The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Aurelia's eyes narrowed, studying me with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. It was a look I had seen countless times before, in the eyes of those who tried to gauge my intentions, to discern whether I was serious or merely playing a game.

The Queen was not easily impressed, and she was even less inclined to trust, but I could see the subtle shift in her expression—the momentary flicker of doubt giving way to something more akin to intrigue.

"Is that so?" she said, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. She straightened her posture, her earlier frustration melting away as she assumed the mantle of the Queen once more. The sharpness returned to her gaze, and the air around her seemed to grow heavier with the weight of her authority. "Very well, Draven. But understand this—I expect results. The Magic Tower University is vital to the kingdom.

It is the heart of our magical research, the place where our most promising mages are trained. If it falls, if anything happens to those within…"

She let the words hang in the air, unfinished, but the threat was clear. Aurelia was not one to tolerate failure, especially not when the stakes were this high. Her eyes flickered with a mixture of concern and irritation, a reminder that recent events had tested her patience far more than she was willing to admit.

"There has been too much trouble lately," she muttered, her gaze drifting toward the grand windows of the throne room, as if she could see beyond the walls of the palace to the chaos brewing outside. "First the goblin incursion in Icevern, then the attack at the royal banquet, and now this. It feels like a storm is brewing, one that threatens to swallow us all."

Her words were not spoken out of fear, but rather a cold, calculated awareness of the challenges ahead. Aurelia was many things—intelligent, sharp-tongued, and often impatient—but she was no fool. She understood the delicate balance of power within the kingdom, and she knew how easily it could be disrupted.

I remained silent, letting her words sink in. There was no need for reassurance; she knew as well as I did that the situation was precarious. Instead, I simply nodded, acknowledging the gravity of her concerns. Experience new tales on мѵʟ

"Fine," she said at last, her voice firm once more. "Go and do what you must, Draven. But remember—I won't tolerate any failures. Not this time."

I knelt before her, lowering my head in a gesture of respect. "As you command, Your Majesty."

Without another word, I rose and turned on my heel, striding out of the throne room with purposeful momentum. The weight of the Queen's expectations settled over me like a mantle, but it was a burden I was accustomed to. Failure was not an option, nor had it ever been. This was merely another challenge, another obstacle to be overcome.

Alfred fell into step beside me as we left the palace, his expression as composed as ever. "Your next move, my lord?" he inquired, his voice calm and measured.

"Send a messenger to Garren," I replied without hesitation. "He's waiting at the mansion with the knights. Mobilize them immediately. We're going for a dungeon-clearing."

Alfred's eyes gleamed with quiet understanding, though he allowed himself the smallest of smiles. "It seems trouble never ends for you, my lord."

A soft chuckle escaped my lips, a rare sound that carried no real mirth. "It seems I don't have any luck left."

Alfred's smile widened, and with a single, graceful clap of his hands, a figure emerged from the shadows—a messenger clad in a black cloak, his presence as unobtrusive as a wisp of smoke. The messenger bowed low, his movements precise and silent, awaiting my command.

"Go to Garren," I instructed, my voice cold and efficient. "Tell him to lead the knights to the Magic Tower University as soon as possible. We will be there shortly."

The messenger nodded once, his hooded face barely visible, and then he was gone, disappearing into the shadows as swiftly as he had appeared. I did not need to watch him leave to know that my orders would be carried out with the utmost precision. The Drakhan Knights were well-trained, and they knew the importance of speed and discretion in situations like this.

Together with Alfred, I made my way to the carriage, our pace unhurried but deliberate. The palace guards stepped aside as we passed, their expressions a mixture of respect and unease. They knew better than to question my presence, but I could see the curiosity in their eyes, the silent questions they dared not voice.

As we settled into the carriage, I allowed myself a moment of quiet contemplation. The Magic Tower University was not just a place of learning—it was a fortress of knowledge, a beacon of power that had stood for centuries. Its sudden transformation into a dungeon was no mere accident; it was a deliberate act, one that required both immense power and intricate planning.

