Anna and Emilia of Atlantis

As we neared the establishment a set of four guards in pairs were standing around two campfires keeping themself warm while guarding the entrance. They all looked at us and with a firm nod opened the double doors allowing us to enter.

Anna stopped her horse allowing me to dismount, attaching her shield to her back and picking up her huge very beautiful lance. Upon closer inspection, it had a unique design to it, around the edges it had some sort of threading, it was looked like ribbons of steel all weaving and winding together merging into one single-pointed tip "That's an odd shape for a lance," I asked her.

"This is my uncle's weapon, this lance can detach it's larger head to a more lightweight spear." She answered with a smiled fastening her shield to her back.

"Is there a reason for that unique design?" I questioned in shock.

So this form is used to take out large beasts and creatures, the threading makes it bore deeper into large foe if I was to throw it or imbed it deep into a foe. I can also detach the bulky head and use it as a spear afterwards or use its spear form for smaller combatants." She smiled showing me by clicking some trigger and detaching the handle and drawing out a very beautifully crafted spear, for a deadly weapon it has a very elegant design, the most notable feature was it's spear tip unlike a small diamond pointed blade, the blade was much longer at a glance maybe three to four-time longer then I would have expected with a split down the middle making it look like two separate blades attached to the spread handle.

"So you fight as well with lance and spears as you do with daggers?" I questioned curiously.

"My weapon of choice would be a sword, but I can also fight well with daggers and my spear." She smiled putting back the spear into its outer shell making it back into a lance again placing it on the floor. "Good boy!!!" She said holding the head of the horse giving it a hug and rub, the horse began to neigh happily as in an instant the horse began to evaporate into brilliant white light and started flowing into the shoulder plate of her armour.

"What the...." I uttered in shock as well as all the guards began to look in shock as well.

"I can summon my horse at will." She smiled showing me her shoulder plate that now has the classic horse pose on its back legs and the other shoulder pad that seemed to have a second horse but was black coloured.

"Wow did you find that when adventuring?" I questioned in awe.

"Nope not really, my father bestowed this armour to me before he passed." She answered.

"Oh sorry, I didn't know." I instinctively apologised.

"It's okay..." She smiled.

"You don't have Muramasa on you?" I questioned.

"No, I don't sadly, I don't normally carry it around because it's too dangerous. Usually, I have a set of two daggers, one was given to me by my mother and the other my father." She smiled taking out two ornate daggers, that despite having a very different shape, design and colouring design they still looked like a pair of daggers made for each other. My plate armour and lance are only when I'm on official business like today." She smiled.

"That's so cool!" I gushed in awe and glee imagining all the stuff I would eventually own, things beyond my imagination.

"Just stay close to me." She smiled and began making her way into the building.

"Please hand in your weapons inside, safety precaution." A male guard asked us politely allowing us to enter.

To my surprise walking inside, we were met with a very extravagant tea party, over fifty grown adults and a few children chit-chatting over finger food and wine wearing very extravagant wealthy-looking attire.

"If you please hand you weapons to the guards on the right." A man dressed in an attire resembling a butler informed us politely with a bow an open palm.

Anna lead the way to a set of guards that seemed very bored, "Hi we'd like to hand in our weapons." Anna smiled politely making them all jump in shock.

"Of course madam." A male guard said taking her shield and lance struggling to hold each of them even when using two hands. "May I take your name?" He questioned looking down at a pad and pencil.

"Anna of Atlantis," She smiled making the guard look at us differently like some sort of idol or celebrity.

"Atlantis?" He gushed in awe and looked back at her spear and shield in admiration.

"Yup." Anna smiled back and stepped away allowing me to approach.

I reluctantly pulled out my wand, "Emilia of Atlantis..." I smiled feeling a little hesitant there was such little security for our weapons and stuff.

The guard opened both his palm ready to receive my wand treating it like it was some delicate ancient fossil that could crumble to dust in any moment, "Just come back here, state your name and we'll return your weapons to you." He smiled delicately placing my wand in a storage box.

"And your coat.." Anna coughed quietly hinting me to take off my coat.

"Ohh yeah... and this if you don't mind," I said taking off my coat to handing it to him. Upon seeing my uniform he looked at me like some sort of VIP of higher reputation and standing.

"Thank you," We both thanked him and walked back to the initial butler.

"Aren't you afraid they might run with our stuff?" I whispered very quietly.

"They wouldn't dare, and besides we have students who can track items and people." Anna smiled walking up to the butler.

"Anna and Emilia of Atlantis, Personal body Guards of Paul the Black Dragon Slayer." Anna smiled with a nod.

With a cough and ringing of a small bell, "Miss Anna and Emilia of Atlantis, Personal Guards to Paul the Black Dragon Slayer." he announced loudly to everyone. In an instant, everyone looked at us and began to gossip and whispers, no doubt about both of us.

Two guards began to quickly speed walk towards us taking care not to run, "If you both would please follow us." They informed us waiting for our answer.

"Lead the way." Anna nodded.

They quickly lead us up the main staircase that leads to the upper floors that overlooked the main atrium, reaching a set of large double doors, they both pushed it open revealing a more secluded party setting with slightly fewer patrons.

"Ahhh Anna you're back!" A giant of a man well over 6ft with a full lock of black hair and beard donning an ornate breastplate ontop of some regal-looking clothing with an ornate cloak and weapon, greeted us noticing when we entered.

"Greetings Commander Balthor sorry for my hasty exit earlier." Anna apologised to her as he broke away from his conversation to meet us.

"Ohhh it's fine! So did my guards handle the situation well?" He questioned with a jolly smile.

"They performed admirably." Anna smiled.

"So whos's this fine young lady?" He smiled taking my hand and bowing down giving it a light gently kiss making me feel extremely awkward.

"Emilia I'm from Atlantis." I answered a little sheepishly slowly withdrawing my hand not sure what two do or who to act.

"So Commander Balthor I assume the meeting is over since everyone is out now," Anna questioned making conversation.

"Ahh yes! not too long ago, in case I don't see him again. Please send him my thanks for everything he's doing for the city." Balthor smiled.

"He's not around enjoying the festivities?" I questioned.

"Sadly, he was very quick to leave, he and the princess said there are more pressing matters they need to tend to before the evening ceremony tonight," Balthor answered.

"Is that so.... well Commander if you don't mind we'll need to take our leave as well then," Anna informed him.

"Sure? You don't want to stay for food and drinks? Our mountain game meat is quite famous." He offered with a giant smile.

"I would love to, but sadly duties of bodyguards and all," Anna explained.

"I understand, tell him that he should try and employ some Male guards, people might think he's just using his status to take advantage of you girls." He warned Anna and giving me a cautionary glance.

"Believe me, he's not the type of person." Anna chuckled.