Silence embraced them after Ignis explained the situation more properly "Then.." they all looked at Jackson when he spoke.

"Please help us!" he said and bowed his head to show how truly desperate he was "Jackson! Stop that! We don't need them!" Jake exclaimed with wide eyes "You heard what they said, Jake" he said making Jake silent before Jackson looked back at Callista.

"Our eldest brother is a greedy man. He wants to kill us to be the only heir to the Count's position. He wants to get rid of the Emperor after he takes over this school, that is how greedy he is for power. Seeing how smart you are and how you were able to summon and tame a red butterfly. I beg of you, please help us!" Jackson said with his head bowed down.

"He's right" they looked at Jake after and all gasped when he slowly dropped to his knees "Please, help us" he said with both of them now bowing their heads.

Anastasia looked at Callista who was staring blankly at them as they all wait for her answer. "I know a way." she said making everyone smile.

"But I can't" she added making everyone stiffen as Anastasia worriedly looked at them "Callista, I know it's asking for too much but can't you at least help them when their begging like that?" she pointed out.

"I already helped them by basically stopping them from killing all of us" Callista retorted "Callista you know a way to help them so I'm begging you, please..." Anastasia insisted.

"Ana, you can help them if you want but I can't" Callista shook her head as Anastasia was confused and helpless.

"You were the one who took us here Callista so I don't understand why your suddenly stepping back. You acted as if you were helping them then suddenly just back away like that?" Anastasia asked with furrowed brows from the confusion and irritation.

"There's no use in telling if you won't even understand" Callista said as Anastasia was about to argued back when finally someone stepped up "Stop that" they all looked at Ignis when he spoke and was coldly looking at both of them.

"The both of you better calm down" he gave them a warning look before looking at the twins "We'll help you" both of their faces brightened before Ignis turned to Callista.

"You don't have to help us if you don't want to but just join us" he said while staring straight at her eyes making Callista sigh "Fine if that's what you want" she huffed.

"Let's meet tomorrow in Magic Ethics and Philosophy Class to brainstorm" he said and they couldn't do anything but nod silently.

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****

The next day, they were all seated at the same table before the Philosophy Class started "You don't listen, do you?" Callista raised a brow when she saw Jake with his vision again.

"Jackson forced me" he argued and sat beside Ivan "By the way, what does your brother intend to do with the giant magic core in school?" Denovan curiously asked.

"He's planning on destroying the school and making it look like an accident before taking complete control of the Academy from the Headmaster" Jake explained.

"While looking at the books from my Father's study last night, I think I found a way to destroy the magic core without sacrificing anything" Ivan suddenly brought up.

"You can leave the school grounds?" Callista asked in surprise "Nope. Haven't Ivan told you yet? He can teleport to any place he wants to go" Anastasia said making Callista frown.

"Lucky bastard" she muttered "Callista already put magic to suppress the transformation of the magic core this morning" Ignis informed making Callista sigh.

"You can do that? I know you weren't just a simple mage but I didn't expect you to be that skilled" Jake said while studying Callista's face.

"Don't depend much on my magic. I can only hold on for a few hours before it breaks." she said with furrowed brows "So how can we destroy it, Ivan?" Anastasia asked.

"According to the books, a magic core can be broken by breaking it in half so it won't regenerate and trigger a self-destructive spell" Ivan explained "So the only thing we need to do is to break it in two pieces?" Jake asked so Ivan nodded.

"It might look easy but a magic core is hard to break because of the magic inside which thickens the outer core so you need a big amount of magic to break it" Ivan said "Are you saying I can't do it?" Jake asked so Ivan stared at him.

"Judging how powerful you arez I must say that you have a twenty-five percent chance of succeeding." Ivan said while assessing him "Just twenty-five percent?! " Jake exclakmed so Callista clicked her tongue.

"Oi. Do you know how difficult it is to destroy a magic core? Tch. I'll go to the restroom." she sneered and stood up "What? But class is about to start." Anastasia asked in confusion "I'll be quick" she responded before quickly running out of the room.

****

Callista massaged her neck when she suddenly felt as if she was getting choked as she winced in pain.

"Kkegh... Kkegh.."

She stared blankly at her feet when blood drippes from her palm when she coughed "Fucking restraints" she clicked her tongue and coughed violently again.

"Callista" she looked up when someone called her "Ignis..." she muttered his name as she watched him approach her.

"You should've said something when it was too much for you to do" he said and took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood on her hand.

"Do I look that weak to get sick just because of that?" she said with a smile as he kneeled to wipe the blood off the floor before standing up again.

"Then what other reason is there that you're like this?" he asked back so Callista bitterly laughed and leaned her head on his chest "It's because I helped you Ignis..." she said with eyes shut.

"Do you expect me to understand if you talk in puzzles like that?" he asked with furrowed brows so Callista looked up to see him looking down at her.

The sun from the big windows in the hallway touched half of Ignis's face and how pretty were his purple eyes underneath the sunlight to shine like that.

"That's why I couldn't explain. Although it's much safer for you if you don't understand." she said and flashed him a sweet smile.

"Thank you for wiping the blood off, Ignis" she said when he didn't answer before she walked away.