The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The Adventurer's Guild was alive with activity, the scent of ink and aged parchment mixing with the clatter of weapons and the murmur of voices. Unlike the previous night, when the guild had felt indifferent, even dismissive, the atmosphere now buzzed with a quiet tension. More adventurers filled the hall, some clustered around quest boards, others deep in hushed discussions. A few cast curious glances at Kael and Liora as they entered, as if sensing something different about them.

Kael flexed his fingers, trying to shake off the stiffness still clinging to his muscles. Despite the hearty breakfast he'd eaten, a lingering fatigue sat in his bones, a reminder of their ordeal in the mines. Liora, in contrast, looked as composed as ever, his hands tucked lazily into his pockets as he surveyed the guild with his usual detached interest.

"Weird," Kael muttered under his breath. "Feels different today."

Liora arched an eyebrow. "That's what happens when you start poking at things you shouldn't. People notice."

Kael wasn't sure he liked that answer.

They wove through the crowd until they reached the main counter. Behind it, a man stood with the air of someone who had seen it all and was tired of seeing more. His grizzled beard was streaked with silver, and his sharp, calculating eyes took them in with the efficiency of someone who measured worth at a glance. The scar across his jawline suggested he had once been in their shoes, fighting in the field rather than behind a desk.

"Reiner Valos," the man introduced himself, his voice rough, like gravel scraping against stone. It carried the weight of years spent shouting over tavern brawls, issuing orders in the thick of battle. "You're the ones from the Shadowfang Mines?"

Kael nodded, opening his mouth to answer. "Yes. We—"

Reiner held up a hand, already turning on his heel. "Not here. Follow me."

Liora shot Kael a look before they complied.

The deeper rooms of the guild were quieter, insulated from the noise of the main hall. The room Reiner led them into was simple but well-used—lined with old books, stacks of reports, and a map pinned to the far wall with an array of colored markings. The scent of old parchment, wax seals, and something faintly metallic filled the air.

Reiner settled into a chair behind a sturdy wooden desk and motioned for them to sit. "Tell me everything."

Kael hesitated for only a breath before launching into the events of the mines. He described the eerie coordination of the spiders, the unnatural intelligence in their movements, and the strange runes carved into the cavern walls. He detailed the way the webbing seemed to react as though part of a larger system, and how the entire mine had felt... alive.

Liora remained silent for most of it, only interjecting when necessary, his words measured and precise. He mentioned the amulet, but Kael noticed he left out details—details Kael was sure mattered.

Reiner didn't interrupt. He listened, fingers steepled in thought, his expression unreadable. The only indication that their words struck a chord was the occasional shift in his sharp gaze.

When Kael finished, a heavy silence settled over the room. Reiner exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw.

"You're not the first to report something like this," he said finally.

Kael's stomach dropped. "What?"

Reiner stood and crossed the room to the map pinned against the far wall. He tapped several locations marked with faint red ink, his brow furrowed.

"There have been… disturbances," he continued, his voice even but heavy. "Monsters acting out of character. Beasts displaying intelligence they shouldn't have. Strange symbols appearing in places they have no business being." He gestured at the map, then turned to them. "Your report confirms a pattern."

Kael swallowed. "And no one's done anything about it?"

Reiner's gaze flicked to him, something unreadable in his eyes. "We have. But the problem is getting worse, not better."

Kael clenched his fists, the sinking feeling in his gut worsening.

"So what now?" he asked. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

Reiner's gaze settled on them, unwavering.

"You investigate."

___

Their first destination was Briarhollow, a small village nestled at the edge of the forest, where the trees grew too thick and the shadows stretched too long. The road was worn, lined with gnarled roots that twisted their way across the dirt path. Kael adjusted the strap of his pack, his fingers absently tapping against the hilt of his dagger. The journey had been quiet—too quiet.

The wind carried a whisper of unease, rustling through the trees in hushed warnings. Birds were absent. No distant calls of wolves. Not even the usual hum of insects that should have thrived in the underbrush. It was unnatural, the kind of silence that only came when the wild knew to fear something worse.

Kael stole a glance at Liora, who walked ahead with his usual unhurried pace, one hand resting casually against the hilt of his dagger. His expression, however, was sharper than usual, his gaze sweeping the road ahead with a careful calculation.

"You feel it too, don't you?" Kael murmured.

Liora didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, listening. The mist clung to the trees, curling like grasping fingers around the thick trunks. He exhaled, his breath visible in the crisp air.

"Something's watching," Liora finally admitted, his voice low. "Has been for the last mile."

A chill ran down Kael's spine. He resisted the urge to look over his shoulder. He had felt it too—that prickling sensation at the back of his neck, like unseen eyes peering from the depths of the trees. He tightened his grip on his dagger's hilt, though it did little to steady the unease settling in his gut.

"Could be nothing," Kael said, though even he didn't believe it.

Liora smirked, though there was no amusement behind it. "Could be."

They continued in silence, their boots crunching against the damp ground. The forest thinned as they neared the outskirts of Briarhollow, but the sense of unease only deepened.

The signs of trouble were unmistakable.

Scorched fields stretched along the village's borders, blackened husks of crops standing as eerie reminders of whatever had passed through. Fences lay in splintered heaps, claw marks raked deep into the wood. The carcasses of livestock—mutilated, left to rot—spotted the land, their eyes hollow, their bodies unnaturally twisted. The stench of decay clung to the air, thick and suffocating.

Kael swallowed, his stomach turning. "Gods…"

Liora's sharp eyes flicked over the devastation, his expression unreadable. He knelt by a set of claw marks in the dirt, tracing them lightly with his fingers. The grooves were deep, unnatural in their shape. Not like anything he had seen from normal predators. He rubbed his fingers together, feeling the faint residue of something cold and oily. His lips pressed into a thin line.

"Not just animals," Liora murmured.

Kael frowned. "Then what?"

Liora didn't answer. Instead, he stood and dusted off his hands, his gaze shifting toward the village ahead.

The air itself felt heavy, thick with a fear so tangible it seeped into Kael's bones. As they stepped into the heart of Briarhollow, the silence was almost suffocating. Windows were shuttered, doors locked. Shadows moved behind curtains, but no one emerged. It was as if the entire village was holding its breath.

Then, from the main path, an elder approached. His steps were slow, measured, as though the weight of the village's suffering rested upon his shoulders. His weathered face was lined with worry, deep creases forming beneath tired eyes that had seen too much.

"You're from the guild?" His voice was hoarse, weary.

Kael nodded, stepping forward. "We're here to help."

The elder let out a breath—relief and exhaustion warring in his expression. His hands trembled slightly as he gestured to the ruined land behind them.

"They come at night," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying the words too loudly would summon the horrors once more. "Not beasts—things. Twisted. Wrong."

Kael's jaw tightened. He felt Liora shift beside him, the tension radiating from his usually relaxed demeanor.

They exchanged a glance.

Just like the mines.