The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Sophie moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, her blade slicing through the tendrils, shattering them into shards of darkness that dissipated into the air. "Now, Maris!"

Maris thrust her wand forward, releasing a blinding flash of light. Selene screamed as the light struck her, causing her to recoil. But she quickly recovered, her eyes burning with rage.

"You\'ll have to do better than that!" Selene hissed, summoning a wave of dark energy that surged towards them.

Sophie planted her feet firmly and swung her sword in a wide arc, a barrier of frost forming before her. The dark energy clashed against the icy barrier, sending shockwaves through the chamber. "Maris, focus on disrupting her magic. I\'ll handle her physical attacks."

Maris nodded again, her mind racing as she cast a series of rapid, blinding flashes. Each one forced Selene to falter, her concentration breaking under the relentless assault. Sophie seized the opportunity, advancing with quick, precise strikes, her blade a blur of silver and blue.

Selene roared in frustration, her dark eyes blazing. She unleashed a torrent of shadowy tendrils once more, but Sophie danced around them, her movements fluid and graceful. She parried and countered, each swing of her sword driving Selene back.

"You think you can defeat me?" Selene spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I am darkness incarnate!"

"Darkness can always be dispelled by light," Sophie replied, her voice calm and unwavering. She moved in closer, her blade glowing with an intense, icy blue light. "Maris, now!"

Maris channeled her magic into a concentrated beam of light, aiming directly at Selene. The beam struck true, hitting Selene square in the chest. She screamed, her form wavering as the light seared through her dark energy.

Sophie took advantage of the moment, lunging forward with her sword. The blade pierced through the darkness surrounding Selene, and with a final, powerful swing, she slashed through the last remnants of Selene\'s defenses. Selene fell to her knees, her dark energy dissipating.

"It\'s over, Selene," Sophie said, her voice firm. She placed the tip of her sword against Selene\'s chest, and with a swift motion, she froze Selene in place, encasing her in a block of ice. "We\'ll be interrogating you for answers."

Selene\'s eyes, now visible again and filled with a mix of fear and anger, stared at Sophie. "You... won\'t... win," she managed to hiss, her voice muffled by the ice.

Sophie ignored her, turning to Maris. "We need to secure this area and make sure no one else is coming. Are you up for another spell?"

Maris, though visibly exhausted, nodded. "I can manage. I\'ll set up a barrier around the chamber to keep us safe while we interrogate her."

As Maris began her incantation, Sophie took a moment to catch her breath and assess the situation. With Selene incapacitated, Sophie turned her attention to the wall separating them from Sharon. She raised her sword, and with a powerful swing, shattered the barrier.

Sharon was engaged in a fierce battle with two other members of the Deadly Hollows—one a hulking brute, the other a small, agile fighter.

"Sharon, we\'re here to back you up!" Sophie shouted, moving to join the fray.

"About time," Sharon replied, her voice strained as she deflected a heavy blow from the brute. "These two are tougher than they look."

Sophie and Maris leaped into the fight. Sophie faced the brute, their weapons clashing with resounding force. The brute swung a massive club, but Sophie dodged with agility, countering with swift, precise strikes. Her blade bit into the brute\'s flesh, freezing his wounds and slowing his movements.

Meanwhile, Maris took on the small fighter. The agile opponent darted around her, landing quick, sharp blows. But Maris stood her ground, casting protective barriers and retaliating with bursts of light magic. Each strike from her wand sent the fighters reeling, their movements growing sluggish.

Outside, the royal knights, having broken through the remaining defenses, stormed into the chamber. They surrounded the remaining enemies, leaving no room for escape. The brute, overwhelmed by Sophie\'s relentless attacks and the knights closing in, fell with a final, thunderous crash. The small fighters, cornered and outmatched, surrendered, dropping their weapon.

As the dust settled, Sophie surveyed the scene. The remaining members of the Deadly Hollows were subdued, the chamber quiet except for the heavy breathing of the combatants. She turned to Maris, a proud smile on her face.

"You fought bravely, Maris," Sophie said, sheathing her sword. "Your parents must have taught you well."

Maris blushed slightly, looking down at her wand. "Thank you, Lady Sophie. I just did what needed to be done."

Sophie placed a hand on Maris\'s shoulder. "You have the makings of a great magician and knight. If you ever have any intention of having an internship with the court investigation magicians that collaborate with the royal knights, you can always tell me."

Maris\'s eyes widened with surprise and gratitude. "I... I\'d be honored. Thank you, Lady Sophie."

Sophie nodded, a warm smile on her face. "Now, let\'s get Selene and these criminals back to the knight quarters. We have a lot of questions for them, and there will be a harsh trial waiting for them,"

___

The sound of the wheels of the Drakhan carriage urged the servants to gather at the entrance and prepare to welcome their master. Despite his lack of vigor in anger lately, his sole presence is still commanding and pressuring enough for the servants, as they are afraid to get into their Master\'s bad side.

"We\'ve arrived, Milord," The Drakhan\'s Coachman uttered as he opened the door for his Master.

Draven replied with a nod. Gracefully, he gets out of the carriage, with his eyes scanning through the mansion as if he\'s assessing something.

"You\'re home, Sire. I believe that your \'errands\' have been successful," Alfred welcomes him with the servants lining up behind him as they bow together.

"Yes. Thanks to you, Alfred," Draven tapped the old man\'s shoulder, which is something that rarely happens.

Draven entered the mansion and walked straight to his study and stopped in his tracks as he noticed a blue screen hovering in the air, displaying his latest achievements.

[Quest Completed: The Deadly Hollow and the Hidden Quest

+1 Store Currency, +200 Mana]

[Quest Completed: The Rightful Vengeance

+1 Store Currency, +500 Mana]

Draven checked his mana reserves, noting the increase after absorbing the life force of the Deadly Hollows\' members and their leader. His mana had reached an impressive [5550], and he could feel his affinity towards dark magic growing stronger. The Devil\'s Pen, resting on his desk, seemed more sinister than ever, its dark aura pulsating with newfound power.

He moved to his desk and opened a leather-bound notebook, flipping to a page titled "The Deadly Hollows Problem." With a satisfied smile, he checked off the task. "One trouble solved," he muttered to himself. The Deadly Hollows were no more, and he had obtained the crucial information he needed.

The royal knights had gained valuable combat experience, and Maris, the once pitiful girl, now had people who believed in her and a future filled with potential.

Draven closed the notebook and leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a moment of rare contentment. His plans were unfolding perfectly, each piece falling into place. He had dealt with a significant threat, and the information he had extracted would prove invaluable in the battles to come.

Just as he was about to delve into his next task, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Master, you\'ve been smiling."

Draven turned to see Alfred standing in the doorway, a knowing look on his face. Draven chuckled softly, a rare sound that felt almost foreign to him. "Is that so, Alfred?"

Alfred stepped into the room, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and respect. "Indeed, Master. It\'s not often we see you in such high spirits."

Draven shook his head, still smiling. "Perhaps there\'s a reason to be, Alfred. One problem is solved, but there are many more to tackle."

"Yes indeed, Sire. But it\'s important to savor the victories, no matter how small," Alfred said, his tone gentle yet firm. "But well, setting aside the victories on your dark creeds behind the light, you also have the duty as an Earl, Sire. Let\'s talk about that,"