I caught a red flash from the corner of my eye, and as expected with the appearance of the portal, so did the familiar fear feeling. Scarlet stepped out with an extremely heavy sturdy-looking breastplate with a giant crest of Atlantis on the front in gold, she also wore a pair of gauntlets and greaves which had a similar design as the breastplate, all over a simple plain sleeveless blue dress. She was armed with a long wooden katana attached to her side and an extremely long and wide sword on her back. If it was for her very unique red hair I could have easily mistaken her for someone else.
The complete silence was a stark difference from Travis's group when Scarlet arrived, looking closer at everyone they were all petrified, the boys closest were even slowly stepping back trembling uncontrollably some even losing balance and shuffling away, beads of sweat could be seen on the tips of their hair and trickling down their neck. I quickly pulled Jay further away from Scarlet till I couldn't feel her aura any more. "You okay Jay?" I questioned.
Several seconds passed with no response. "Wha… Wha… Wha.. What …. Was …. That?.." Jay responded still trembling. I can see his body slowly recovering, he clenched his fists trying to control his body.
"I don't know either but it seems to be some sort of aura she emits naturally," I answered
"My… God…. I .. Have never felt anything like that!" Jay whimpered.
Not long after, Paul also stepped out, wearing his familiar long black trench coat, with a brown leather waistcoat and a white shirt underneath, along with dark blue trousers and dark brown leather boots. He hasn't changed much since I last saw him, it was oddly nostalgic. He turned to look around him when his eyes met mine. Everything slowed, I could see his jade necklace which was one of the last remaining gifts from his mum and on his right hand the platinum ring inlaid with ruby and malachite I gave him on our first anniversary. I was certain now this must be the Paul I know! We stared at each other for what felt like minutes until he broke his gaze with no change in expression again.
"So which group do u wanna join now Jay?" I asked.
"You know, after everything that happened I think we should go to the other group," Jay said still recovering, everyone else in the group had the same decision we did and similarly started walking towards Paul's group.
"Emilia!" I heard Scarlet call out to me and she began jogging towards me, grabbing my arm. Jay turned around staring at us, and slowly backed up away from us towards Paul's group. He was going to leave me with Scarlet! "Come, I'll give you a personal tour!" She beamed, as I slowly turned around to face her completely overwhelmed with fear. She began pulling me toward the direction Travis group went. My body happily followed her instruction without my consent.
"Ummm…..Ummmm….. Umm….. Scarlet could you let go of my arm?." I whimpered.
"Sorry I didn't hear you, what did you say?" Scarlet asked letting go of my arm and turning around to face me.
"Umm….. I'm so sorry but could you take …. a… few steps …. away … please…." I said trying to be a little louder and clearer.
Scarlet nodded and complied with my request, the terror was noticeably different between being in contact and being a few paces from her. "I'm so sorry but you kind of give me this terrifying vibe from being near you." I tried to inform her, Scarlet gasped in shock and took a few steps more steps back.
"I'm so so so so sorry!" she apologized profusely. She had the most genuine look of innocent guilt on her face, "I'm so sorry! I just get so excited when I see you! I've heard so much about you! I kinda forget that thing I make other people feel." Apologizing profusely again.
"It's okay now…." I said attempting to reassure her that it wasn't her fault. Even being a few more paces further she still made me feel extremely scared.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Paul begin walking to his group, I couldn't help but turn to watch him, as he walked a glowing blue-hued book floated out of his coat and began flipping through its pages on its own, it stopped at a certain page and flipped itself to face the group, instantaneously everyone in the group froze and their eyes glowed a vibrant blue. The book remained hovering in place as Paul went to the grassy area around the world tree and began lying down on his backs with his arms behind his head.
"What's going on there?" I question Scarlet in bewilderment.
"Ohhhh that's Paul being lazy, he put them under an illusion so they are taking an illusionary tour." Scarlet laughed.
Turning to her in shock, "What the hell that's possible? Is that even allowed?" I further questioned.
"Yup, it's not really allowed, but being S ranked we have looser rules," Scarlet answered
I wonder what else can be done with magic, this is starting to get exciting! I can't wait to start learning and exploring the world!
"So, shall we start the tour?" Scarlet kindly asked, with a smile I nodded in agreement.
We began walking towards a large building on our left, "this is the Dorm rooms for the students. This building alone houses rooms for over 500 students of Atlantis. You'll get one by the end of the day once the engineering department assigns everyone their rooms." Scarlet informed, the building defiantly didn't look large enough to house over 500 students some sort of magic must have been involved! Maybe like a Tardis!
We walked further left past the dorms, arriving at an extremely large area of farmland and very modern-looking greenhouses. "This is the agricultural sector of Atlantis, because we are a floating fortress it is paramount to be self-sufficient, so we can easily produce enough food and water for Atlantis and a village," Scarlet informed me. In the distance, I saw A extremely large tree with what seemed to have limbs and moving!
"Umm what is that?!" I proceeded to point at what seemed to be a large walking tree.
