The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 153: The Return

I could feel it, like a new kind of awareness—a presence. When I channeled my magic through the pen, it responded with a fluid grace, more aligned, more powerful. It reminded me of the transformation my dark pen had undergone. Once, it had been simple, harnessing the raw energy of necromancy, but over time it had evolved.

It had changed into the devil pen, a tool of not just death but manipulation—commanding darker, more primal forces.

The thought stirred in my mind. Could the other pens—fire and psychokinesis—be capable of the same evolution? They had served me well, but I hadn't yet unlocked their full potential. I could sense it now, the dormant power inside each of them. Maybe one day I would be able to draw out that power, turn them into something greater than just elemental tools.

But for now, the water pen thrummed with life, and that was enough.

I let the pen rest on the table beside me, taking in the scene around the hall. The elves were still in high spirits, their laughter echoing off the walls as they reveled in the aftermath of victory. The warmth of the fire and the intoxicating sweetness of the wine had dulled the edges of the recent battle, for them at least. I wasn't as easily distracted.

As I reached for another goblet of wine, I felt it. The air shifted, crackling with energy. The temperature dropped ever so slightly, enough to send a shiver down my spine. My eyes narrowed, and before I could react, the floor beneath me began to glow—a brilliant light erupting from the ground in intricate patterns, forming a massive magic circle that spread across the hall.

I shot up from my seat, my muscles tensing in preparation for whatever was coming. My eyes darted around, searching for the source of the magic. The circle's glow intensified, enveloping the room in a blinding radiance. Every instinct screamed at me that something was wrong.

"Aurelia!" I called out, my voice sharp and urgent, cutting through the noise of the celebration. My hand instinctively moved to my side, ready to summon my creatures if necessary. I could feel the magic circle beneath us pulling at the very essence of the room, its power far beyond anything I had sensed before.

But instead of panic, Aurelia's calm voice drifted toward me through the light. "It's fine," she said, already at my side, her expression unreadable but composed. "I'm here."

I blinked, my instincts still on high alert. The urgency of the moment didn't seem to faze her in the slightest, as if she had expected this all along. That wasn't like her.

The light of the magic circle continued to spread, but what struck me as odd was the atmosphere in the hall. None of the elves reacted with fear or confusion. They were still smiling, still enjoying their drinks, completely unfazed by the massive display of magic engulfing the space around us.

I frowned, glancing over at Queen Elaitharis, who stood at the head of the hall, her eyes twinkling with a quiet knowing. "This isn't normal," I muttered under my breath, though Aurelia clearly wasn't concerned.

The elven queen raised her hand, and the glow of the circle began to soften, dimming to a manageable brightness. Her voice rang out, melodic and full of grace. "Fear not, Dravis and Aurelia. This is no threat."

I raised an eyebrow, still poised for whatever was coming. "And what exactly is this?"

Queen Elaitharis smiled, a smile that spoke of ages and wisdom far beyond my own understanding. "You have done more than words can express for my people. And so, before you are returned to your world, I wished to offer you a proper farewell."

Her words hit me with unexpected weight. Returned? She knew. They knew. The elves had known all along that Aurelia and I weren't of this world, that we were destined to leave. A chill crawled up my spine, but the elves remained unfazed, as if this was all part of some greater plan.

Elaitharis stepped forward, her long robes shimmering with the remnants of the magic still flowing through the room. "I used my magic to… delay your departure, for just a little while longer," she explained softly. "So that we could offer you our gratitude in a way that befits your sacrifice. A farewell worthy of those who saved our kingdom."

The calmness in her tone didn't match the gravity of what she was saying. My mind raced to understand the implications. This banquet, the whole evening—it had been prolonged by her magic. She had suspended time, keeping us here longer than we should have been. And now, as the magic circle pulsed beneath our feet, I could feel the inevitable return pulling at me, like a thread being drawn tight.

Elaitharis took a deep breath, her expression softening. "It is time. But before you go, I must thank you, truly, from the depths of my heart." She stepped forward and, to my surprise, bowed deeply. "You have given my people a future, and for that, I am forever in your debt."

As she bowed, the elves in the hall followed suit, each one lowering their heads in respect. The entire hall, filled with warriors, leaders, and soldiers who had fought and bled for this kingdom, now stood in silent reverence.

I was used to gratitude being transactional, if it came at all. A nod, a favor repaid in gold or a promise of alliance. But this… this was something else. A display of genuine respect, not for a king or a ruler, but for us—strangers who had stepped into their world and helped save it.

I had seen the elven pride firsthand, their reluctance to trust, and now, this display of vulnerability and humility was… unexpected.

For a moment, I didn't know how to react.

Beside me, Aurelia was silent, her eyes fixed on the bowing elves. I glanced at her, and what I saw on her face made me pause. She wasn't the fierce warrior queen right now. Her hardened expression, usually full of grit and determination, had softened. There was something in her eyes, something I hadn't seen before—emotion.

For all the times I had fought beside her, all the battles she had endured, I had never seen her moved like this.

She turned to me, her lips parting slightly, as though she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. Her voice, when it came, was softer than I had ever heard it. "Thank you for standing beside me again, Dravis. I never thought I'd find this… this feeling. Not after all these quests, all the deaths…"

She trailed off, her gaze faraway, as if reliving the hundreds of times she had fought, died, and been revived in these cursed quests. But then she smiled—a smile so genuine, so pure that it took me by surprise. She looked… free, in a way I hadn't seen before.

"I didn't die this time," she continued, her voice almost a whisper. "And for the first time… I feel like I've found something. Something more than just survival. Maybe… maybe it's you who brought it out of me."

I blinked, caught off guard by the rawness of her words. This wasn't the Aurelia I was used to. This was someone else entirely—a girl, not a queen. A girl who had fought endless battles but finally found a reason to smile, a reason to hope.

Before I could respond, she straightened, her posture shifting back into the regal, composed warrior I knew so well. The queenly aura returned as if it had never left, and her eyes, though still soft, held a new kind of intensity.

"And now," she said, her voice returning to its usual strength, "I think I have an idea of who you really are."

Continue your journey with m|v-l'-NovelBin.net

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, and for the first time in a long while, I found myself wondering… What did she truly know about me? About Dravis Granger? Or was she beginning to see through the mask, to the truth beneath?

But before I could answer, the magic circle beneath us began to pulse again, stronger this time. It was time to go.