The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The pair\'s entrance did not go unnoticed. Conversations paused, and eyes turned toward them, curious and wary. It was not every day that such an enigmatic duo walked into the guild, especially one with the reputation of Aurelion City\'s.

"Who are they?" murmured a tall, burly man at the bar, nudging his companion. The latter, a lean elf with sharp features, shrugged, equally intrigued.

"They don\'t look like locals," the elf replied, eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the newcomers. "Especially that guy. Who wears assassin gear in broad daylight?"

The duo approached the registration counter, where a young guild clerk greeted them with a polite smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of apprehension. "Welcome to the Aurelion City Adventurer\'s Guild. How can I assist you today?"

The man in the assassin\'s garb stepped forward, his movements smooth and controlled. "We\'d like to register," he said, his voice low and calm. "As a new adventurer party. The Shadowbound."

The clerk blinked, momentarily taken aback by the name. "The Shadowbound? That\'s... an interesting name," she remarked, trying to maintain her composure.

The woman beside him, the hunter, smiled faintly. "We thought it fitting," she said, her tone light but carrying a subtle edge. "I\'m Sylvanna, and this is Dravis." She gestured to her companion, who gave a slight nod.

The clerk quickly recovered, nodding as she began the registration process. "Of course. I\'ll just need a few details from you both," she said, pulling out a form. As she filled in their information, she couldn\'t help but notice the pair\'s composed demeanor. There was an air of quiet confidence about them, as if they were used to such formalities and the scrutiny that came with them.

As the clerk worked, a small group of adventurers nearby exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. One of them, a burly man with a scruffy beard and a large axe strapped to his back, snorted derisively. "Shadowbound, huh? Sounds like a bunch of edgelords trying too hard to be mysterious."

His companion, a petite woman with fiery red hair and a mischievous grin, chuckled. "Yeah, and what\'s with the assassin getup? Did they miss the memo about blending in?"

The group laughed, their voices carrying over to where Dravis and Sylvanna stood. Sylvanna\'s eyes flicked over to them, a glint of amusement in her gaze. Dravis remained impassive, his expression unreadable.

The clerk cleared her throat, drawing their attention back. "All done," she said, handing them a small booklet. "This is your adventurer\'s identification. It lists your party name and current rank, which, as new members, is E-rank.

You can take on quests appropriate to your rank, which are posted on the board over there." She pointed to a large bulletin board at the far end of the hall, covered in various quest notices.

Dravis took the booklet with a nod. "Thank you," he said, his voice as steady as before. He turned to Sylvanna, who gave him a small, knowing smile.

As they made their way to the quest board, the group of adventurers from earlier continued their commentary, albeit more quietly. "Did you see how calm they were?" one of them whispered. "It\'s like they\'ve done this a thousand times."

"Yeah, but they\'ve gotta be greenhorns," the burly man replied, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "No way they\'d be E-rank if they were pros."

Sylvanna overheard their conversation and leaned in closer to Dravis. "Unexpected, isn\'t it?" she murmured, her voice barely audible over the din of the guild hall.

Dravis glanced at her, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "Indeed," he replied softly. "But necessary."

They reached the quest board, scanning the available missions. Sylvanna\'s eyes darted over the listings, while Dravis stood with his arms crossed, observing the other adventurers in the hall. He noted the various party dynamics, the mix of races and classes, and the subtle hierarchies at play.

It was a microcosm of the wider world, a place where strength, skill, and reputation mattered more than titles or birthright.

A young adventurer, barely more than a boy, approached the board, eyes wide with excitement. He glanced at Dravis and Sylvanna, then quickly averted his gaze, clearly intimidated. "Excuse me," he mumbled, reaching for a low-ranking quest notice.

Sylvanna stepped aside, giving the boy space. "No worries," she said kindly, offering him a reassuring smile. The boy nodded gratefully, his nervousness easing slightly.

Dravis watched the interaction, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It seems we\'re already making an impression," he remarked, his voice low.

Sylvanna chuckled softly. "We do have a knack for that, don\'t we?" She pulled down a quest notice and showed it to Dravis. "This one looks interesting. A simple monster hunt in the nearby forest. A good start for a \'new\' party."

Dravis nodded in agreement. "Agreed. Let\'s take it."

