Liam's heart raced as he stood before Gunther, feeling a mix of anxiety and confusion. During his whole time with the others, he had already felt somewhat distant compared to the rest. He hadn't cared much, after all, he hadn't come to the academy to make friends.
However, naturally, as time went on, and it was only him and them, and fighting with the others together during the event, he did feel like there was some connection between them. The fact that he had even entered the portal with them to the other dimension made it seem like fate had something in store for him and Safa.
'It's almost like fate that me and Safa are meant to be together,' Liam let out a big sigh, feeling heartbroken that now he had been singled out by Gunther of all people. "Why… why do you have to speak to me... I know I'm handsome, but I'm sorry, sir, I don't swing that way."
"Liam!" Gunther shouted for the third time. He had been calling Liam's name for a while now, but there was no response. "What are you even thinking in that small brain of yours?"
Shaking his head, Liam decided that since it was already too late, he might as well listen to what the teacher had to say, although he felt it was hard to call Gunther a teacher because he was the strangest teacher he had ever come across.
"Liam, me and you are different," Gunther said as he placed both of his fingers off to the side. He swiveled his chair slightly to the side so only half of his face was showing. "We aren't like the others, you see. I'm talking about those that went into the Dimension together."
It felt strange; the same thoughts that Liam was having not too long ago were now being brought up by the teacher himself, and it was hitting him just a bit harder.
"Those three, they have a connection. It's clear that they knew each other even before they entered the academy, but now me and you have a connection together. Since we both share a secret, right?" Gunther said, turning around and smiling at Liam.
"What I want you to do is stick with them no matter where they go. Stay on them like a fly following around a piece of crap!"
"So… I'm the fly?" Liam said.
"Be the best fly there is out there!" Gunther shouted back, standing from his seat and slamming the desk. "This is for your sake, no, this is for both of our sakes. We need to know what they are doing at all times, alright?"
Liam was taken aback; he didn't know what to say and was somewhat frozen.
"Alright!" Gunther shouted again since he hadn't responded.
"Ah, yes, sir!" Liam said, bowing down. It seemed like that was his cue to leave, and so he did. He would stick to them like a fly. That's what he was good at.
While Liam was running down the hallway, heading back to the assessment area, he couldn't help but continue to rub the back of his neck.
Meanwhile, Gunther let out a big sigh and sat back down in his seat.
"Alright, at least that's dealt with now. I have to make sure that the Dark Magus doesn't stay out of my sight; I need to know where he is at all times."
Standing outside in the courtyard, Simyon had just asked Dame a question that made it feel like time had stopped around him. He didn't know why, but he was expecting the answer to be quite frightening.
"Ah, where I'm from, I guess both of you don't know yet," Dame answered with a smile. "I'm from the Demonic Faction."
"Oh, just the Demonic Faction," Simyon let out a sigh of relief, but he quickly caught his breath again. "Wait, did you say the Demonic Faction... in here, inside the Dark Faction's academy?"
Simyon's heart started to beat four times faster as thoughts started to go through his head. What if they were caught with this person? Would the whole Dark Faction go after him, and then, would they also go after anyone who kept in contact with him?
Maybe they would be treated as those working with the Demonic Faction just for being near him.
"Deep breaths, deep breaths," Dame said. "I know what you're thinking, but honestly, I'm pretty sure that teacher already knows where I'm from, or at least has a good idea. Remember what he said, as long as no problems arise, then we will be fine."
"No problems" was a tall order, Simyon thought. They had already been suffering with problem after problem since they had arrived here. In his head, it was only a matter of time before they would get caught.
"As I said before, Raze wanted to invite you to head to the Demonic Faction with me. Of course, with the plan to return, we will just be away while everyone is on break, and inform them that we are heading back to our families and respective clans."
Simyon was still trying to take in the new piece of information that he had learned, and only bits and pieces were really going into his head.
"Listen carefully to what I have to say," Dame said again, and he looked at Safa this time. She seemed to be calmer having learned this information.
Seeing how Dame was serious with his words, she pulled on Simyon's shirt, getting his attention, and then went to hold his hand. For some reason, the moment Simyon held onto Safa's hand, he felt a whole sense of calmness come over him, which was followed by the flushing of the upper cheeks.
"Raze asked me to tell you guys this, and he is inviting you because he's actually looking out for you guys," Dame explained. "You know lately, he has been a target of an assassination, and from what I know, you guys had troubles even before that."
"If he were to leave here, he's worried that the two of you will end up being a target if they can't go after him. So he would rather have you come along to the Demonic Faction where he thinks you'll be safer."
"It's up to you guys what you want to do, but we will be heading out tonight," Dame stated, as he was ready to walk away, giving them time to have their answer.
"We'll go," Simyon answered instantly. "I know what Safa's answer is already, so I'm sorry for speaking on her behalf. As for my answer, I already said that I would go wherever Raze went."
Dame smiled hearing this. Raze had managed to gather his own group of loyal people. They reminded him a lot of his group of friends in the Neverfall Clan as well.
The leave of absence letters were handed in to Tod, who didn't seem to care, nor was he surprised. They knew that due to the teachers' laziness, it would be a while before their notices would be passed on, meaning it would give them time before Gunther could do anything.
After that, they had all left the building and headed to the back of the academy where the forest would be. This was where they were to meet Raze, who was already waiting for them.
Traveling with Dame, they had gotten through everything with ease, and a short while later, they had eventually reached the cliffside. Here, Raze was waiting.
He hadn't gone down the cliff to the cave, as he didn't want others to see it, and there was no need to. He could just draw the magic circle wherever he wished, since the magic circles created by the Dark Faction leader had set coordinates for where they were to appear.
It was something Raze was unable to do because he hadn't mapped out the world of Pagna, and the coordinates to head back to Altieran were completely skewed and different. He found that out the first time he had opened a portal.
"It's good to see everyone. I think it will be safer if we're all together," Raze claimed. "Now... let's head out."
Raze activated his dark magic, and as he did, the portal started to open up. When it flashed glowing, the sound of the bushes moving was heard behind them.
Immediately, Dame rushed into the bushes to see if they had been followed or if it was possibly another assassin. A few moments later, he returned, holding onto a certain boy that they were all familiar with.
"What do you want to do with him then?" Dame asked, holding Liam's shoulders.