The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The guildmaster was no ordinary man, that much was obvious from his stature and the quiet authority with which he carried himself. His broad shoulders, graying hair, and sharp eyes betrayed years of experience, someone who had survived countless battles and conflicts. He wasn't just the head of the adventurer's guild in Drakhan; he was more than that.

Dravis knew that men like him didn't simply run guilds—they held knowledge, influence, and perhaps even power that could shape the course of events.

The guildmaster smiled as if sensing Dravis's analysis. There was something almost fatherly in the expression, though his eyes remained sharp, appraising the adventurer before him. "I suppose you'd like to know who it is you're dealing with," the guildmaster began, his voice warm but edged with a certain steel. "The name's Reynar Vordin. I've held this post for longer than I care to remember."

Dravis's eyes flickered at the name. Reynar Vordin. The moment the words left the guildmaster's mouth, a flood of memories rushed through Draven's mind. He remembered the name clearly from his past life, back when this world was nothing more than a game to him. Reynar Vordin had been a prominent NPC, one whose importance grew as the story progressed.

Reynar wasn't just any guildmaster. In the original game's final arc, he had been one of the few guild leaders who sided with the players during the climactic war against the Demon Lord's forces. His role had been crucial in rallying adventurers and ensuring the safety of various cities, including Drakhan, the very capital they stood in now.

More than that, Reynar Vordin had joined the war himself, fighting alongside the player's forces in the final battle. He had been one of the few named NPCs who survived the carnage, though scarred both physically and emotionally by the end.

The realization struck Draven like a bolt of lightning. Reynar's involvement in this world's future was significant. If Dravis was to manipulate events and control the timeline as he intended, he would need allies like Reynar. Keeping the guildmaster on his side would be crucial, not just for his current objectives but for the greater war that was to come.

Reynar seemed unaware of Dravis's internal calculations. "I've heard plenty about you and your companion," he continued. "Shadowbound. I must say, the tales have grown more impressive each time I hear them. You've certainly made a name for yourself."

Dravis didn't respond immediately. Instead, he simply nodded, acknowledging the guildmaster's words without offering any further commentary. His mind was still working, processing how best to utilize Reynar's knowledge and influence in the future. There was much to consider, and though Reynar was important, Dravis had learned long ago to play the long game.

The guildmaster smiled knowingly, as if he expected nothing more from Dravis. "Well, I'm glad you've chosen to take this quest. I won't mince words—it's dangerous. More so than anything we've seen in recent times."

With that, Reynar turned, gesturing for Dravis and Sylvanna to follow him into his private office at the back of the guildhall. The room was lined with bookshelves filled with tomes, maps, and various artifacts collected over the years. Reynar moved behind his desk, pulling out several papers and laying them across the surface.

"This quest—the Plague of Shadows—has been on the board for months now," he began, his tone more serious. "No one has come back from it alive, and the last team we sent out… well, we've heard nothing from them in weeks. It's not like them to simply disappear. These were seasoned adventurers, not the kind to be easily bested."

He gestured to a map pinned to the wall behind him. "The town is nestled in the mountains. Remote, difficult to reach, and cut off from most major trade routes. The people there have reported strange occurrences—people losing their shadows, falling into comas, and eventually… disappearing altogether. Their bodies remain, but their souls, their minds—it's as if they've been taken."

Sylvanna leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking bored, though Draven knew better. Her eyes glimmered with interest, even as she sighed dramatically. "Sounds like the usual mess of a cursed artifact or demon," she drawled. "Probably some idiot tampered with something they shouldn't have."

Reynar raised an eyebrow at her casual tone but didn't comment. "That's our working theory as well. There have been whispers of a powerful artifact hidden somewhere in the mountains near the town. Others believe it's the work of a demon—one of the higher ranks, though we can't confirm that. All we know is that it's dangerous. The kind of danger that only grows if left unchecked."

He rifled through some of the papers on his desk before pulling out a document detailing the last known movements of the missing adventurers. "We sent a scouting party there two months ago. They were supposed to investigate the source of the plague and report back. They never returned.

The last we heard from them was a letter sent via a courier—nothing substantial, just notes on the worsening conditions. After that, silence."

Dravis listened carefully, committing the details to memory. He could sense the weight of the quest pressing down on the guildmaster. This wasn't just a job—it was something far more sinister, something that could escalate into a full-scale disaster if not handled swiftly. Dravis knew that if the plague spread, the consequences would be dire, not just for the town but for the region and beyond.

Reynar leaned forward, his gaze hard. "We've sent word to other guilds and towns, but no one is willing to take the risk. Too many have lost their lives already. But you two—Shadowbound—you might be the only ones capable of handling this. The guild believes in your abilities, and frankly, I'm out of options."

Sylvanna let out a low chuckle, her arms still crossed as she eyed the papers. "Sounds like a good time," she said with a sly grin. "Cursed artifacts, demons, towns on the verge of collapse—it's like you're handing us the perfect challenge on a silver platter."

Draven shot her a brief glance, though there was a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth—almost a smirk. Sylvanna's cocky attitude was nothing new, and while others might mistake her laziness for disinterest, Draven knew better. Sylvanna thrived on challenges like this. The more dangerous the quest, the more eager she became, even if she masked it with her usual snarky remarks.

And beyond that, Draven knew she was always seeking more resources—more power to strengthen her growing legion of chimeras.

"She's right," Dravis finally said, his voice low but commanding. "We'll handle it."

Reynar exhaled, clearly relieved to hear their confirmation. He slid the papers across the desk toward Dravis. "Here's everything we have so far—the town's location, the last known whereabouts of the scouting party, and a few leads on where you might find the source of the plague."

Dravis glanced at the documents, skimming the information quickly. His mind was already working through the logistics of their journey, planning out the steps they would take once they reached the town. He had dealt with curses and demons before, and though this quest held unique challenges, he was confident they could handle it.

More importantly, he knew that solving the mystery behind the Plague of Shadows was crucial to keeping the timeline intact.

"We'll leave at first light," Dravis said, folding the papers and tucking them into his cloak. "The town won't survive much longer if we wait." Continue your saga on empire

Sylvanna pushed off the wall, stretching her arms lazily. "I'm all for a good challenge. I just hope this cursed town has something worth my time."

Draven shot her another glance, knowing full well that her true interest lay in the resources she could gain. Sylvanna thrived in chaos, and while others saw a rogue with a lazy demeanor, he saw someone with a hunger for power as deep as his own. She was already thinking of how to test her chimeras in the field, how to gather more materials to bolster their strength.

"Don't worry," Dravis murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as they turned to leave Reynar's office. "There'll be plenty of opportunities to test your strength."

Sylvanna's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Good. Because this world hasn't seen what we're truly capable of."

And with that, the Shadowbound duo left the guildhall, their steps steady as they prepared to embark on yet another dangerous quest. The Plague of Shadows awaited them, and though it was only the beginning, Dravis knew that the stakes were higher than they seemed.

There was more at play here than just a cursed town or a demonic presence. The world itself was shifting, and Dravis intended to be the one controlling the strings.