"Law, you are making a grave mistake." Natasha warned me as we finished setting up the defence in the building along with the others who decided to follow us.

"Natasha for the last time, just give them a chance. What's with you against nobles so much? Aren't you one yourself?" I asked her as I looked at the eyes that looked away from me.

"Law, you don't understand..." She paused there.

"Well, then please explain what I am doing wrong then? You know I am willing to listen. What's wrong with giving them another chance to prove themselves? Is there something more to this?" I asked back

"How about this since we have secured and fortified this place just pick a different leader and let's just leave?" Natasha almost seemed pleading while the rest of us looked at her in worry. Seeing us just stare at her she sighed in reluctance.

"Look, Tash, as a noble myself I can understand where you are coming from about not trusting them. But like Law said there seems to be something more to this. Just tell us what it is?" Ian tried to persuade Natasha as well.

"I can't really explain what going on without telling you all the details, and I don't want to do that. You will all be placed in equal danger if I say anything. Just promise me one thing." We all nodded seeing how serious Natasha was.

"Just don't trust Phil." She finished as she walked off, while I watched more and more people coming in.

-----------------------------

Damn it! Damn it!

I bit my thumbs in frustration. There has to be a way around this.

I know Phil didn't join us because he felt sorry for his actions. There is no way a person like him who caused the rape and death of a mother in front of her very son, be convinced by mere words.

He probably grew fearful of Ellis as he witnessed his might after his ascension as the predator.

He is merely using us as shields till this round is over from Ellis.

Then there is Ellis himself.

He was similar to John in a way. A genius abandoned and unfavoured by the Deities. He had no talent in magi accumulation like her half-brother, but unlike her brother whose talent laid in another field, Ellis covered his weakness up by his extensive knowledge and natural talent at casting and understanding in magi spells.

Now after his fall he was raised back by her half-brother who gave him the very thing the deities denied that born genius, magi accumulation. Not to mention the unexpected skill he displayed of a trained warrior.

She remembered the warning her grandmother gave her, as she walked around.

'Natasha I know you value those friends of yours and I approve of your friendship with them. But remember not to draw that mad man's attention more than necessary. The moment you do, then even I won't be able to help you.'

She knew there was an extremely guarded secret about John that no one spoke about. It seems almost like an open secret to the members of the royal court that they use to base their fears upon.

That just proves why it is important to not draw his attention.

I know for sure, if Ellis comes in here he will look for Phil and no one will be able to stop him, other than us. Knowing the righteous fool Law is he will be tricked by Phil to protect Phil from Ellis. The moment Ellis fights against us, will be the moment John's attention will land on us and that idiot, Law.

I might be the only person aware of Phil's true agenda, but I am also unable to prove it without putting everyone in danger.

Wait... I don't have to prove anything, and I can get rid of him as well, but Law is probably going to hate me for this. However, it's worth it. If I can't protect and cherish the ones I hold dear then what's the point of having this power.

--------------------------------

I looked at the fortification they were building against me.

Going in there is like letting him escape while I have to fight against a horde of angry mobs, especially with the 7 elites of the academy leading the group.

Unless I can draw Phil or those 7 out and away somehow.

---------------------------------

Almost everyone aside from those who are keeping watch, arrived inside the hall awaiting the announcement I wanted to make.

I stood up while my friends looked at me curiously.

"Sorry everyone for the sudden announcement. But before we all go to sleep I want to prepare you all for tomorrow." Everyone started to slowly go silent after realising I was going to say something important.

"As you have all realised, the mock exams we took for the graduation exam has mostly been for nought, as this year's exam is very different from the previous exams." Everyone nodded in union remembering how different it was compared to what their seniors had told them last year.

"The first exam itself has been very bloody and brutal.

I don't have to say the brutality that will appear starting from tomorrow onwards due to the condition of not receiving food until we view our results." A heavy silence went among the gathered group. Everyone knew starting from tomorrow onwards the prey group will start to go hungry as well if they don't view their results.

It will then be a one-sided fight after that.

"So, in order to combat that and make sure everyone views their results properly, I suggest everyone split into small groups of minimum 10 people each.

Each group will then proceed to go out accompanied by a two rank 2 individual. Currently including me here there are a total of 6 other rank 2 magis." At the mention of seven rank 2 magis, the moody and depressed group suddenly became hopeful.

"You are a rank 2 magi?"

"Who are the other rank 2 magis?"

Question similar to this suddenly started to pop up. I held up my hand and after a while they all became quiet.

"The trip towards the exam hall should take roughly 5 minutes, after which the group will go to the safe area to collect their meals, which will take another 5 minutes and then walking back from there should take another 10 minutes. Which means 5 hours should be plenty of time to get all of you here to the results area, get your food and back.

Each group will leave in a 10-minute interval before setting out with their rank 2 magi, this would mean that there will always be at least 3 rank 2 magis inside the camp.

As long as we survive till the 2nd day I am pretty sure plenty of people from the predator faction will attack us. We can use that opportunity to earn more points so that everyone here can pass.

Currently, this is the best way to do this without getting all of us captured and failed. So, I would like all of you getting ready by tomorrow morning to set off. Also, I hope you will all listen to your group leaders which will be the best solution to your survival and stick to their plan. Thank you that's all." They were talking amongst themselves and sorting each other into groups as I walked out of the hall followed by my friends.

"Wow, no wonder you are an imperial princess." Rondell whistled.

"Good plan, although there are some problems, I think this might be the best plan we have." Ian nodded as he analysed the plan.

"So, do we partner up now or randomly decide tomorrow?" Lewies asked as he smiled.

"Let's discuss it after everyone's gone to bed." I replied

"I agree/Yeah" Both Ruby and Maisy replied, while Maisy yawned.

"Ok, that's fine. Although I never expected you to fully accept this group after your outcry against this association. But it's good that you decided to give us a hand." Law gave his typical radiant smile as he patted me on the shoulders, while guilt pierced my heart for lying and deceiving my friends for the 1st time.

At this moment I was so glad my maternal family had forcefully trained me to restrain my emotions like all upper nobles, if not they would have seen my face and have predicted what I was plotting.

Now I just have to hope Ellis won't make any rash move for the night.