Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 89: The Result of Training

Both hands flashed with mana. He heard Rav behind him. Oberyn crossed his arms and let out a scream, flooding the air around him with unstable mana. The atmosphere cracked - and then, an explosion erupted from his body, so hot it scorched the mist.

The clouds dissipated.

Rav floated nearby on a cloud, fanning himself. Decoy had retrieved her boomerang. The training dummy was now a smoldering pile of ash.

"Good work, as always," Rav winked. "You pass."

"What was that just now?" Oberyn asked, eyes still locked on the clearing fog.

"My inner world. Advanced technique. Maybe I’ll teach you to find yours someday."

Rav crossed his arms. "If you fight an enemy Magician with trepidation, you’ll die. I know you believe your magic is powerful, but you have no idea what another Magician is capable of. There can be no restraint."

He chuckled. "And give me more credit. You could blast me a hundred times - I doubt you’d leave a scratch. Not with magic, at least. But leave some on my back all you like."

"Rav’s right!" Decoy added. "He’s like, indestructible! I saw a Manticore eat him once and—"

"—I turned the Manticore into spaghetti!" Rav finished.

"That’s right!"

"Spaghetti?"

Rav basked in the fan-girling while Oberyn caught his breath.

Ezra appeared at Oberyn’s side, startling him. The Nephilim was still in battle-mode, his eyes shimmering his residual light.

"Need to charge up?" Ezra said, pulling back the front of his robe and revealing the purple mark on his chest.

Oberyn nodded quietly, pressing his hand to Ezra’s torso and siphoning off some of his mana.

It didn’t take long - the duo had perfected the flow.

As Oberyn finished up, his fingertips scraped longingly against Ezra’s skin one final time. They locked eyes and exchanged a knowing smirk.

"Erm..." Deek grumbled, watching with a raised eyebrow.

Rav ruffled her hair as he stood beside her, looking onward with curiosity. "Don’t mind them, my Sage-in-Training. Sometimes even adults are reduced to mindless desire."

Ezra turned to them. "Did you say something?"

He thought he heard the word ’Desire’ - a reminder of his mission.

"No, but I have an announcement for you all. Ahem..."

Rav clacked his fan open and pointed at his three disciples, each in turn.

"Ezra. Oberyn. Deek. You’ve all three achieved Level 20, and as you know, in our world it’s a major turning point. You’ve graduated beyond simple monster killing - the beasts of the land are naught but prey to you now."

"This is a little dramatic, don’t ya think?" Deek said, fumbling with her dress.

"Shh! You’re supposed to be my most devout supporter, you can’t say things like that!"

"Yeah, yeah. Go on, Mr. Rav!"

"I’ve told you all that I would endorse you - assist you in subduing this ’Magician of Thorns’ - but only if you achieved this milestone. And while I believe the three of you might be ready...unfortunately, Deek, we’ve business to tend to in the north. Your mission will have to wait for our return." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Awww man! But you still have a whole nother day before you leave! We could spend all of today and tomorrow looking for her!"

Rav exchanged a look with Ezra first.

"Hmm..." he said. "Yes, I suppose you could."

He clacked his fan shut. "Well, then. That’s what we’ll do! I shall meet you all in the Ferin Village on Sunday. Until then, you are free to do as you please - oh, but take it easy on Ezra. He’s wounded."

"I’m doing a lot better, you know! Almost back to 100%!"

"Yes, I can see," Rav smirked, turning away from them. His tail swished back and forth wildly. "Farewell, servants. If any of you get killed I’ll be quite upset, so do try to avoid it - That Magician of Thorns will be nothing compared to the combined might of you three. I believe that wholeheartedly."

He strutted away, waving goodbye as he moved toward his den. "And I for one, shall enjoy a weekend of solitude. It has been some time..."

Deek, Oberyn, and Ezra all looked to each other.

"So, we really doin’ this!?" Deek said, fired up.

Ezra nodded, putting his arm around Oberyn’s shoulder. "It seems so," he replied, though his voice was timid and anxious.

It wasn’t because of his injury - though he did worry it would hold him back in a battle. It was his fear for Deek and Oberyn. Fighting a Magician was dangerous, and they’d both be in harm’s way. He wasn’t in top form, and he wouldn’t be able to protect them.

"Don’t worry about us, Ezra. We don’t need you to protect us."

The soft words came from Oberyn, as if the Nephilim could read Ezra’s mind.

"That’s right!" Deek exclaimed. "No thorny magic lady is going to stop Deek! I’m Mr. Rav’s student, and that means I have a leg-up on everyone!"

Oberyn turned, looking out in the direction of the Ferin Village. "It’s a long trek down the mountain," he thought aloud. "We’d better get going, huh?"

Ezra nodded, clenching his fists and steeling himself.

The three of them had been through a lot - fought many monsters, and had several close-calls. But this was different. They were hunting an intelligent opponent - one who had mastery over magic itself. A Magician of Thorns.

Oberyn patted Ezra on the shoulder.

"Don’t worry so much, Ez," he said, echoing his earlier sentiment.

"It’s not that I’m worried," Ezra realized. "It’s just...no matter what happens, I’m always shellshocked that this is my world and my life, now. Hunting some evil Magician...this is something that I could have only ever dreamt of. Not sure if I made it clear to you both, but there is no magic in my world. None at all."

"Hmph!"

Deek put her hands on her hips as she started taking big steps down the mountain path. "Sounds like someone’s just mad that they don’t have any magic at all!"

"That’s not it at all!" Ezra fought back. "Let’s just get going, you two."