Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 85: Patience

Chapter 85: Patience

"Move!" I barked, shoving Felix forward as the growl echoed behind us.

We didn’t wait.

Garrick was already ahead, his heavy steps pounding against the forest floor. Cassandra moved like a shadow, her agility keeping her close to me. Felix... well, he was running for his life.

"Faster!" I hissed, glancing back.

Yellow eyes.

More than one.

"Shit..." I growled, eyes narrowing.

Not just the mother.

A pack.

"Professor!" Felix yelped, nearly tripping over a root.

"Keep moving!" I snapped, grabbing his collar and yanking him upright.

The howls grew louder, echoing through the dense forest.

"They’re gaining on us!" Garrick warned, his voice tight.

No kidding.

"Cassandra!" I barked.

"On it!"

She veered left, her dagger flashing as she sliced through thick vines, clearing a path ahead.

"Felix, stick close!"

"Trying!" he wheezed, his face pale as he stumbled after me.

The wolves were faster.

Too fast.

I clenched my jaw, mana already gathering at my fingertips.

"Garrick!"

"Yeah?"

"Slow them down!"

He didn’t hesitate.

Garrick turned, his muscles coiling as he slammed his foot into the ground.

BOOM.

The earth trembled.

A small shockwave rippled through the forest, shaking loose dirt and roots.

The wolves faltered for a moment—just enough.

"Go!" I snapped, pulling Felix along as we pushed deeper into the trees.

"How much further?" Cassandra’s voice was tight, her breathing steady despite the sprint.

"Not far!" I growled. "We just need to—"

Another howl. Closer.

"Damn it."

"Professor..." Felix’s voice was trembling.

"What now?" Garrick grunted, already turning back to face the threat.

"We can’t outrun them forever," Cassandra murmured.

"I know."

I hate being right.

"Garrick!" I barked.

"Here!"

I spun, raising my cane.

"Wall."

Garrick didn’t hesitate. He slammed his hands down, a low tremor spreading through the ground.

CRACK.

A wall of dirt and roots surged upward, blocking the wolves’ path for a moment.

"That won’t hold them long!" Garrick grunted, his face strained.

"Doesn’t need to." I glanced around.

A cave.

There.

"Move!" I ordered, pointing ahead. "Into the cave!"

"Cave?" Felix wheezed. "That’s your plan?"

"Unless you want to be lunch, yes."

He shut up after that.

We barreled toward the entrance, the narrow opening barely wide enough for Garrick to squeeze through.

"Inside!" I hissed, shoving Felix forward.

Cassandra was already in, her eyes scanning the dark interior.

"Clear," she murmured.

"Garrick, move!"

He stumbled through, his broad shoulders barely fitting as he squeezed past the entrance.

I was the last one in, spinning as I raised my cane.

"Illusion Rune."

My hand darted to my utility pouch, fingers brushing against the etched stone.

There.

"Activate."

The rune pulsed, mana flowing outward as the cave entrance...

Vanished.

To the outside world, it looked like nothing but a solid wall of stone.

"That should buy us time," I muttered, breathing heavily.

Felix collapsed against the wall, panting like he’d just run a marathon.

"I... hate... wolves..." he gasped between breaths.

"We’re alive," Garrick muttered, his voice steady despite the tension.

"Barely," Cassandra murmured, her gaze lingering on the entrance.

I didn’t relax.

Not yet.

"They’ll catch the scent eventually," I murmured, voice low.

"How long do we have?" Garrick asked.

"A few hours, maybe," I said softly, my eyes narrowing.

Cassandra’s gaze flicked toward me.

"What’s the plan, Professor?"

I glanced around.

The cave was small, barely enough to fit all four of us. But it was defensible.

"We wait," I murmured. "Let them lose interest. If they don’t..."

"We fight," Garrick finished, his tone grim.

"Exactly."

"And if they find us?" Felix’s voice was barely above a whisper.

I gave him a look.

"Then we make sure they regret it."

Minutes stretched into an hour.

The air inside the cave grew heavy, thick with the scent of damp earth and tension. No one spoke. Even Felix, who usually had something stupid to say, kept his mouth shut.

Good.

The last thing I needed was him freaking out and giving us away.

"Anything?" I murmured to Cassandra, barely above a whisper.

She was closest to the entrance, her head tilted, listening. Her eyes narrowed as she focused.

"Nothing yet," she murmured.

I exhaled slowly.

Too quiet.

Wolves didn’t give up easily.

They’d circle. Wait. Hunt.

Just like predators always do.

"Garrick."

"Yeah?"

"Get some rest," I said softly. "If they come, we’ll need you fresh."

He frowned but didn’t argue.

"Felix."

"Uh..." He blinked. "Rest?"

"Watch Cassandra."

