Chapter 342: Foreboding
As Professor Gale Evans continued to read about Vale Chambers' achievements, her curiosity and interest in him grew. She couldn't deny the strong connection she felt towards him, both intellectually and physically.
However, she was aware of the professional boundaries between a professor and a student, making her internal struggle even more intense.
"Vale... Are you related to that Lightning Strike that happened at our Academy a few months ago?" Gale muttered to herself as she kept recalling how a strange phenomenon was triggered in the Academy, leading to the descent of a strange lightning.
Furthermore, this lightning resulted in the Thunder Emperor's and the Previous Headmaster's appearance in the Academy. What was even more terrifying was that the Elite, and perhaps the Legendary Bounty Hunter of the World of Mysticism, was also attracted by that strange lightning.
She had a strange feeling that Vale was related to this event. To be exact, it was probably related to the Soul-Bonding Method that he tried learning from her.
Unfortunately, she could not prove it unless she got Vale to confess.
***
Days turned into weeks, and Professor Evans found herself unable to resist the desire to get to know Vale on a deeper level. She decided to approach the situation with caution, mindful of the potential consequences. One evening, after the day's classes had concluded, she lingered in her office, contemplating her next move.
'I need to do something...'
Deep in thought, Professor Evans reached for her collection of Ancient and Forbidden Spellbooks, searching for a solution that would allow her to explore her feelings without compromising her professional integrity.
When she previously charmed Vale, she actually felt a strong resistance from him. She could only overpower him at that time since Vale didn't seem to have control over his defense. However, that may be different now.
Vale would surely become cautious of her and not allow himself to be at her mercy again.
In addition to that, she also had to do something with the Dark Spirit that was intelligent enough to act on its own and protect Vale...
That Dark Spirit had truly wasted such a perfect opportunity for her.
Flip... Flip... Flip
As she flipped through the pages, her eyes fell upon a forgotten spell—a spell of Shared Dreams.
This Spell wasn't on the list of Forbidden Spells, but since it's not a popular Spell that could commonly be used, it was basically forgotten, and no one bothered learning it.
Intrigued by the possibilities, Professor Evans delved into the Spell's intricacies, studying the requirements and potential outcomes. The Spell had the power to create a shared dream experience between two individuals, allowing them to connect on a subconscious level and explore their deepest desires and emotions in a safe and controlled environment.
Her heart started beating faster as she continued reading the page.
'This is it...' She silently thought while her eyes were glued to the book.
The more she read, the more convinced she became that this Spell could provide the opportunity she sought—to understand Vale on a profound level without overstepping boundaries or jeopardizing their positions within the Academy... or at the very least, that is what it appears outside.
"Ha ha..." Professor Evans couldn't help but chuckle as she realized how good this Spell was.
Once Vale fell asleep, his natural defense would undoubtedly be weaker, and she would have a perfect opportunity! What was even better was that Dark Spirits could never stop this kind of Spell at all!
With a newfound determination, Professor Evans prepared for the ritual to start Recording the Spell. It will be very difficult since she found out that it requires 2 Spell Lights to record this Spell.
It means that she had to be very careful since if she damaged any of her Spell Lights, it would take her a very long time to recover and delay her plans.
'It won't be long, Vale...' Professor Gale Evans muttered as she closed the book.
***
It was a typical day at the Academy, and Vale found himself engrossed in practicing Touchless Extractions... Of course, on the surface, it seemed that he was only practicing his Ghost Hands Spell.
As Vale stood in the training room, he focused his energy, channeling it through his fingertips. His classmates, Lisa Grayback, Aubrey Hall, and Chad Bulmung, were also present, each engrossed in their own magical practices nearby. They rent one big room to practice their Spells today since it would be cheaper and more efficient since they get to use a huge practice area for themselves.
Anyway, Vale wasn't 'Extracting' his classmates, but he was simply practicing to shorten the delay of his System Notifications. After all, the System Notification would only appear in 4 to 6 seconds once he touched his target using his Ghost Hands... It was too long, and he was trying to find a way to shorten it.
Vale's mind wandered momentarily as his Ghost Hands began executing random but seemingly complicated movements. But as he closed his eyes, a sudden wave of unease washed over him. It felt like a premonition, a warning of something ominous on the horizon.
Unsettled by the sensation, Vale paused for a moment, trying to shake off the feeling.
'Is that my ESP Spell working?' Vale thought to himself.
"Is something wrong, Vale?" Lisa asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.
Vale forced a smile and replied. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a passing thought. I'll get back to practicing."
Determined to push aside his concerns, Vale resumed his training. He focused his concentration, visualizing the target he intended to extract... It was Lisa who was on his opposite side.
She was also practicing her Dark Spells as she tried removing one of Vale's Ghost Hands by using her Darkness Manipulation.
Poof!
Vale's Ghost Hands suddenly exploded, giving Lisa a scare. She wasn't injured but was surprised by the sudden destruction of his Ghost Hands.
"What happened, Vale? Are you alright?" Lisa asked as she noticed that something was off with Vale today.
Vale took a deep breath as he shook his head. "I'm fine, just a minor mishap. I must have lost focus for a moment."
As the group confirmed that he was fine, they all returned to practice.
On the other hand, Vale couldn't shake off the persistent feeling of foreboding. He wondered if this bad feeling earlier was bothering him to this extent. Despite his curiosity, he resolved to continue with his daily routine, hoping it was simply a coincidence.