As they turned to leave, the group of adventurers from earlier approached, their leader—a tall, muscular man with a cocky grin—blocking their path. "Hey, Shadowbound, right?" he said, his tone mocking. "How about a little friendly competition? See who\'s the better party?"

Dravis looked at the man, his expression unreadable. "Not interested," he replied calmly, stepping around the man. But the adventurer was not deterred.

"Oh, come on," he taunted, stepping in front of Dravis again, blocking his path with a swaggering confidence. His companions behind him smirked and nodded, clearly enjoying the unfolding spectacle. The adventurer\'s grin widened, revealing a row of yellowing teeth. "Don\'t tell me the big, bad Shadowbound are afraid of a little challenge."

Sylvanna\'s eyes flashed with irritation, a flicker of annoyance crossing her usually calm features. She stepped forward, her posture tense but controlled. "We\'re here to work, not play games," she said coldly, her voice carrying a sharp edge. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of a short sword at her hip, the casual gesture speaking volumes about her readiness.

The man\'s grin grew even broader, clearly enjoying the confrontation. "What, you think you\'re too good for us?" he sneered, his voice dripping with derision. He puffed out his chest, stepping closer to Dravis, who remained silent and still. "Just because you walk in here dressed like a bunch of edgelords doesn\'t mean you can—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Dravis moved with a speed that was almost unnatural. In one fluid motion, he grabbed the man\'s wrist, twisting it sharply. The adventurer\'s eyes widened in shock and pain, his bravado vanishing as he found himself suddenly and painfully immobilized. The speed and precision of Dravis\'s move left the room in stunned silence, the onlookers frozen in place.

The man gasped, trying to maintain his balance as Dravis\'s iron grip tightened just enough to make him wince. His companions, momentarily taken aback, reached for their weapons, but a subtle shake of Dravis\'s head stopped them in their tracks. Sylvanna\'s gaze flicked over the group, her stance relaxed but clearly ready for anything.

Dravis leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous. "You were saying?" he asked, the tone calm but carrying an unmistakable threat. His eyes bore into the adventurer\'s, unblinking and cold. The man\'s confidence crumbled under that icy stare, his bravado replaced by fear.

The adventurer gritted his teeth, struggling to find his voice. "I—uh, nothing," he stammered, the pain and fear evident in his eyes. His earlier cockiness had evaporated, replaced by a desperate need to extricate himself from the situation without further injury.

But Dravis didn\'t release him immediately. He held the man there, ensuring that the point was driven home. The entire guild hall seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable. Sylvanna, standing beside Dravis, kept her eyes on the man\'s companions, her fingers twitching ever so slightly near the hilt of her sword.

One of the other adventurers, a tall woman with short-cropped blonde hair and a scar running down her cheek, took a hesitant step forward. Her hand was on the hilt of a large sword strapped to her back, her eyes narrowing at Dravis. "Let him go," she said, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of warning. "We don\'t want any trouble."

Dravis glanced at her, his grip on the man\'s wrist still firm. For a moment, the two locked eyes, a silent exchange passing between them. Then, with a small, almost casual movement, Dravis released the man\'s wrist. The adventurer staggered back, clutching his arm and glaring at Dravis, though he made no further move.

The blonde woman nodded slightly, acknowledging the unspoken truce. "You\'re new here," she said, her tone more measured. "Maybe you don\'t know how things work in Aurelion. But we don\'t appreciate bullies."

Dravis inclined his head, his expression unreadable beneath his hood. "Neither do we," he replied, his voice cool. "But we\'re not here to make enemies. Just to do our work."

Dravis and Sylvanna turned away, continuing toward the guild\'s exit. The hall buzzed with hushed whispers, the other adventurers speculating about the newcomers. "Who the hell are they?" someone muttered, the question echoing the thoughts of many in the room.

As they reached the door, Dravis paused, turning back to address the crowd. "We\'re the Shadowbound," he said, his voice carrying through the hall. "And we\'re here to make our mark."

With that, they left the guild hall, leaving behind a room full of curious and wary adventurers. As they walked through the bustling streets of Aurelion City, the duo remained silent, their minds focused on the task ahead.

Sylvanna glanced at Dravis, her expression thoughtful. "That was quite a show back there," she remarked, her tone light.

Dravis shrugged, his face as unreadable as ever. "It was necessary," he replied. "We need to establish ourselves, and that means showing we\'re not to be underestimated."