The Villain Professor's Second Chance

As Kael flipped open the cover, the enchantments within the journal truly came to life. A faint, melodic hum emanated from the pages, and the illustrations seemed to breathe, shifting seamlessly between stillness and movement. A forest scene unfurled across one page, the trees swaying gently as a breeze rippled through their leaves. On the next, a flickering campfire lit the faces of adventurers locked in quiet conversation. The text itself moved like flowing water, scrolling across the pages in elegant, curling letters that reshaped themselves into new stories and spells before Kael's eyes.

"Still smitten with those, huh?" Liora leaned against the stall, arms crossed. His smirk was firmly in place, though he glanced briefly at the glowing pages with a flicker of curiosity. "Let me guess. You're about to say something poetic about how it 'brings history to life,' or some such nonsense."

Kael barely heard him, his fingers gently tracing the edge of the page as it transformed into an illustration of a mage standing atop a craggy cliff. The mage's image flickered, becoming almost lifelike as the journal's enchantments created a projection that hovered just above the page. The figure moved subtly—robes billowing, hands gesturing as if mid-incantation.

"I never get tired of this," Kael murmured, his voice filled with wonder. "It's like you're not just reading about history—you're stepping into it."@@novelbin@@

The merchant, overhearing him, chuckled softly. "You've got a good eye, lad. That's what Arcane Chronicles is all about—bringing magic to life. They say if you concentrate hard enough, you can almost hear the voices of the people in the stories."

Kael's eyes widened, and he tilted the journal closer, as though daring to test the merchant's claim. A faint, melodic whisper seemed to reach his ears, indistinct but undeniably there, like an echo from some distant memory.

Liora snorted, shaking his head. "That's how they get you, kid. Whisper a few rumors, sprinkle in some magic, and suddenly you're dropping silver on a book you'll barely use."

Kael laughed softly, flipping to another page. The new illustration depicted a bustling mage's guild, the figures within it animated in their tasks. The text described the guild's most accomplished members, their names bolded and framed in shimmering gold. Kael's fingers stilled as his eyes landed on a name he recognized.

The projection shifted, and a lifelike image of the mage rose from the page, her piercing gaze seeming to lock onto Kael's. For a moment, the market faded into the background, and all he could see was the face of someone he had long sought.

Liora, noticing the change in Kael's demeanor, raised an eyebrow. "Aha," he said, his smirk widening. "It's not the journal you're after, is it? What is it? A girl? Your girl?" Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

Kael chuckled, though his voice carried a wistful edge. "No. Just… a dear friend."

The weight in his tone silenced Liora's teasing, though only briefly. He studied Kael's expression, then shrugged. "Fair enough," he said lightly. "But let's hope your 'dear friend' doesn't mind you dragging us through every market in the kingdom to find them."

Kael grinned despite himself, flipping the journal closed and tucking it carefully into his satchel. He straightened, glancing at Liora with a faint smile. "Thanks for waiting," he said, his voice genuine as he fell back into step beside him.

Liora rolled his eyes but said nothing, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his sharp gaze as they moved deeper into the market's glow.

"I'm a patient man," Liora said, his smirk returning. "But only just."

They moved toward a quieter corner of the market, where the noise of the crowd faded into the background. Liora leaned against a lamppost, his sharp eyes still scanning the surroundings. Kael pulled out the journal again, skimming through its pages with a mixture of curiosity and determination.

"So," Liora said, breaking the silence. "What's next on your grand quest?"

Kael glanced up, his eyes bright with excitement. "I… I want to try something harder. Something that can actually push me. Isn't that the point of all this?"

Liora raised an eyebrow, his smirk softening. "Careful, kid. Ambition's a fine thing, but it has a way of getting people killed if they're not ready."

"I am ready," Kael said, his voice firm. "And if I'm not, how else will I learn?"

Liora studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Kael's surprise, he nodded. "Alright. Let's see what you're made of."

Kael's excitement was infectious, and for a moment, Liora's smirk faded into something warmer. Watching Kael's determination stirred a memory, a flicker of a younger, more optimistic version of himself. He shook the thought away, his expression hardening once more.

"Don't make me regret this," Liora said, pushing off the lamppost. "Come on. Let's see what the guild has to offer."

The Adventurer's Guild was a stark contrast to its usual raucous atmosphere, the late hour casting a quieter, almost solemn air over the room. Dim lanterns flickered from their mounts on the stone walls, their light dancing across the wooden beams and casting long, wavering shadows. Most of the usual crowd of mercenaries and adventurers had cleared out, leaving behind only a few stragglers nursing their drinks or pouring over maps spread across the scattered tables. The faint hum of murmured conversations mixed with the occasional clink of a tankard against the worn wood of the bar.

At the center of the hall, the quest board stood like a sentinel, its surface plastered with parchment. Each sheet fluttered faintly in the draft, bearing hand-scrawled descriptions of tasks ranging from mundane deliveries to perilous expeditions. Kael approached with eager strides, his eyes scanning the listings with a hunger that belied his earlier fatigue.

His gaze settled on one near the bottom—a Tier D quest scrawled in bold ink: "Shadowfang Spiders in the Abandoned Mines—Nest Must Be Cleared. Venomous. Extreme Caution Advised."

"This one," Kael said, pointing at the parchment with unmistakable excitement.

Liora, standing a few steps behind, raised an eyebrow. "Shadowfang Spiders, huh? Ambitious. I like it."

The clerk behind the desk looked up, his weathered face etched with skepticism. He adjusted his round spectacles, the lenses catching the warm light as he leaned forward to squint at Kael. "You sure about that, kid?" he asked, his voice rough but not unkind. "Shadowfang Spiders aren't exactly… beginner material. Their venom's no joke, and their traps are worse. Webs thicker than steel wire, cunning as a pack of wolves. You step wrong in their nest, and you'll regret it—if you make it out at all."

Kael's enthusiasm faltered for a brief second, but he straightened, determination setting his jaw. "I can handle it."

The clerk's frown deepened, his gaze appraising Kael with a mix of doubt and concern. "Look, I'm not in the habit of handing death warrants to green adventurers. You'd be better off starting with something safer. Herding frost goats, maybe. Or clearing slimes out of a farm cellar."

Kael bristled but kept his voice steady. "I've trained for this. I'm not afraid."

The clerk snorted, shaking his head. "Bravery's cheap, kid. Skill's what keeps you alive."