The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"Do you always walk this slow, or is this your version of a brisk march?" Sylvanna said, her voice carrying a mocking lilt as she eyed the knights. "I thought royal knights were supposed to be faster."

Sharon, who had been walking just behind Sophie, bristled at the comment, shooting a glare at the rogue. "We move at the pace of our captain," she snapped, her fiery temper flaring up. "Maybe you should learn something about discipline instead of running your mouth."

Sylvanna only smirked, clearly unfazed. "Discipline's boring. Speed's what wins fights."

Dravis, walking a few paces ahead, remained silent, his cold, calculating gaze fixed on the road ahead. Sophie watched him for a moment, noting the way his sharp eyes seemed to analyze everything around him with frightening efficiency. It was clear that nothing escaped his notice, and even though he had yet to speak much, his presence was commanding.

There was something about him—something unsettling, yet undeniably competent.

Sophie quickened her pace until she was walking beside him. "Dravis," she said, keeping her voice calm and professional, "what do you know about the cave where these shadow creatures are supposedly coming from?"

Dravis didn't look at her right away. He continued surveying the horizon, his gaze sweeping over the distant hills and forests before answering. "The cave," he said in his cold, measured tone, "isn't just a source of darkness. It holds creatures born from living shadows. These creatures are not physical, not in the way you're used to fighting."

Sophie listened intently, feeling the weight of his words. She had heard rumors, but hearing it directly from Dravis made it seem all the more real.

"Conventional weapons will be useless," Dravis continued. "Your swords, your spears—they'll cut through them like smoke. The creatures reform in the darkness, reshaping themselves no matter how many times you strike."

Sharon, who had been listening with crossed arms, scoffed. "So, what are we supposed to do? Just sit and wait for them to disappear on their own?"

Dravis turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting Sharon's with a cold, sharp intensity that made her flinch. "Fire," he said simply. "Fire is their weakness. But even then, it's a temporary solution. The shadows reform quickly, and they're drawn to any place where the light is weak."

"So we're supposed to just burn everything?" Sharon muttered, clearly not pleased with the explanation.

"Not everything," Dravis replied, turning his gaze back to Sophie. "But without a strong enough flame, you'll be overwhelmed. The cave amplifies their strength. The closer we get, the more aggressive they'll become."

Sophie nodded, processing the information. "And the cave itself? Do you know anything about what's inside? What's causing this?"

Dravis paused for a moment, his expression unreadable. "The cave is ancient," he said. "I don't know its exact origins, but I've encountered similar forces before. The shadows—if they are what I think—are linked to something much older. Something that was disturbed."

Sharon opened her mouth to say something, but Sophie raised a hand, silencing her. She knew Dravis wasn't the type to exaggerate. If he thought this was more than just a random curse, then it probably was.

"Thank you," Sophie said softly. "Your insight will be invaluable."

Dravis gave her a brief nod, the barest flicker of acknowledgment in his otherwise cold demeanor. Despite his distance, Sophie sensed something in him—perhaps respect, though it was hard to tell with someone like him.

Their conversation was cut short as the group crested the final hill, and the cursed town came into view. It sat nestled in a shallow valley, a small, quiet place that seemed almost forgotten by the world. The town was eerily still, the only movement coming from the faint gusts of wind that stirred the faded banners and broken shutters.

The people, what few were left, remained hidden behind closed doors and boarded-up windows. There were no merchants on the streets, no children playing—just an oppressive silence.

"This place looks like death," Sharon muttered under her breath, eyeing the empty streets.

The group slowed as they entered the town, their steps cautious, eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. As they passed a cluster of houses, a woman hurriedly pulled her child inside, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Not exactly a warm welcome," Sylvanna quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"They're afraid," Sophie said quietly, glancing at the closed shutters. "Can you blame them?"

Doran, one of the senior knights in Sophie's squad, grunted in disapproval. "These are just scared villagers, Captain. You can't put much stock in their superstitions. The shadow plague is probably nothing more than bandits or wild animals."

Dravis shot Doran a glance, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it," he said coolly. "Fear doesn't spread like this without reason."

Sophie nodded in agreement, but she could feel the tension between her knights and the Shadowbound growing with every passing moment. Doran's distrust of the adventurers was obvious, and Sylvanna wasn't helping matters with her constant jabs.

"Let's find someone who can give us more information," Sophie said, trying to keep the peace. "We need to know exactly what we're dealing with."

They continued through the town, but the few people who crossed their path either ran away in fear or gave cryptic warnings about the darkness, telling them to stay away from the shadows. It wasn't until they reached the center of the village that they found someone willing to talk—a middle-aged man, hunched over with age and fear, sitting on the steps of an old chapel.

"You're here about the shadows, aren't you?" the man rasped, his voice rough from years of hardship.

Sophie approached him slowly, keeping her voice gentle. "Yes. We've come to help. Can you tell us what's been happening?"

The man looked up at her, his eyes haunted. "It started weeks ago. We thought it was just the usual troubles—wolves, bandits, the kind of thing we're used to dealing with. But then... the shadows came."

Sharon's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, 'the shadows came'?"

"They... moved," the man whispered, his hands shaking. "The shadows in the night... they moved like they were alive. At first, it was just a few people, disappearing in the darkness. We didn't think much of it.

But then... then it got worse."

Sophie listened closely, her heart sinking as the man's story unfolded.

"The first time we saw them... the creatures... it was like watching death crawl out of the ground," the man continued. "They came from the cave, the one just north of town. It's always been a place of bad omens, but no one dared go near it. Then one night, the shadows started spreading from the cave, and the people...

they started disappearing."

"And no one has gone into the cave to investigate?" Sophie asked, her voice tight with concern.

The man shook his head. "No one's come back. We tried using fire—torches, bonfires—anything to keep them away. But the shadows... they're too strong now. Fire only holds them off for a little while, but they come back.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Always in the dark."

Sylvanna scoffed from behind Sophie. "Sounds like a campfire story to me."

Sharon glared at her. "Show some respect."

"Quiet, both of you," Sophie said sharply, then turned her attention back to the man. "You said the shadows started in the cave. Do you know what could be causing this?"

The man shivered, his voice dropping to a whisper. "There's something... ancient. Something evil. We don't know what it is, but we've always known that cave was cursed. Some say it's where the dead walk.

Others think it's a place where the gods themselves once fought. But whatever it is... it's waking up."

A cold chill ran down Sophie's spine. She glanced at Dravis, whose expression remained unreadable, but his eyes were sharp, focused.

"Thank you," Sophie said to the man, her voice filled with compassion. "We'll take care of this."

The man looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair. "I hope you can. But be careful. The shadows... they'll take anyone who strays too far into the dark."

As the group turned to leave, Sharon shot Sylvanna another glare. "Still think it's just a campfire story?"

Sylvanna grinned, but there was no humor in her eyes. "I guess we'll find out soon enough."

Sophie's heart pounded as they made their way toward the cave. Whatever lay inside, she knew this mission was going to test every ounce of her strength—and the strength of those who followed her. She glanced at Dravis once more, their eyes meeting briefly. For a moment, she saw something in his gaze—something more than just cold calculation.

Sylvanna then whispered to Dravis, Draven.

"Finished deciphering it yet?"

There is no change in his eyes, only a silent whisper.

"Almost,"