As the carriage rolled smoothly through the cobblestone streets, I considered the implications. A barrier of that magnitude, one that could envelop an entire tower and warp its very structure, was not something that could be conjured on a whim. It required careful preparation, a deep understanding of the arcane, and a precise execution.

Whoever had orchestrated this was no ordinary mage—they were someone with both the skill and the will to challenge the very foundations of the kingdom's magical order.

But what was their goal? To sow chaos? To seize control of the tower's knowledge? Or perhaps something more insidious, something hidden beneath the surface of this overt attack? The possibilities were many, and each one carried its own set of dangers.

As the carriage drew closer to the Magic Tower University, I could see the black purplish mist that shrouded the tower, swirling ominously around its spires like a living entity. The barrier was clearly visible, a malevolent force that pulsed with dark energy, keeping the tower isolated from the outside world.

It was a powerful barrier, one that would be difficult to breach without careful planning and considerable power.

I leaned forward slightly, my eyes narrowing as I studied the barrier. There was a complexity to it, a layered structure that suggested multiple levels of protection. It wasn't just a physical barrier—it was a magical one, designed to prevent anyone from entering or leaving. But there was something else, something deeper that I could sense even from a distance.

The barrier was feeding off the magic within the tower, drawing strength from the very power it contained. It was a self-sustaining mechanism, one that would grow stronger with time if left unchecked.

The implications were troubling, but not insurmountable. I had faced worse, and I had no intention of letting this barrier stand in my way. I would find a way to breach it, to unravel its intricate web of magic and expose the heart of the plot that lay within.

The carriage came to a halt just outside the perimeter of the barrier, and Alfred was the first to step out, opening the door for me with his usual precision. I followed, stepping onto the cobblestone street with a sense of purpose. The air was thick with tension, the kind that came before a storm, and I could see that we were not the only ones who had come to investigate.

A crowd had gathered outside the Magic Tower University, a mix of students, faculty, and concerned citizens, all staring at the barrier with a mixture of fear and confusion. The guards who had been stationed at the tower's entrance were trying to keep order, but it was clear that the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.

The whispers of panic, the frantic questions, the uneasy glances—all signs of a populace on the brink of hysteria.

As I approached, the crowd parted before me, the weight of my presence enough to quell their growing unrest. The guards straightened, their expressions shifting from uncertainty to relief as they recognized me. I could see the questions in their eyes, the unspoken plea for guidance in the face of an inexplicable threat.

"Lord Draven," one of the guards called out, his voice tinged with desperation. "What's happening? What's wrong with the tower?"

I didn't answer immediately, my gaze fixed on the barrier as I assessed the situation. The mist swirled and pulsed, a living force that seemed to react to the emotions of the crowd, feeding off their fear and uncertainty. It was a dangerous feedback loop, one that could easily spiral out of control if not addressed quickly.

"This is no ordinary barrier," I said at last, my voice carrying over the crowd, silencing their murmurs. "It's a dungeon—a twisted manifestation of magic that has overtaken the tower. The barrier is drawing strength from the tower itself, and from the emotions of those gathered here."

A murmur of fear rippled through the crowd at my words, but I quickly raised a hand, silencing them once more. "Panic will only make it stronger. We must remain calm and focused if we are to resolve this."

The crowd's fear was palpable, but my words had the desired effect, quelling their growing hysteria and restoring a semblance of order. The guards, emboldened by my presence, began to usher the crowd back, creating a perimeter around the tower to prevent any further escalation.

As the crowd dispersed, I turned to Alfred, who stood by my side, his expression as composed as ever. "The knights should be arriving shortly," I said, my voice low and measured. "We'll need their strength to breach this barrier and enter the tower."

But as I about to continue my explanation, another voice appeared from the other side.

"Looks like you're once again so quick, Draven,"

Of course he would be here.

How could I missed that?

This guy has his daughter, Elara, trapped inside the magic tower university, he must have crawling from his grand mansion in panic.

"Of course, Valen. Your daughter 'specifically' asked for my help, after all,"