The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The sun barely touched the horizon, a faint glow over the City of Peace, as I found myself sitting at a wooden table in the inn's common room. Aurelia, Lyan, and Anastasia sat across from me. It was early, far earlier than I cared to be awake, but there was no point in delaying this any longer. The sooner we handled the preparations, the sooner we'd have a chance at surviving what awaited us at the altar.

Aurelia yawned dramatically, her hair tousled and her expression one of thinly-veiled irritation. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else, preferably in bed, but there was a glint of focus in her eyes. That fiery temper of hers simmered just below the surface, waiting for a reason to ignite. Lyan, beside her, looked far more awake, his usual smirk playing on his lips as he watched Aurelia yawn again, his amusement barely hidden.

Anastasia, on the other hand, was alert, her gaze bouncing between all of us, her excitement palpable. "So, what's the plan?" she asked, leaning forward, her eyes wide.

"We need specialized tools," I began, my voice cutting through the early morning quiet. "This isn't about charging in and hoping for the best. If we want to approach the altar, we need to do it right. We need potions, tools, cloaks—things that will keep us hidden, things that will let us observe without triggering a response."

Lyan nodded, his eyes meeting mine. "I know a place," he said. "An alchemist. She's the best when it comes to stealth potions. We need those if we want to move without alerting anything—or anyone."

I tapped the table thoughtfully, running through a mental list of what we'd need. "Mana-boosting crystals," I said, ticking items off on my fingers. "Invisibility cloaks, scrying tools. Anything that can help us see without being seen." I paused, looking at the three of them. "We need to split up to make this efficient. Lyan, you and Aurelia handle the alchemist. Anastasia and I will get the artifacts."

Aurelia groaned, slumping back in her chair. "Why do I have to go with this bastard?"

"Because you're a queen, and you need to learn how to negotiate," I said flatly, not missing the way her lips twitched at the corners. "Besides, Lyan knows this alchemist. He'll get a better deal with you there."

She huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Fine. But if he annoys me, I swear I'll—"

"Save it," Lyan interrupted, his grin widening. "You know you like my company, Your Majesty."

Aurelia glared at him, but there was no real malice behind it. I let out a breath, glancing at Anastasia, who was practically bouncing in her seat, her eagerness almost infectious. "Let's move," I said, pushing my chair back. "We don't have time to waste."

Aurelia and Lyan left first, their bickering fading as they walked out the door. I watched them go, shaking my head. They were like oil and water, constantly clashing, but they worked well together when it mattered. I turned to Anastasia, nodding toward the door. "Let's get this done."

The market was already bustling despite the early hour. People moved through the narrow streets, vendors setting up their stalls, the air filled with the scent of spices and freshly baked bread. The city might have been a ticking time bomb, but it was moments like these—the simple, mundane moments—that made it feel worth protecting. Even if it was just a fleeting illusion of peace.

We made our way through the market, dodging carts and stepping over uneven cobblestones until we reached the shop I was looking for. Thalos's Magical Artifacts. The sign was old, the paint chipped, but the shop itself was well-kept. I pushed open the door, the bell above it chiming softly as we stepped inside.

Thalos was standing behind the counter, his back to us as he sorted through a shelf of enchanted trinkets. He was older, his hair streaked with gray, his horns a dull red. He turned at the sound of the bell, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. "Draven," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "Been a while."

I nodded, stepping forward. "Thalos. We need some of your more... specialized items." I kept my voice low, glancing around the shop. It was empty, but you could never be too careful.

Thalos's smile faded slightly, his gaze sharpening. "Follow me," he said, nodding towards the back. He led us through a door behind the counter, into a small workshop filled with half-finished artifacts, tools, and books. It was cluttered, chaotic, but there was a method to it—a method that made sense to Thalos, at least.

"What do you need?" he asked, crossing his arms as he looked between Anastasia and me.

"Scrying tools," I said. "The kind that can detect magical energy without setting off any alarms. We also need cloaks—something to keep us hidden."

Thalos raised an eyebrow. "You're planning something dangerous, aren't you?"

I didn't answer immediately, instead giving him a small, almost imperceptible nod. He let out a sigh, shaking his head as he moved towards a shelf, pulling down a small, ornately carved box. He opened it, revealing a set of crystals, each one glowing faintly. "These are the scrying tools you're looking for," he said, handing the box to me. "But be careful, Dravis. The altar's magic—it's not like anything in this city. It's old, dark. Whatever you're planning, make sure you know what you're getting into. You think I don't know that you're going to inspect that atlar that is currently being the hot topic around the lads?"

