Jake grunted as he climbed the mountain as Jackson silently looked at him "Should we take a break first?" he suggested as he looks at Jackson struggling as he nodded in defeat.

"We've been climbing this mountain for many days now but we haven't seen the man that Callista was referring to" Jake huffed.

"Be patient." Jackson said and looked around the to see clouds surrounding the area since they are near the tip of the mountain.

"Be patient? Do you know how tall this mountain is? I even doubt that somebody lives here. I bet that woman is toying with us again." Jake's blood boiled just by remembering Callista's innocent smile.

"But there's no changing the fact that she helped us, Jake" Jackson smiled making Jake scoff "Whatever. I still don't trust her" he stated making Jackson chuckle.

"And yet you still came here when I told you about what she said" he remarked as Jake rolled his eyes.

"Who's there!?"

Jake stood up in alert when he heard that shout and hid Jackson behind him "Who dares climb this mountain?" a raspy voice of an old man can be heard and from the thick fog you can see his silhouette.

"M-Maybe he knows who we are looking for" Jackson said as they looked at each other and nodded "State your names" they looked back at the man.

"Our names are Jake and Jackson Melbourne and we are currently looking for a person named Hugo" Jake hesitantly answered "Hugo? Where did you hear that name from?" he asked.

"W-We were sent here by a friend, she said that he can help us" Jackson explained as they felt more nervous when the man didn't say anything.

"Callista. Her name is Callista. Do you know her?" Jake added nervously "Callista, you say?" the man said said, his voice calmer now.

"Yes, she said that Hugo can help us" Jackson stated as they nervously looked at each other again.

The man didn't respond before they heard something hitting the ground as a gust of wind suddenly blew the fog away.

Because of this, they could finally see the man who had a long and thick stick on hand to help him balance his weight. He wore basic armor and he had a wound on his left eye as his grey hair could tell them his age.

"That child, I told her not to say anything about me" he mumbled "Excuse me, but do you know Hugo?" Jackson asked curiously "I'm Hugo." the man grunted.

"Then—" the man named Hugo didn't let him finish as he turned his back "Come, follow me" the twins don't have any choice but to follow him "Y-Yes Sir!" They both replied at the same time.

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They were guided to the other side of the mountain where an old house stood, they were served juice when they entered the house, Jackson looked up at Hugo with hesitation "Uhm... Excuse me" he said as Hugo turned to him.

"What is it, kid?" he asked and sat at the chair in front of them "May I ask how you know Callista?" he asked that even Jake put down the glass to listen.

Hugo seems to be in deep thought before looking at the window "That child was one of the few brave ones that dared to climb Hestia Mountain." he stated.

"Then what does she mean when she said you can help me?" Jake asked so Hugo looked at him and studied his face "I'm an alchemist" he said as the two looked at each other with shock.

"A-An Alchemist? But I thought the alchemists were wiped out from the Empire 50 years ago" Jackson said, baffled.

"That's correct, at least that's what the people know. Some alchemists escaped and lived their lives on mountains like this while the others who weren't able to escape was killed." he said before clearing his throat.

"You, kid, you have the ability to borrow abilities, am I correct?" Jake was taken aback by his words "H-How did you know?" he stuttered "I can tell that much" Hugo said and stood up with a grunt.

"Did you see the necklace that Callista wears?" he asked "Yes, do you mean the golden pendant? What about it Sir?" Jackson asked.

"That child always had difficulty controlling her abilities, that necklace I made her helps her take control over it." Hugo explained.

"Then what did she mean when she said that you were able to give back my brother's eyesight temporarily?" Jackson asked making Hugo sigh "Just how much information did that brat say?" he said with the shake of his head.

"She's correct. I can temporarily give back your eyesight while you wear a similar object like the necklace that I made for her." Hugo replied as Jake hesitated before he pursed his lips "Then can you make one for me? I promise to pay back the amount you want" he said and bowed his head as if begging.

"Please, I also beg of you" Jackson also stated making Hugo sigh "Why would I let you pay me? That brat took you to me because she knows I will do it without any payment" the two looked up at him with wide eyes.

"B-But why?" Jackson asked as Hugo had a smile "Because it is the debt that I have to pay" he said and turned his back on them to get his tools "The debt?" twins curiously looked at each other.

While on the other hand, Anastasia washed her face with the water from the lake as the water stream can be heard from the quiet forest.

She stood up as she wiped her face "Isn't Callista and Ivan in Class 1?" she asked "I think so" Ignis shrugged.

"Will they be okay? You know how weak Ivan's stamina is, I'm afraid Callista will be too annoyed and leave him there." she said as she could already imagine them arguing.

"You'll never know, but I doubt that" Ignis commented "Why do you say so?" Anastasia asked with a confused stare.

"You may be forgetting that Callista likes to have high grades. She might be pulling Ivan right now." he said but both of them stiffened when they felt the ground shaking.

"Do you hear that Ignis?" she asked when she heard heavy and numerous footsteps approaching them in a hurried pace.

"Isn't that Ignis and Ana!?" they looked up when they heard a familiar voice from the cliff as two figures appeared in between the trees with frightened expressions.

"Ivan?" Anastasia called his name with wide eyes when she heard Ivan's voice.

She was taken aback while Ignis conjured up a barrier to protect both of them "Get ready Ana, seems like they got into a mess" he said so she stayed alert as two people rushed towards them.

There was a trace of fear in their eyes as they ran with sweat soaking their foreheads "Fuck! Jump!" they heard Callista shouting as they both jumped from the cliffs.