"Hey, Emilia are you busy?" Paul's voice called out to me.
"A little, why wassup?" I questioned back activating my badge.
"Well if you weren't too busy I'd like you to join me in a small social event." Paul requested.
"Really? I'm kinda in the middle of something you set us out to do." I replied to his request finding it a bit random.
"Well, there is a good reason, I swear." He answered making me think he was up to something.
"Oh really?" I curiously asked calling his bluff.
"Well, you see... I hoping you could meet some of the VIP's see if you get bad vibes off someone or something." He answered nervously.
"So you basically want to parade me around showing me off to all your friends?" I questioned his agendas.
"What? no no, just you know me... I always expect the best from people, whereas you're more logical or realistic, as you would put it." He answered in a panic.
"So now you're calling me cynical?" I answered him sounding more annoyed.
"No no, you're a better judge of character than I am," he answered obviously still a little panicked.
"Okay fine, hold on I'll ask the others if it's okay," I answered him and leaned into the group, "Hey guy Paul needs me to meet some important people," I whispered to them hearing Paul thank me sheepishly in the back of my mind.
"Sure no problems if anything comes up have Paul let us know." Sven and the others all nodded.
"They said it's okay," I answered Paul.
"Great whereabouts are you?" He questioned with excitement.
"We're in the main courtyard where they set up the stalls," I answered.
"I'll be there in a second," Paul answered and as usual a red flash appears in the distance causing a big scene with everyone looking in his direction. Like an oblivious idiot, he is sometimes, stepping out and waving hello to everyone while looking for us catching my eye after a few minutes.
"You know we're trying to keep an eye on someone and you appearing suddenly could have easily spooked them." I sarcastically informed him through our badges.
"Ohhh yeah..." He whispered back to me, after five or so minutes of trying to break away from everyone eager to talk to him, he eventually began to take the long route around to us and dove into our huddle. "Ohhh what's going on?" He whispered intently trying to see who we watching.
"It's that female student over there." Sven pointed her out to Paul once he eventually arrived.
"Hmm think that's Melanie but I could be mistaken," Paul answered.
"Do you know anything about her?" I questioned.
"Hmm, I remember her stat sheet was very exceptional when she joined Atlantis, she's probably an A tier student by now, are you sure she's the one?" Paul questioned.
"Positive," Morgana answered him.
"Hmmmm..." Paul pondered in thought, "Whatever happens, any students you identify today, try to capture them for questioning if possible." Paul requested.
"Is that a smart thing to do? Last time that other student went full demon on us." I questioned his decision.
"I have faith in your capabilities, but if the situation turns dire I'll permit lethal force," Paul answered.
"But they are an enemy of Atlantis," Yuna questioned him.
"Let's not jump the gun, demons work by preying on vulnerabilities, as far as I see it she and everyone else was coerced into this situation," Paul answered.
"Yeah, but I thought contracts are binding," I replied making him give me a huge shock of surprise.
"Oh? you already know about demon contracts, that shouldn't be on the stimulus." Paul looked at me curiously. "They may be binding but your background in law might help find a loophole depending on how the contract or deal was worded and struck." Paul smiled at me.
"Should we get going?" I reminded Paul that we had another plan.
"Oh yeah, sorry I got carried away with the excitement." He smiled opening a portal for us to travel through, "Oh Daisy you're looking better keep up the training!" He smiled at her before stepping through making Daisy brim with happiness.
"I'll meet up with you guys later." I smiled stepping through the portal with Paul.
We stepped into an absolutely huge room that I've never been in that looked totally unrecognizable, filled with all sorts of unique looking people and races. "Blimey, how do you expect me to remember all these people there must be over a hundred." I looked in complete shock.
"Yeah pretty much, unfortunately, I've caused a huge commotion and ruckus in the school." he chuckled, "Come let's get the introduction started." He smiled gesturing me to follow with his head.
"So what's the cover story for me?" I questioned quietly following him in.
"I'll let you pick, bodyguard or mentee." He turned back and smiled.
"We'll go with the mentee, I don't want anyone thinking that I'm super powerful," I answered him when suddenly a man with very extravagant clothing adorned in gold and precious jewels with the skin tone of Turkish descent caught my eyes and began making his way to us with a giant smile, closely followed by two slim younger-looking women wearing very modest and humble clothing displaying a very stark difference in either upbringing or wealth.
"We have company." I quickly whispered to Paul making his eye suddenly flash and look towards them, "What sort of spell is that?" I questioned in wonder what on earth he was attempting.
"It's a high-level spell that tells me any notable lore and history around them." He whispered back.
"Shouldn't it be easy to identify any Demon followers then?" I questioned.
"I really doubt it, it only reveals to me their history and lore so unless they are a renown follower of Demons or Devils, so in this circumstance, the spell would probably be worthless," Paul answered.
"Sultan Ahmet the second, Welcome, it truly has been a long time, I hope your journey was safe and uneventful." Paul smiled giving him a small bow of respect. "And Lady Esma Head Archivist of the Nazmet Collective." He nodded to the elder looking man at the two younger women. "And my apologies I believe we have not met." Paul apologized to the last girl causing her to sheepishly hide behind Esma.
"Ahh yes, the journey was smooth, albeit the use of several waypoints was a little annoying." He answered Paul.
"Apologies for my younger sister's rudeness, this is Archivist Esra, she's still a little overwhelmed being outside Zakshara." She smiled at Paul.
"No need for apologies, it's nice to meet you Esra." Paul smiled at the sheepish girl making her smile a little back.
