Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 73: False alarm

Chapter 73: False alarm

Silence.

Thick. Heavy.

But... nothing happened.

The forest didn’t explode.

No ancient horror clawed its way out of the ground.

No shadow tendrils, no screaming voices, no nightmares.

Just... nothing.

I blinked.

Leo’s fingers brushed the Phantom Fish Scale, and I felt the pulse—

And that was it.

Seriously?

"Uh... Professor?" Felix’s voice broke the silence.

"Yeah?" I muttered, still watching the pond like it was about to spit out a demon.

"Is... something supposed to happen?"

I frowned.

"Give it a second."

We all waited.

Five seconds.

Ten.

Nothing.

Leo shifted beside me, his breathing still heavy.

"I... I don’t feel anything," he murmured.

No pulse.

No whispers.

Just... silence.

"Professor," Julien murmured, his sword still raised. "Are we good?"

I scanned the area, stretching my senses outward.

The mana... was calm.

No hostile signatures.

No danger.

Just...

"False alarm," I muttered, exhaling slowly.

"Wait... what?" Felix blinked.

"False alarm," I repeated, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Nothing’s coming."

Mira stepped out of the shadows, her dagger still in hand. "You sure?"

"Yeah," I murmured, feeling the tension leave my shoulders. "I’m sure."

The weight in the air was gone.

Whatever I’d felt earlier—

It was nothing.

"Seriously?" Julien groaned, lowering his sword. "You scared the hell out of us for that?"

"Not my fault," I muttered, standing up straight. "The pulse felt real."

"Yeah, well..." Julien rubbed his neck, rolling his shoulders. "Next time, maybe don’t make it sound like the world’s ending."

"Noted," I muttered, my tone dry.

Felix let out a long sigh, collapsing onto the ground. "I thought we were about to get murdered."

"You always think that," Mira muttered, sliding her dagger back into its sheath.

"Because we almost always do!" Felix shot back, throwing his arms up.

Wallace chuckled weakly, still leaning against a tree. "I’m too damn tired for this."

"Same," Garrick grumbled, his massive frame slumping down beside Felix.

"Can we just... not die for five minutes?"

Cassandra, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke.

"We should move," she murmured, her voice soft. "Just in case."

"Right," I muttered, nodding.

"Do we... take the scale?" Leo asked quietly, still staring at the shimmering piece in his hand.

"Yeah," I murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The Phantom Fish Scale was cool to the touch, faintly glowing in the moonlight.

"Bag it," I said softly.

Leo nodded, carefully slipping it into the pouch.

"That’s two," Julien muttered, wiping sweat off his brow. "Healing Moss and the Scale."

"Eight to go," Mira added, her tone dry.

"Great," Felix mumbled, his voice muffled against the dirt. "Only eight more chances to die."

"Cheer up, Felix," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "We’re making progress."

"Yeah," Julien smirked. "And only half of us almost died this time."

"Shut up," Felix muttered, throwing a small pebble at him.

Julien dodged it with ease, grinning.

"Missed."

Felix groaned, covering his face. "I hate this class."

"Aw, come on," Mira smirked. "Where’s your fighting spirit?"

"Back at the Academy," Felix mumbled.

"Probably under his bed," Julien added, snickering.

"Leave me alone," Felix groaned.

"Alright, alright," I muttered, shaking my head. "Enough."

But they weren’t listening.

"Bet Felix couldn’t even handle a Mana Beetle," Julien smirked.

"Shut up, Julien," Felix muttered, but his voice lacked bite.

"Mana Beetle?" Garrick grinned, his deep voice rumbling. "Come on, Felix. Even I can handle those."

"Yeah," Wallace muttered weakly. "And I’m running on fumes."

Felix groaned louder, burying his face in his hands.

Mira smirked, leaning down. "What about a Glowroot? Think you could handle that?"

Felix peeked through his fingers, glaring. "I hate all of you."

Cassandra tilted her head, her expression as unreadable as ever. "I’m sure you could manage... eventually."

"Et tu, Cassandra?" Felix groaned dramatically.

"Traitor," Julien smirked.

Felix rolled onto his back, staring at the sky.

"Why am I even here?"

"Entertainment," Julien said immediately.

"Comic relief," Mira added.

"Distraction," Wallace murmured, his eyes half-closed.

"Bait," Garrick grinned.

Felix sat up, glaring at all of them.

"I hate this class."

"Love you too, Felix," Julien grinned.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"Alright, enough."

"But, Professor," Julien smirked. "We’re bonding."

"Yeah," Felix muttered. "Bonding through emotional trauma."

"Character development," Mira said with a smirk.

"Enough," I repeated, my tone sharp.

They finally quieted down, but the grins didn’t disappear.

Idiots.

"Let’s move," I muttered, standing up. "We’re wasting time."

They groaned but obeyed, dragging themselves to their feet.

"Which way, Professor?" Julien asked, his tone still too damn cheerful.

"North," I muttered. "We go for the next item."

"Thunderhorn Beetle Carapace," Mira murmured, her expression turning serious.

"Great," Felix muttered. "Bugs. My favorite."

"Relax," Garrick rumbled. "They’re not that bad."

"Easy for you to say," Felix muttered. "They don’t try to eat you."

Julien smirked, clapping Felix on the back. "Don’t worry. We’ll protect you."

"Sure," Felix mumbled. "Until I get eaten."

"Move," I muttered, cutting them off before they could start again.

They fell into formation, their footsteps quieter now.

The mood had shifted—lighter, but still focused.

Good.

"Professor," Leo murmured softly beside me.

"Yeah?"

