Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 86: Walking into the trap

Chapter 86: Walking into the trap

We found Felix and Cassandra by the river, exactly where I told them to go if things went south.

Felix was pacing. Of course, he was.

"Felix," I called softly.

His head snapped up so fast I thought he’d break his neck.

"P-Professor!" His face lit up with relief. "You’re okay!"

"Barely." I glanced at Cassandra. She looked calm, but her eyes flicked toward me—an unspoken question.

"Any problems?" I asked.

Felix shook his head quickly. "N-No, but I think they’re still searching."

"Good." I let out a slow breath.

"Good?" Felix blinked. "How is that good?"

"Because it means they don’t know where we are."

Felix blinked again, like a confused puppy. "But if they’re still looking—"

"They’re wasting time," I cut him off, my tone flat. "Time we can use."

"Ah."

Finally caught on.

Garrick crouched beside Cassandra, his eyes scanning the trees.

"No movement," he murmured, his voice low.

"Good," I murmured.

I needed a moment to think.

Class A and B weren’t giving up.

Kellan sure as hell wasn’t.

And with the scavenger hunt over, the only reason they were still searching was...

Me.

My jaw clenched.

They weren’t just after the win anymore.

They wanted payback.

"Professor?" Cassandra’s voice was soft, but there was an edge to it.

"Talk."

"They’ll regroup soon." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "If we stay here..."

"They’ll find us," I finished.

She nodded.

Felix gulped. "S-So, what do we do now?"

I tapped my cane lightly against the ground.

Think.

"We move," I murmured, eyes narrowing.

"Move where?" Garrick asked.

"Back to camp," I said simply.

Felix blinked. "Wait... we’re going back?"

"Yes."

"To where they’ll expect us to be?"

"Exactly."

Felix looked like I’d grown a second head.

"Professor... what?"

"They’ll expect us to run," I said calmly. "To hide. So... we don’t."

"They’ll be waiting," Cassandra murmured.

"Let them."

Felix’s face paled. "Uh, Professor—"

"We don’t need to fight them," I said softly, my eyes narrowing. "We just need to get close enough."

"Close enough for what?" Garrick asked, his tone cautious.

"For the next event," I murmured, a smirk tugging at my lips.

Felix blinked. "Wait... you want to go back to camp because of the next event?"

"Do you have a better plan?"

"Uh..."

"Didn’t think so."

Felix shut up.

"Garrick," I murmured.

"Yeah?"

"You’ll take point."

"Got it."

"Felix."

"Y-Yes?"

"Stick close to Cassandra."

He nodded quickly.

"Cassandra," I said softly.

"Yes, Professor?"

"Eyes open."

"Always."

"Good."

I tapped my cane again, my mind racing.

They’d be waiting.

But I wasn’t walking into this blind.

I reached into my pouch, fingers brushing against the last rune I had prepared.

One more trick.

"Move," I murmured.

We slipped back into the forest, keeping low and quiet.

Felix didn’t stumble this time. Small miracles.

"Professor," Garrick murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Talk."

"Something’s... off."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Can’t explain it," Garrick muttered. "Feels... wrong."

Instinct.

"Stay sharp," I murmured.

The trees grew denser, the path narrowing.

Too quiet.

"Cassandra?" I murmured.

"Nothing yet," she whispered.

But her expression was tight.

She felt it too.

Damn it.

"Pick up the pace," I ordered softly.

We moved faster.

The feeling grew stronger.

Eyes. Watching. Waiting.

"Almost there," Garrick murmured, his voice steady.

"Good."

We broke through the treeline—

And I saw it.

Camp.

Right where we left it.

But something was...

Wrong.

The air was heavy.

Still.

Too still.

"Professor..." Cassandra’s voice was barely a whisper.

"I know," I murmured.

Felix swallowed hard.

"What... what is that?"

Garrick’s jaw clenched.

"Trap."

Of course.

"Stay close," I murmured, my tone sharp.

We moved carefully, each step deliberate.

The clearing was quiet.

Too quiet.

But I knew better.

"Felix."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Don’t. Move."

He froze instantly.

"Garrick."

"On it."

He moved forward slowly, his senses on high alert.

Nothing.

Not yet.

But it was there.

Waiting.

"Professor..." Cassandra’s voice was tight.

"Talk."

"Something’s... ahead."

I didn’t ask how she knew.

I trusted her instincts.

"Felix."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Get ready to run."

His face paled.

"Again?"

"Always."

I stepped forward, my cane tapping softly against the ground.

Come on...

Show yourself.

And then—

The wind shifted.

And I felt it.

A presence.

Watching.

Waiting.

They were here.

"Everyone," I murmured softly.

"Stay sharp."

