Ivan stared at Callista in awe as he didn't expect that she was able to cast high-class magic that he can't even do "What are you guys looking at?" Callista asked with a raised brow as they all looked at each other.

"I want to ask you about what you just did but it seems like you won't answer my questions" Ivan sighed making Callista smile "I'm happy to see you're using your brain for once" when he heard her words he gave her a glare.

"You really can't say anything nice, do you?" he stated with a click of his tongue as Callista shrugged "Stop it. We should get ready before the sun goes down" Ignis said.

It took them a few minutes before the sun went down and only the flicker of the flame was making white noise.

Callista stared at it in a daze, not thinking about anything, just staring blankly at it. She then glanced at Ivan and Anastasia who were leaning on each other while sleeping, Ivan casted a barrier around them before he slept.

So the only ones who are still awake are Callista and Ignis. "Do you think they're having a hard time getting rid of those Xayahs?" she asked in the middle of the silence.

"Most likely. But it is not something that can stop the Professors from rescuing us. Seeing how the forest is quiet than usual, it might be because we're the only ones here" he said so she turned to him.

"Were the only ones here? Why?" she asked "Seeing at how large the group who attacked us its possible that they were not able to teleport us outside the Hunting Grounds." he stated.

"To sum it all up, our only chance that we'll be able to get rescued is tomorrow" Callista said as Ignis nodded "Exactly. So get some rest, I'll look out for all of you" he said and crossed his arms as he leaned on the tree.

"By the way..." she said as she hugged her knees "If you need me or want to see me just call my name" she said with a smile that made Ignis raise a brow "And what can that do?" he asked "It's a secret" she said with a grin as she put her pointing finger in the middle of her lips as if she was telling him to keep quiet.

Ignis sighed before nodding "Then goodnight, Ignis" she said and turned her back to him as the night became quiet once again.

****

"Callista! Callista!"

Callista woke up from Anastasia's panic shout "What is it?" she grumbled as her vision adjusted to the light "Hurry. Stand up" she said as she helped her stand up in her half woken upstate "Ignis and I will buy some time while you girls run" Ignis said as he draws his sword.

"What? What about you two?" Anastasia asked with widened eyes "We'll follow you. Just run!" Ivan shouted so the two didn't have any choice but to run "Are they attacking us?" Callista asked between breaths as they ran.

"Ivan was woken up with his barrier getting broken so he quickly told Ignis" she explained before she pursed his lips "Should we go back? We can't leave them there" she added.

"No need. They're following us from behind like what they said" she stated and glanced behind to see Ignis and Ivan running from a distance.

"So hurry!" Callista said and pulled Anastasia by the wrist to run faster. She felt annoyance building up inside her, why in the world did they decide to attack them when she was asleep? Do they want to be dead? Also, if Ignis gets any scratch after this she will go berserk.

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They both stopped running, catching their breaths and sweat dripping down their chin as they looked down at the waterfall.

Callista's breathing hitched as she hesitated "We should jump" she was stunned at Anastasia's brave words "Huh? I— I don't think that's a good idea" she said with a forced laugh.

"We don't have a choice" she retorted "How about we wait for Ignis?" Callista suggested while Anastasia was confused "What?" was the word that came out of her mouth with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Why are you both gaping there?" they both turned to Ivan who was catching his breath as Ignis followed "Why are you all just standing there? They'll catch up on us" Ignis also commented so they both looked at each other.

"Well.." Anastasia trailed off and looked down at the waterfall as they followed. "Wait, isn't that Professor Calvin?" Ivan suddenly asked while looking down and they all turned to where he was looking and saw a group of faculty members at the other side with Professor Calvin waving at them but in order to go there was to cross this large body of water.

They all looked back at the forest when they heard numerous footsteps "What are we gonna do, Ignis?" Ivan asked "Jump" Callista immediately looked at Ignis with her eyes wide.

"What?!" she exclaimed and looked at Ivan and Ignis with her eyes wide and turned to Anastasia when she pulled Ivan with her when they both jumped.

"Wait, wait! Noooo!" Ivan shouted in a desperate attempt to push off Anastasia from him.

"I— Just leave me here" Callista said as she watched them before he turned to Ignis who had his eyebrows furrowed "You can't jump?" he asked after observing her.

"I can't swim even if my life depends on it!" she retorted "You might as well leave me here than jumping at this height"

She stubbornly stood there without even moving as if she had already made up her mind but her eyes widen when Ignis suddenly pulled her by the waist as they both jumped without even a single warning.

She swallowed a screech.

Callista automatically had her eyes shut when their body collided with the cold water as Ignis quickly put their head above water. Callista was hugging his neck as her chin rested on his shoulder with her heart still beating loudly from the fright.

She desperately clung to him for dear life. By the time they reached where the faculty were, the Xayahs who used levitation magic were able to fly over as the Professors began battling with them.

"We're sorry if we didn't make it in time. I was able to get the students out but wasn't able to teleport those who were near them. My connection inside was weakened when they trespassed" Professor Dan said with his face evident with worry.

"Quickly. Go back to your dorms and we'll deal with the trespassers" Professor Calvin, the Guidance Counselor, said and stood beside Dan and gave them each a towel as they obediently followed.

Calvin turned to the other Professors "Gather the other Professors here" he ordered as one of the Professor there followed his order "Professor Calvin" Dan called as Calvin turned to him

"How do you think they were able to enter the barrier?" he asked "I don't know but this isn't simple as it seems" he replied as he stared at the Xayahs flying down the waterfall as the Professors that are present attacked.

"Lady Ana!" A man called out Anastasia's name as they arrive at the academy.

They turned to see Denovan running towards them "Denovan?" Anastasia called out with relief "Princess, Young Duke, are you both alright? I've heard the news that an attack had occured yesterday. All I can do was just wait because I wasn't authorized to enter the Grimroot Glen." Denovan worriedly explained.

"We are fine Denovan, you don't have to worry about that anymore" Ignis assured him "I'm sorry Lady Ana, I wasn't there, it was my duty to protect you from any sort of danger as your knight and I..." Denovan shamingly apologized as he held Anastasia's hand.

Anastasia looked up to see Denovan's honest eyes looking at her which made her flustered "C-Come on! It isn't like you wanted that to happen, r-right? You shouldn't apologize!" Anastasia replied as a blush crept her cheeks.

"It must be nice for someone to worry about you, don't you think Callista? It's a pity that we're worse than side characters in a story, our existence was forgotten in a matter of seconds" Ivan sniffed and wiped an invisible tear in his eye as Callista raised a brow while he forced a smile looking at Denovan's conversation with Anastasia.

"O-Oh, I'm also glad that you and Callista are safe" Denovan replied as if seeing them there for the first time.

'Why does this make me feel so pathetic?' Ivan helplessly thought.

"As you should be! " Ivan simply laughed it off "I...really don't care at all..." Callista also added as she blankly stared at the both of them. "...as expected" Ivan replied as he stared back.