Chapter 489: Shadow's Return

In the meantime, while this was all happening at Vermont Academy, Vale had just finished his meeting with the representatives of the various factions or organizations.

He also received an invitation from Odessa to enter her Mage Tower... Of course, Vale didn't immediately reject her. He simply informed her that he would think about it. After all, he was surrounded by many Arcanists, and he would feel a lot better rejecting her once he returned to the Academy.

Although he knew he was strong, there were still many Mystical Artifacts he wasn't aware of.

"Whew~"

'Those gazes from Clare and Teresa were quite disturbing. Did they realize I'm Clovis?' Vale thought to himself as he slowly went back to their hotel and met with the others.

If possible, he also wanted to visit the city and see if there are some good appraisers there. He had so many items needed to be appraised after all. Although he could probably do it in the Academy, he was already excited to get some of the items appraised or even convert them into money.

"Ahhh... I should probably sell those that I don't need to Lisa and the others." Vale muttered as he recalled his friends in the Academy.

Since Maya and others also got some rewards from their placement rankings, Vale shouldn't worry about them. Furthermore, they already have some incredible families supporting them, unlike some of his friends in the Academy.

The high-grade Spirit Pearls, the amulet of Swift Steps, the crystal of elemental shield, the ancient Rune Scroll, and even the Formation Nodes weren't really something useful to him anymore. If he would make a guess, the mystical artifacts were only at the low-grade Noble Rank items.

At his current strength, he would need at least a low-grade Royal Rank item to satisfy himself.

As soon as he returned to his hotel, he could no longer find Maya and the others. He then went to the dining hall and confirmed that they were all there waiting for him to show up.

After they finished eating, Maya and Crystal decided to visit the duel tournament of the 8th-year students that was being held in another location since the Coliseum was still undergoing repairs. On the other hand, Philip and Luna planned to watch the Spectacles of Talent of the 10th-year students.

They invited Vale to come with them, but he felt that he would just disturb Philip's plan, so he just said that he had other things to do.

As for Maya and Crystal's invitation, Vale decided to reject them as well since it might get awkward with those two.

In the end, Vale went out alone. At this time, he already asked Yvaine to take out some items he was planning to be appraised.

As he walked through the bustling streets of the Roaring City, he hadn't even found the place he was looking for when he felt something off.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. The constant gaze of unseen eyes was noticed by his ESP Spell's passive effect.

Without a moment's hesitation, he activated his Phantasm State, entering a heightened state of awareness, and expanded his Magic Zone to better sense the presence of others.

"Let's see..." Vale muttered as he walked to the hawkers selling various street foods. He didn't want to alert the people who were observing him.

Within his expanded Magic Zone, Vale could feel the presence of numerous Arcanists, but it was the attention of eight particular individuals that caught his focus.

"Ahhh..."

He recognized them. They were Clare, Teresa, Clyde, and others he had encountered in Odessa's room. They seemed to be observing him from a distance of about 180 meters.

He wasn't sure what they were planning, but it didn't matter to him. They had gravely underestimated the power and range of his Magic Zone.

"But... What should I do to them? Don't they have anything better to do?" Vale muttered to himself, slightly annoyed by their persistent surveillance. He doesn't even know if he should reveal the fact that his Magic Zone exceeds 180 meters.

After a few moments, he decided to ignore their presence for the time being. He continued his search for the Mystical Artifact Shop, a place where he hoped to find an appraiser who could assist him.

After asking a few people around, Vale finally stumbled upon the shop he had been seeking.

He immediately approached the entrance, ready to enter and pay for the services of their Appraisers.

However, just as he was about to step inside, a distinct and unsettling aura caught his attention. His Magic Zone sensed another being that was observing him...

It was a sinister presence, unlike anything he had previously encountered. This aura did not emanate from an Arcanist, making it all the more unsettling.

'Demonic Being? No, it doesn't seem right. It feels like an Undead, but it's different.'

Perplexed and on high alert, Vale suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with this eerie presence. Although he didn't recognize the source of this aura, there was something about the being that triggered a flicker of recognition deep within Vale's mind.

Suddenly, he heard the Headmaster's voice inside his head.

"Vale, something happened in the Academy. I have to go back early. I've already returned your shadow. However, I need one item in exchange."

"Ahh... Headmaster Jean? Where are you? What's the item you needed?" Vale asked.

"I'm already far away. I can only communicate with you thanks to your shadow. However, once I return this shadow, we won't be able to hold a conversation anymore. I will use another person if I have to send you a message." Headmaster Jean replied.

"As for the item I needed, it's a ring. To be exact, I need the Creation Ring on the tenth floor. Did you get it from the Tower Master?"

Vale immediately nodded at this question. "I have it with me. However, I was told by the Tower Master that I needed it to stop the Abyss Realm's invasion."

"It's fine. The Abyss Realm's invasion is not a bad thing for us. The other Arcane Paths will deal with it. You don't have to help them."

Vale didn't hesitate to agree on this since he just wanted to get his shadow back.

"Alright, how do I give you the Creation Ring?" Vale asked, but as he was focusing on his conversation with the Headmaster, several screams were heard as the mysterious undead entity he noticed a while ago started charging at him!

This undead creature with a strange aura caused panic in the crowded streets, killing anyone who got in its way!