The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 309 Uproar in The Magic Council

Magister Algira, the head librarian, sat at a large oak desk in the center of the library. His sharp eyes scanned the latest batch of proposals with practiced efficiency, his hands moving with a mechanical precision honed over years of service.

He had seen many groundbreaking works pass through his hands, but the day had been relatively quiet, the usual chatter of scholars blending into a familiar background murmur.

That is, until the alert went off.

A sudden chime echoed through the library, shattering the calm. Algira straightened in his chair, frowning slightly. The floating mana screen in front of him flickered to life, casting a pale blue glow over his face. At first, he didn't pay much attention, expecting another minor submission from one of the newer academics.

But as the titles appeared on the screen, his expression shifted from disinterest to sharp, calculated focus.

"Harmony Between Chaos and Necromancy: Balancing Disparate Forces"

"Familial Ideologies and Magic: Tracing the Origin Attributes in Bloodlines"

"The Dungeon Core Phenomenon: Mechanisms Behind the Emergence of Dungeons"

"Mana Flow Disruption and Stabilization: Identifying and Repairing Imbalances in Magical Systems"

The library's usual hum fell into an eerie silence as the significance of the submission began to ripple through the room. Scholars who had been deep in their work looked up, their attention immediately drawn to the glowing screen. The titles alone carried the weight of subjects that had eluded the magical community for centuries.

And there, at the bottom of the screen, the name that had been absent from such submissions for years: Professor Draven.

"Impossible…" Algira muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes narrowing as he leaned forward to examine the details. He had not heard that name in four long years, and the last whispers of Draven in academic circles had been full of doubt and dismissal. Many believed he had disappeared into obscurity, his research a failure, his potential wasted. But now, this—four abstracts submitted at once?

The silence was broken as whispers spread across the room like wildfire. Scholars leaned in close to one another, exchanging incredulous looks and hushed words.

"Draven? After all these years?"

Read exclusive content at empire

"Four abstracts? Is he serious?"

"Chaos and necromancy? That's dangerous even for him…"

"Isn't this the same man who handed out that insane midterm test? The one nobody can finish?"

Algira barely noticed the growing buzz as his mind raced. He quickly pulled the abstracts up on his personal mana screen, skimming through the summaries. His pulse quickened as he read through them. These weren't just ambitious; they were bold, revolutionary even.

Each one tackled issues that had baffled the magical community for decades, concepts that were rarely discussed because no one had dared to address them—until now.

He stood abruptly, the wooden legs of his chair scraping loudly against the stone floor, causing more heads to turn.

"Send these to the peer review department," Algira ordered one of his aides, his voice calm but urgent. "Now. Make sure the council's top experts get them immediately."

The aide, wide-eyed and clearly flustered, nodded quickly and rushed to fulfill the order. Algira knew what these abstracts meant. If they were as substantial as they appeared to be, Draven's return to the academic world would send shockwaves through the council—and not necessarily in a good way.

Draven had never been one to play by the rules. His methods were… unconventional, to say the least. And if his previous research was anything to go by, these papers were bound to stir more than just intellectual debate.

By now, the library was a hive of murmurs, each scholar and council member speculating on the abstracts. Many had known Draven during his active years—some had even worked alongside him—but his fall from grace had been swift and brutal. To see his name attached to not one, but four abstracts all at once, well, it felt like the calm before the storm.

As the abstracts were distributed to the peer review department, the gravity of what had just landed on their desks settled in.

____

The peer review process began within the hour. The council's top scholars were called in, their expertise aligning with the fields Draven's abstracts covered. The first abstract, "Harmony Between Chaos and Necromancy", caused the most immediate stir. Blending chaos magic with necromantic forces was a risky, dangerous combination that most scholars avoided for good reason.

The reviewing team included experts in chaotic magic, necromancy, and mana theory, many of whom had spent their careers trying to understand the two forces independently. To combine them? It was audacious. As the team pored over the abstract, they were met with dense, complex theories that blended the seemingly incompatible forces in ways that made their heads spin.

"This… this goes against everything we know about chaotic energy," muttered one of the reviewers, a specialist in chaotic mana flows. "To stabilize chaos with necromancy? It's reckless."

