The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Dravis remained silent as they walked, his mind already turning over the details of the Plague of Shadows quest. He knew the stakes were higher than they appeared on the surface, and if this plague were connected to a powerful artifact or demon, it could have consequences far beyond the isolated mountain town. His focus sharpened as he pieced together his strategy.

First, they'd need to gather supplies and head out before dawn. The quicker they reached the town, the better their chances of containing whatever threat awaited them.

Sylvanna, walking beside him with a relaxed, almost lazy gait, glanced sideways at him. "You're doing that brooding thing again," she said, her voice laced with teasing. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're actually concerned about this one."

Dravis didn't respond immediately, his thoughts still fixed on the guildmaster's words. Reynar Vordin, a man who would one day become an important figure in the war, had placed his trust in them. Not that it mattered to Dravis; trust was irrelevant in the grand scheme. But it did highlight the gravity of the situation.

If even the guilds were wary of this quest, then they were treading on dangerous ground.

"You're right to worry," Sylvanna continued, sensing his silence as an opening. "This plague, this town… it's got 'cursed magic' written all over it. And you know what that means." She smirked, her fingers lightly brushing the hilt of one of her daggers. "Demons, artifacts, or worse. But hey, that's what makes it fun, right?"

Dravis finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "Fun isn't the word I'd use."

Sylvanna's grin widened. "You really need to lighten up. This is exactly the kind of challenge we thrive on. Cursed town in the middle of nowhere? Mysterious disappearances? Missing adventurers?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sounds like a great time to me."

Her words carried a playful edge, but Dravis could see the truth beneath her teasing. Sylvanna relished these kinds of dangerous situations. It wasn't just the thrill of the hunt—it was the resources, the power she could gather. Every encounter was an opportunity for her to test her growing army of chimeras, to push the limits of what they could handle.

And, of course, to claim whatever rewards they might find along the way.

"You're eager to test your new chimeras, I take it," Dravis said, his tone unreadable.

Sylvanna shrugged, her fingers drumming idly against her dagger. "You know me too well. But yeah, I am. The last batch of materials we picked up during that goblin raid has really paid off. They're stronger, faster. And I'm itching to see how they fare against something more dangerous than a bunch of half-witted goblins."

Dravis didn't respond, but his mind drifted briefly to the sight of Sylvanna's chimeras in action. Each one was a monstrous combination of power and precision, beasts that she had crafted and enhanced with an almost obsessive dedication. They were more than just tools for battle—they were extensions of her will, honed and perfected over countless encounters.

And if this quest did involve a powerful demon or cursed artifact, then it would be the perfect opportunity to see just how far her creations had come.

As they continued walking through the streets of Drakhan, the atmosphere shifted. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the city was bathed in the cool light of the moon. The noise of the day had faded into a quiet murmur, and the streets were now mostly empty, save for the occasional passing patrol or lingering merchant.

The silence suited Dravis. It gave him time to think, to plan.

"We'll need supplies," he said abruptly, his voice breaking the quiet between them. "Enough for a week's journey, maybe more. The mountains aren't forgiving this time of year, and if this plague is as dangerous as it seems, we'll need to be prepared for anything."

Sylvanna raised an eyebrow, amused by his sudden shift into logistical mode. "Always so practical. Fine, we'll stock up. But don't think I didn't notice how you brushed off that guildmaster's comment about an S-rank adventurer vouching for us. Any idea who that might be?"

Dravis shook his head. "No. But it doesn't matter."

Sylvanna chuckled. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Ignoring her teasing, Dravis led them through the winding streets toward the market district. Most of the stalls were closing up for the night, but a few vendors remained, selling food, potions, and other adventuring supplies. The two of them approached a merchant known for catering to adventurers heading into dangerous territories—a portly man with a weathered face and sharp eyes.

"Need supplies?" the merchant asked, eyeing the duo with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "You two planning something big?"

Dravis didn't waste time on small talk. "Provisions for a week, healing potions, and mana restoration vials. Enough for two."

The merchant nodded, already pulling out the requested items. "Heading to the mountains, eh? Dangerous place this time of year. Heard there's a town up there dealing with some… strange happenings."

"Just give us what we asked for," Sylvanna said, her tone sharp but playful as she flicked a coin pouch onto the counter. "We're not here for a weather report."

The merchant chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to it. "Right, right. No need to get snappy. Here's your stuff." He pushed the provisions toward them, along with several vials of glowing blue liquid—potent mana restoratives. "Safe travels, then. And, uh, watch your backs.

Not everyone comes back from those mountains, you know."

Sylvanna grinned as she scooped up the items, tossing them into her bag with a flourish. "We don't plan on dying anytime soon."

With their supplies secured, the two of them made their way back through the city streets, heading toward the inn where they had been staying. Dravis remained silent, his mind still working through the details of the quest. The town in the mountains, the missing shadows, the possibility of an artifact or demon at play—it all fit too perfectly into the game's original storyline.

They reached the inn, a modest establishment tucked away from the main thoroughfare. The innkeeper, an older woman with a kind smile, greeted them as they entered.

"Welcome back," she said warmly. "Your room's ready, same as always."

Dravis nodded in acknowledgment, while Sylvanna offered a lazy wave before heading toward the stairs.

Once they were in the privacy of their room, Dravis pulled out the documents Reynar had given him, spreading them across the small table. Sylvanna, ever the rogue, plopped herself onto the bed, kicking off her boots and stretching out as if they weren't about to embark on a dangerous quest in the morning.

"So," she said, her voice casual but her eyes sharp. "What's the real plan?"

Dravis scanned the documents, his sharp eyes picking out key details. The town was isolated, perched high in the mountains with only one main route in and out. The plague had spread quickly, with the first cases appearing two months ago. Since then, over half the town had fallen into comas, their shadows lost to whatever force was at play.

"The guildmaster was right," Dravis said after a moment, his voice low and thoughtful. "This isn't a natural illness. It's either a curse or the work of a demon. If it's an artifact, we'll need to destroy it before the plague spreads. If it's a demon, we kill it."

Sylvanna propped herself up on one elbow, her eyes glinting with interest. "And what if it's both?"

Dravis looked up from the papers, his gaze meeting hers. "Then we destroy them both."

Sylvanna grinned, her excitement barely contained. "Sounds like my kind of quest. Plenty of danger, plenty of rewards. I'm in."

Dravis folded the papers, tucking them back into his cloak. "We leave at dawn. Make sure your chimeras are ready."

Sylvanna's grin widened. "Oh, they're more than ready. I've got a few new tricks up my sleeve. Trust me, this demon—or whatever it is—won't know what hit it."

Dravis gave her a curt nod, though his mind was already moving to the next steps. They had the supplies, the information, and the plan. Now all that remained was the execution.

As the night wore on and the city of Drakhan fell into a peaceful slumber, Dravis and Sylvanna prepared for the journey ahead. The mountains awaited them, along with the cursed town and the dark force that threatened to spread its corruption. They had faced worse before, but this quest was different.

This time, the stakes weren't just about survival—they were about controlling the very fate of the world.

And Dravis would make sure that, no matter what, the future played out exactly as he intended.