Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 77: One last item

Chapter 77: One last item

Kellan’s mana surged again, the wind howling like a rabid beast. His eyes locked onto me—full of cold fury.

"You’re done, Lucian."

Maybe.

But not before I pulled one last trick.

My fingers tightened around the cane.

It’s now or never.

I channeled the last threads of my mana, focusing everything I had left into the familiar pull deep within me.

Grimoire of Patterns.

A spark ignited in the back of my mind—a connection formed.

Pattern release...

"Dream Mist."

The moment the words left my lips, the air shifted.

A pulse echoed through the clearing.

Kellan’s eyes narrowed as a thin wisp of purple mist began to seep from the ground, curling around his feet.

"What the—"

Too late.

The mist thickened, spreading rapidly. Tendrils of violet vapor wrapped around him, swirling like a living thing.

Kellan’s expression twisted in confusion as his eyes darted around.

"You think this will—"

He froze.

I saw it.

The shift.

His breathing slowed.

His stance wavered.

The mist had already taken hold.

"Professor...?" Julien’s voice was hesitant, but I didn’t answer.

Focus.

The Dream Mist wasn’t just a spell.

It was a trap.

Induce hallucinations. Distort time. Trigger subconscious fears.

And it was already working.

Kellan’s body tensed, his eyes unfocused as he swayed slightly.

"No..." He muttered, blinking rapidly. "This isn’t... real..."

Oh, but it is.

I took a slow, steady breath, keeping my focus sharp.

Dream Mist didn’t just cloud the mind—it twisted reality, dragging the victim into a world where their deepest fears and desires collided.

And Kellan...

He was already losing himself.

"Lucian..." His voice was distant, barely above a whisper.

His grip on his mana faltered, the wind around him dying down.

Good.

But I wasn’t done.

Alter perception. Distort time.

I poured what little mana I had left into the mist, reinforcing its hold.

Kellan’s breathing grew shallow.

His eyes darted wildly, as if seeing things that weren’t there.

"No..." He stumbled back, his expression twisted with confusion. "This isn’t real..."

It is for you.

"Professor?" Mira’s voice was sharp now, pulling me back.

Right.

We didn’t have much time.

"Move." My voice was hoarse, but firm. "Now."

They didn’t hesitate.

"Go!" I barked, pushing myself toward the treeline.

Julien grabbed Felix, dragging him forward. Mira helped Wallace, who was barely conscious. Leo and Garrick were already ahead, covering the rear.

"What about—" Mira glanced back, her eyes filled with concern.

"I’m right behind you."

But I wasn’t.

Not yet.

Kellan was still dangerous, even trapped in the mist.

I needed to make sure he stayed that way.

"Lucian..." Kellan’s voice was barely a whisper now.

His hands twitched, his mana flickering like a dying flame.

"Why... can’t I..." His eyes met mine—distant, unfocused.

He wasn’t seeing me anymore.

Good.

I pushed harder, reinforcing the illusion.

Kellan wasn’t just trapped—he was lost.

"Enjoy the dream, Kellan." My voice was barely above a whisper.

And then—

I turned and ran.

My legs screamed in protest, but I forced them to move.

"Come on..." I muttered, my breathing ragged as I pushed forward.

The forest closed in around me as I caught up to the others.

"Professor!" Julien’s voice was filled with relief when he saw me.

"Keep moving," I said, my tone sharp.

They didn’t question it.

We moved fast—too fast for comfort, but not fast enough to lose control.

"Is he..." Leo’s voice was shaky, his eyes glancing back toward where we left Kellan.

"Trapped," I murmured. "For now."

But not forever.

Dream Mist wasn’t permanent.

Kellan was strong. He’d break free eventually.

But by then...

We’d be long gone.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was quiet as we finally slowed, the dense forest offering a moment of safety.

I exhaled, finally allowing myself to stop.

"We’re clear," I muttered, leaning heavily against a tree.

My vision blurred, exhaustion hitting me like a freight train.

"Professor—"

"I’m fine," I murmured, though I knew I wasn’t.

"That... wasn’t normal." Julien’s voice was tight, his eyes sharp.

"It wasn’t supposed to be." I exhaled, my grip on my cane tightening.

"What the hell was that mist?" Felix asked, his voice shaky.

"Nothing, it’s nothing." I kept my words short. "It’s... complicated."

"You saved us." Mira’s voice was quiet, but firm.

"That’s what I’m here for." I tried to smirk, but it felt... hollow.

Because this wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

We were safe—for now.

But Kellan wouldn’t stay trapped forever.

And when he got out...

He’d be coming for us.

"We need to keep moving," I murmured, pushing away from the tree.

"But Professor..."

"No." I cut them off, my tone leaving no room for argument.

"We’re not safe yet."

They fell silent.

Good.

"Let’s go," I murmured, eyes narrowing.

We had one last item to find.

And time was running out.

We moved through the dense undergrowth, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on all of us. My body screamed with every step, but I pushed forward.

One last item.

The Silver Wolf Fur.

"Professor..." Wallace’s voice was barely above a whisper. He was leaning heavily on Mira, his mana almost completely drained.

"Just a little more," I murmured, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.

The forest around us was quiet—too quiet.

"We’re close," Julien muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings. His usual cockiness was gone, replaced by sharp focus.

"How do you know?" Felix asked, his voice low.

