The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 131: The Crown's Cavaliers

Vera, a lithe and fierce woman with a reputation for unmatched speed and precision, was currently engaged in a heated sparring match with Modric, a towering knight known for his strength and endurance. Despite their camaraderie, there was an unspoken tension between them, a byproduct of recent failures that weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Vera's sharp, emerald eyes narrowed as she deflected Modric's powerful swing with her sword, her feet barely touching the ground as she twisted to deliver a counterattack. Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like, a stark contrast to Modric's more brute-force approach. Despite her agility, there was a fire in her eyes, one that spoke of frustration and something more personal.

"Don't hold back on me, Modric!" she snapped, her voice carrying over the sound of clashing blades. "I can feel you pulling your punches."

Modric grunted as he blocked her strike, his broad frame moving with surprising speed. His short-cropped dark hair was damp with sweat, and his deep brown eyes flickered with a mixture of determination and reluctance. "I'm not holding back, Vera," he replied, his tone steady, though there was a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "You know I'd never do that."

"Don't lie to me," Vera retorted, her blade flashing in the sunlight as she pressed her attack. "You've been holding back ever since… ever since that night."

Modric winced, her words striking a nerve. The night she referred to was one they both wished to forget—the night of the royal banquet, a night that had ended in disgrace for the Five Crown's Cavaliers. "That's not fair, Vera," he said, parrying her blow with a heavy swing that sent her back a few steps. "You know as well as I do that we're all still shaken by what happened.

But I'm not going easy on you."

Vera's eyes blazed with indignation as she quickly regained her footing. "I don't need your pity," she hissed, lunging forward with a flurry of quick strikes that Modric struggled to keep up with. "If you can't fight me at your best, then what's the point?"

Modric met her strikes with calculated blocks, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It's not pity, Vera," he said through gritted teeth as he deflected another blow. "It's caution. We've been through enough without hurting each other."

Vera spun away from him, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she glared at him. "I don't need you to protect me, Modric. I need you to respect me as a fellow knight." She paused, her chest heaving with exertion. "We're both members of the Five Crown's Cavaliers, aren't we? Or has that title lost all meaning to you?"

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with the weight of their shared history. The Five Crown's Cavaliers were more than just elite warriors; they were the personal guard of the royal family, a group chosen for their skill, loyalty, and unwavering dedication. The group had a storied history, their deeds sung in ballads and recorded in the annals of Regarian history.

But their recent failure at the royal banquet had tarnished their reputation, casting a shadow over the pride they once took in their roles.

Modric's grip on his sword tightened as he met Vera's gaze. "It hasn't lost its meaning to me," he said quietly, the intensity of his voice cutting through the tension. "But after what happened, I… I'm not sure I deserve the title anymore."

Vera's expression softened slightly, the fire in her eyes dimming as she lowered her sword. "You're not the only one who feels that way," she admitted, her voice losing some of its sharpness. "But we can't let that night define us. We failed, yes, but we can't let that failure break us."

Modric nodded slowly, lowering his own sword as he stepped closer to her. "You're right," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But it's hard not to feel useless when the Queen hasn't called on us since that night. We were supposed to protect her, and we failed."

Vera sheathed her sword, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "And now we're stuck here, sparring with each other instead of doing our duty." She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I hate this feeling, Modric. I hate not being able to do anything."

Modric sighed as well, running a hand through his damp hair. "You're not alone in that. Every time I think about how we were locked out of the royal hall, how we couldn't even get there in time to protect the Queen, it eats away at me. And to make matters worse, it was Earl Drakhan who saved the day."

Vera nodded, her expression turning more serious. "Yes… Earl Drakhan. The man who seems to be both a savior and a mystery wrapped in arrogance and coldness."

Modric frowned as he thought back to that night. "I've heard the rumors about him, you know. People say he's a genius, a prodigy even, but also ruthless. When I saw him in person that night… there was something about him. It wasn't just arrogance, it was… I don't know, an overbearing presence. Like he knew exactly what he was doing and didn't care what anyone thought of him."

Vera crossed her arms, nodding in agreement. "I felt it too. He's different. It's not just his power, it's the way he carries himself. He's engaged to Lady Sophie from Icevern, right? That's what I heard.

And apparently, his lectures at the Magic Tower University are a hit with the students."

Modric chuckled softly, though there was little humor in it. "So the cold and arrogant Earl is also a beloved teacher. Who would've thought? But that just makes it worse, doesn't it? He can do everything we can't. He saved the Queen, he's respected by the students, and now we're just… sitting here, sparring and feeling sorry for ourselves."

Vera's jaw tightened as she looked away, her gaze distant. "It's humiliating, isn't it? To know that we're supposed to be the best, and yet we were completely outclassed. And now, we're not even trusted to protect the Queen."

Modric placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but comforting. "We'll get through this, Vera. We've been through worse before. The Queen will call on us again, and when she does, we'll be ready."

Vera looked up at him, a spark of determination returning to her eyes. "You're right. We can't let this defeat us. We'll keep training, we'll keep preparing, and when the time comes, we'll prove that we're still worthy of being the Five Crown's Cavaliers."

As they stood there, their resolve slowly rebuilding, the sound of hurried footsteps approaching the barracks caught their attention. They turned to see a messenger running towards them, his face flushed with exertion. He skidded to a stop before them, panting as he tried to catch his breath.

"Sir Modric! Lady Vera!" the messenger gasped, his words coming out in bursts. "A message… from the Queen… urgent!"

Modric and Vera exchanged a glance, the tension from their earlier conversation returning in an instant. "What is it?" Modric demanded, his voice sharp as he stepped forward.

The messenger held out a sealed scroll, his hands trembling slightly. "The Queen… she orders you to escort and guard Professor Draven to the capital. You're to ensure his safety on the journey. The Queen herself has requested your presence."

Vera took the scroll, her fingers trembling slightly as she broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. Her eyes scanned the message quickly, her expression growing more serious with each passing second. "She's not just requesting us, Modric. She's commanding us to protect him, no matter the cost."

Modric's jaw clenched as he absorbed the weight of the Queen's order. "So, it's come to this," he murmured, his voice low. "We're to guard the man who saved the Queen when we couldn't."

Vera nodded, her gaze steely as she handed the scroll back to the messenger. "Tell the Queen that we will fulfill our duty. Professor Draven will be escorted to the capital, and we will ensure his safety."

The messenger bowed quickly before turning and running back the way he came, leaving Modric and Vera alone once more. The weight of the task before them settled heavily on their shoulders, but there was also a sense of purpose that hadn't been there before.

Modric sheathed his sword and turned to Vera, his expression resolute. "This is our chance, Vera. We may not have saved the Queen that night, but we can prove ourselves now. We'll make sure Draven reaches the capital safely, and maybe… just maybe, we'll start to regain the trust we lost."

"You're right," Vera replied as she sheathed her sword. "This might be the perfect time for us to know, if this Earl Drakhan is a danger for the queen or not," Continue your saga on m|v-l'e -NovelBin.net