The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Queen Aurelia's voice cut through the room like a sharp blade, her eyes glazed over with disinterest as I spoke. I paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch out, then continued, trying not to let her constant interruptions throw me off.

"As I was saying," I resumed, "the foundation of magic lies in understanding the flow of mana, not merely in manipulating it, but in—"

"Boring," Aurelia cut in again, this time with a heavy sigh. She leaned back in her chair, twirling a strand of her platinum blonde hair between her fingers. "Next."

I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. Teaching Aurelia was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It wasn't that she lacked the intelligence or capacity—far from it. Aurelia was a genius, a prodigy capable of greatness. No, the issue was her demeanor, her insufferable arrogance and complete disregard for anything she deemed too simple.

But I pressed on. "You cannot rush the basics, Your Majesty. Without a solid foundation, even the most talented mage will find themselves—"

"Boring." This time, her eyes rolled. "Are you just going to drone on like an old man? Next."

I felt a sharp twinge of annoyance creep up, but I kept my expression cold, unaffected. Teaching her was like playing chess against someone who didn't respect the game but still wanted to win. I needed a new approach, something more immediate and tactile, something that would engage her directly.

"Very well," I said, turning slightly to face her more directly. "Let's skip ahead to something more… practical."

Your adventure continues at empire

For a moment, Aurelia's eyes sparked with interest, but then, almost predictably, she leaned her head against her hand and muttered, "Make it quick. I have better things to do."

It wasn't that she didn't want to learn—no, I knew better than that. Aurelia was curious about everything. She just wanted a challenge, something worthy of her attention. The question was, how far could I push her? Where was her breaking point? I had to find it.

With a faint exhale, I reached into the pocket of my robe and pulled out my Psychokinesis Pen. It hovered in front of me, suspended in the air by the invisible threads of my magic. I made no grand gestures, just a flicker of concentration, a slight narrowing of my eyes.

Aurelia, for once, was watching. Her boredom seemed to evaporate, replaced by the barest hint of intrigue.

"If you can take this pen from my control using your psychokinesis," I said, my voice low and measured, "then I'll end today's lesson early."

Her eyes snapped to mine, and for the first time since the lesson had begun, she smiled—no, she smirked. That sharp, predatory grin she reserved for when she thought she had already won.

"Finally, something interesting," she murmured. "I was beginning to think you were just going to lecture me to death, you bastard."

I could see the fire in her now, that competitive edge that drove her. She thought this was just another game, another challenge she could easily overcome with her natural talent. And in truth, her psychokinetic abilities were impressive. But this wasn't about raw power. It was about control, discipline. And that was something Aurelia had never had to master.

Not yet, anyway.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

She leaned forward, extending her hand lazily toward the pen, her fingers twitching ever so slightly as her mana reached out. I could feel her power, the sheer force behind her movements as she tried to pull the pen toward her. But I held it steady, my grip unyielding.

Aurelia frowned, her brow furrowing slightly. She hadn't expected resistance—not from something so simple.

"Try again," I said, my voice calm, almost teasing.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. The smirk was gone now, replaced with the kind of concentration that only came when her pride was on the line. She focused harder, her mana surging, pushing against mine with a renewed intensity. I could feel her energy, hot and fierce, wrapping around the pen and tugging at it with a force that would have snapped the will of any lesser magician.

But I wasn't just any magician.

The pen remained motionless, hovering calmly in the air between us.

Aurelia gritted her teeth, frustration flashing across her face. She was used to getting her way, used to winning with minimal effort. This was new to her, this resistance, this challenge that she couldn't just brute-force her way through.

Her hand twitched again, and she tried once more. This time, there was more finesse, more control. She wasn't just relying on her raw power anymore—she was thinking, adjusting, trying to find the right angle, the right leverage. But still, the pen didn't move.

A bead of sweat appeared at her temple, and I could see her growing more desperate with each passing second. She was a quick learner, I'd give her that. She'd already figured out that this wasn't just a matter of force. She was adapting, fast. But it still wasn't enough.

Another attempt. This time, she gripped the edges of her chair, her entire body tensing as she poured more of her mana into the effort. Her platinum hair fell slightly across her face, and as she pushed herself harder, I noticed a strand of red slip into her bangs. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but there it was—a single strand of crimson, bright against the pale gold.

Interesting.

"Giving up already?" I asked, keeping my voice calm, controlled.

"Shut up," she spat, her frustration evident. "I'm just getting started."

She wasn't lying. Her focus sharpened, and I could feel her mana becoming more refined, more controlled with every second. She was learning. Fast. Aurelia had always been quick to pick up on things, and this was no exception. But that wasn't enough.

Not today.

Another attempt. And another. But still, the pen didn't budge.

I watched her closely, noting the way her brow furrowed in concentration, the way her breathing became more labored, the subtle sheen of sweat forming on her skin. Despite her arrogance, despite her fiery temper, she was beautiful in that moment. There was something captivating about watching her struggle, watching her push herself to her limits.

But it wasn't beauty that interested me. It was potential.

I could see it now, clearer than ever before. Aurelia wasn't just talented—she was powerful, more powerful than even she realized. But she lacked the discipline to harness that power fully. And that was what I needed to teach her. She needed to taste defeat, to learn humility, to understand that raw talent wasn't enough to survive what was coming.

And yet, she wasn't ready to accept that. Not yet.

"Are you just showing off?" she growled, her voice laced with irritation as she slumped back in her chair, finally releasing her hold on the pen. "Give me three days, you bastard. I'll take that damn thing from you, and you won't even see it coming."

I raised an eyebrow, my expression as cold and indifferent as ever. "Three days, is it?"

She glared at me, her fiery eyes locked on mine, but there was a spark of something else there too—something more than just frustration. She had been pushed today, and she didn't like it. But she wasn't defeated. No, if anything, she was more determined than ever.

"Three days," she repeated, her voice firm. "And then I'll wipe that smug look off your face."

I didn't bother to argue. It wasn't necessary. She needed this—this challenge, this taste of defeat. And in three days, she would either rise to the occasion, or she would fall. Either way, it would be a lesson she wouldn't soon forget.

But for now, the class was over.

"Very well," I said, finally releasing the pen from my psychokinesis and letting it fall gently into my hand. "Class dismissed."

As I turned to leave, I could feel her eyes burning into my back, her pride wounded but her spirit unbroken. Good. She needed that fire if she was going to survive the trials ahead. And one day, she would understand that this wasn't just a game.

But for now, I had given her exactly what she wanted.

A challenge.

Just as I rose to leave, I paused, sensing an opportunity—one that could further push her into thinking beyond magic, beyond the mundane.

If my memory is correct, it's a game that the Queen occasionally played as well.

Aurelia's sharp gaze flicked to me, catching the subtle shift in my movement.

"What do you want again, bastard?" she snapped, her voice sharp with annoyance. She was clearly still irritated from the earlier challenge, her fiery temper simmering just beneath the surface. Yet there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes, as if she knew I wouldn't stop without reason.

I turned back to face her, my expression calm and composed. "I was merely wondering, Your Majesty," I began, choosing my words carefully, "if you've ever had any interest in playing Go?"