"That Emilia, is a Treant, we should also have a few dryads around but they are pretty shy so probably hiding somewhere. Treants and Dryads are races with a strong natural connection with nature, so they help Atlantis grow foods and plants faster and easier." Emilia answered.
I'm absolutely lost for words, not only is there magic in this world, but there are races and creatures to! I wondered what other races are out there! are there Elves, Dwarfs. Gnomes, Angels, Demons....???
"Do you want to get a closer look at him?" Caroline beamed.
"Is it okay to? I don't wanna disturb him….." I hesitantly asked.
"It will be fine Tenderoot thoroughly enjoys meeting new young students." Caroline smiled.
We began walking between the fields filled with crops, I could have sworn I heard faint giggling and whispers with slight flickers of distorted light every now and then. "It's okay you can show yourself" Scarlet shouted out. A beautifully slightly taller slender women slowly appeared in front of us out of thin air. Her skin looked like wood and her hair and clothing was made of leaves.
"Hi, Messelise this is my friend Emilia she is new to the school and wanted to see you!" Scarlet beamed with a smile
"Hi Scarlet, it's been a long time! you should come here more often!" The wooden figure spoke with a smile hugging Scarlet, "Ohhhh and Happy to make your acquaintance Miss Emilia" she turned and hugged me also.
"Nice to meet you also!" I replied, to my surprise her body was soft like flesh, although it seemed as if she was made of wood.
"Messelise is Tenderoot busy? Any chance Emilia can meet him?" Scarlet politely asked.
"Uncle Tenderoot? You know he loves meeting new students! and he always favours you!" Messelise beamed.
Messelise proceeded to grab a handful of soil from the ground, holding the soil in her two hands she began whispering to it. Small green particles began coalescing from the air around us into her hands, a small green sprout quickly grew out from the soil. She then buried the sprout into the soil while chanting an unknown language. Scarlet began to step back a few paces I followed suit not knowing what to expect, the sprout very quickly began growing into an almost fully grown tree, Messelise looked at my face of shock and smiled, as her hands suddenly glowed green and began drawing a large symbol on the tree trunk, causing a large bright green flash, blinded by the light I turned away shielding my eyes. As the flash subsided I turned to look back at the tree, suddenly now stood an extremely larger tree, with very noticeable wooden limbs.
"Emilia meet Tenderoot, this is a Treant a very old and ancient species," Scarlet said as she pats his extremely large leg.
"Ha.... not ..... as ..... ancient .. as... your... race.... Scarlet" Tenderoot chuckled, turning to look at me, he knelt down on one knee to take a closer look.
"Why….. Hello…. there….. young….. girl...it….. is…. very…..nice... to…. meet….. you…... careful..... you... don't... want... flies... flying.... into.... your.... mouth...." Tenderoot said very slowly smiling holding out his large wooden hand.
I couldn't help but stare at what I was currently seeing, how can this be real? It's a living moving speaking tree! I've only read about Treant's in ancient mythology and some fantasy card games. When I eventually processed what he said, I instantaneously shut my mouth in embarrassment.
"Are….. you… okay....?...." he questioned.
"I think she's just a bit shocked she comes from Consecratus so she quite new to everything," Scarlet explained.
Tenderoot chuckled slowly, "that ….. explains…. a…. lot... well….. there's….. nothing….. to...be…. scared… of…. we….. are ….. very…. peaceful... here..." Tender root reached up to his shoulder and plucked a small branch from his shoulder, and held it out to me. "Here…. young.. girl….. take… this…. as... a… gift…." He smiled talking extremely slowly taking a small pause with each and every word, his voice creaked with extreme age and wisdom.
Without thinking I accepted his gift, holding my hand out to take the twig, as my fingers came into contact with the twig, I began experiencing the same strange sensation when I touched the orb during the examination, I felt that strange presence again around everyone else, but this time I could also feel something channel through me towards twig. Tenderoot gave me a giant smile as he stood up and began walking away, "see…. you…. around…. youngling…. come…. Messelise…. We … have… stuff.. to…. do….. it.... was.... nice.... seeing... you... again... Scarlet..." He bellowed out as he began walking away, his sheer size and weight shook the ground with each step he took.
"You're very lucky, Uncle Tenderoot doesn't normally give gifts to anyone and Treant wands are among the rarest." Messelise smiled.
It took me a few seconds to take in what Messelise said, I looked down at the twig I'm holding, so this is a wand? Is this the first step for me to start using magic? I began getting more and more excited, I can't wait to begin lessons.
"Ummmm... can you tell Tenderoot I'm sorry for not responding I'm just a little shocked, and thank him for me?" I requested.
"Sure I'll let him know" Messelise smiled as she began walking in the same direction Tenderoot did.
"That was cool right Emilia?!, you're so lucky to receive a Treant wand!" Scarlet said with excitement.
"What else is there in this world?" I questioned.
Scarlet chuckled "There is so so much!". As as we began walking to a building in the distance, "lets carry on with the tour, next stop the engineering Headquarters!!!" Scarlet enthusiastically shouted out.