His eyes widened. "Wait, what? Why?"

"Because if something goes wrong," I said coldly, "you’re the fastest one here. Get her out."

"B-But I—"

"Felix." My tone was sharp.

He swallowed hard but nodded.

"Don’t screw it up."

"I won’t," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Cassandra glanced at me but said nothing.

Good.

I moved toward the back of the cave, my cane tapping softly against the stone.

We needed a plan.

Sitting here and hoping the wolves left wasn’t a plan. It was a death wish.

If they find us, we’re cornered.

My fingers brushed against the rune pouch.

One illusion left.

The last one I had carved before we left the Academy.

Not enough.

"Professor."

Cassandra’s voice was soft, but I heard it.

"Talk."

"Movement."

I stiffened.

Garrick was instantly alert, his body tense.

Felix paled, his hand trembling slightly.

"Where?" I whispered.

"Left... near the treeline." Her tone was steady, but I saw the slight tightening of her jaw.

"Just one?"

"Two. Maybe three."

Damn it.

"Wolves?" Garrick asked, his voice low.

"No," Cassandra murmured. "Something... different."

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

I moved closer, mana gathering at my fingertips.

"Stay quiet," I ordered softly.

We waited.

The rustling grew louder—slow, deliberate.

Not a beast.

"Humans," Cassandra whispered, her eyes narrowing.

"Class A?" Garrick muttered.

"Probably."

Figures.

They weren’t going to let us off that easily.

"Felix," I murmured.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Get ready to run."

"Run?" He blinked, panic flashing in his eyes. "Where—"

"Anywhere," I hissed. "If things go south, you don’t stop. You grab Cassandra and go."

"B-But—"

"Felix."

He shut up.

"Garrick."

"On it." His grip on his weapon tightened, his expression grim.

Cassandra’s fingers brushed against her dagger, her eyes focused.

I shifted my stance, my cane angled slightly.

"Plan?" Garrick murmured.

"Wait," I whispered.

The footsteps were closer now.

Two. Maybe three.

"Search the area," a voice murmured, barely loud enough to hear.

"Damn wolves... shouldn’t be this quiet."

Class A.

Of course.

"Stay hidden," I murmured softly.

We waited.

Seconds dragged.

Closer.

A shadow passed by the cave entrance.

"Nothing here," one of them muttered.

"Keep looking," another whispered.

I exhaled slowly.

Come on... leave.

"Professor..." Felix’s voice was a breath.

"Quiet."

But then—

"Over here!"

Damn it.

"Run," I growled.

Felix didn’t need to be told twice.

He grabbed Cassandra’s arm and bolted.

"Garrick!"

"On it!"

BOOM.

The ground shook as Garrick’s foot slammed into the floor, sending a ripple of force through the cave.

Dirt and debris scattered, creating a cloud of dust.

"Move!" I barked, pushing Felix and Cassandra toward the back exit.

The illusion I had placed at the cave entrance flickered, but it bought us enough time.

"Go!"

Felix practically dragged Cassandra forward.

Garrick covered our flank, his massive frame blocking the entrance.

"Professor!"

More footsteps.

"They’re coming!" Felix yelped.

"Run!"

We bolted.

They weren’t far behind.

"Split up!" I barked.

Felix and Cassandra darted left.

Garrick and I went right.

"Don’t stop!"

We just needed to lose them.

"Garrick!"

"On it!"

BOOM.

He slammed his foot down again, sending another shockwave to slow them.

"Go!"

I pushed forward, my mind racing.

We needed a plan.

"Where now?!" Garrick growled.

"Find cover!"

The forest stretched ahead, dense and unforgiving.

No time.

"There!" I spotted a thick patch of foliage.

"In there!"

Garrick didn’t hesitate.

We dove in, the branches scratching against our skin as we pushed deeper.

"Stay low," I hissed, pulling Garrick down beside me.

The footsteps slowed.

"Where did they go?"

"Spread out!"

Damn it.

We stayed silent, barely breathing.

"Wait..."

The voice was closer.

"Over here!"

Too close.

My grip on the cane tightened.

If they found us...

I wasn’t ready to die.

"Professor..." Garrick’s voice was low, steady.

"Quiet."

We waited.

The footsteps...

Faded.

"Lost them," one of them muttered.

"Keep looking," another growled.

"Damn it..."

I didn’t move.

Not yet.

Wait.

Minutes passed.

And then—

Silence.

"Clear," I whispered, exhaling slowly.

"Barely," Garrick muttered.

"Let’s find the others."

"Right."

We moved carefully, sticking to the shadows.

Felix better not have tripped.

"Professor..." Garrick’s voice was low.

"Yeah?"

"I really hate events like this."

I couldn’t help it.

I smirked.

"Me too, Garrick."

"Me too."