Vale didn't know that the expulsion also meant being unable to regain the ripped shadow.
However, this confirms his guess that the removal of the shadow doesn't necessarily mean he gets attracted to attend the Academy. It is all up to the desire of the holder of the shadow.
'It's like a slave mark or something… How cruel.'
Vale sighed at this as he looked at Cressida calmly... She wasn't showing any signs of hostility, or perhaps, she was hiding it really well.
She looks really pretty and a bit scary. In his opinion, Denise looks much better, especially once she grows up.
Vale shook his head to erase his random thoughts as he had plenty of questions for Cressida.
He kept his vigilance up and decided not to ask her if she was here to make some trouble. Instead, he pried for information.
"Is there another way of getting my shadow back?"
Cressida looked surprised as soon as she heard his question. She thought that Vale would ask her about her reason for appearing here and how it was too much of a coincidence to be in the same forest on this night. She was even prepared to deploy her group of Banshee if he showed hostility.
However, the young man seemed unbothered by that and just asked her something unexpected.
After a moment of thought, she felt amused by his reaction and answered.
"There is definitely a way… I know three methods and one of them is to die and have someone revive you."
"…"
She answered like it was such a safe method, so Vale couldn't help but look at her seriously.
"That doesn't sound doable…"
He shook his head at this ridiculous solution. Although there is Planar Spell that could probably help him with that, this Spell was too suspicious, and he wouldn't dare to gamble his life just because of that.
"Haha… Of course… I didn't mean it in a literal way. Anyway, the other solution is to get it back from the Headmaster or Vice Headmaster who took your shadow… You can do this forcefully."
"I don't think I can do that…" Vale replied. He already knows this method, but facing a student practitioner is different from a genuine Dark Arts Practitioner.
Cressida smirked at this answer as she continued.
"Heh… I did it with the previous Headmaster. That's why I'm already complete." She replied with a hint of arrogance in her tone.
'With the previous Headmaster?'
Vale wasn't sure if she was merely being pretentious, but she sounded so confident about it. Nevertheless, this is indeed an important matter. There is actually someone who succeeded in taking their shadow back from the Headmaster before their graduation.
This is certainly interesting since it means that he wasn't the only one who wanted to get out of the bindings made by the Academy.
"I did with Master Sherah's help..." She added.
"I see... So you already have your shadow back… Can you tell me the third method?" Vale continued to ask.
"Of course! I can tell you that, and I'll even help you regain your shadow with that method. It will be a lot easier with my help. However, you have to give me your Dark Spirit." Cressida answered with a creepy smile on her face.
The aura around her had also changed as Vale couldn't help but mistake her for a Vengeful Spirit or a Banshee.
The smile was quite disturbing as he recalled his master's smile whenever he considered doing something absurd.
Vale shook his head as he summoned his Ghost Hands and prepared his Elemental Talismans before he spoke.
"That's impossible. I won't be giving my Dark Spirit. As a matter of fact, even if she wants to leave me, I won't allow it." He firmly said while coldly looking at this mysterious Dark Arts Practitioner.
He also didn't mind sounding so possessive of his Dark Spirit just to let her know that he was resolute about not giving up his Dark Spirit.
Furthermore, Vale immediately decided not to let her know about Denise's whereabouts. He was previously hesitating whether to let her know that she still had a little sister waiting for her, but now that he had seen that Cressida seemed to have changed, Vale wouldn't put Denise in possible danger.
"Haha…"
Cressida chuckled as she expected that he wouldn't give up his Dark Spirit. "I thought so… Then you have to give up knowing the last method. In any case, staying in the Academy is also better. You don't know how dangerous it is for Rogue Practitioners to roam in various cities. You can also stop being so cautious. Maya warned me not to mess with you, so I won't be taking your Dark Spirt."
She then paused for a moment as she looked at Vale's shadow… She seemed to be looking at his Dark Spirit before she finally spoke.
"I was searching for another Dark Spirit hiding in this forest. If you helped me find that Dark Spirit, I'll consider letting you know the third method." Cressida replied.
Vale heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this.
'I guess she wasn't that unreasonable...' Vale thought, but he remained vigilant.
Anyway, her last request sounded more reasonable. He just can't be sure if Yvaine would be willing to help him.
Vale then immediately asked Yvaine about it, but apparently, she didn't seem to mind if another member of her species got caught by Cressida.
"Fine… I'll help you, Senior Cressida." Vale answered as he looked ghostly woman, who seemed to have just taken a bath.
It seems that he would have a very long night and he may not even have a chance to sleep.
***
"Master Sherah, my Darkness Manipulation Spell has reached the late stage of the Elementary Realm." Maya said with a weak smile on her face. She was already tired but was still overjoyed by her impressive achievement.
A week passed, and while Vale and Cressida were together searching for the Dark Spirit, Maya returned early to the Academy to ensure that she would be the best Second Year student once the class started.
Apparently, on the first day of their Second Year class, it wasn't just their Spirit Strands that would be measured. It would include their mastery level in the exclusive spells they've learned.
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