The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The bustling halls of Magic Tower University were more animated than usual as students and faculty members rushed to complete their preparations for the upcoming Arcane Symposium. The grand event, a highlight of the academic year, was an opportunity for mages to share their research, demonstrate magical innovations, and forge alliances. Amidst the excitement, Maris found herself in the familiar lecture hall that had been transformed into a makeshift laboratory, surrounded by books, scrolls, and arcane paraphernalia.

It had been several days since the trio's experiment with the mysterious orb, and Maris, along with Amberine, Elara, and Professor Astrid, was preparing to present their findings. Professor Astrid had distributed their roles, and Maris was assigned the task of explaining the emotional effects that the orb had invoked. The memory of her experience with the orb was still vivid—the intensity of it, the way it had brought out her deepest emotions, and even made her temporarily lose control.

"Maris, remember, you're the one who felt the orb's influence most deeply," Astrid reminded, her gaze warm but firm. "The audience will want to hear your firsthand account. Be honest, and don't hold back." She smiled encouragingly, then added, "Amberine and Elara will handle the comparisons between their experiences and yours. We're aiming for a balanced narrative."

"Got it, Professor," Maris replied, her voice carrying a confidence that hadn't been there before. The nervousness that once dictated her actions had slowly been replaced by determination and a sense of purpose.

Amberine, however, was still agitated. She stood at the other side of the room, her face flushed with irritation. "I don't get why we need to bring up all this emotional nonsense," she grumbled, folding her arms. "I didn't feel anything deeper—just the heat."

Elara looked up from the scroll she was studying, her expression calm but her tone edged with sarcasm. "Yes, Amberine, because you're clearly an exemplar of emotional depth," she said dryly. Enjoy new adventures from empire

Amberine's eyes narrowed, her Ifrit's warmth manifesting in her hands as she clenched them. "You know, one of these days, Elara, I'm actually going to hit you."

Professor Astrid intervened swiftly, her voice gentle but carrying authority. "Girls, focus. We have a presentation to prepare, not a brawl to schedule." She gestured to the orb on the table, now dark and dormant. "Remember, the symposium is about advancing knowledge, not airing your grievances. Let's keep our heads in the right place."

Maris sighed inwardly at her friends' constant banter. Despite the tension between Amberine and Elara, there was a certain camaraderie that kept the trio together, each one pushing the others to be better, albeit in their own way. Even amidst their arguments, Maris found herself smiling—they were a team, imperfect but resilient.

After spending hours rehearsing their parts and perfecting their synchronization, Professor Astrid finally dismissed them, reminding them to be ready for the big day. As they exited the hall, Amberine shot a parting glare at Elara, who simply shrugged in response, her expression still calm.

Maris chuckled, catching up to Amberine and nudging her shoulder. "You know, you two could at least pretend to get along for one day. It wouldn't kill you."

Amberine groaned. "No promises. Besides, she starts it every time!"

"Sure, sure," Maris said, her voice filled with amused resignation. It was moments like this—where their tension boiled into something almost comical—that she appreciated the most. It gave her a sense of normalcy, even amidst the chaos that was their research and responsibilities.

______

Later that day, Maris shifted gears from her academic duties to her responsibilities as an intern at the royal knight's magic squad. The workload had been demanding, but she found herself thriving under the challenge. She was currently stationed with Lady Sophie, the very person who had recruited her for the internship. Lady Sophie had once been engaged to Professor Draven, a fact that had cast an unwanted spotlight on her within the royal knights after their breakup. Maris had witnessed firsthand how the other knights treated Lady Sophie with disdain—accusing her of rising through the ranks because of Draven's influence, even though Maris knew the truth was far from it.

Sophie was kind, upright, and fiercely committed to justice, but her demeanor lacked the flexibility needed to navigate court politics. It didn't help that her younger sister Annalise was notorious for her possessive tendencies toward Sophie, which only made things more complicated. Despite all the hurdles, Sophie led her squad with grace and resilience, qualities that had garnered the loyalty of those who served under her.

Maris joined Sophie and her team for their scheduled patrol. The squad consisted of Lady Sophie herself, her fiery adjutant Sharon, and three other knights who looked to Sophie for leadership—as well as Maris, who acted as the group's magical support. Sharon was the complete opposite of Sophie—impulsive, outspoken, and fiercely protective of her superior.

