"I wonder where the others are," I questioned looking around hopefully trying to find them within eyeshot. "Hey, Paul can you sense them?" I questioned curiously.

"That's not really how it works, I kinda sense how strong individuals are. So I can easily sense other S-ranked students and very strong individuals, but average and above-average individuals, you all just appear like a sea to me." He answered apologetically that he couldn't help me.

Atlantis felt so different, more like a city market than a school with many different races and skin tones and genders just conversing with one another happily gossiping and buying and viewing. "Is it safe with so many different people?" I questioned a little worried that there's a good chance a fight would break out, especially with what happened earlier.

"Not really, everyone here would have been invited or paid a hefty price so I really doubt anyone would want to waste their money," Paul answered.

"Are all the S-Ranks here?" Anna questioned.

Paul stopped closing his eyes for a few seconds, "Most probably." Paul answered.

"So all the other nine are here?" I questioned in shock.

"Well, actually I sense more than nine so most likely they are all here." He smiled.

"May I suggest we report to Headmaster Brann in case we are needed for something or the very least a debriefing," Anna suggested.

"A...." Paul instinctively sighed extremely disappointed at the proposal.

"It's just a suggestion," Anna smiled clearly having the moral high ground.

"Yeah I know, but we should report to Headmaster Brann." Paul sighed clearly torn on what to do, "Okay fine, you win." He reluctantly agreed.

"Sorry Emilia but duty calls," He faked smiled clearly extremely disappointed.

"It's okay I know." I smiled back trying to cheer him up but feeling a little bummed out myself, "Besides we should look for the others anyway." I added looking at Grace and Daisy for approval.

"Well as always, nice seeing you all today." Paul smiled with a nod,

"Are all the guests staying on campus?" I questioned curiously since the week just started.

"Yeah I think so," Paul answered.

"Lemme guess the Mansion spell?" I asked hoping I had the right answer.

"Well, as a matter of fact, it kinda is, unlike normal though ours if of course, powered by the world tree and an ancient spell focus making it perpetual so the near-infinite number of rooms are possible as well." Paul smiled clearly impressed with himself like he did all the hard work.

"I do have to admit though, Atlantis is way more magnificent than anything I could have ever imagined." Grace smiled.

"The joys of an ancient city with ancient technology and magic, and more recent technology." Paul smiled giving me a wink when then all of a sudden he paused for a few second, "Ohhh sorry guys duty calls, I've been summoned." He sighed bidding us farewell,

"I will join you." Anna insisted.

"But, but that means I need to walk then...." Paul complained.

"With all due respect, with what just happened I think it would be best if you had company when venturing the campus till everything returns to normal," Anna explained herself.

"Even alone I don't they can do anything," Paul smiled without even an ounce of worry.

"Is even such thing possible," I questioned finding it a little absurd.

"It depends on the school, Eshians are proud and honourable, they would never do such a thing, Zessians and Aspians aren't as predictable," Paul answered.

"Aren't you friends with both of them?" I questioned a little confused.

"That is true, I have befriended most S-Ranked students, but their views don't always align with the headmasters or their nation as a whole," Paul answered.

"Are we safe then?" I questioned a little worried.

"Don't worry, Atlantis is a fortress, and not only that we are a floating fortress, even something were to happen they would have no escape so it would be unwise for anything to happen." Paul smiled.

"But something could happen," I questioned his way for answering me.

"In theory, yes but it would serve no purpose as doing anything will result in their capture, so unless they have a death wish I really doubt anything would happen," Paul smiled, "Besides only a small portion of the people here are under the banner of one of the four schools," Paul explained it makes me wonder why I didn't notice it earlier.

"Anyways enjoy the festivities, undoubtedly there will be exciting days ahead." Paul smiled bidding us farewell with Anna following closely beside him heading to the main building.

"Let's go check out the stalls!" Daisy smiled raced off dragging us into the crowd with excitement.

"The atmosphere of the school felt so different, it felt more like a huge festive party. stall after stall offering all sorts of food, drinks, and trinkets. Some stalls even offer services and groups of students even handing out leaflets.

"Hi, see anything you fancy?" A small group of Atlantis students greeted us as we passed by a stall selling all different types of items.

"Ohh what's all this?!" Daisy questioned in owner her eyes lit up in excitement and curiosity.

"These are the rewards and loot we've gathered from work and dungeon delving that my party has no use for." A female student smiled at us.

"How do you find the time?" I asked in surprise.

"We generally find the time on the weekends, also older students can also request longer periods of absence for longer tasks." She answered us as the rest of her party dealt with the other customers.

"So you can actually go on adventures?" I questioned extremely curious how it all worked.

"We are all still students of Atlantis, any misconduct or reports of bad behaviour that are proven to be true will revoke our ability to work off school grounds for a period of time." She answered.

"Wow...." I answered in awe, "So what does your party consist of?" I asked looking at the rest of her friends.

"Well in our party here, there is me of course, I'm an Earth sorcerer, over there are our two fighters, one specializing in defence and the other in tactics." She answers pointing at two females and one male student, "And the one sheepish on there is our final member our resident alchemist and trapper." She smiled,

"Wow..." I smiled in wonder.

"And what rank are you all?!" Daisy questioned in excitement.

"We're currently top tier B ranked students working our way up to A rank." She smiled with pride.

"Woah!!! so awesome!" Daisy smiled.

"Hmmm, how much do these items cost?" I wondered pointing at a dagger.

"That is a flame dagger, when the magical words are spoken it will light in flame." She smiled holding it up and speaking a word in a weird language causing the blade to light up with a small flame.

"Wow, amazing..." I smiled but it didn't look anywhere near as strong as the things in Paul's possession.

"This would normally cost around 300 gold pieces." She smiled pacing it back on the stands.

"Woah... that's a lot," I replied.

"Of course, magical items are very hard to come by, obviously combat-orientated items are worth more than non-combative items. For example, this circlet allows the wearer to talk to animals, she showed us an ornate plain silver circlet. This would set you back roughly 200 gold pieces." She smiled showing us.

"That's cool, but sadly we have no need for that. We have a druid in our party that can talk to animals." Daisy smiled.

The female student gasped in shock, "You guys are lucky enough to have the druid in your mix?" she gushed in awe.

"Yeah, we have two Elves Grace here is an excellent archer!" Daisy said pulling Grace in front of her to show her off.

"Woah! Elven druid and an Elven hunter! Truly a fearsome party you have there." She looked at Grace in admiration and awe.

"It's really nothing..... we're the lucky ones to be here." Grace awkwardly answered her clearly looking very uncomfortable being the centre of attention.