The Villain Professor's Second Chance-Chapter 425: It’s Just a... Dream...?

Amberine groaned as she pushed herself off the floor, rubbing her sore arms. She had landed harder than she thought, her body aching in protest. She glanced around, finally taking in her surroundings. Her room in Aetherion was unlike anything she had imagined. It was luxurious, a stark contrast to the chaos she had faced only hours before. The stone floor was covered with soft, thick carpets, their texture welcoming under her bare feet. She couldn’t help but run her toes across them, feeling the plush fabric beneath her, a small sigh of comfort escaping her lips.

A large bed stood at one end of the room, its frame carved with intricate designs that matched the engravings on the walls. The blankets were layered, plush, and looked as though they would swallow her whole if she fell into them. Pillows, soft and numerous, were scattered across the headboard. Amberine blinked at the sight, her body suddenly aware of how much it craved that comfort. But something else caught her attention—a large window, occupying almost an entire wall.

Slowly, she walked towards it, her heart pounding in her chest as she peered out. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her. The window looked directly into the ocean that surrounded Aetherion, an underwater world unlike anything she had ever seen. Schools of glowing fish swam by, their bodies shimmering with blues, greens, and pinks. Their movements were fluid, graceful, like they were dancing through the water. In the distance, she could make out larger silhouettes, massive shadows that moved with a deliberate slowness. It was eerie, the way they loomed just out of sight, but at the same time, there was something calming about it.

Amberine pressed her hand against the cool glass, her eyes wide with wonder. She had never seen anything like it before. The ocean was alive, vibrant, a hidden world that seemed to stretch on forever. She could almost feel the weight of it, the vastness of the water surrounding her, and yet it didn’t frighten her. Instead, she felt a sense of peace, the quiet depths soothing her frayed nerves. Her reflection in the glass looked back at her, her eyes wide, her lips parted in awe.

"Maybe staying here wouldn’t be so bad," she whispered to herself. Aetherion, with all its mysteries and dangers, still held a beauty that was undeniable. There was something about the isolation, the sense of being disconnected from the rest of the world, that made her think she could focus here. Really focus. Perhaps she could finally achieve something significant, away from the distractions of everything else. She could grow stronger, smarter, more capable—someone who wouldn’t be thrown around by the whims of magic and fate.

Amberine stepped away from the window, letting the curtains fall back into place. She continued to explore the room, her eyes darting from one corner to the next. She found a small desk, a set of neatly arranged quills and papers atop it. A bookshelf stood against the wall, filled with ancient tomes, their spines worn, some titles faded beyond recognition. She ran her fingers along the shelves, her curiosity piqued by the sheer age of the books. Who had left them here? How many people had stayed in this room before her?

A wardrobe stood on the opposite wall, its doors slightly ajar. Inside, she found finely woven robes, each one more elegant than the last. They were not extravagant, but the quality was undeniable—simple, comfortable, perfect for studying. She pulled out one of the robes, feeling the fabric slip between her fingers, soft and cool. It was a far cry from the heavy, worn cloak she had been wearing since she arrived. Enjoy more content from novelbuddy

At the far end of the room, she noticed a small door. Amberine opened it cautiously, her eyes widening in surprise as she found a private bathroom beyond. A marble basin sat atop a carved pedestal, a shower next to it that seemed to be enchanted. She twisted the handle, watching in amazement as warm water flowed effortlessly, steam rising in the air. Aetherion certainly knew how to make its guests comfortable.

There was even a table set with a tray of food, a small loaf of bread, some cheese, and a glass of water. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she saw it. The adrenaline from earlier had numbed her to everything else, but now that things were calm, her stomach growled in response. She sat down at the table, nibbling on the bread, her eyes wandering around the room. The events of the day played back in her mind—the spectres, Draven’s cold command, the overwhelming exhaustion that had gripped her. She still felt uneasy, but for now, the comfort of the room was enough.

After eating her fill, Amberine pushed herself away from the table, wiping her hands on a napkin. She needed to focus. She couldn’t let herself get swept away by the beauty of Aetherion or the chaos that had brought her here. She had come for a reason, and she couldn’t forget that.

Amberine moved over to the desk, taking out her notes, laying them out before her. Complex magical equations filled the pages, symbols and numbers scrawled in her somewhat messy handwriting. She picked up a quill, dipping it into ink, and began to write. Her mind dove into her studies, her focus sharpening as she worked through each problem, each equation. The steady scratch of the quill against parchment filled the room, the repetitive sound calming her, grounding her in the present.

As she worked, Amberine found herself forgetting the spectres, the terrifying chase through Aetherion’s halls. She lost herself in the intricacies of magic, the complexities of the equations requiring all her attention. She loved this—the challenge, the thrill of unraveling something that had once seemed impossible. It reminded her of why she had chosen this path, why she had decided to pursue magic, despite all the danger that came with it.

But even as she worked, a part of her mind lingered on the events that had brought her here. The spectres, their hollow eyes, the whispers that seemed to echo in her bones. The memory of them made her shiver, her quill pausing mid-stroke as she tried to shake off the unease. They had felt so real, so close, and she had felt so helpless against them. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to refocus on her work. She couldn’t let fear control her. Not now. Not ever.

