Ivy brushed past Jacob with a smoldering silence, straightening her back to reduce the slouching as the dark magic hood flickered in and out of existence.

At Jacob's behest, Kyo led the way as the others followed tentatively, completely nonplussed as to the most prudent course of action.

"Ivy?" Kyo said weakly, hoping she would respond.

She didn't. Instead, Ivy continued her wordless demeanour and determined pace, walking past the confused and pale faces of her fellow students.

"Ivy!" repeated Kyo, briskly following her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

As soon as his hand made contact with her body, she gasped audibly and reacted before she could stop herself; a huge blast of dark magic cracked across Kyo's body and threw him into the air like a rag-doll, causing him to land with a hard thud at Carolyn's feet.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" she shrieked, whirling around with her eyes wide and full of fear rather than anger.

[i]"Okay, okay, we're sorry, he didn't mean to startle you!"[/i] apologised Raphael with earnest, taking a step back with Carolyn.

Carolyn nodded at Ivy before kneeling down and dragging Kyo backwards as he grumbled in pain, still dazed from the unceremonious landing.

Ivy stared at all four of them with unblinking eyes as she stepped backwards, eventually turning around and sprinting out of sight.

"We can't let her wander around the Academy, she's going to end up hurting someone or herself." opined Carolyn, frowning at Jacob as if it was his fault.

"I have an idea." said Kyo groggily.

Reaching into his pocket, Kyo pulled out his phone and immediately dialed the number of the one person he thought would be most helpful right now.

"Jade, we need you. Get back to the academy [i]now[/i]." he said firmly, hanging up without waiting for her reply. All of the questions she was most likely burning with would only slow down her arrival.