"And who is this young lady with you? a fellow citizen of Zakshara, by the looks for it." Sultan Ahmet questioned with a jolly smile.
"This is Emilia, my current mentee," Paul smiled stepping aside to let me step forward.
"Hello, I'm Emilia." I greeted them with a bow and smile.
Sultan Ahmet began talking in another language that I couldn't even begin to comprehend, but I could tell that it was pointed toward me. "Um Sorry Sultan Ahmet, Emilia here isn't familiar with your home language, she was taken away as a young girl so she only knows how to speak common," Paul answered him when he looked at me awaiting an answer.
"Is that so?" He questioned Paul then looked at me, "My apologies young miss." He smiled, "If at any time you would want to revisit your motherland. Make sure to take a visit to the Grand Gardens of Seborah." He smiled courteously.
"I will if I ever get the chance to visit," I smiled with a courteous nod.
"So what finally pushed you over the edge first this, and I heard you're also finally making your first appearance in Grand Tournament." Head Archivist Esma chuckled.
"No reason thought it'd be a little fun." Paul smiled.
"Nonsense I bet he's trying to court an individual, in a grand duel with hundreds spectating him proclaiming his love to the public." Sultan Ahmet laughed.
"Oh? that would explain the sudden change in behaviour, but who could possibly catch the eye of the Black Dragon Slayer, even the richest prince and princesses don't even garner a thought." Head Archivist Esma pondered.
"Say, Emilia, do you have any closer insight into who this person might be?" Sultan Ahmet looked at me curiously.
Feeling mischievous one individual came to mind in an instant, "Oh there was that one lady, she was beautifully slender with greyish skin she had so many titles....." I began describing but couldn't quite remember her name.
"Queen Seiriuphis?" Head Archivist Esma gasped in absolute surprise.
"Really?!" Sultan Ahmet looked at Paul with a giant grin, "I hear she has quite the voracious appetite even the Black Dragon Slayer himself might not be enough to tame her," He shot Paul a sly grin and made a hand gesture to a nearby Atlantis student to bring over the tray of drinks and began taking glasses off the tray handing one to each of us. "A toast to a future budding relationship and well maybe the one man who could satisfy the powerful Queen Seiriuphis." Sultan Ahmet toasted with a huge laugh, making Paul also raise his glass.
"Cheers, but please forgive my mentee's mischievousness, there is nothing going on between us." Paul tried to convince them all while shooting me a look of seriousness. "So Archavist Esra, enjoying your stay in Atlantis?" Paul smiled at the quiet young woman.
"Apologies for her shyness, she is quite a big fan of yours she would spend every minute of her spare study time reading up on your stories and conquests." Sultan Ahmet chuckled speaking loudly making sure Paul could hear and embarrassing her.
"Ah, a small fan of mine?" Paul looked surprised and humbled.
"Yes, she absolutely loves reading your stories and accolade." Head Archivist Esma answered with a small smile giving Esra a small nudge.
"Really so what would be your absolute favourite story?" Paul questioned her politely hoping to get get a reply out of her.
"Is it really true you managed to kill a Black Dragon? How was it even possible?" She questioned sheepishly but a little excited to be able to speak to Paul.
"Well, that is what the stories say but I'm sure there are many inconsistencies as the stories are told through word and mouth and poems," Paul smiled and began to reach into his pouch for something, "But the one thing all the stories and songs that were told and sung there is one secret only a few known," Paul began to explain pulling out a Black Dragon Scale, "This is a Black Dragon scale from the Dragon itself, but this dragon was special. In certain angles and light intensities, the scale will shine with a small hint of other colours," He showed Esra closely reflecting light off the scale.
"Wow....." She looked at the scale in pure amazement.
"Yes this unique property is unique to scales from this dragon only, I have yet to find any other dragon scale that has the same property like this." Paul began to explain making her look at it with even more wonder, even Sultan Ahmet and Head Archivist Esma looked at it in pure amazement.
"Why does it do that?" Esra questioned absolutely hypnotised by the scale.
"Well, maybe one day you would tell me," He smiled opening her hand and putting the scale onto her palm.
"No way." Sultan Ahmet uttered quietly in disbelief.
"Now if I entrust this scale to you, you must promise me to never give this to anyone else, these scales are super rare, it would be almost impossible to come across another like it." Paul smiled with joy.
"I promise." She smiled excitedly.
"And the Oath has been sealed, I have entrusted you with this scale, and now you must guard and keep this scale safe for me." Paul smiled releasing her hand.
"Now if you'd keep this transaction a secret, sadly I can't give a small token or trinket to all my fans." Paul smiled giving her and everyone else a wink.
"The gesture is very much appreciated." Head Archivist Esma bowed in respect.
"Well... Black Dragon Slayer, you and I have been friends for a very long time now...." Sultan Ahmet began to imply something
"And our friendship has a plethora of benefits," Paul smiled grinning dismissing his request clearly getting his revenge on the jokes he made earlier. "Oh apologies Sultan, there is a guest I must speak to urgently regarding some very important current affairs." Paul apologies to the Sultan.
"No no, we've taken too much of your time already. Thank you for entertaining us personally." He smiled bowing deeply with respect.
"Please enjoy the festivities Atlantis has to offer, and I do recommend the recreational facilities. Our simulation rooms are unique to Atlantis only, as far as I know." Paul smiled and gave Esra a wink and bowed respectfully to Esma before heading off and issuing me to follow.
"Was nice meeting you all." I smiled and bowed my head before following Paul towards some human-looking individuals with what I can best describe as animal-like features.