Ifrit’s voice broke through her thoughts, a soft murmur that made her look up. The fire spirit was hovering near the window, his form subdued, the usual flames absent, leaving him a small, vulnerable salamander. He was staring out at the ocean, his eyes wide, his expression one of genuine fascination.

"It’s... beautiful," he whispered, his voice filled with awe. There was no sarcasm, no teasing in his tone, just a quiet reverence.

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Amberine smiled, setting her quill down as she watched him. It was rare to see Ifrit like this, so captivated by something. His usual sarcasm, his constant jabs, were nowhere to be found. She walked over to him, her eyes following his gaze to the ocean beyond. The water shimmered, the glow of the fish like stars in the night sky, the larger shadows moving slowly, their presence both daunting and mesmerizing.

"It really is," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. There was something magical about it, something that made her feel like she was part of something much larger than herself. For the first time since she had arrived, Amberine felt a sense of wonder rather than dread. Aetherion was beautiful, mysterious, and dangerous, but it was also a place filled with magic unlike anything she had ever seen.

Ifrit glanced at her, his eyes reflecting the shimmering blues and greens of the ocean. "I could get used to this," he said, his voice still soft, almost thoughtful.

Amberine laughed, the sound light, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Don’t get too comfortable," she teased, nudging him gently. "We’ve got work to do."

Ifrit rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance in his expression. He turned back to the window, his gaze once again lost in the depths of the ocean. Amberine watched him for a moment longer before returning to her desk, picking up her quill, her mind once again diving into her work.

But as the night wore on, exhaustion began to catch up with her. Her eyes grew heavy, her mind struggling to keep up with the equations in front of her. She let out a long sigh, setting her quill down, rubbing her tired eyes. She needed sleep. It had been a long day, and her body was finally giving in to the fatigue.

She stood, moving over to the wardrobe, pulling out one of the sleeping robes. The fabric was soft, cool against her skin as she changed, letting her worn clothes fall to the floor. She slipped into the bed, the plush blankets enveloping her, the pillows soft beneath her head. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, her eyes fluttering shut as she sank into the comfort of the bed.

Ifrit floated over to the windowsill, his eyes still on the ocean, but after a moment, he moved to the foot of her bed, curling up, his small form barely making a dent in the blankets. Amberine smiled at the sight, her heart swelling with a strange warmth. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his back, his scales cool beneath her touch.

"Goodnight, Ifrit," she whispered, her voice fading as sleep began to take hold.

"Goodnight, Amberine," Ifrit replied, his voice soft, almost affectionate. And with that, they both drifted off, the room falling into silence, the glow of the ocean beyond casting soft shadows across the walls.

____

The dream came suddenly, vivid and unsettling, pulling Amberine from the comfort of sleep and thrusting her into a place she had hoped never to see again. She was back in the abandoned building, the one she and Maris had fled from not so long ago. The walls were crumbling, the air thick with dust, each breath she took feeling heavy, her lungs straining against the suffocating atmosphere.

Amberine’s heart pounded in her chest, her eyes darting around as she took in her surroundings. The building was as she remembered it—dark, oppressive, the shadows long and thick, clinging to every corner. She could feel it, that sense of danger, the feeling that she was being watched. She wasn’t alone here. She could hear it—footsteps, soft, deliberate, echoing through the empty corridors.

Panic surged in her chest, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. She turned, her feet moving before her mind had time to catch up. She ran, her footsteps echoing in the dark, her heart pounding in her ears. The walls seemed to close in on her, the building twisting around her, the corridors endless, each turn leading to more darkness, more shadows.

She stumbled, her hand catching on a broken pillar, her body pressing against the cold stone as she tried to steady herself. She closed her eyes, her body trembling, her breath ragged. She could hear the footsteps growing closer, the soft, deliberate sound filling her ears, drowning out everything else. She prayed that she wouldn’t be found, that this nightmare would end, that she would wake up.

But then she heard it—a low, mocking chuckle. Her eyes snapped open, her heart freezing in her chest. Slowly, she turned, her gaze moving to the center of the room. He was there—the cloaked figure from the Devil Coffin. His face was obscured, hidden beneath the dark hood, but she could feel his gaze on her, could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on her.

He tilted his head slightly, as if listening, his movements slow, deliberate. His lips moved, forming words that seemed to echo through the dream, the sound clear despite the distance between them.

"Ah, so you’re there. The underground fortress, Aetherion."

Amberine’s breath caught in her throat, her body frozen with fear. The words echoed in her mind, each one filling her with a growing sense of dread. He knew where she was. He knew she was in Aetherion.

The dream ended abruptly, her eyes snapping open, her body jerking upright in bed. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her hands clutching at the blankets. The fear from the dream still clung to her, wrapping around her like a second skin, her body trembling.

She looked around, her eyes darting to every corner of the room, her gaze finally settling on Ifrit, who was still curled up at the foot of her bed. He stirred, his eyes opening, his gaze meeting hers, his expression one of concern.

"Amberine?" he whispered, his voice filled with worry.

Amberine swallowed hard, her breath shaky. "It was just a dream..?"