The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The training grounds bustled with activity, a dozen knights sparring with clanging swords, their laughter and shouts filling the air. Sophie stood on the edge, her posture stiff, watching them as they went about their drills. She should have been leading these sessions, like she used to. But now she was merely an observer, passed over and quietly ignored.

She clenched her fists, feeling the letter's sting all over again. The knights, once respectful and deferential, now cast sidelong glances at her, their whispers loud enough that she could catch the words. Nepotism. Failure. Her brother's puppet.

It was as if Draven's letter had given them all permission to voice what they'd kept hidden. And her being a royal knight captain no longer held the same weight it once had. Draven's accusations of her failures during the goblin uprising had stuck, and now the order saw her as nothing more than a figurehead, propped up by Duke Lancefroz's influence.

"Captain," a knight's voice snapped her from her thoughts. It was Gerald, one of the younger knights who'd joined recently. He stood before her, clutching a stack of parchments. "Commander Barthelme wants you to handle the supplies inventory today."

Sophie's stomach sank. Inventory. Again.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Of course," she replied, keeping her voice steady, though inside, she felt a surge of frustration. This was the third time this week she'd been assigned menial tasks. When she had first ascended to captain, she had led reconnaissance missions, organized tactical drills, and prepared the knights for battle.

Now, she was nothing more than an errand runner, reduced to checking off lists and counting crates.

Gerald gave her a brief, almost pitying nod before heading back to the main group. Sophie watched him go, her jaw tight. She could feel their eyes on her, the unspoken judgment hanging in the air. Even though they hadn't said anything directly, she knew what they were thinking. Captain Sophie, once held in high esteem, now merely tolerated because of her brother.

Sharon stormed up beside her, her brow furrowed in anger. "Are you serious? Inventory again? They're treating you like some... some recruit!" Sharon's fiery temper was well-known among the knights, and she had been furious ever since Draven's letter had surfaced. She was always quick to defend Sophie, even when Sophie herself remained quiet.

"It's fine, Sharon," Sophie said softly, trying to maintain her composure. "It's just temporary."

Sharon scoffed. "Temporary? It's been weeks! They don't deserve you, Captain. And that letter... that bastard Draven." Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"How dare he say those things about you. You're ten times the knight he'll ever be."

Sophie forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that I do my duty. Let them talk."

Sharon crossed her arms, clearly unsatisfied with that answer. "They only talk because they're jealous. They wouldn't know half of what you've done for this order. You're one of the best knights here, and they're treating you like you're some... some—"

"Sharon." Sophie's voice was gentle but firm, cutting through her adjutant's tirade. "Enough. We still have a job to do."

Sharon huffed but relented, following Sophie as they made their way to the supply depot. As they walked, Sophie could feel the tension building inside her. The whispers, the constant questioning of her abilities—it was wearing her down. She had always believed in justice, in doing what was right. But how could she prove herself if they wouldn't even give her a chance?

They reached the depot, where a group of soldiers were unloading crates. One of them, a senior knight, raised an eyebrow as Sophie approached.

"Ah, Captain Sophie. Inventory, huh?" His voice held a mocking edge that made Sophie's skin crawl. He handed her a clipboard without another word, barely acknowledging her as a superior. Sharon shot the man a glare but kept her mouth shut, though Sophie could tell it was taking every ounce of her willpower to stay silent.

Sophie went through the motions, checking off supplies, counting crates, and organizing the depot. It was monotonous, a far cry from the missions she used to lead. But she forced herself to focus, to keep her mind from wandering back to the doubts that had plagued her ever since Draven's letter.

The sun was starting to set by the time they finished. Sophie handed the clipboard back to the knight, who barely looked at her as he muttered, "All done then, Captain."

As she and Sharon walked away, the frustration that had been building inside her finally boiled over. "This isn't what I signed up for," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crunch of their boots on the gravel path. "I became a knight to protect people, to lead. Not to... to count crates."

Sharon, for once, was quiet. She walked beside Sophie, her usual fire subdued, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "You deserve better than this," she muttered.

Sophie didn't respond. She didn't need to. They both knew the truth. And it was that truth that weighed on her as they returned to the barracks, her heart heavy with a sense of failure she couldn't shake.

The next morning, the barracks were buzzing with rumors. Sophie had barely stepped into the mess hall when she heard the whispers. Something about a cursed town in the north, a shadow plague that was spreading and consuming entire villages.

"Did you hear?" one of the knights was saying to another. "Another town's fallen to the plague. They say the shadows come alive, ripping people apart in their sleep."

"Nonsense," another knight scoffed. "It's just some overblown superstition. People are scared of their own shadows now."

Sophie stopped mid-step, her ears catching the words. A plague? Shadows?

She turned to Sharon, who had clearly overheard the same conversation. Her adjutant's brow furrowed in confusion. "Shadow plague? What are they talking about?"

Sophie shook her head. "I'm not sure. But we should find out."

They made their way to the commander's office, where Commander Barthelme was poring over a map, his expression grim. As they entered, he looked up, clearly surprised to see Sophie.

"Captain Sophie," he said, his voice neutral. "What can I do for you?"

"I've heard rumors about a shadow plague in the north," Sophie said, getting straight to the point. "Is it true?"

Barthelme hesitated for a moment before nodding. "It's true, though it's more than just rumors. We've had reports of entire towns being wiped out by... something. The villagers say their shadows are coming alive, attacking them. But I don't put much stock in those stories."

"Has anyone been sent to investigate?" Sophie asked.

Barthelme shook his head. "Not yet. Most of the knights think it's just superstition. The north is known for its... strange tales."

Sophie glanced at Sharon, who was already looking eager for action. Then she turned back to Barthelme. "I'll go," she said firmly. "I'll lead an investigation."

Barthelme raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "You?"

"Yes," Sophie said, her voice steady. "If there's even a chance that people are in danger, we need to do something. I'll lead a small group and get to the bottom of it."

The commander was silent for a moment, studying her. Sophie could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the doubt in his eyes. He, like so many others, saw her as nothing more than a figurehead, a knight propped up by her brother's influence. But she was determined to prove them wrong.

Finally, Barthelme nodded, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice. "Very well. You may take a small squad and investigate the town. But be careful, Captain. We don't know what's really going on up there."

Sophie gave a curt nod. "Thank you, Commander. I'll leave at first light."

As she and Sharon left the office, the weight of her decision settled over her. This was it—her chance to prove herself, to show the knights, and even Draven, that she wasn't the failure they thought she was. But as she prepared for the mission, there was a lingering sense of unease in the back of her mind.

The shadow plague. It sounded like something out of a nightmare, and the fact that no one had taken it seriously yet only made her more determined to get to the truth.

"We'll find out what's happening up there," Sharon said, her voice filled with conviction as they walked back to their quarters. "And you'll show them all what kind of knight you really are."

Sophie smiled faintly. "I hope so, Sharon,"