The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 72: The Confused Amberine

She rubbed her temples, feeling the familiar tension of frustration building. "Why does he have to make everything so complicated?" she muttered under her breath, flipping through the pages. "I swear, Draven enjoys torturing us with his convoluted explanations."

A flicker of flame appeared next to her, hovering in the air. Ignis, her fiery spirit companion, looked at her with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. "You're making a lot of noise, Amberine. It's hard to concentrate with all your grumbling."

Amberine glared at the small flame. "Well, excuse me for trying to understand this nonsense. Maybe if you were more helpful, I wouldn't be so frustrated."

Ignis flared slightly, his form growing more defined. "Helpful? I'm not the one who decided to take notes like a maniac. You should be grateful I'm even here, considering how often you ignore my advice."

Amberine threw her hands up in exasperation. "Oh, please! Your 'advice' usually consists of 'burn it all down' or 'set it on fire.' How is that supposed to help me with my studies?"

Ignis crackled with irritation. "You have no appreciation for the art of flame. If you did, you'd understand that fire is a symbol of clarity and transformation. But no, you just sit there whining and cursing at your books."

She crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. "And what would you suggest, oh great and wise Ignis? Should I just burn my notes and hope the knowledge magically transfers into my brain?"

The fire spirit floated closer, his flames dancing mischievously. "It's not about burning your notes, you dolt. It's about using your frustration as fuel. Let the fire of your determination ignite your mind and burn away the confusion."

Amberine rolled her eyes. "Ignis, that's poetic and all, but it doesn't help me understand these spells any better."

Ignis sighed, a gust of hot air washing over her. "Fine. Let's try something different. Read me what you're struggling with, and I'll see if I can simplify it for your poor, overworked brain."

Despite herself, Amberine felt a small smile tug at her lips. "Alright, let's give it a shot." She picked up her class notes, her eyes scanning the messy handwriting. "Okay, this part about transmutation circles. Draven was going on about how they interact with ley lines, but I can't make sense of his explanation."

Ignis flickered thoughtfully. "Transmutation circles are complex, but they essentially channel magical energy from the ley lines into a specific form. Think of it like... like plumbing. The ley lines are the pipes, and the circle is the faucet that shapes the water flow into what you need."

Amberine frowned, her brow furrowing as she considered his analogy. "That... actually makes sense. But why didn't Draven just say it like that?"

"Because Draven enjoys making things difficult," Ignis replied with a wry tone. "Now, stop complaining and write it down in your understanding notes before you forget."

Amberine grinned, grabbing her second notebook and carefully jotting down the simplified explanation. "Thanks, Ignis. I guess you're not completely useless."

Ignis puffed up, his flames burning brighter. "I told you, I'm invaluable. You just need to learn to listen."

Their banter continued as they worked through the notes, Amberine's frustration gradually melting away. Despite her complaints, she found herself appreciating Ignis's unique perspective and fiery determination. The more they argued, the clearer her understanding became. She realized that Ignis, for all his bluster, truly wanted to help her succeed.

After a particularly intense debate over the properties of elemental fusion, Ignis suddenly blurted out, "It can't be helped. I'll make you a great wizard, Amberine."

She stared at him dryly. "Did you just say that out of nowhere? Are you daydreaming again?"

Ignis's flames flared in indignation. "How dare you! I'm completely serious. You're a mess, but you've got potential. I'll shape you into something impressive."

Amberine's eyes widened as Ignis's heat intensified, threatening to scorch her precious notes. "Hey, watch it! I don't want to spend another hour rewriting these because you had an emotional outburst."

She quickly cast a water spell, protecting her notes from the fire spirit's flare-up. Ignis calmed down, his flames retreating to a safer glow. Amberine sighed in relief, shaking her head at the absurdity of the situation.

Lying back on her bed, Amberine stared at the ceiling, feeling the exhaustion of the study session wash over her. "What should I do?" she muttered to herself. "I don't know which club to join."

Ignis hovered nearby, his flames casting flickering shadows on the walls. "Didn't you already have a thought about where to go?"

Amberine groaned. "I did, but now I'm confused again. There are so many options, and I don't want to make the wrong choice."

Ignis floated closer, his tone surprisingly gentle. "Then why don't you just try the magic combat club? You have the spirit for it. Give it a shot and see how it feels."

Amberine sat up, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. "You're right, Ignis. I should at least try it. What's the worst that could happen?"