The air was thick with tension. Every step forward felt heavier, like walking through mud.

Felix’s breathing was too loud. Garrick’s grip on his sword was tight, knuckles white. Cassandra was silent, her eyes scanning the shadows, her body unnervingly still.

They were close.

"Professor..." Garrick murmured, barely audible.

"Talk."

"Three... no, four," he whispered. "Ahead. Waiting."

"Positions?"

"Spread out. One to the left, one to the right, two dead ahead."

Ambush.

"Cassandra?" I murmured.

"Same," she murmured, her voice steady but her eyes distant. "They’re... waiting for us to move closer."

Felix gulped.

"So, uh... do we... keep walking into it?"

"Of course," I murmured, a smirk tugging at my lips.

"W-What?"

"If they’re waiting," I murmured softly, "let’s not keep them waiting too long."

Felix blinked. "Uh... Professor—"

"Garrick."

"Yeah?"

"Two on the right. Can you handle them?"

Garrick’s eyes narrowed. "Easily."

"Good."

"Cassandra."

Her eyes met mine.

"Left," I murmured.

She gave the smallest of nods.

"Felix."

His face went pale.

"Y-Yes?"

"Stay. Behind. Me."

"G-Gladly."

One step.

Two.

Three.

The trap sprung.

The first figure lunged from the shadows—a student from Class B, his blade aiming straight for my throat.

"Too slow," I muttered, sidestepping just enough for the blade to miss.

My cane lashed out, catching him in the ribs.

Crack.

He crumpled, gasping.

But I wasn’t done.

I twisted, blocking another strike from the left.

Class A.

She was faster. More precise.

But predictable.

"Nice try," I murmured, ducking under her swing.

I swept her legs out from under her and slammed the end of my cane into her gut.

She hit the ground hard, coughing.

"Two down," I muttered.

"Professor!" Felix yelped.

I turned just in time—

Another figure, moving fast.

Too fast.

Kellan.

I barely managed to raise my cane in time to block the wind-enhanced strike.

The force sent me skidding back, my feet barely holding ground.

"Damn it," I hissed.

"You again," Kellan growled, his eyes filled with rage.

"Miss me?" I smirked, even though my arms screamed from the impact.

Kellan’s jaw clenched.

"You’re dead."

"Not yet."

But this wasn’t good.

I couldn’t hold Kellan off for long.

"Garrick!" I barked.

"On it!"

I heard the clash of steel as Garrick engaged his targets.

"Cassandra!"

"Handled," she murmured, her voice cool.

Felix was still behind me, wide-eyed and useless.

"Felix," I growled. "Move!"

He stumbled back, just as Kellan surged forward again.

Wind magic.

Fast. Relentless.

I couldn’t hold this pace.

I blocked another strike, but the force pushed me back again.

Kellan’s smirk grew.

"Slowing down, Drelmont?"

"Not... yet," I muttered, my mind racing.

Think.

I can’t beat him head-on.

But I don’t need to.

"Felix," I murmured, barely above a whisper.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Grab that."

"W-What?"

"Now."

Felix didn’t ask. He scrambled to grab the small pouch near the edge of the clearing.

Kellan’s eyes flicked toward him.

"Big mistake," he growled.

"Not really," I murmured.

Kellan’s eyes snapped back to me—

But too late.

I flicked my wrist.

A rune.

A small, subtle one.

Illusion.

For a split second—

Kellan saw me.

But I wasn’t there.

"Damn it!" Kellan swung, but his blade hit nothing but air.

"Over here," I murmured, already moving.

Felix tossed the pouch toward me.

I caught it with one hand, feeling the cool weight of what I needed.

One more trick.

I poured mana into the rune as I tossed it to the ground.

Flashbang rune.

"Eyes!" I barked.

My students ducked instantly.

Kellan didn’t.

Boom.

The burst of light and sound filled the clearing.

Kellan staggered back, cursing.

"Move!" I barked.

Garrick and Cassandra were already pulling back, their opponents down.

Felix scrambled to his feet, practically tripping over himself as he followed.

Kellan’s vision cleared—just in time to see me grinning.

"Too slow," I murmured.

I spun, sprinting after my students.

"Get back here!" Kellan roared, his mana surging.

Not today.

We broke through the treeline, moving fast.

"Professor!" Felix gasped. "W-Where are we going?"

"Anywhere but here," I muttered.

"Won’t they chase us?" Garrick asked, eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Let them try."

"Professor..." Cassandra murmured softly.

"What?"

She glanced back, her expression unreadable.

"Did we... just make it worse?"

I didn’t answer.

Because I wasn’t sure.

We’d escaped.

For now.

But Kellan wasn’t done.

And this...

This wasn’t over.