The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"This is a temporary collaboration," Draven, now going by the name Dravis, stated coldly, his voice sharp beneath the dark mask that concealed most of his face. The hood of his full-body assassin's attire cast a shadow over his calculating eyes.

Sharon, however, wasn't as subtle. She crossed her arms tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Temporary or not, I don't like this," she muttered, her fiery temper barely contained. Sharon's distrust was palpable, and though she had agreed to this uneasy alliance, she still bristled with suspicion.

"Relax, darling," Sylvanna teased with a mischievous grin, stepping closer to Sharon and giving her an exaggerated wink. "We're not here to cause trouble. Well, not yet anyway."

Sharon's face turned a shade of red so intense it could have rivaled the rising sun. "Don't call me darling!" she snapped, clenching her fists. Sylvanna's grin only widened as she leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the rise she was getting out of her.

"I don't know," Sylvanna drawled. "I think you and I could be good friends, Sharon. Maybe I could teach you how to handle that temper of yours, hmm?"

"Why, you—!" Sharon took a step forward, her hand reaching for her sword, but Sophie quickly intervened, gently resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Sharon, please," Sophie said, her voice calm yet firm. "We're all on the same side here."

Sharon huffed and glared at Sylvanna, but relented, lowering her hand from the hilt of her sword. Sylvanna chuckled, clearly satisfied with her victory, while Sharon fumed silently.

Before the tension could rise any further, a group of knights approached, their armor clanking softly as they moved to regroup with Sophie. At the forefront was Theo, a tall knight with broad shoulders and a kind but stern face. He gave a respectful nod to Sophie before glancing warily at the newcomers.

"Captain, we're ready to move when you are," Theo said, his voice steady but laced with suspicion as he eyed Dravis and Sylvanna. Beside him, Doran, a knight with sharp features and an even sharper tongue, frowned deeply, clearly unimpressed with the Shadowbound.

Rhea, a fierce-looking woman with a wild mane of dark hair, stood with her arms crossed, her piercing gaze fixed on Sylvanna. She said nothing but her distrust was evident in the way her eyes narrowed. The last knight, Evan, was the youngest of the group, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and wariness as he took in the imposing figures of Dravis and Sylvanna.

His hand lingered near his sword, his body tense.

"These are the Shadowbound," Sophie introduced them, her voice bright and reassuring despite the tension in the air. "They'll be joining us for the mission. This is Dravis and Sylvanna."

The knights' reactions were immediate—skeptical glances were exchanged, and Doran didn't even bother to hide his scowl. His eyes scanned Dravis from head to toe, taking in the assassin's attire, the hidden face, and the controlled, calculated way he moved. It was clear that Doran didn't trust him.

Theo stepped forward, his brow furrowed as he addressed Dravis directly. "With all due respect, Captain Sophie, how do we know we can trust them? Adventurers are known for their… loose morals."

Sylvanna, always one to jump into a conversation, gave Theo a slow, deliberate look up and down, her smile never faltering. "Loose morals? That's rich, coming from a knight."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sharon, sensing another insult, immediately stepped in, her voice sharp. "Watch your mouth, or I'll—"

Sylvanna raised her hands in mock surrender, clearly enjoying the chaos she was stirring. "Easy there, darling. I'm just saying, not all knights are as noble as they appear. Some of them have… let's say, flexible loyalties."

Sharon's face turned red again, and this time it looked like she might actually explode. "I swear, if you call me darling one more time—!"

Before the argument could escalate further, Doran stepped forward, his posture rigid, his voice dripping with disdain. "It's obvious, isn't it?" he sneered, his eyes locked on Dravis. "You adventurers—mercenaries, really—are only in this for the coin. You have no honor. No sense of duty. You're nothing compared to true knights."

Dravis remained silent, his sharp eyes observing every movement, every word. He could tell immediately what kind of man Doran was—a noble knight, not in the sense of honor, but in the sense of privilege. His posture was too stiff, too proud. His tone carried the arrogance of someone who had never been challenged, someone who believed they were superior simply by birthright.

Without missing a beat, Dravis calmly responded, his voice measured. "It's ironic," Dravis began, his voice low but cutting through the tension like a blade. "A knight speaks of honor while questioning those who save lives without the expectation of a title or lands in return."

