The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Five minutes had passed, and she had barely made any progress.

Her notebook was filled with scribbles, rough copies of the magic circle. She had written it out perfectly, stroke for stroke, but that wasn't enough. It wasn't about copying; it was about adapting it to her own magic. And that was where Amberine felt stuck. No matter how hard she tried to manipulate the formula, it didn't feel right. Continue reading on empire

The fire inside her resisted every attempt to shape the circle to her will.

She glanced around the room, watching the others. Elara, as always, sat composed, her golden and blue mana swirling around her in perfect harmony. Her notebook was neatly organized, and she was already moving her hand in the air, tracing out the circle with precision.

Maris, sitting just a few seats away, had a determined look on her face, her brow furrowed as she sketched out her own version of the barrier. Even she seemed to be making progress, her fingers moving confidently across the page.

Amberine's frustration bubbled up inside her. Why was it so easy for them? They looked like they understood it, like the magic circle had clicked into place in their minds. But for her, it felt just out of reach—so close she could sense it, but too far to grasp. She tightened her grip on the pen, her knuckles white with tension.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

The minutes kept ticking, and her focus began to waver. The scribbles on her page blurred as she stared at them, trying to force her brain to understand. But the more she tried, the more distant the solution felt. Panic gnawed at her. Everyone else was getting it. Why wasn't she?

You're a flame. You're not meant to follow the others.

The voice was low and calm, but it cut through her frustration like a knife. Amberine blinked, her eyes widening as she realized it was Ifrit. The fire spirit stirred beneath her robe, its presence warm and steady.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Calm down. Focus.

Amberine let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing. But there was something about Ifrit's voice that settled the storm inside her. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself, to listen.

You are fire, Ifrit's voice continued, soft and reassuring. You don't need to be like them. Burn. Condense. That's what fire does. It doesn't follow; it consumes.

Amberine's hands relaxed, her grip on the pen loosening. She wasn't like Elara or Maris. Her magic wasn't meant to be controlled the same way. Fire was different. It had to be controlled with strength, but not rigidity. It wasn't about fitting into the mold.

She needed to shape the mold around her fire.

Just as Ifrit's words settled over her, Draven's voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding. His eyes were closed, but his voice rang clear.

"Magic is all about imagination," he said, his voice calm but with a weight behind it. "Yes, there are precise equations, rules, and structures. But without imagination, it's useless. You won't break through someone's defenses if you can't picture yourself breaking through it. Willpower and imagination are the foundation of every spell. Without them, the formula is meaningless."

Amberine felt something click inside her. Imagination. She had been so focused on getting the formula perfect, on copying the lines exactly, that she hadn't allowed herself to truly feel the magic. Fire wasn't about structure—it was about instinct, about will.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she tried to envision the circle in her mind. But instead of forcing herself to match it to the board, she let the flames inside her guide her. The magic circle wasn't something she had to force her magic into—it was something she had to shape with her magic.

The flames swirled in her mind, and slowly, the lines of the circle began to twist, to bend to her will.

Burn. Condense.

Her eyes snapped open, and for the first time, the circle made sense. She could see it now, how it was supposed to flow, how it could move and adapt to her fire magic. The rigid lines on the board weren't meant to hold her back—they were just the starting point.

With newfound clarity, Amberine summoned her mana, her breath steady as she formed the circle in front of her. The flames danced around her fingers, condensing into a focused, precise shape. The magic circle materialized in front of her, glowing with a fiery light. It wasn't the same as the one on the board—it was hers. It had shifted slightly, the lines more fluid, the strokes sharper.

It fit her magic perfectly.

A smile tugged at her lips as she watched the barrier take shape. It was beautiful, more beautiful than she had imagined. It wasn't just a wall of fire—it was precise, controlled, but still full of that raw power she loved.

Amberine's hands moved, and the magic circle followed, adjusting with ease as she altered the lines, tweaking the strokes. Draven's words from past lectures echoed in her mind.

"Understand the mechanism of a magic circle," his voice reminded her. "It's the key to tuning magic."

Amberine nodded to herself, muttering quietly. "Understand it. Analyze it. Control it."

The barrier in front of her solidified, the flames flickering with intensity but remaining perfectly shaped. She could feel it now, the strength in her magic, the way it responded to her will. She wasn't forcing it anymore—she was guiding it.

Make your magic yours. Draven's voice echoed again in her mind.

Amberine grinned, her hands steady as she finished the last stroke of the circle. "Claim it."

And she did. The barrier was hers—powerful, precise, and fully under her control. As the final flicker of flame settled into place, she could feel the energy humming around her, strong and unwavering.

Amberine took a step back, marveling at her creation. But it wasn't just her. She felt it—Elara's golden mana and Maris's illusions forming their barriers at the same time. It was as if they had all reached the same conclusion in unison, their magic flowing together in perfect harmony.

She turned her head slightly, seeing Elara's barrier shimmering beside her, a perfect blend of golden light and water. It was pristine, as expected, every line of the circle flawless. And then there was Maris, her barrier a swirling mixture of illusions and solidified mana, a testament to how far she had come.

Amberine couldn't help but feel a rush of pride—not just for herself, but for all of them. They had done it.

As if sensing their collective success, Amberine, Elara, and Maris all turned toward the front of the room. Draven stood there, his sharp eyes scanning their work, his face as unreadable as ever. But there was something different this time—a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there.

For a moment, Amberine couldn't believe it. Draven, smiling? It was like seeing a crack in a stone wall, something impossible yet undeniable.

And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the smile vanished. Draven's cold, commanding voice cut through the room once more.

"Time's up."

The words echoed through the classroom, bringing the room back to reality. The barriers flickered for a moment, then vanished, leaving only the faint traces of mana in the air. Amberine felt the rush of energy drain away, but the sense of accomplishment remained.

She glanced at Elara and Maris, both of whom seemed just as stunned as she was. They had all done it. They had all created their barriers, just as Draven had instructed.

Draven stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back, as he surveyed the room. His gaze lingered on each of them for a moment before he spoke.

"You've taken your first step toward understanding what it means to control your magic," he said, his voice low but firm. "But this is just the beginning. A barrier is not the end—it's merely a tool. You will face many more challenges, and you must be prepared to adapt, to change, to refine your magic with every new obstacle."

Amberine stood there, breathing heavily, her heart still racing. But this time, it wasn't from fear or frustration—it was from excitement. She had done it. She had taken control of her magic in a way she hadn't before, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like she could truly handle whatever came next.

Draven's gaze met hers for a brief second, and Amberine thought she saw a flicker of approval in his eyes before he turned away.

"Time to test your barriers," he said simply.