The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"The reason magic circles were developed, Your Majesty, was not for war, nor for destruction. They were designed as a tool—a tool to make life more convenient, more bearable. Magic was meant to improve lives, not destroy them.

The origins of these circles lie in the work of witches, who sought ways to help those around them, who aimed to bring light to darkness." Draven's voice rang clearly, his words precise and measured, resonating in the quiet of the room.

Aurelia found herself lingering on each word, the echo of his explanation growing louder in her mind, like a ripple turning into a wave. She blinked, her gaze focused on him but her thoughts wandering.

It was strange—how something so mundane as a lecture on magic circles could suddenly stir something deep within her. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt anything quite like this—a flicker of something that almost felt like excitement, something that made her chest feel lighter and her mind sharper. When had the world become so dull, so predictable?

When had everything started feeling so easy and so cheap, ready to be underestimated or bought?

She looked at Draven, his stern face, those sharp eyes that looked like they were always dissecting everything they saw. His tone was cold, almost detached, but the meaning behind his words was anything but heartless. It had a strange kind of kindness to it, something that felt almost like… gentleness. A kind of dedication that reminded her of a parent trying to teach a stubborn child.

Ah, yes, that was it. The last time she felt this way had been years ago, back when her father was still alive, back when he'd taught her magic for the first time. She remembered the way he had spoken to her, the way he had explained the concept of "imagination" being at the core of magic.

It was one of her core memories, the idea that there was an ideology of both power and prosperity in the flames that defined the Regarian royals.

It was those words, those lessons from her father, that had stayed with her all this time. And now, for the first time in what felt like forever, she was hearing something similar, but perhaps even more refined, from this man standing before her.

She couldn't help herself. It just slipped out, unplanned, her voice soft, almost uncertain. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, her eyes searching his. "Why are you going all out like this for me?"

Draven paused, and for a heartbeat, the room seemed to freeze. Aurelia found herself holding her breath, her heart pounding just a little harder as she waited for his response. She wasn't even sure why she'd asked, why it mattered to her. But it did.

For the first time, she saw it—an actual expression on his face, something beyond the cold mask he always wore. It was small, barely there, but it was real—a tiny, genuine smile. He looked at her, and there was a flicker of warmth in his gaze, the kind that was easy to miss if one wasn't paying attention.

"It's because I'm a teacher," he said, his voice still calm but softer than before. "A lecturer. A professor." His gaze stayed on hers, unwavering, and she could feel the weight behind his words—the dedication, the sense of duty that drove him.

Aurelia blinked, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. A teacher, a professor—that was why. It wasn't about her, it wasn't about the kingdom or the throne. It was simply who he was, what he believed in. There was something almost noble about it, something that made her chest feel tight. She nodded, swallowing hard, and turned her gaze away, feeling oddly self-conscious.

They continued, and Draven launched into his next lesson with the same cold efficiency that defined him, explaining the fundamentals of magic with practical examples that filled the room with an air of focused learning. He moved through the topics seamlessly, from the nature of mana to the manipulation of magic circles, each concept flowing into the next.

For the next two hours, Aurelia was wholly absorbed, her mind sharper than it had been in ages. The words, the theories, the demonstrations—all of it demanded her attention, all of it was new, different from the stale, recycled teachings she had grown bored of.

She found herself leaning forward, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the magic circle Draven had drawn in the air, watching as the lines shifted and changed with his movements.

"Interesting," she muttered under her breath, almost to herself, her gaze following the shimmering lines of magic. She didn't even notice the way the maids in the corner exchanged glances, their eyes widening in surprise. The queen rarely showed interest in anything beyond what was strictly necessary, let alone something as mundane as a lesson.

Draven continued, his explanations clear, precise, his movements efficient. He asked her questions, challenging her, and she answered, her voice steady, her tone filled with the same intensity as his. She could feel her mind working, feel herself grasping the concepts he was laying out before her, and it felt good—better than she remembered learning ever feeling.

"Interesting," she repeated, her lips curling slightly, her gaze focused on the magic forming in the air. It was strange—how something so theoretical could feel so exhilarating.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

At the end of the session, Draven lowered his hands, the magic circle dissipating, the energy in the room settling. Aurelia let out a slow breath, her body relaxing as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes still on Draven.

"So this is how it feels to be taught personally by the famous, ruthless Professor Draven of the Magic Tower University of the great kingdom," she said, her tone teasing, a smirk tugging at her lips. She could see the maids exchanging nervous glances, their eyes wide, clearly unsure how to react to their queen's sarcasm.

Draven, as usual, showed no visible reaction. His gaze remained on her, his eyes sharp, calculating, but there was something else there, something that almost felt like amusement. "I simply did my duty, Your Majesty," he replied, his tone flat, his words clipped.

Aurelia watched him for a moment longer, waiting, but there was no "thank you" that came out of her mouth. She could see that he noticed, that he was aware of the lack of appreciation, but he made no comment on it. Instead, he simply nodded, his expression unchanging.

