The Villain Professor's Second Chance-Chapter 431: The Abstract Review

Amberine sat in the waiting hall, her fingers drumming against her journal as she fought against the unease swirling in her gut. The room was filled with scholars, all preparing for their presentations, the air buzzing with an anxious energy that matched her own nerves. She couldn’t help but feel the discomfort of her overfull stomach, the poor decision of indulging in that lavish breakfast now coming back to haunt her. Each time she took a deep breath, she could feel the tightness in her abdomen, a reminder of just how unprepared she was for this moment.

Suddenly, a soft chime filled the air, and Amberine looked up, startled. A shimmering scroll appeared in the center of the waiting hall, unfurling with a glow that drew everyone’s attention. It hung there, suspended by magic, its soft blue light illuminating the faces of the other presenters. Amberine felt her heart skip a beat as her name appeared, written in elegant golden letters.

"Amberine Polime," the scroll announced, the voice resonant and calm, "prepare yourself. Your presentation is in two turns." A shimmering timer appeared above it, counting down the minutes until it would be her turn to step into the presentation hall.

Amberine swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at her name. The timer ticked down with an unyielding precision, each second making her anxiety spike. She clutched her stomach, feeling the knot tighten even more, a sickening lurch that made her wish she hadn’t eaten so much. She could almost hear Draven’s sharp voice scolding her for her foolishness, and the thought only added to her embarrassment. Her face flushed, and she took a deep breath, trying to center herself, willing the nausea away.

"Focus," she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the low hum of the hall. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking another deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil within her. She couldn’t afford to lose her composure now—not after everything she had worked for. She had to be ready.

She pulled out her journal, flipping it open to the pages filled with notes on her research. It was a distraction, a way to keep herself from focusing on the pain in her stomach or the creeping fear of what was to come. The journal was a collaboration between her, Maris, Elara Valen, and Professor Astrid from Magic Tower University (MTU). The title was scrawled neatly across the front page: "Orb of Emotions: Analyzing Convergence Rates and the Measurable Impact of Emotional States on Magical Potency".

Amberine ran her fingers over the ink, her mind drifting back to the long nights spent in the MTU lab, the heated discussions, the breakthroughs and setbacks they had faced together. She smiled softly, her heart warming as she thought of Elara—the prodigious child whose talent and intelligence had often left Amberine in awe. Elara was brilliant, her stoic demeanor masking a mind that could unravel the mysteries of magic with ease. She was the core of their team, the one who had often led them through the complexities of the convergence studies.

She skimmed through the pages, her eyes scanning over the notes on convergence rates, emotional effects, and spell potency. Their research had focused on how emotions could influence the strength and control of magic, with the orb they had developed serving as the key tool in their experiments. The orb was designed to detect and measure the aura of various emotional states, converting them into raw magical energy. They had tested emotions like fear, joy, anger, and calm, each one showing different effects on the potency and control of magic.

Amberine remembered the first time they had tested the orb—the way the orb had glowed with a fierce red when Maris had channeled her anger, the surge of power almost overwhelming the containment field. They had learned that anger could increase the destructive power of magic, but at the cost of control and stability. Joy, on the other hand, had produced a vibrant yellow glow, enhancing the versatility of spells, while calm had generated a soft blue light, providing stability and precision.

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She smiled, remembering the triumph in Elara’s eyes when they had finally managed to quantify the convergence rate of emotions—the exact point at which emotion and magic merged, enhancing the spell’s potency. It had been a breakthrough, something that had taken them months to achieve, and Amberine could still remember the way Elara’s golden mana had shimmered in the air, a testament to her lineage’s origin attribute.

The magical scroll announced the turn before hers, and Amberine felt her stomach lurch again, her hands tightening around her journal. She closed her eyes, taking another deep breath, whispering a soft plea to Ifrit. The little salamander spirit, sensing her distress, flickered to life beside her, his small form glowing faintly with a comforting warmth. He nuzzled her hand, his soft scales cool against her skin, and she smiled, feeling her nerves ease just a bit. Find adventures at novelbuddy

"You will do just fine," Ifrit whispered.

"Thanks, Ifrit," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She took another deep breath, her fingers brushing over his tiny head before she stood, her heart pounding as she made her way towards the presentation room. The scroll floated in front of her, lighting her path, its glow drawing the attention of everyone in the waiting hall. She could feel their eyes on her, their curiosity, their judgment, but she forced herself to keep her head up, her gaze focused straight ahead.

The doors to the presentation hall opened before her, the soft glow of magic illuminating the grand space beyond. Amberine stepped inside, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight. The hall was massive, with high ceilings enchanted to reflect the ocean above, the soft blues and greens of the water creating a calming, ethereal atmosphere. The walls were lined with ancient tomes and magical artifacts, their presence a testament to the knowledge held within Aetherion.

In the center of the hall was an elevated platform, where the panel of reviewers sat. Each one wore robes adorned with symbols that signified their expertise—runes of alchemical knowledge, glyphs of enchantment, sigils of astral magic. They watched her with sharp eyes, their expressions unreadable, and Amberine felt her heart skip a beat, her nerves returning in full force.

