Vale had no idea that the girl who wanted to take his shadow was now meeting with his trashy classmate, Neil Sommerhalder.

However, even if he knew, he would just find it amusing. He believes these two wouldn’t be in any form of threat to him now or even in the next few years.

Their growth couldn’t be compared to his speed of development since he has the Extraction System. Even if they have better and more affluent families behind them, he at least has the Headmaster on his side, and there shouldn’t be any real threat to him inside the Academy.

***

On the next day, Vale completed his preparations as he silently went to the dockyard to meet Vice Captain Ashe, who had arranged his flight.

Aside from Headmaster Jean, Professor Shirley, Nadine Sherris, Chad Bulmung, and Vice Captain Ashe, no one else knows that he decided to leave the Academy.

Of course, when Vale informed the Professor, she was confused as she couldn’t believe he got the Headmaster’s permission to leave!

Furthermore, according to their estimate, he might be away for a couple of weeks or even a month!

Those classes he’d miss would be so important for a second-year student like him.

Luckily, his connection with the Battle Arena Committee became useful. He borrowed the reusable Recording Crystals after Nadine permitted him, and he just asked Chad to record the classes for him.

That way, he could easily learn the topics that require demonstrations if Chad’s notes weren’t enough for him to study what he missed.

Everything went smoothly after that.

After arriving at the dockyard, Vale greeted the Vice Captain who was guarding the dockyard.

“Is that the only thing you’ll bring with you?” Ashe asked after seeing that he was only carrying a small sack bag.

It doesn’t even contain essential things and seems like a thick book to her.

“Yes… I’m not particularly eager to carry many things. I’ll just purchase everything else that I need.” Vale replied.

Ashe then went silent for a moment before she sighed.

“Vale, are you sure about this? Our enemies aren’t just practicing a single Arcane Path… It’s an organization that accepts every Path and has many Holy Arts Practitioners on their side. It would be difficult to escape once you’re captured.” She reminded.

“Right, you also have to remove the Spell Models of my friends. You can’t die before you can do that. I already informed them that you’re just training to increase your precision with your Spell Model destruction.”

Vale couldn’t help but smile at this as he nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll return if I can’t handle the job. Who knows, this mission might even help me with my current problem with the precision of my spell. Once that happens, I hope you’ll tell them my service isn’t free.”

“Haha! Alright! Just make sure you return alive.”

After saying their goodbyes, Vale boarded the Airship headed to Aerodenn City, the closest city to the Murton Castle.

***

Philip Hoffman woke up with a throbbing headache and a metallic taste in his mouth. He tried to move but realized he was chained to a stone wall in a dark and damp dungeon. He tried breaking it but couldn’t summon his strength!

To his horror, he realized he couldn’t even feel his Spell Lights or enter his Phantasm State!

‘This…’

He had no idea where he was or how long he had been there. The last thing he remembered was how he was late in his class and he was walking back to his dormitory. Then, a black mantle appeared above him and two hooded men stunned him with a spell as he failed to avoid the mantle that shrouded him.

‘Priscilla…’ 𝒆.𝙘𝒎

Philip wondered if his sister was worried sick about his disappearance. He couldn’t help but hope that the Academy and the Vessels were already looking for him. They should be aware that he was missing by now.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

As he was deep in his thoughts, he heard footsteps approaching, and saw a dim light coming from a torch in the corridor.

He braced himself for a round of interrogation or even torture, but to his surprise, he recognized the face of his captor.

It was the Previous Headmaster of the Academy! Sir Charles Blackwood, his mentor and favorite teacher at the Academy. He was a tall and slender man in his fifties, with pale skin, black hair, and piercing blue eyes. He wore a long black cloak and carried a silver cane.

“Sir Blackwood?” Philip gasped. “What are you doing here? Why are you doing this to me?”

The previous Headmaster smiled coldly and leaned closer to Philip.

“Hello, Philip. I’m sorry to see you in such a state, but it’s necessary for our plan. I’m sure you’re aware of your value…”

Philip felt a chill run down his spine. He had a slight idea of what he was talking about but still couldn’t understand why this old man would dare to provoke his family and the Academy just to capture him!

“If you wanted my secret… You don’t have to imprison me here. What’s your real plan?” Philip asked as he calmed himself. He knows that he needs information.

“Ha! You have plenty of time to tell your secrets to our young miss. We’re not in a hurry. We even tolerated the Treaty of Keslore to prepare for the complete destruction of the Dark Arts Faction—” Charles paused as he realized that he had said something unnecessary.

Charles chuckled and tapped his cane on the floor before he continued. “You’ll find out soon enough, my boy. You’ll be part of our plan. Once the Prophet has arrived, you’ll be our organization’s greatest spy.”

Philip felt a surge of fear and anger. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

‘A madman!’

He had betrayed the Academy, and the Dark Arts Factions, joined a shady organization, kidnapped him, and planned to use him for some evil scheme.

“Y-you’re insane!” Philip shouted.

The old man’s smile faded, and his eyes flashed with rage like an absolute madman.

He raised his cane and pointed it at Philip’s chest. “Silence, you insolent worm! I have sacrificed everything for the Dark Sorcerer Refuge! But… But—”

“Stop it! He’s mine! Old freak!”

As Charles was about to lose his mind, a high-pitched voice from a young noblewoman reprimanded him for his unsightly actions.

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