When they both got back to the Cauldron Room, Callista immediately started with the potion. She carefully followed the instructions in the book and made sure that Ivan was never near the pot.

"Are you not done yet?" Ivan yawned as Callista carefully put the other plants needed in the pot "I just started, Ivan. And didn't I tell you to fill up our form?" she asked so Ivan groaned, a way of saying that he was complaining again.

Ivan didn't say anything and followed her instructions and started writing the form that will be given to the Professor with the potion they made.

"By the way, what are we making again?" Ivan asked as Callista was surprised when sparks came out when she put the petal "Mystic fog" she answered.

"Mystic fog? Isn't that what causes illusions?" Ivan asked so Callista nodded "Weren't you listening to what Professor Wilford was saying earlier?" she asked back.

"Huh? He was saying something?" Ivan had his eyes widen like he really didn't hear anything "No wonder your failing" she helplessly shook her head and turned her attention back to the pot.

She put the abyssal pearl next as the potion changed color and turned to a pretty shade of purple "You haven't heard the story about The Moon Fairy?" he asked so she shook her head with her attention still on the pot.

"I haven't really heard any bedtime stories" she said and put the fiery clouds next as it began to evolve. The mist was replaced with a thick layer of fog.

"Why?" Ivan asked curiously "I don't know. People were too busy to tell me stories, I guess. " she shrugged and transferred the fog into a jar "And you're okay with that?" Ivan asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"What's with the bombarded questions? We were told that we shouldn't be dependent too much" she said and finally put the tears of sadness into the jar.

Before any fog could get out, she had already covered the lid with a smile "Finished!" she cheered and looked at Ivan who had a strange expression on his face.

"What's with your face?" she asked and tilted her head in confusion. She really admires how quick his expressions can change as his usual grin came back.

"Oh, nothing" he said so they both went near Professor Wilford "We're finished with the task, Professor" Callista said with a smile.

Albert Wilford is one of the highest ranking warlock at the Tower of Wyrmwood, the magic tower for witches and warlocks, he worked closely with the Grandwitch Lea Morgana as close allies and colleagues.

Professor Wilford wore a dark cloak and had a really dark expression on his face even when his not doing anything, he carefully inspected the potion and nodded in satisfaction.

"I'm impressed, I must say that I haven't yet seen any students who made a near to perfect potion like this." he said while nodding before looking at Ivan "This is also the first time you didn't fail a task Mister Haven." Ivan flinched when he was mentioned and avoided the Professor's gaze.

"It looks like you are a good influence Miss Alberts" Wilford smiled that made Ivan's jaw drop "Thank you, Professor. We'll be going now." she said and pushed Ivan out of the door who was still staring at Wilford with widened eyes as she waved him goodbye.

"I can't believe that old man can smile and yet he kept on glaring at me!" Ivan exclaimed in disbelief by the time they were out of earshot.

Ivan shouted all his frustration in the Lake where they first look for the Abyssal pearl as Callista looked at him "This world is really unfair!" he complained so Callista stood beside him.

"At least you didn't fail this time" she smiled "I know but still!" it seems like he was really pissed as thunder began to prickle on his hands.

He kept on mumbling complaints before sighing to calm herself down "Oh, whatever" Callista chuckled.

Ivan looked at her "By the way, how's the Academy been for you?" he asked and smiled at him, Callista was a little taken aback by his question and thought about it carefully.

"I don't know... I came here to know something but it's more fun than I thought..." she smiled.

Ivan laughs "You think so too? I also thought it would be boring when I first came here but I had Ana and the others so I learned how to make it fun!" he beamed out a smile from the memory.

"You must really liked them, don't you?" she tilted her head "Yeah, we've been together for ten years now and I can't even believe it whenever I remember. I could kill just to protect them." Callista looked at him as his smiled turned cold.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"That's why, no need for hard feelings okay?" he suddenly smiled at her which slowly made her smile disappear "What?"

It came too fast, she was blasted away and would hit a tree if she hadn't shielded herself from the sudden struck of lightning. Dirt flew in the air because of the sudden attack as Callista tried to look for him amidst the dusty surroundings.

"Ivan, what...?" she asked him in confusion as he smiled at her "Your a weird one, do you know that? Something about you is making me so unsettled and anxious for some reason" lightning flickered beneath his feet and his fingers.

Callista pursed her lips "Ivan, why are you doing this? Let's talk this out for a minute" she begged since she didn't know what was happening or the context of it all.

"Oh, you didn't do anything Callista" Ivan shook his head and laughs "You simply caught Ana's attention and we have no idea if you have plans to harm her or not" he said.