"...Thanks."

I glanced at him. His face was still pale, but his eyes...

They were clearer now.

"Don’t thank me yet," I muttered softly.

"We’re not done."

Leo nodded, his jaw tightening.

"Right."

Good.

Because whatever came next—

We’d handle it.

Together.

The forest stretched ahead, quiet and calm. The tension was gone, but the chaos?

That was just getting started.

"Alright," I muttered, leading the group. "Stick together. No wandering off."

"Felix," Julien drawled immediately, not even missing a beat.

Felix groaned. "Why is it always me?"

"Because," Mira smirked, brushing past him. "You have the survival instincts of a wet sock."

"A what?" Felix blinked.

"A wet sock," Julien grinned. "Useless. Gross. And just makes everything worse."

"Wow," Felix muttered, eyes narrowing. "Thanks for the confidence boost."

"Anytime," Julien said with a wink.

"Can we not bully Felix for five minutes?" Wallace mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Five minutes is too long," Garrick grunted, cracking his knuckles. "We’d get bored."

Felix threw his hands in the air. "Why do I even bother?"

"Character growth," Mira said, her tone completely deadpan.

"I don’t want character growth!" Felix snapped. "I want to live!"

"Survival’s overrated," Julien quipped, smirking.

"Easy for you to say," Felix muttered. "You’re not the one who almost gets eaten every damn time."

"True," Julien shrugged. "But think of it this way—if something tries to eat you again, we’ll know where the danger is."

Felix blinked.

"...You’re using me as bait?"

"More like an early warning system," Julien corrected, grinning.

Felix’s eye twitched. "I hate you."

"Love you too, buddy," Julien shot back.

"Both of you, shut up," I muttered, rubbing my temples.

"Professor," Julien said, completely ignoring me. "If Felix gets eaten, does that mean we automatically pass?"

"Julien," I said flatly.

"What? It’s a valid question."

"No," I deadpanned. "You’ll all fail."

Julien clicked his tongue. "Damn."

"Focus," I muttered, shooting him a warning look.

"Yes, Professor," Julien drawled, but the grin on his face wasn’t going anywhere.

Felix, for his part, looked like he was seriously considering running back to the Academy.

"Alright," I muttered, pushing forward. "Eyes open. We’re looking for Thunderhorn Beetles now."

"Big, armored bugs," Mira murmured, her tone thoughtful. "Shouldn’t be too hard to spot."

"Yeah," Garrick muttered. "Unless they’re underground."

Felix paled. "Wait. Underground?"

"Relax," Julien smirked. "They only come up to hunt."

"Hunt?" Felix squeaked.

"Yep." Julien nodded. "They sense vibrations, then burst out of the ground and drag their prey down."

Felix’s eyes went wide. "Why... why do you know that?"

"Research," Julien said casually.

"And you didn’t think to mention this earlier?" Felix’s voice was rising.

"Thought you’d figure it out when one grabbed you."

"I hate you."

Julien’s grin widened.

"Professor," Felix said, his voice tight. "Permission to stab Julien?"

"Denied." I didn’t even look back.

"Damn it," Felix muttered, glaring at Julien.

"Don’t worry," Garrick rumbled, patting Felix on the shoulder. "If a beetle grabs you, I’ll pull you out."

Felix looked slightly less panicked. "Really?"

"Maybe." Garrick grinned.

Felix’s expression fell. "I hate all of you."

"Not all of us," Mira said, her tone deceptively sweet.

Felix glanced at her, hopeful.

"Just most of us."

Felix groaned.

"Alright, enough," I muttered, cutting them off before Felix had a breakdown. "Eyes open. We’re getting close."

"Professor," Julien said, his tone suspiciously innocent. "If we do use Felix as bait, can we at least—"

"No," I said flatly.

"Just checking."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Why did I agree to teach this class?"

"Because you love us," Julien grinned.

"Because the universe hates me," I muttered.

"Same thing," Julien quipped.

I didn’t dignify that with a response.

We pushed forward, the forest growing denser. The ground was damp beneath our boots, the air thick with the scent of moss and earth.

"Quiet," I murmured, my tone sharper now.

The group fell silent instantly.

Good.

"See anything?" I asked softly.

Mira’s eyes narrowed, scanning the area. "Nothing yet."

"Julien?"

"Clear," he murmured, his voice all business now.

"Wallace?"

"Mana’s steady," Wallace murmured, his breathing still a little ragged but steady. "No spikes."

"Garrick?"

"Nothing moving," Garrick muttered, his grip tight on his weapon.

"Felix?"

"...I don’t like this," Felix whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Helpful," I muttered.

"Professor," Cassandra murmured softly. "There’s... something."

My head snapped toward her.

"Where?"

She didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes were half-closed, her breathing shallow.

"Cassandra?" I pressed, my tone firmer.

"Not close," she murmured, her voice distant. "But... watching."

The air grew colder.

"From where?" I asked quietly.

Her eyes opened, meeting mine.

"Everywhere."

The group went still.

"Alright," I murmured softly, my tone sharp. "Formation. Now."

They moved without question, falling into position.

"Julien, front. Garrick, left. Mira, right. Felix, Leo—rear."

"Wallace?"

"I’ll hold center," he murmured, his eyes narrowing.

Cassandra slipped beside me, her expression unreadable.

"Professor," Julien murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "What’s the play?"

I exhaled slowly.

"Keep moving," I murmured softly. "But stay ready."

Felix, to his credit, didn’t complain.

Not this time.

We moved forward, slower now.

The joking was gone.

The tension was back.

But this time...

It felt different.

Because this time—

We were ready.

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