The next morning was the usual chaotic rush. Amberine had stayed up late reading for fun after her study session, and she woke up groggy and behind schedule. Her room, bathed in the first light of dawn, quickly became a whirlwind of activity as she scrambled to get ready.

"Hurry up, you're going to be late," Ignis chided, floating beside her. His fiery form cast flickering shadows on the walls, emphasizing the urgency of his words.

"Shut up, Ignis," Amberine snapped, trying to pull on her boots while brushing her hair at the same time. Her movements were frantic, her frustration palpable. "I'm going as fast as I can."

"You should have gone to bed earlier," Ignis continued, unperturbed by her irritation. "Maybe then you wouldn't be in such a rush now."

"Maybe you should mind your own business," Amberine retorted, grabbing her wand from her desk. It was a spare wand left from her father, a reminder of both his legacy and the tragic circumstances of his death.

For a moment, she paused, memories flooding back. Her father had been a great wizard, his research envied by many. She remembered his letter, the one she found after his death, naming Draven as the culprit. Rage and hatred bubbled up inside her, but Ignis's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Amberine, we need to go."

She shook herself, clapping her cheeks to clear her mind. "Right. Time to have a show."

Amberine raced around her room, grabbing books, notes, and various magical tools. She nearly tripped over her own feet as she darted from one side of the room to the other, her mind a blur of panic and determination. She flung open her wardrobe and rifled through her clothes, pulling out a clean uniform and tossing it onto the bed.

"Why do I always do this to myself?" she muttered under her breath, yanking on her uniform with a hasty ferocity. "Every single morning…"

Ignis floated behind her, his flames flickering with an almost amused rhythm. "Because you're a procrastinator at heart, Amberine. You thrive on last-minute chaos."

"Not helping," she grumbled, fastening the buttons of her shirt with fumbling fingers. "And besides, who asked you?"

As she struggled with the final button, a loud knock echoed through the room. Amberine jumped, her heart skipping a beat. "Who could that be at this hour?" she wondered aloud, hurrying to the door.

She opened it to find a fellow student, a lanky boy with disheveled hair and an anxious expression. "Amberine! Professor Allard is looking for you. He's not happy that you're late again."

Amberine's eyes widened in alarm. "Professor Allard? Oh no, I completely forgot about the class!" She glanced over her shoulder at the mess of her room, then back at the boy. "Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be there in a minute!"

Slamming the door shut, she whirled around, her panic reaching new heights. "Ignis, we need to go. Now!"

"Finally," Ignis said with a hint of exasperation. "I thought you'd never get moving."

Amberine stuffed her remaining belongings into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and dashed out the door. She sprinted down the hallway, Ignis trailing behind her like a comet. Her mind raced with the prospect of facing Professor Allard's wrath. She could already imagine his stern face and disappointed gaze.

As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with a group of students. "Watch it, Amberine!" one of them shouted, but she barely heard them as she sped past.

Reaching the staircase, she took the steps two at a time, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. Ignis floated ahead, illuminating the path with his warm glow. "Faster, Amberine! We're almost there."

"I'm trying!" she panted, her legs burning with the effort. "Why do they have to schedule these briefings so early?"

Finally, she burst through the door of the briefing room, stumbling to a halt. Professor Allard, a tall man with a stern countenance and a sharp gaze, looked up from his notes. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to her.

"Miss Amberine," Professor Allard said coolly, raising an eyebrow. "Late again, I see."

Amberine straightened, trying to catch her breath. "I'm sorry, Professor. I had a late night studying."

Professor Allard's gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained stern. "Very well. Take your seat. We were just about to begin."

Amberine nodded and quickly found an empty seat, sinking into it with a sigh of relief. Ignis hovered nearby, his flames flickering with a smug satisfaction.

"You made it," he whispered.

"Barely," she replied, opening her notebook and trying to compose herself. "Thanks for the encouragement."

It's the first class of the day: History of Magic. The lecture hall was already filling up with students, and she managed to find a seat near the front. As Professor Allard began his lecture on ancient magical civilizations, Amberine listened intently, her earlier panic fading away.

Ignis, ever the silent observer, floated beside her, occasionally offering his own insights. "You know, Amberine, you should consider setting an earlier bedtime. It might help with your mornings."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "I'll think about it. But for now, let's just focus on getting through today."

After class, she consulted the pamphlet for the magic combat club. It provided detailed directions to their training grounds. Amberine's heart pounded with excitement and a hint of apprehension as she made her way across the campus.

Finally, she stood before the entrance to the club's practice area. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "Okay, let's do this," she muttered, determination surging through her veins. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her.