Her eyebrows furrowed "What? Why would I harm Ana?" she asked back in confusion "I don't know, you tell me" he said "Besides, wasn't that your plan all along? To get close to her?" Ivan added.

Callista was so confused. "What?"

Ivan can't help but laugh "Oh, don't act so innocent!" he exclaimed "I know what you did, you know?" he pouted.

Something about his expression was pissing her off, what the heck was his problem?

"That day when you entered the classroom, I saw your eyes immediately darting towards Ana and then towards Ignis." she looked at him with parted lips

"I didn't mind it at first but the second time?" Ivan chuckles "Don't make me an idiot. I know you stood up from your seat when you saw Ana starting to fix her things, you positioned yourself perfectly so you would hit her enough to make her books fall to the floor." he remained smiling at her.

"I never said anything but I'm always watching" he grins "That's..." Callista was about to respond but Ivan's blood was pumping from the excitement and the rush of thrill spread throughout his body.

He suddenly struck Callista with lightning who was taken off guard, Ivan could only laugh because of this.

"No hard feelings, okay? I'm apologetic too, you know. I really did have fun spending time with you." he grins as lightning flickered dangerously around him.

Callista was hiding somewhere in the middle of the dust, Ivan could immediately feel something coming towards him. He reached out a hand to stop it as it came into his field of vision, it was a dagger thrown directly at him.

He can stop it easily without breaking a sweat when he noticed something which made him move his body to dodge "Oh, shit..." he stumbled back as the dagger pierced the tree.

He looked at it in confusion before looking at his palm, he wasn't just imaging it right? The tip of the blade really pierced right through his barrier.

How is that even possible?

"Fuck, seems like I'm really the one to be blamed here" Ivan looked back when he heard that voice and saw Callista who finally showed himself to him.

Ivan didn't say anything since he noticed the change in her demeanor, the innocent personality she was showing just a few minutes ago seems to have dispersed through the air.

Her eyes are sharp and cold as she stared at him, her body language much more confident than earlier. She was like an entirely different person.

"My bad, I couldn't help but underestimate you but who thought they had such a smart little pussycat in here?" she tauntingly smiled at him.

This caused Ivan's ears to twitch "What did you say!? Who are you calling a pussycat!?" he fumed.

Callista wasn't really planning to be found out this soon but her plans had been ruined due to a group of pests not knowing how to mind their own business.

Callista laughs as she watched him "Tell me though, you keep saying about how I purposely approached you? Oh, please! You guys were the one being nosy." she scoffed.

Ivan was a little taken aback "How so!?" but still, he remained challenging.

"Your dear little princess planned the whole thing, making me duel with her in Swordsmanship. The boulder that you tried to intentionally fall on me? Nice little trick." she raised a brow at him and Ivan cleared his throat as if he was just caught doing something wrong.

"Don't even get me started with you pushing me into the lake, that wasn't funny. Keep that up and I might just slaughter you for all the people to see" she chuckles.

Ivan pursed his lips and was a little guilty for all that he did but his ego can't take it "Wait a minute! You knew about everything but you still bit the bait!?" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh, why not?" she asked back and walked towards him "There's nothing more than a good prey when you take them by surprise" she chuckles

Ivan was taken aback when she looked at him with cold eyes making him back away in response.

"What if I hadn't saved you? What have you done by then?" he asked so Callista smiled "Then I would be disappointed in you, won't I? I would've been bored if you haven't done anything" she answered and laughed

"You see, Ivan. I wouldn't have to do this if you just knew how to mind your own business, you know?" she told him innocently "But no, you guys just had to be so fucking nosy and look what that got you?"

Ivan froze. Everything was so unexpected that he didn't even see how or when but he only realized when he felt Callista's nail pressed against his neck. If she'd just push any deeper, he would die and he can't do anything about it.

"Tell me, what would the others do if I presented them your amputated head? I'd even make them look for your other body parts just for fun, doesn't that sound exciting?" she chuckles sinisterly which made Ivan clench his hands.

Callista studies his face and smiled "Loosen up." she chuckles and patted his shoulder before walking away "I hope you learn how to mind your own business starting from now on Ivan" she said. Ivan was frozen in place, he didn't know what just happened.

Warning signs began to flash on his head as if the humane part of him was telling him to run away. Why though?

Callista was triggering his fight or flight response as if sensing something that's threatening his survival or trying to do him harm.

If she stayed at the Academy longer, he doubts it would stay the same with an obvious threat walking amongst the students and through the Academy grounds.

Ivan didn't even notice it if he hadn't began panting the moment Callista left, his been holding his own breath.

Like how a pitiful animal would respond while waiting for a vicious serpent to leave.