Doran's face darkened, the air around him growing heavy with the weight of unspoken rage. His jaw tightened, but before he could snap back, Sylvanna stepped forward with a grin that bordered on wicked. She thrived in moments like this, when a simple comment could turn into a verbal sparring match, or even better, a physical one.

"Oh, but you're right, Sir Doran," she purred, her tone laced with mockery. "We're nothing compared to you 'noble' knights. We wouldn't know the first thing about inflating our egos while riding around on horses, pretending we're heroes of the realm."

That struck a nerve. Doran's face twisted in anger, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. His knuckles whitened with the force of his grip, the insult hitting deeper than Sylvanna's playful tone suggested.

"You dare mock the honor of knights?" Doran spat, his voice a low growl. "Of those who protect the kingdom with their lives?"

Sylvanna's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She leaned in, close enough to see the fury burning in Doran's eyes. "Oh, I'm not mocking you. I'm simply pointing out the obvious. You've got that whole 'noble knight' attitude down to a T. It's adorable, really."

Doran's eyes flared with rage, and that was the final straw. In one swift, angry motion, he unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the fading light as he pointed it directly at Sylvanna.

"Enough!" he barked, his voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "I won't stand here and listen to this—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Dravis moved faster than anyone could react. In one fluid motion, his own blade was drawn, the cold steel gleaming menacingly in the dim light. His posture was deceptively relaxed, but his eyes sharpened, a silent warning etched in the way he held his weapon. The blade hovered between him and Doran, a clear barrier that dared the knight to take another step.

"Careful," Dravis said softly, his voice calm but laced with a dangerous edge. "You wouldn't want to draw your sword unless you're prepared to use it."

The tension thickened, a palpable weight pressing down on everyone in the clearing. Sylvanna, still grinning, didn't move, but her hand hovered near her weapon, itching for the chance to escalate the situation further. The gleam in her eyes made it clear—she'd be more than happy to turn this exchange into a full-blown fight.

Behind them, Sharon, who had been quietly observing, instinctively rested her hand on the hilt of her own sword, her eyes narrowing as she gauged the situation. Her focus, however, remained on Sophie. If this encounter spiraled into violence, her first priority would be to protect her.

But Sophie, standing just behind them all, remained calm, her expression neutral despite the rising tension. She had seen moments like this play out too many times before—moments where a single misstep or careless word could turn an argument into bloodshed. And she was tired of it.

Sophie sighed softly, cutting through the tension like a cool breeze. "Enough, all of you."

Her voice, though soft, carried the weight of command. Dravis didn't lower his sword, but he glanced back at Sophie, his sharp gaze momentarily softening as he waited for her next move. Sylvanna cocked her head, clearly amused by Sophie's intervention but not fully ready to disengage. Doran, however, still seething with anger, seemed less inclined to listen.

"Lady Sophie," Doran snapped, his sword still pointed at Sylvanna, "are you seriously going to let them insult the honor of knights like this? I won't stand for it!"

"You've made your point, Sir Doran," Sophie replied calmly, stepping forward. She placed a hand on Dravis's shoulder, a silent request for him to stand down. "But this isn't the place for a fight."

Dravis hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered his blade, though his eyes never left Doran. Sylvanna, sensing the tension ease, finally let out a small, disappointed sigh and let her hand fall away from her own weapon. The grin on her face never wavered.

Doran, however, still looked ready to lash out. "But—"

"No," Sophie said, her voice firm. "This ends here."

For a moment, Doran stared at her, his frustration and pride warring in his eyes. But in the end, Sophie's calm authority won out. With a grunt of irritation, he sheathed his sword, though his expression made it clear that he wasn't happy about it.

"Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth. "But don't think for a second this is over."

With that, he turned and stormed off, his boots kicking up dust as he left the clearing. The tension slowly began to dissipate, but the air still felt heavy with unresolved emotions.

Sylvanna chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the drama. "Well, that was fun."

Sophie shot her a tired look, but she didn't have the energy to reprimand her. "Next time, let's avoid provoking the knights, shall we?"

Sylvanna smirked, but there was a glimmer of respect in her eyes. "No promises."

Dravis, for his part, simply nodded, as if dismissing the entire exchange as nothing more than a mild inconvenience. His sharp eyes moved to Sophie, who gave him a brief but grateful nod. She appreciated his restraint, though she knew better than to assume it would last.

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