"Reckless," agreed another, "but it works, at least on paper. If he's actually done this in practice…"

The second abstract, "Familial Ideologies and Magic", piqued the interest of those studying bloodlines and origin attributes. The political implications of such research were enormous, especially among the noble families whose magical lineages were fiercely guarded.

The idea of tracing magical power through bloodlines wasn't new, but Draven's approach, which tied familial ideologies directly to the development of magic over generations, was new and bold.

The reviewing scholars couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.

"This research is going to upset a lot of noble families," one of them said. "If Draven has found a way to trace not just power, but the ideologies that influence origin attributes…"

Another nodded. "The Valen family, the Luthen line… all of them will be exposed."

The Dungeon Core Phenomenon was next, causing a wave of excitement among those who had spent years studying the rise of dungeonification. This research abstract directly addressed the mechanisms behind the emergence of dungeons, a phenomenon that had plagued the council and magical researchers for decades.

The possibility of finally understanding—and perhaps controlling—dungeon cores was groundbreaking.

"Draven's tackled dungeon cores before," one reviewer said, tapping the side of the abstract with a finger. "But this? This could change how we deal with them entirely. The council's been struggling with the rise in dungeonification—if Draven's figured this out…"

"We could put a stop to it. Or worse, if this gets into the wrong hands…"

Finally, Mana Flow Disruption and Stabilization was assigned to the council's stabilizers and theoretical mana physicists. The implications of this research were vast, potentially revolutionizing how spellcasters dealt with imbalances in their mana systems.

The abstract delved into the causes of mana flow disruptions and proposed new methods to repair these imbalances, something that could drastically change how mages maintained control over their power.

"This… this could revolutionize spellcasting," said one of the physicists, her eyes wide as she read through the proposed techniques. "If we can apply this across the board…"

"This could stabilize entire magical systems," her colleague added. "Draven's onto something here, no question."

____

The emergency council meeting to determine who would review and provide recommendations for the abstracts was filled with tension. Scholars and council members alike vied for involvement in what could be the most significant research breakthrough in years. The discussions were heated, with each department arguing their expertise in evaluating Draven's work.

Eventually, after much debate, the council agreed that these works could not simply be reviewed by ordinary scholars. Draven's research required individuals with unparalleled knowledge in both theoretical and applied magic.

"We need a panel that can truly understand what's at stake here," Algira stated firmly, his voice cutting through the heated arguments. "Draven's work is not something we can handle carelessly. We need experts who understand not only the theory but the real-world implications."

The council agreed, and the panel assignments were made with the utmost care. Each expert assigned to the abstracts was chosen based on their depth of knowledge and ability to critically assess the potential impact of Draven's findings.

As the abstracts were thoroughly reviewed and found to be of extraordinary quality, the council turned its attention to the upcoming symposium. They needed someone who could present these findings on a global stage, someone who could speak to the revolutionary nature of Draven's research and its implications for the future of magic.

The panel reached a consensus: Draven must be the keynote speaker. There was no other choice. His recent breakthroughs, coupled with his unique approach to necromancy and mana flow, made him the perfect candidate to lead the discussions.

Magister Algira drafted the formal invitation, his hand moving swiftly over the parchment as he composed the letter. Draven would be informed that his presence was not just requested, but required. His research had drawn international attention, and now, all eyes were on him.

___

As preparations for the symposium began, the council's library hub became a bustling center of activity. Scholars debated Draven's work, trying to predict how his research would impact the magical landscape. There was talk that Kyrion and Lisanor, two of the most powerful mages in the world, would attend the symposium.

Their presence would mark this as one of the most significant gatherings of magical minds in decades.

But behind the excitement, there was an undercurrent of unease. Draven's research was disruptive—too disruptive. Some speculated that the council might try to suppress certain findings, particularly those that challenged the current magical hierarchies.

As the symposium drew near, the question on everyone's mind was the same: How would Draven present his findings? And would the council allow him to do so without interference?

The library hummed with activity as the countdown to the symposium continued. But one thing was clear: Draven's return had already begun to reshape the future of magic. And this was just the beginning.