When Shade had first met Vanessa Benanis in Randall River Valley, she had been turned into a doll by a relic and bound inside a toy castle, waiting for Shade riding a cat and "maid" Siris to rescue her. Afterward, the two of them went through many, many things together in Randall River Valley. By now, they had long become intimately familiar with one another.
Shade remembered the taste of her lips, every embrace they had shared, and the perfume on her that carried the scent of nature.
And so, when her face slowly approached and she kissed him, Shade merely returned the kiss.
Compared to the Countess's passion just now, Vanessa's kiss was only gentle. After smiling as she parted from him, she waved goodbye:
"Remember not to be late tomorrow night. I've been preparing for a long time."
"I'll be there on time."
Lifting the edge of her skirt, Vanessa gave him an elegant curtsy before leaving with equally light steps, leaving Shade alone to continue looking at the Moon. After waiting for a moment, Miss Aurora and Miss Sylvia appeared together.
"So you were worried I'd be lonely, so you arranged to take turns talking to me?"
He turned around with a smile and asked.
"Good evening, Shade. Was Vanessa just here to ask about Bella's advancement as well?"
The Witch with large brown curls and the young black-haired Witch came to Shade's sides. Miss Aurora asked the question, but Miss Sylvia spoke on Shade's behalf:
"Vanessa must have come to ask about that. I knew it—Witches who spend enough time with Shade will all advance. Galina, Vanessa, Megan, and Audrey... now even Bella is about to advance to Twelfth Order.
Counting them up, Moon, Sivie, Galina, Vanessa, Audrey, Megan, and Bella... the Council already has six