The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Amberine muttered the words under her breath, her voice heavy with frustration. Her eyes were bleary from lack of sleep, and the flickering candlelight wasn't helping. She stared down at the exam paper, her hands trembling slightly from exhaustion. She'd been at this for hours now, and despite her best efforts, she'd only managed to answer two of the ten questions.

And even those answers felt shaky, uncertain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her quill hovered over the paper, but it might as well have been a sword she couldn't lift. The questions were unlike anything she had expected. Each one wasn't just a standalone puzzle—they were interconnected, feeding into each other in ways that made her head spin. There were magic circles to decipher, spells to harmonize, mana flows to control, and elemental combinations to create. Find adventures on empire

And all of it was wrapped in layers of nuance and complexity, the kind that Draven was infamous for.

One question asked her to analyze the intricate layers of a corrupted magic circle, its sigils flickering between stability and collapse. Another demanded she harmonize two conflicting elements—fire and ice—without letting them neutralize each other.

As Amberine read through the remaining questions, she began to notice a subtle pattern: each challenge built on the previous one, like pieces of an impossibly intricate puzzle. It was as if the exam wasn't just about solving individual problems but about understanding the bigger picture. Everything was connected.

"Of course, it's not just about knowledge," she muttered bitterly, rubbing her temples. "It's about execution."

Draven's teaching was always like this. He pushed them beyond rote memorization or simple spellwork. He forced them to think, to dive deep into the core of magic itself. And right now, Amberine wasn't sure if she had what it took to make it through this test. Her temper flared as she glared at the paper. The lines of text blurred before her eyes, mocking her, taunting her.

"Draven, you bastard," she whispered, her voice tight with frustration. She had to admit, though, the exam was a reflection of everything he stood for. It was relentless, sharp, demanding perfection.

Ifrit, nestled comfortably beneath her robe, shifted slightly, his warmth flickering against her skin. He had been quiet for most of the night, sensing Amberine's growing irritation. But now, with her frustration boiling over, the tiny salamander decided to make his presence known.

"You're going to burn a hole through the paper if you keep glaring at it like that," Ifrit remarked dryly, his small voice cutting through the silence.

Amberine let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back in her chair. "I've only solved two questions, Ifrit. Two! And they weren't even the hardest ones." She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the overwhelming sense of failure that clung to her. "This whole thing is impossible. Everything is connected, and I can't figure out how!"

Ifrit flickered slightly, his small flames crackling with amusement. "Perhaps you're overthinking it," he suggested, his voice calm. "Or maybe you just need a change of scenery. You're too wound up."

"A change of scenery?" Amberine scoffed. "What do you suggest? A stroll through the forest? Or maybe I'll just throw this paper into the nearest fire pit."

Ifrit chuckled. "Actually, MTU has a specialized workspace for students like you, doesn't it? The one with the artificial waterfall and the calming atmosphere?" His voice was teasing but thoughtful. "You might find it useful. It's designed for complex magical theory work. Might help you think clearly."

Amberine blinked, her frustration momentarily giving way to curiosity. The workspace… she had heard of it before but had never actually used it. It was a quiet place reserved for higher-level students, a space meant for deep magical study and experimentation.

It had calming enchantments, views of an artificial waterfall, and other peaceful elements that were supposed to help with focus and concentration.

"Draven probably set this whole thing up knowing most of us would need that space," Ifrit added, flickering mischievously. "He always plans ahead, doesn't he?"

Amberine's lips twitched in a reluctant smile. "He does, doesn't he?"

For a moment, she considered Ifrit's suggestion. The peaceful environment might be exactly what she needed. Her frustration was clouding her ability to think clearly, and without a fresh perspective, she would just end up burning out before she made any real progress.

"Fine," she muttered, standing up and gathering her things. "Let's go."

____

The night air was cool as Amberine stepped outside, her boots crunching softly against the gravel path leading away from the dorms. A light drizzle had started, the soft patter of rain adding a calming rhythm to the quiet academy grounds. The lanterns lining the pathways flickered gently, casting faint golden glows on the cobblestone streets.

Amberine walked slowly, her mind still racing with thoughts about the exam. Draven's methods were maddening, but she couldn't deny their effectiveness. His exam wasn't just testing her magical knowledge—it was testing her patience, her focus, her ability to control not just her magic, but herself.

The questions weren't just puzzles; they were a reflection of everything she had learned under his tutelage.

As she made her way to MTU's workspace, she found herself calming down. The rain, the soft night air—it all helped to clear the fog in her mind. By the time she reached the tall, looming building that housed the workspace, she was feeling more centered, more in control.

The moment she stepped inside, Amberine was surprised by the number of students already there. The workspace was usually reserved for those tackling high-level projects, and the sheer volume of people suggested that Draven's exam had affected more than just her. Students huddled over their own papers, some muttering spells, others scribbling furiously, clearly struggling just as much as she was.

"Looks like I'm not the only one," Amberine muttered, glancing around at the familiar faces. Some were her classmates, others were older students, but all of them shared the same look of exhaustion and frustration.

She overheard a conversation between two students by the entrance.

"Draven really booked this whole place for the next three days?" one of them asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah," the other replied, shaking his head. "He knew we'd need it. I guess this exam is tougher than anyone expected."

Amberine couldn't help but smirk. "That guy really thinks far ahead, doesn't he?"

Shaking off the last remnants of her irritation, she found an empty table near the artificial waterfall. The sound of water cascading gently over stones filled the room, creating a soothing atmosphere that immediately put her at ease. She set her things down, spreading the exam paper out in front of her. Ifrit flickered by her side, his warm presence grounding her as she settled into her seat.

As the minutes passed, Amberine found herself falling into a steady rhythm. The calming environment of the workspace worked its magic on her, and her mind began to clear. The artificial waterfall, combined with the gentle hum of other students at work, created a perfect balance between focus and relaxation.

Amberine stared at the exam paper once again, but this time, it didn't seem quite as impossible. The connections between the questions that had once seemed so elusive now began to take shape. Draven's intent was becoming clearer. The exam wasn't just about answering individual questions—it was about finding harmony between opposing forces. Fire and ice, control and chaos, magic and emotion.

Everything was intertwined.

She turned her attention to the third question, which had stumped her earlier. It involved combining fire and water magic—two opposing elements that, when harmonized, could create something entirely new. The challenge wasn't just in the theory, but in the execution. Amberine closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

The sound of the waterfall filled her mind, and for the first time, she felt the harmony between fire and water, between Ifrit's warmth and the coolness of the artificial stream.

"That's it," she whispered, her eyes snapping open. The balance between opposing forces—just like Draven had hinted. She had to align her magic with her environment, with her emotions. It wasn't just about brute force; it was about control.

Slowly, she began to write. Her hand moved more confidently now, the answers flowing more naturally. The questions, once so daunting, now felt manageable. Each answer built on the last, like pieces of a puzzle finally falling into place.

The harmony she had found between fire and water was the key to unlocking the rest of the exam. The interconnectedness of the questions was no longer a source of frustration—it was a challenge she was ready to face. And with Ifrit's steady warmth by her side, Amberine knew she would finish this exam, not just as a test, but as a triumph.

For the first time in days, she felt a spark of hope.

"Let's finish this," she whispered, a small smile playing on her lips.

And with that, she dove back into the exam, her mind sharp, her magic controlled, and her determination stronger than ever.