I didn't answer. I took the box, glancing at Anastasia, who was watching Thalos with wide eyes. There was something about the way Thalos spoke that seemed to strike a chord with her. She looked at me, her expression questioning. "Why are you so invested in this altar, Draven?" she asked quietly.

I met her gaze, my eyes narrowing slightly. It wasn't an easy question to answer, but there was no point in hiding it now. "Because," I said, my voice cold, "I've lived these failures enough times to see the altar as my only lead. If I leave it unchecked, we'll be stuck here forever. And I won't let that happen."

She nodded, her expression softening, and for a moment, there was silence. Thalos handed me a set of cloaks, the fabric smooth and cool to the touch, almost shimmering in the dim light of the workshop. I took them, giving him a curt nod. "Thank you, Thalos. Here's the payment,"

I gave him some magic crystals, some that are the core of abyss monsters that I've killed. Those are considered very precious here.

He waved a hand dismissively. "Just stay alive, Draven. I've known you too long to lose you to something like this."

Long, huh?

This man.

Somehow, after a certain amount of reviving and respawning, people start to warm up around me. It's as if we've became a long acquantance.

Perhaps, as the world turned back in time, each individual hold their memories to a certain extent subconsciously?

I gave him a faint smile—the closest thing to warmth I could manage. "I'll do my best."

We left the shop, the scrying tools and cloaks packed away safely. Anastasia walked beside me, her eyes thoughtful. "You know," she said, her voice almost teasing, "you were... different back there. With Thalos. Not so... icy."

I shot her a sidelong glance. "He's an old friend."

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile. "You have friends?"

"Surprising, isn't it?" I replied, my tone dry. She laughed, the sound light and genuine, and for a moment, the tension of our task seemed to lift. It was fleeting, but it was something.

When we returned to the inn, Aurelia and Lyan were already there, sitting at the table in the common room. Lyan was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed behind his head, a smirk on his face as Aurelia glared at him, her expression one of barely-contained annoyance.

"Took you long enough," Aurelia said, her tone sharp. "We could've gone to the altar and back by now."

I ignored her, placing the box of scrying tools and the cloaks on the table. "Let's go over everything," I said, my voice cutting through any further complaints. "We need to be thorough. We only have one shot at this."

Lyan sat up, his expression growing serious as he looked at the items. Aurelia leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she examined the scrying tools. "Valeria gave us a warning," Lyan said, his tone losing its usual humor. "She said the altar doesn't like being watched. It's like a beast that knows it's being hunted. She didn't give details, but she seemed genuinely worried."

I frowned, tapping a finger against the table. "Interesting," I murmured. "Every time we've approached the altar, we've either been attacked or triggered something. But we've never tried to simply observe from a distance without interacting."

Anastasia nodded, her gaze shifting to the enchanted cloaks. "Thalos said something similar. He said the altar's magic is far older and darker than anything else in the city. He seemed... cautious."

Aurelia's fingers drummed against the table, her expression thoughtful. "So this time, we go in without making a move. We observe, gather information, and get out. No triggering anything, no engaging with the guardians." She looked around the table, her eyes meeting each of ours in turn. "If we're careful, we might actually learn something useful."

Lyan grinned, leaning forward. "Alright then. Roles. We need to be specific if we're going to pull this off. I'll handle the stealth—I've got the experience. Draven, you take the observation. You've got the sharpest eyes."

I nodded, the plan forming in my mind. "Anastasia, you support Lyan. Keep him cloaked and make sure the stealth magic holds. Aurelia—you'll be our fallback. If anything goes wrong, we need someone to handle the threats."

Aurelia smirked, her fiery hair catching the morning light. "I'll do what I do best. Smash anything that gets in our way."

"Precisely," I said, my voice cold but with an edge of approval. "We need precision and restraint. If anything feels off, we pull back immediately. No risks, no heroics."

Anastasia's gaze flicked to the scrying tools, her eyes widening slightly. "What if the altar detects us? If it really doesn't like being watched..."

"Then we need to be prepared for that," I replied. "That's why we have roles. If anything happens, we fall back and regroup. This isn't about winning today—it's about learning what we can."

Aurelia's expression hardened, and she nodded, her fiery demeanor tempered by a rare moment of seriousness. "Got it. No heroics. We do this right, or we don't do it at all."

Lyan grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Okay. We've got this," he said, his voice filled with a confidence that seemed almost infectious.
Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

I looked around the table, taking in their determined expressions. There was no room for error, not this time. We'd been through this loop too many times, seen too many failures. This was our chance to finally gain an advantage—to understand what we were truly up against.

"Let's move," I said, my voice firm. "The altar waits for no one."