Stuck as a Villain!

Chapter 165: Nowhere to be found

Seth had no choice but to oblige when the letter arrived under the genuine signature of the Headmaster.

It wasn't the first time the Headmaster had requested his presence but during this hour late at night...indeed something to worry about. 𝓯𝘳𝘦𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝓃ℴ𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝓬𝘰𝑚

"You stay here, Haruka. I will come back in a bit." It would have been suspicious if both of them had arrived at the scene together so he told the lady to wait for him.

Despite being reluctant Haruka didn't insist and nodded before Seth levitated his way at his highest pace toward the women's dorm.

It took less than five minutes before he reached the destination where already groups of people surrounded by soldiers stood with headmasters and a familiar ashy-gray-haired man.

Seth already had a gist of the matter since he hadn't seen a certain pink head since tomorrow.

Regardless, he landed near the group before every eye turned toward him. The soldiers who lifted their weapons just upon noticing the sudden appearance, soon calmed down as they fairly well recognized the leading successor of the Albeck Duchy.

"Student Seth. We were waiting for you."

Seth walked forward before he greeted the headmaster and the Viscount respectfully with a slight bow before he went toward the core of their concern.

His eyes went to Serena as well, who had her already swollen eyes filled with moisture. She was in distress, that much he could tell without reading her mind but Seth didn't comfort her at the moment and neared the center of the group and asked the reason for being summoned.

"Laila is missing?" Even though he asked, Seth didn't seem much surprised given the number of soldiers present here. And also, the headmaster and Viscount Rommen arriving to assess the situation gave away that either something that had happened to Laila or she was missing. And since Seth couldn't sense her presence around, he concluded the latter was the case.

"Yes. None of her friends nor the warden have seen Student Laila for two days and the only thing related to her remained was this..." As the old man concluded he pointed toward the small orb floating over the ground on which Seth had his attention for a while now.

Seth didn't reply; rather he turned his head toward the raven-haired girl who suddenly grew flustered being gazed at by Seth.

"Anabelle." Hearing her name, Anabelle immediately walked forward with a hopeful gaze.

Looking at the excitement of her friend, Ciel barely held back a sigh.

"Use your affinity with nature and ask them what happened here."

"Wait...Student Anabelle is capable of performing the 'Link'? "

Headmaster asked in slight astonishment since the spell in question was nothing less than the skill of a genius whom not anyone below Tier 2 could perform. And not just any high ranking but someone has to be exceptional in their field to connect with any supernatural element like nature.

Hearing the old man's words, Anabelle briefly nodded with a bitter expression before she plopped down on the ground and crossed her legs to sit in a meditating position.

Seth asked everyone to step slightly back and give Anabelle some space and soon they realized why Seth asked them such.

"Woah.... "

"Amazing... "

"How is she doing that?" Many students exclaimed and almost every gaze carried a sense of awe at the sight.

Anabelle suddenly began to levitate above the ground, her body glowing with a greenish-blue aura and a sense of serenity permeating around the girl.

Some strange markings of small plant veins began to appear down her forehead and the side of her face signifying how fluently she could connect with nature.

"Such a rare talent." Viscount Rommen couldn't help but mutter under his breath as he saw the feat which many failed to achieve, being attained by a mere teenager. Despite not voicing it out, Headmaster Rowell Cartbridge had the same reaction as the others.

Meanwhile, Seth went toward the small vault awaiting his soul signature left behind by Laila.

"Alba." As the word left his lips, a blond woman appeared out of nowhere, startling everyone who had been absorbed by Anabelle's beautiful show.

Only the headmaster was able to maintain his calm since he already could sense the shadows following the Council President.

"Did you see anything suspicious around the academy these days? " Hearing her master's words, Alba replied with her head still bowed, "Nothing alarming, my lord. Just a group of first-year boys were lurking around the women's dormitory this morning but it had nothing to do with Lady Laila to my knowledge. "

Without looking at the woman Seth replied casually, ' I see'.

He assessed the vault left by Laila checking for any traps or triggers before he finally inputted a fragment of his soul energy into it.

Every gaze was now transfixed at the orb which began to glow slightly once Seth did his part. The orb remained illuminated for a good ten seconds before finally the content stored inside the vault was liberated.

Seth checked the dried-up rose before he recalled the story behind it. He knew this specific antique very closely and knew it could have been with no one else but Laila.

He stored the rose inside his storage ring before unfolding the letter.

Seth's eyes narrowed as he read the words written in neat handwriting.

{I know you won't search for me. For someone so insignificant such as me.

But I desire to see you again. A wish you only could expect from someone as selfish as me.

That's why I have hidden myself. Safe and isolated.

I won't tell you my location yet you will come searching for me.

Not out of obligation or any feelings but just because my existence aligns with the path of your objective and your journey to attain what you desire.

Your beloved. }

Seth was thoroughly clueless reading the lines before he handed it to the impatient Viscount followed by Serena and the Headmaster.

'Nothing like this was in the plot ' Despite being aware that Laila's disappearance was out of context Seth had some idea where he could find her. He had a hunch that nothing more.

"Seth." Soon Anabelle neared him before reporting him about the incident the flora around witnessed.

"They just saw Laila asking for someone's identity despite there being no one except for her in this part of the academy. Her body froze at a spot afterward and before anything more could happen, she justvanished, leaving that vault behind."

Viscount tensed hearing the words but Seth had a thoughtful look on his face. If the kidnapper was able to fool nature as well then it was no longer a regular abduction.

But the question remained

'Will she really be able to survive until I reach her?' A part of Seth which has been lying dormant, flickered at that thought.

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A/N: - Drop a comment if you liked the chapter~