"Wait… Leonore is not your girlfriend?!" Philip asked in surprise.
"No… I'm only 14! What are you thinking!" Vale couldn't help but raise his voice as well. Furthermore, only his body was 14 but his mind or soul is older than that!
He doesn't feel comfortable with this thought since his modern mind wouldn't allow him to do so. It may be normal here to get married early due to traditions and bloodline matters but as much as he can, he would certainly avoid it.
"Fourteen is already not a bad time for a relationship… If it works well, you can just married at 16 then---"
"Stop… Stop… We need to search for Leonore first." Vale interrupted Philip's next words as he knows it already. It may not be prohibited by law but his mind is prohibiting him…
It wasn't appropriate at all. He may consider some romance in his life but that would happen if he's already at the right age so he wouldn't get burdened by his conscience.
At the moment, he's more interested in corpses that he can extract…
'Ugh… What am I even thinking…' Vale shook his head as he cleared his thoughts.
Priscilla also looked at her brother with a meaningful gaze to make him stop.
She then explained where she found Leonore and everything she witnessed at that time.
Of course, hearing that his classmate may be in trouble, Vale didn't hesitate to offer help.
If those seniors were really messing with Leonore and they didn't misunderstand their intention, he wouldn't mind helping her… No matter what, Leonore has been kind to him and she's also very approachable…
Currently, their group is heading to the West Pavilion Garden, or known as the Red Crow Garden because of the wooden sculpture at its center spot.
This garden is near the Ceremony Hall so it wasn't surprising that there were first-year students here that have gathered.
'Right… I should inform someone.' Vale immediately reminded himself.
If Leonore is really in trouble with some higher years, he knows that he would also be in trouble if he meddled with them without any preparation.
With this in mind, he spoke to his Dark Spirit and gave it an instruction.
Then, he also asked Philip to get a Professor that he knows.
Luckily, they were still in the Hoffman Family which is the same Clan as the Headmaster. It shouldn't be a problem to get some help with their reputation.
"Alright… There's an Elder in the Ceremony Hall, I'll inform him quickly." Philip said as he swiftly left Priscilla and Vale. He knows the importance of this matter as well.
Although this academy has rules that should protect its students, it's not a guarantee that will make you safe inside this Academy of Dark Arts. It can be easily understood just by recalling how Vale killed a fellow first-year student a few weeks ago.
'Where is she?' Vale muttered as he looked at the garden… It was spacious with many ornamental plants. It's also filled with tall wintergreen boxwood shrubs that are blocking their view. Vale only knows that the garden is also designed to have five spots where people can gather…
At its very center was the pavilion with the Red Crow sculpture…
'Tsk…'
Since he can't find her, he decided to just enter his Phantasm State and search for Leonore's whereabouts.
"They're on that side… Behind the center pavilion." Priscilla pointed as she seem to have a huge range of magic zone or perhaps some other means that he wasn't aware of.
In any case, Vale also realized her location and she's indeed surrounded by six other students.
"Let's go quickly…" Priscilla said as she suddenly moved faster…
Vale then felt the fluctuation of dark energy and realized that she was using a movement spell!
"Movement Spell?!" Vale asked in shock.
He thought that he can only learn it in his third year in the Academy!
'Ugh… I want to learn that too…' Vale bit his lower lip as he watch Priscilla.
However, the latter seems to have noticed that Vale doesn't know a movement spell so she quickly realized her mistake and returns.
"Ahem… Aren't we prohibited from using Dark Spells?" Vale asked weakly after seeing her return.
Priscilla didn't seem bothered by this reminder as she replied with confidence.
"It's fine as long as the Ethics Committee won't catch you. Hold my hand."
She then offered her right hand to Vale.
"…"
Vale didn't immediately take her hand. He hesitated for a couple of seconds before he swiftly grabbed her hands.
'It's warm…' Vale thought as the last female body he held was cold.
Vale sighed inwardly as he can't believe that this is what he was thinking. He should be worried about his classmate right now.
Well, it has been a while since he held a warm hand so he felt like this is some sort of unique experience.
Vale then observed Priscilla's movement spell…
It seems to be a Movement Spell with a high level of mastery considering how he was also affected just by holding her hand.
He also noticed how his feet were sliding easily on the ground while Priscilla was dragging him. Dark energy has gathered under his feet and he doesn't have to move at all!
He simply allowed Priscilla to lead him to the location!
He even found a field-type spell that seems to be the reason why it was difficult to locate them... Vale then decided to use his Spell Dispersion to remove this suspicious spell. He doesn't know what more it can do so it's better to remove it.
"We're here…" Priscilla finally said as she saw the group gathered around Leonore.
They have really chosen a spot where other students would rarely come by. Furthermore, Professors would rarely go around this area so they actually dared to Leonore!
Currently, she was already on the ground holding her left cheek…
It can be easily guessed that Leonore was slapped or punched by one of the senior students.
"Hmm? Did you call your boyfriend?"
As soon as they arrived, one of the seniors also noticed their presence.
On his coat, were 7 eight-angled stars showing that he was a 7th-year student of the Academy.
His aura was different from the violent Larkin Neveil of the 6th-year, it was incredibly still and deep like an ocean…
Even Vale can tell how different this guy was compared to the other students. His aura was close to his Club President, Noah Featherstar!
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