I was in absolute shock, the whole school has suddenly changed in what I can best describe as a night market filled with many different stalls offering all types of goods and items, filled with many individuals wearing all different types of uniform and clothes fashioned from other cultures.
"What on earth?" I uttered to everyone in shock.
"What is going on?" Dasiy and Grace agreed mimicking my shock and surprise.
"Ahhh it looks like word of my upcoming fight has spread." Paul smiled looking a little excited.
"What do you mean?" I questioned him.
"It looks like Atlantis is using this opportunity to make some money and maybe put on a show on our power level." Paul smiled.
"Where are they from?" I questioned curiously.
"Well if you look closely at the students that look like they are wearing desert wear and natural furs?" Paul asked pointing at a group of four students three males and one female that wore dessert-coloured attire riddled with scars all over any part of their body showing, some with a distinctive scar running down their face or neck.
"That is the badge for the Fighting Pits," Paul pointed at the emblem each of them wore on their clothing, it resembled a Gaunletted fist surrounded with a circle with spikes coming out of the edge.
"And if you look over there," Paul pointed at a set of what I would describe as classical fairy tale wizard and mages, tall slender individuals each wearing a red robe with intricate black designs stitched into them.
"Zesshian students are all spell casters and only spell casters, you can easily identify them by their uniform, they wear red mage robes with intricate black designs on them, and only they can wear such robes within Zesshia so everyone and anyone can easily identify them," Paul answered.
"And their Badges, are the multicoloured thing?" I questioned noticing their badge, it consisted of an eight-pointed star, at the tip of each point was an inlaid oval-shaped gem of different colours, consisting of what must have been an emerald, pearl, citrine, white opal, ruby, a piece of glass, black onyx and amethyst.
"Yes each gemstone represents a school of magic, that's why it's an eight-pointed star and eight gems." Paul smiled.
In an instant, Paul's whole posture tensed up like he was readying himself for something, before I could even react or even ask, I felt a jolt of extreme speed suddenly appearing beside Daisy and Grace with in a split second a golden yellow cube surrounded us. "What the heck?" I shouted in shock, as in a split second Paul had one hand outstretched facing us while his over hand caught the fist of someone who suddenly appeared in front of him, with Anna pointing a dagger to his side ready to strike.
"Now now Thomas, you know the rules," Paul smiled warning him sarcastically with a cocky grin.
"Not bad," Thomas replied to him sounding just as cocky and overconfident. "But I wonder if you can truly match my real speed." He smiled implying he wasn't even trying.
"There's only one way to find out," Paul smiled clearly trying to provoke him, clearly unfazed by his immense speed that far exceeded anything I've witnessed at least Paul and Scarlet left some sort of a blur but even they were at least perceivable.
Thomas kissed his teeth withdrawing his hand making Paul drop the shield protecting us and Anna withdrawing her dagger. "Maybe if you weren't such a chicken and actually represent Atlantis, you'd be brave enough to face me." Thomas laughed off the whole situation clearly trying to provoke Paul back, Thomas looked at least 6ft standing taller than Paul by a few inches, he wore barely any clothes, only donning a pair of shorts and very tightly wrapped gloves and boots.
In another instant, a very large opposing figure, wearing a little more and bulkier clothing than Thomas but their lack of any real amour proves that they probably don't even need it, he towered over Thomas despite being taller than Paul by a small margin, but at least he left a blur when moving quickly. "Ahhh.... Trenton, you're here as well, so the whole family is here?" Paul smiled.
"Let me have a crack at him!" Trenton smiled, throwing a punch straight at Paul.
"You oafs, father already warned you both not to start anything, he wants them both to be at one hundred percent for the fight." A female voice warned them as she floated into view and for some odd reason Trenton's fist was frozen in the air mere inches away from Paul's face, the force alone from stopping him was enough to almost blew us away if something didn't magically hold us in place.
"Ahhh Helena nice to see you, so the whole family is here," Paul smiled, Helena was a very beautiful looking woman, unlike other Eshians who are riddled with scars, they all have pristine unblemished skin. She wore a beautiful blue and thrilly wizard robe with black underclothing, clearly casting with her hands just like Paul.
"Forgive my brothers for their excitement, they've been eager to meet you since you've become S-Ranked." She apologised for them, still somehow maintain her ability to float hovering over the floor by a few inches.
"No offence taken." Paul nodded as Trenton retracted his fist. "So you are all here to witness Travis take his first step on his road back to Eshia?" Paul smiled cockily.
"Nah, I'm just here to witness the 'Black Dragon Slayer', I want to see first hand if you deserve the respect and reputation everyone so freely gives you," Thomas smirked at Paul.
"You're lucky, if I struck back you wouldn't be standing." Paul grinned.
"You little Sh*t, is that a threat?" Thomas walked up to Paul face to face looking down on him literally ready to explode.
"Half-Titan what makes you think you stand a chance against the Black Dargon Slayer," Paul scoffed at his threatening posture.
"You're dead!" He yelled out in anger but his attempt to strike Paul was stopped his body seemingly frozen in place struggling with all his might trying to break free.
"That's strike two," Paul warned him grinning at his inability to move.
"You're lucky you are Helena's little favourite pet and under the protection of my father, I would have battered you to a pulp a long time ago." Thomas threatening Paul staring down at Paul ready to murder him in a split second.
"Enough comparing sizes already, Father warned explicitly no rule-breaking or you'll have to contend with him," Helena warned and with some magical force pulled Trenton and Thomas with her as she floated away.
"See you soon." Helena bid us farewell.
"I WILL FU*K YOU UP!" Thomas yelled threatening Paul as he was dragged away making a huge commotion.
"What on earth just happened," I asked as they disappeared into the school, a little afraid to annoy them.
"Just some rivalry between S-ranked students." Paul looked back with a smile.
"So those are the Top 3 S-ranks of Essiah?" I questioned as they disappeared from view.
"Yes, the two brothers and sister of Travis, the children of Abbraxoth 'The Demon'," Paul answered and turned to check if the three of us was okay.
"He was so fast...." Grace looked onwards in complete shock.
"Yes rumoured to be the fastest man," Paul answered.
"Wasn't he meant to be lightning or something?" I questioned.
"That's because he didn't even use all his speed." Paul chuckled.
"How could you even hit something so fast?" I asked finding it unbelievable.
"Simple, using my head," He smiled pointing to the side of his head with two fingers.
"Do all the schools hate us or something?" Daisy asked looking worried,
"Not really, we're liked by everyone or at least on good terms, but those two like want to prove their worth by beating me." Paul laughed.