But that was enough for her. He had done his duty, and she had acknowledged it in her own way. That should be enough for now.

Then, as if she had been waiting for this moment the entire time, she suddenly reached beneath the table, pulling out a wooden board, her eyes lighting up with something that looked almost like mischief. "Now," she said, her voice filled with challenge, "let's play. Today, I'm going to beat you."

It was a Go board—an intricate one, crafted from dark wood, the surface polished to a gleaming shine. She placed it on the table between them, her gaze locking onto Draven's, her smirk widening.

Draven raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged. "You wish to play now, Your Majesty?" he asked, his tone even, though there was a hint of curiosity in his gaze.

Aurelia nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "Yes. And this time, I'm going to win."

Draven's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, it looked as though he was considering her challenge. Then, slowly, he nodded, lowering himself into the seat across from her, his gaze steady. "Very well," he said, his voice calm. "Let us begin."

Aurelia grinned, her hands moving deftly as she set up the board, the black and white stones gleaming in the dim light of the room. She had played Draven countless times before, and each time, she had lost. But today felt different. Today, she felt sharper, more focused. Today, she was determined to win. Continue reading stories on empire

The first few moves were swift, almost automatic. Aurelia placed her stones confidently, her gaze darting across the board, her mind racing as she considered her options. She could feel Draven watching her, his gaze calm, his expression unreadable, but she refused to be intimidated.

The game progressed, the board slowly filling with black and white stones, each move a careful calculation, each placement a strategic choice. Aurelia's brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing as she studied the board, her fingers hovering over her next stone.

She glanced up at Draven, his face still impassive, his eyes focused entirely on the game. He moved with the same cold efficiency that defined him, his stones falling into place with a precision that made her grit her teeth in frustration.

"You're not holding back, are you?" she muttered, her voice filled with a mix of annoyance and admiration.

Draven looked up, meeting her gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Of course not, Your Majesty," he replied, his tone flat. "That would be disrespectful to you."

Aurelia blinked, taken aback for a moment, then let out a huff of breath, a grin spreading across her face. "Good," she said, her voice filled with determination. "Because I'm not holding back either."

The game continued, each move more intense than the last. Aurelia could feel her mind working, the strategies forming, the calculations racing through her thoughts. She moved quickly, her hands steady, her gaze focused entirely on the board.

Draven, as usual, was calm, methodical, his moves precise, each one designed to cut off her options, to trap her in a corner. She could feel the pressure building, the weight of each move pressing down on her, but she refused to give in.

"Interesting," she muttered, her eyes narrowing as she placed her stone, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the board. "You're pushing me into a corner, aren't you?"

Draven looked up, his gaze meeting hers, his eyes sharp. "It is the nature of the game, Your Majesty," he said simply. "To force your opponent into submission."

Aurelia smirked, her eyes glinting with challenge. "Well, I'm not going down that easily," she said, her voice filled with defiance.

The game dragged on, the board filling with black and white, the tension between them growing with each move. Aurelia's heart pounded, her mind racing, her gaze darting across the board as she searched for an opening, a way to turn the game in her favor.

Then, finally, she saw it—a small gap, a chance. She moved quickly, her stone falling into place with a soft clink, her eyes locking onto Draven's, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "Got you," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction.

Draven's gaze flickered to the board, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her move. For a moment, he was silent, and Aurelia felt her heart skip a beat, the anticipation building.

Then, slowly, Draven looked up, his gaze meeting hers. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that almost looked like amusement. He nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Well played, Your Majesty," he said, his voice calm. "You have improved."

Aurelia's grin widened, her eyes shining with triumph. "Of course I have," she said, her voice filled with pride. "I told you I was going to beat you."

Draven shook his head slightly, his gaze returning to the board, his eyes scanning the stones. "You have not won yet, Your Majesty," he said, his tone even.

Aurelia frowned, her gaze shifting to the board, her eyes narrowing as she studied the placement of the stones. She could see it now—her opening, her chance to win, was not as secure as she had thought. Draven's next move would cut off her options, leaving her with nowhere to go.

She let out a huff of breath, her grin fading, replaced by a determined glare. "You're a tricky bastard, you know that?" she muttered, her voice filled with frustration.

Draven looked up, meeting her gaze, his expression calm, unbothered. "It is my duty to challenge you, Your Majesty," he said simply.

Aurelia stared at him for a moment, then let out a laugh, her eyes shining with a mix of frustration and admiration. "Fine, fine," she said, her voice filled with determination. "But I won't give up. Not yet."

And so they continued, the game dragging on, each move more intense than the last, each decision a careful calculation. The room seemed to fade away, the world narrowing down to just the two of them and the board between them.

Aurelia could feel her mind working, could feel herself pushing, struggling to find a way to win. And for the first time in a long time, she felt truly alive, truly challenged. It wasn't just a game—it was a battle, a test of her will, her determination.

And she refused to lose.