"Smell." Julien wrinkled his nose. "It’s faint, but I can smell the musk."

Mira frowned. "Wolf den."

My jaw tightened.

"Spread out," I ordered quietly. "Eyes sharp. We don’t want any surprises."

They didn’t need to be told twice.

We moved carefully, scanning every shadow, every rustle of leaves.

And then—

"There." Garrick’s voice was a low whisper, but the weight behind it was enough to draw all our attention.

He was pointing at a small opening in the brush.

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and musk.

The den.

"Good work," I murmured, moving closer.

The entrance was narrow, barely big enough for a full-grown wolf to squeeze through.

"What’s the plan?" Mira asked, her dagger already in hand.

"Simple," I muttered, eyes narrowing. "We get the fur."

Julien grinned. "And if a wolf doesn’t want to share?"

"Then we take it," I said, voice cold.

"Figures." He cracked his knuckles, ready for a fight.

I crouched low, peering into the den.

Too quiet.

"I don’t like this..." Felix murmured, shifting uneasily.

"Stay sharp." I kept my voice calm, but every instinct was screaming at me.

Something wasn’t right.

"I’ll go in," Julien volunteered, his usual bravado returning.

"No." I grabbed his shoulder, holding him back.

"Why not?"

"Because I don’t like surprises."

I reached out with my mana, sending a pulse into the den.

Nothing.

The space was deeper than I expected, but the pulse didn’t come back empty.

Something was there.

"Something’s inside."

Julien’s grin faded.

"How big?" Garrick asked, his hand shifting toward his warhammer.

"Small..." I murmured, my brow furrowing. "But..."

Before I could finish—

A low growl echoed from the den.

"Here we go," Julien muttered, stepping back.

And then—

A silver blur shot out.

"Down!" I barked, ducking low.

The wolf was smaller than I expected—barely the size of a large dog. Its fur shimmered, reflecting the moonlight filtering through the trees.

But its eyes...

Hungry.

"It’s just one!" Julien stepped forward, sword ready.

"Don’t underestimate it!" I snapped.

Silver wolves were fast.

And this one...

It moved like lightning.

Julien’s sword barely grazed its side before it darted away, circling us with frightening speed.

"Damn thing’s quick..." Felix muttered, his hands shaking as he readied his dagger.

"Form up!" I ordered, cane raised.

Mira and Garrick flanked the sides, while Felix and Leo guarded Wallace.

The wolf circled, growling low.

"Why’s it alone?" Mira murmured, her eyes narrowing.

"It’s not."

I realized it a second too late.

"Move!"

Another blur shot out of the den—this one larger.

A second wolf.

"Shit—"

Garrick swung, his hammer barely missing as the second wolf lunged at him.

The fight erupted.

"Focus!" I barked, eyes darting between the wolves.

The smaller one circled Felix and Leo, while the larger went after Garrick and Mira.

Julien was already moving, his sword flashing as he tried to corner the smaller wolf.

"Damn thing won’t stay still!"

"Work together!" I snapped, keeping my cane raised as I watched for an opening.

The smaller wolf lunged at Felix—

"No, you don’t!" Garrick swung his hammer, forcing it back.

But the larger wolf wasn’t playing around.

It went straight for Wallace.

"Wallace, move!" Mira shoved him aside just in time, her dagger slashing across the wolf’s flank.

Blood sprayed, but the beast barely reacted.

"They’re protecting something..." I murmured, my eyes narrowing.

"Professor!" Julien’s voice snapped me back.

The smaller wolf was circling again, faster this time.

But...

Something was off.

It wasn’t attacking.

"Wait." My voice was firm. "Don’t kill them."

"What?" Julien blinked, confused.

"They’re not attacking to kill."

The realization hit me.

They’re guarding something.

"They’re defending the den."

Julien frowned. "What’s so important in there?"

"Only one way to find out."

I moved fast, pushing past the chaos and toward the den.

The larger wolf growled, but I didn’t stop.

"Cover me!" I barked.

"On it!" Garrick swung again, driving the wolf back.

I ducked low, slipping through the narrow entrance.

The air inside was thick—warm.

And then I saw them.

Pups.

Newborn silver wolf cubs, barely big enough to open their eyes. Their tiny bodies were curled up near their mother—who was watching me with wary, but exhausted eyes.

"Damn it..."

I knelt down slowly, my cane resting beside me.

The fur.

It wasn’t from a dead wolf.

It was shed naturally by the cubs and their mother.

"Professor?" Julien’s voice echoed from outside.

"We’re not killing them," I said softly, gathering the shed fur with careful hands.

The mother didn’t move, her body too weak to resist.

"I’ve got it," I murmured, standing slowly.

I backed away carefully, keeping my eyes on her.

Once I was clear—

"Fall back!" I ordered.

The wolves didn’t pursue.

They were only protecting their young.

We stepped back into the clearing, the tension finally breaking.

"You’re kidding..." Julien blinked. "We didn’t have to fight them?"

"They weren’t the enemy." I held up the silver fur, letting the moonlight glint off it.

"We’ve got what we need."

Relief washed over the group.

"Can we leave now?" Felix muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Yeah." I exhaled, my body finally giving in to the exhaustion.

"We’re done."

But as we turned to leave, I couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing at the back of my mind.

This was too easy.

And with Kellan still out there...

Our real fight was just beginning.