"Alright, everyone," Lady Sophie addressed the squad, her voice carrying the calm authority that Maris admired so much. "Today, we'll be patrolling the eastern section of the capital. There have been reports of suspicious activity near the market district. I want everyone to stay vigilant. If you see anything unusual, report it immediately."

Sharon, as usual, was already fired up. "Don't worry, My Lady! If anyone tries anything funny, I'll deal with them myself!" She punched her palm for emphasis, her fiery temper on full display.

Sophie gave Sharon a patient smile. "Let's try to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble, Sharon. We're here to protect the citizens, not start a brawl."

Maris chuckled quietly, adjusting her cloak as they set out on their patrol. She had grown used to the dynamic between Lady Sophie and Sharon—the two of them often reminded her of Amberine and Elara. Sharon's fierce loyalty was admirable, even if her temper sometimes got in the way.

The patrol took them through the bustling market district, where traders called out their wares and shoppers bustled about, haggling over prices. The sun was high in the sky, casting warm light over the cobblestone streets. Maris walked alongside Sophie, her eyes scanning the crowd for anything out of the ordinary.

"Maris, how are your studies going?" Sophie asked, her tone conversational as they walked.

Maris smiled, appreciating the captain's genuine interest. "They're going well, My Lady. Professor Astrid has us preparing for the Arcane Symposium. We'll be presenting our findings on the orb experiment."

Sophie nodded, her eyes still scanning the crowd. "I've heard about that. It sounds fascinating. I wish I could attend, but duty calls." She glanced at Maris, her expression softening. "You're doing well, Maris. Balancing your studies and this internship isn't easy, but you're handling it admirably."

Maris felt a warmth spread through her chest at the compliment. "Thank you, My Lady. It means a lot coming from you."

Suddenly, a commotion broke out ahead of them. A group of merchants was arguing loudly with a hooded figure, their voices raised in anger. Sophie's expression hardened, and she signaled for her squad to move forward.

"Sharon, with me. Maris, stay back and be ready in case we need magical support," Sophie ordered, her voice calm but commanding.

Sharon drew her sword, her eyes narrowing as she stepped forward alongside Sophie. "Let's see what's going on here."

The two approached the scene, and Maris watched closely, her senses on high alert. The hooded figure was gesturing wildly, their voice muffled by the hood. The merchants looked furious, their faces red as they shouted accusations of theft.

"Enough!" Sophie called out, her voice cutting through the chaos. The merchants fell silent, their eyes turning to the knight captain. "What's going on here?"

"This thief!" one of the merchants shouted, pointing at the hooded figure. "They tried to steal from my stall!"

The hooded figure shook their head vehemently. "I didn't steal anything! I was just looking!"

Sophie held up a hand, her gaze calm but firm. "Everyone, calm down. Let's handle this in an orderly manner." She turned to the hooded figure. "Remove your hood, please."

The figure hesitated, then slowly pulled back their hood, revealing the face of a young woman—no older than Maris herself. Her eyes were wide with fear, her hands trembling slightly.

"I swear, I didn't steal anything," the young woman said, her voice cracking. "I was just looking at the wares, and they started accusing me."

Sophie studied the girl for a moment before turning to the merchant. "Did you see her take anything?"

The merchant hesitated, his bluster faltering. "Well... no, but she was acting suspicious."

Sophie nodded, her expression softening slightly. "If you didn't see her take anything, then we can't accuse her of theft without evidence."

Sharon, still holding her sword, huffed in frustration. "If she didn't take anything, then why all the fuss?"

The young woman looked at Sophie, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, My Lady. I didn't mean any trouble. I just... I was hungry, and I wanted to see if there was anything I could afford."

Sophie gave the girl a gentle smile. "I understand. But you must be careful—actions can easily be misinterpreted." She turned to the merchant. "I suggest we let this go. No harm was done, and there's no need to escalate this further."

The merchant grumbled but eventually nodded, waving the girl away. "Fine, fine. Just keep her away from my stall."

Sophie nodded, then turned back to the young woman. "Go on. And try to stay out of trouble."

The young woman bowed her head, her eyes welling with tears. "Thank you, My Lady. I won't forget this."

As the girl hurried away, Sharon sheathed her sword, her expression still irritated. "You're too soft, My Lady. One day, someone's going to take advantage of that kindness."

Sophie smiled, her gaze following the young woman as she disappeared into the crowd. "Perhaps. But I'd rather give someone the benefit of the doubt than condemn them without reason."

Then, just as they are conversing, an unexpected figure passed through in front of them.

"Professor...?"