The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"You're not done yet," Draven said, his tone harsh. "Get up."

Amberine's senses slowly returned to her, the ringing in her ears fading as Draven's commanding voice sliced through the haze. The sharpness of his tone, filled with urgency and authority, reignited a spark within her, compelling her to move. She forced herself to sit up, her limbs heavy with exhaustion and pain. Her vision cleared, revealing a scene of chaos and desperation.

Two demons, monstrous and menacing, were held in place by an invisible force. Draven stood at a distance, gripping a pen as if it were a wand, his face twisted in concentration. The strain was evident in his expression, the beads of sweat forming on his brow. The pen in his hand glowed with a faint, eerie light, and the air around him crackled with raw magical energy.

Every muscle in his body seemed tense, his left arm trembling slightly from the effort of containing the demons.

Amberine's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to her feet, her entire body protesting in agony. She glanced at Draven, then at the demons, their grotesque forms writhing against the invisible bonds that held them. The force wavered, and one of the demons let out a guttural roar, thrashing violently. Amberine's breath caught in her throat, fear freezing her in place.

A sudden movement caught her eye. Another demon, larger and more ferocious, charged towards Draven, its claws outstretched. Amberine's breath caught in her throat, fear freezing her in place. But before the demon could reach him, a figure appeared, swift and lethal. Alfred, Draven's ever-loyal butler, intercepted the attack with a powerful kick, knocking the demon's claw aside.

In a fluid motion, he parried another swipe with his knife, his movements precise and deadly.

"Finish it!" Draven's voice rang out, filled with urgency and command. There was no room for hesitation.

In a blur of motion, Sophie stepped forward, her ice-infused mana radiating from her. Her sword, glistening with frost, sliced through the air with deadly accuracy. In a single, swift motion, she beheaded the demon that Draven had contained. The creature's head fell to the ground with a heavy thud, its body collapsing in a heap of dark, twisted flesh.

Amberine watched in awe, her gaze shifting to Sophie. The young noblewoman's face was set in a mask of determination, her eyes cold and focused. Amberine's eyes flickered to the side, noticing another demon's corpse lying where Sophie had come from. It was clear that Sophie had already taken down one demon before coming to their aid.

Her attention snapped back to Draven. He stood amidst the chaos, his posture rigid and his expression stoic. There were two more demon corpses at his feet, indicating that he had immediately gone to save her after dealing with his own foes. The realization struck her hard—despite his cold demeanor, Draven had risked himself to protect her.

The queen, observing from a safe distance, assessed the situation with a bitter expression. She muttered to herself, "If only I weren't the queen, they wouldn't keep me from joining the battle."

Duke Icevern approached her, his presence commanding. "It's fine, Your Majesty," he said, his tone reassuring. "There's no need for you to endanger yourself."

The queen's gaze shifted to Draven, who was still holding the demons at bay. "Is it ready yet?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of impatience.

Draven's response was curt. "Almost."

Amberine's mind raced, trying to comprehend the situation. She knew that the other professors and the Headmaster would be a great help right now, but they had been invited to attend the next agenda after the performance. Their absence was sorely felt, as the current court mages were struggling to handle even one demon.

The queen clicked her tongue in frustration, her eyes narrowing as she watched the court mages' futile attempts to combat the demons. "This would be much easier with them here," she muttered.

Amberine turned her attention back to the battle at hand. She could see the exhaustion in Draven's eyes, the toll that maintaining the spell was taking on him. She knew she had to act, to do something to help. She clenched her fists, feeling the rough texture of the ground beneath her fingers, grounding herself in the reality of the situation.

As if sensing her resolve, Alfred glanced her way, a brief nod of encouragement passing between them. He returned his focus to the demons, moving with a deadly grace that spoke of years of training and experience. His knife flashed in the dim light, a blur of silver as he struck at the demons, keeping them at bay with his swift, precise movements.

Sophie, too, was relentless. Her ice magic crackled in the air, her sword a blur as she cut down any demon that dared come close. She moved with the fluidity of a dancer, her every strike calculated and lethal. The ground around her was littered with the bodies of fallen demons, their blood staining the earth a dark, oily black.

Amberine forced herself to her feet, every muscle protesting. She could feel the magic within her, a warmth that spread from her core, igniting a fire in her veins. She summoned her power, the familiar sensation of mana coursing through her body. She had to help, to protect those who were fighting to protect her.

She raised her hands, calling forth a spell. The air around her shimmered with magical energy as she chanted the incantation, her voice steady despite the chaos around her. A ball of fire formed in her hands, growing larger and brighter with each passing second. She hurled it at the nearest demon, watching as it exploded on impact, engulfing the creature in flames.

The demon shrieked, its body writhing in agony as the fire consumed it. Amberine didn't stop to watch. She turned her attention to the next demon, summoning another spell. She could feel the drain on her energy, the toll that casting was taking on her already exhausted body, but she pushed through it. She had to.

Amberine's hands burned with the effort of casting her spells, but she pushed through, determined to contribute. As she blasted another demon, she saw the other heads of the great families of Regaria finishing their battles. The Duke of Blackthorn, his every move calculated and deadly, struck down the last demon in his path with a fierce cry.

Nearby, Earl Falken's powerful strikes cleaved through the remaining enemies with ease. The combined might of these warriors was awe-inspiring, and Amberine couldn't help but feel a surge of respect.

Count Valen and Baroness Windmere raised a shimmering barrier around the perimeter of the hall, their magic intertwining to form an impenetrable wall. The barrier pulsed with energy, ensuring no demon could escape and wreak havoc on the outside world. Amberine watched, wide-eyed, as the great families showcased their unmatched power and coordination.

"They're incredible," she whispered to herself, her voice filled with awe.

"You're not doing so bad yourself," Ignis said encouragingly. "Stay focused. This isn't over yet."

The chaos seemed to settle, a tense calm descending upon the room. The queen let out a soft, relieved sigh, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. But the respite was short-lived.

"It hasn't ended yet," Draven's cold voice rang out, cutting through the silence like a knife. His expression was as impassive as ever, his eyes scanning the room with a keen, unrelenting gaze.

Amberine turned to see fourteen more demons materializing from the shadows, their forms even more grotesque and menacing than the first wave. The air grew thick with a malevolent energy, the pressure bearing down on them with an almost physical force.

Sophie, standing beside Draven, muttered under her breath, "I guess it's not going to end that easily."

Her brother, Lancefroz, took his place beside Alfred, his stance defensive and ready. "Draven, I think it couldn't be delayed any longer. The queen and the prince are in danger!"

The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. The demons advanced with a terrifying speed, their eyes gleaming with a hunger for destruction. The great families braced themselves, their weapons and spells at the ready.

Amberine felt a surge of panic, but she forced herself to stay calm. She could see the determination in the eyes of those around her, their resolve unwavering even in the face of such overwhelming odds. She glanced at Draven, who stood silent and still, his eyes closed in concentration.

"Draven!" Lancefroz called out, his voice tinged with impatience as he held four demons at bay. "We need you now!"

The demons closed in, their claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Amberine felt her heart race, the fear threatening to overwhelm her. But then, Draven's eyes snapped open, and the entire banquet hall floor shone with a brilliant blue mana. Beautiful patterns of a magic circle spread out beneath them, the intricate designs glowing with an ethereal light.

The demons recoiled, their movements faltering as the magic circle's power enveloped the room. Draven's expression remained calm, his gaze focused and unyielding.

"Now," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "Attack."