She moved to the podium, her hands trembling slightly as she placed her journal on the stand. A glowing orb floated beside her, ready to amplify her voice and project the diagrams she had prepared. She took a deep breath, her gaze flicking to Ifrit, who had settled himself at her feet, his eyes watching her with an unwavering trust that made her heart swell.

"Good morning, esteemed reviewers," Amberine began, her voice shaky at first. She paused, taking a deep breath, her eyes meeting those of the reviewers. "My name is Amberine Polime, and I am here to present the collaborative research conducted by myself, Maris, Elara Valen, and Professor Astrid of Magic Tower University. The title of our research is ’Orb of Emotions: Analyzing Convergence Rates and the Measurable Impact of Emotional States on Magical Potency’."

She paused again, her gaze moving across the panel, watching their reactions. The reviewers were silent, their eyes fixed on her, and she forced herself to continue. "Our research aims to explore the relationship between emotional states and magical convergence—specifically, how different emotions can enhance or diminish the potency of spells. Using the Orb of Emotions, we have been able to measure and quantify the convergence rates of various emotional states, and determine their impact on spell potency and control."

As she spoke, the orb beside her glowed, projecting a series of diagrams into the air. Amberine pointed to the first diagram, a glowing representation of the orb surrounded by colored auras, each representing a different emotion. "This diagram shows the orb’s reaction to different emotional states. As you can see, emotions like anger generate a red aura, enhancing the destructive power of magic, while joy produces a yellow aura, increasing versatility. Calmness, represented by the blue aura, enhances stability and precision."

One of the reviewers, an elderly woman with silver hair and piercing eyes, leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Amberine. "This research is the work of Elara Valen, correct? The prodigious student from MTU? And it was supervised by Professor Astrid?"

Amberine nodded, her heart pounding. "Yes, that’s correct," she replied, her voice steady. "I had the honor of working alongside them."

The reviewer nodded thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And you are... Amberine Polime, correct? Daughter of that Polime?"

The room went silent, and Amberine felt her chest tighten. She knew what they meant—her father, the infamous figure whose name carried both brilliance and controversy. She met the reviewer’s gaze, her eyes shining with determination, refusing to let the question rattle her. The reviewer paused, her gaze softening slightly before she leaned back, deciding not to pursue the topic further. "Continue," she said.

Amberine swallowed, nodding, and continued her presentation. She delved into the technical aspects of their experiments—the methods they used to measure emotional convergence, the spells they tested, and the surprising results they had found. She spoke of how fear, while increasing power, often led to instability, while joy provided balance, and calm allowed for precision. She explained the process of gathering baseline data from each participant, the way they had measured their emotional affinities, and how they had used a controlled environment to ensure the accuracy of their results.

The reviewers listened intently, their expressions a mix of intrigue and skepticism. One of them, a man with a stern expression and robes decorated with celestial symbols, raised a hand, his voice cutting through the silence. "The emotional convergence rates you mentioned—how do you account for individual variability? Surely not all mages experience fear or joy in the same way."

Amberine took a deep breath, nodding. "That’s an excellent point," she said. "We addressed individual variability by conducting baseline tests for each participant, measuring their natural affinity for each emotion before introducing the orb. Additionally, we used a controlled environment to minimize external influences, ensuring that the data reflected genuine emotional convergence."

The reviewer nodded, seemingly satisfied, though his expression remained stern. Another reviewer, a woman with kind eyes and a robe adorned with floral patterns, smiled at Amberine. "Your approach is thorough, Miss Polime. And the orb itself—a fascinating creation. Could you elaborate on its potential applications beyond research?"

Amberine’s eyes lit up, her excitement clear as she spoke. "The orb has numerous potential applications," she said. "In educational settings, it could help young mages understand the impact of their emotions on their magic, providing a hands-on way to learn emotional control. It could also be used in therapeutic contexts, helping those struggling with emotional regulation to stabilize their magic. Ultimately, the orb could bridge the gap between raw magical talent and emotional intelligence, creating more balanced and effective spellcasters."

The reviewers exchanged glances, their expressions thoughtful, and Amberine felt her heart swell with hope. She had done it—she had managed to convey the importance of their work, to make them see the potential that lay within their research.

Finally, the lead reviewer, the elderly woman with silver hair, leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Amberine. "We believe this research could be of significant interest for our symposium," she said, her voice carrying a note of approval. "You have our attention, Miss Polime. We look forward to seeing more."

Amberine’s eyes widened, her heart swelling with a mix of relief and joy. She bowed deeply, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you," she said, her entire body trembling with emotion.

She turned, stepping away from the podium, her heart pounding as she made her way out of the presentation hall. The doors closed behind her, and she let out a long breath, her entire body sagging with relief. She had done it. She had faced the panel, answered their questions, and they had approved of her work. It was more than she could have hoped for.

As she walked down the hallway, her mind still reeling from what had just happened, she almost stumbled—her eyes locking onto a familiar figure. Draven stood there, his presence as imposing as ever, his sharp eyes watching her with an unreadable expression. Amberine’s breath caught in her throat, her heart skipping a beat as she took in his cold demeanor.

Before she could even think of what to say, the scent of something subtle yet pleasant reached her—a mix of something sharp and warm, like aged parchment and smoke. She found herself taking a deep breath, her body relaxing slightly, the tension easing from her shoulders.

Draven’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking over her, assessing, as if he could read.