Chapter 2: History Lesson

Valdemar cleaned the bruise on his lip. He sighed as his reflection mimicked his every move.

If he were to return to the past, would the outcome of their lives be any different?

Would he have the power to stop Visha being consumed by darkness?

Would he have been able to prevent Arsen's death?

Would he have been able to save them?

These questions were useless for there was no guarantee, and what happened had happened.

The past cannot be rewritten. It was already carved in stone.

What else could he have done?

A quick shower released all the tension from his body. He changed into a long sleeves shirt, a dark blue vest and dark blue pants, and a pair of black Derby shoes, after.

He combed his hair and put some books into his suitcase.

He, then, opened his window, flying in the sky.

In a few minutes, he had arrived in HVA.

The Heroes and Villains Academy.

He lived in a world where heroes and villains live with and compete with each other until the day they die.

It was currently one in the afternoon, he hoped that Visha won't be back at this time since he got students to teach.

Valdemar was indeed a rank 23 Hero, however, being a hero is not enough to pay for all his expenses. He just had his house paid off.

The Hero Association had hired him to be a teacher in the H&V Academy.

Valdemar stood outside the class 4—Polaris. The students in these sections were deemed to be the brightest and most powerful among their peers.

"Good morning, professor." A violet haired girl greeted Valdemar in a graceful manner. Her violet eyes trailed in the classroom, waiting for her friends.

"Good morning, Sierra." Valdemar smiled.

Sierra Benz, 17. Heroborn.

"Professor!!" A turquoise haired boy ran through the halls, his bag dangling in his shoulder. His orange eyes were sparkling.

"Don't run in the halls, Ken." Valdemar told him.

"No fun!" The boy scowled, acting hurt.

Kenneth Jon, 18. Villain.

"Professor, I'm glad you're here. I have so many questions." Another boy said, pushing up his glasses. His green eyes were still and his brown hair was in a mess, as if he just woke up.

"I'll answer them all in a minute, Nathan." Valdemar spouted, combing his students hair, gesturing him to enter the classroom.

Nathaniel Hendrickson, 16, Hero.

"Nerd." Kenneth commented but Nathaniel paid no attention to him.

"Ken, don't call your classmate that." Valdemar scolded.

"Sorry." The boy apologized, he and Sierra joined the others inside.

"Sir Valdemar, good morning." A woman greeted, her pink eyes landed on the number 23 Hero. She flipped her white hair to the back, hugging her bag.

"Good morning to you as well, Miss Dominique." Valdemar bowed his head.

Dominique Light, 28. The younger sister of the president Hero Association.

"I heard Visha knocked out my father early this morning." Dominique trailed off.

"Yes, unfortunately, it was my fault." Valdemar evaded her eyes, observing the rest of the students playing on the field. Everything is beautiful when you are in a high place.

"What nonsense. It was obviously that villain's fault. He's like a wild dog, too risky to keep him out." Dominique contrasted.

"I've already talked with your brother about that." Valdemar informed her.

"He declined, didn't he?" Dominique asked in a apathetic tone.

"Yep." Valdemar's lips turned into a thin line.

"He always does. He's like so paranoid about this." Dominique rolled her eyes. "Especially after that man died. He became so... So... How do I say this? Like, uncool?" She stammered, grunting.

"I'm sure he just wants to keep you safe. You're his only family left, after all." Valdemar assured.

"Well, yeah. But, I'm an adult now. I'm literally older than you, and you can battle with the Dark Crown Prince anytime, anywhere you want. That hardly seems fair." Dominique rumbled, complaining.

"That's because I'm not his family, I'm just some hero." Valdemar voiced out.

"You're not just some hero. You're important since you're going to save the world. Our lives lies upon your hands." Dominique reminded him, making Valdemar frown. "Oh, sorry. Too much pressure?" She laughed it off.

"Too much would be an understatement." Valdemar sighed.

"Well, then. I shouldn't keep you for long. Your students are glaring at me." Dominique eyed the students whose heads were hanging out the windows. "I really wish my students were as diligent and passionate as yours." She added.

"I just show them some tricks, that's all." Valdemar admitted.

"Maybe I'll try that." Dominique noted. "See you later, 23." She bid.

"Good morning, professor." Valdemar's students greeted as he entered the classroom. He made his book afloat.

"Everyone, be seated." He remarked.

"Professor, what is out topic for today?" Nathaniel asked which made the whole class curious, as well.

"Today, we're going to talk about the history of the Dark Emperor." Valdemar announced.

"My favorite!!" Kenneth yelled, standing up. "Sorry..." He muttered, sitting back down.

"Alright, let's start from the very beginning. Can someone read the first paragraph? Anyone?" Valdemar roamed his eyes around the whole class only to see three hands in the air. "Yes, Nathan." He called.

"In the beginning of time, the God of Darkness proposed a game to the other major gods. He made a proclamation, saying: I'm going to fill the world with my descendants and no one can stop me." Nathaniel read aloud.

"Sierra, can you continue the next paragraph?" Valdemar inquired and the girl stood up.

"The major gods rejected the idea, thus, he was banished from the heavens. Before dying from the lack of his spirit's physique, he created a human man and woman that has dark powers. They were his descendants and were tasked to reproduce and fill the world with darkness." Sierra read in a stoic tone.

Kenneth was already waving his hands the whole tim Sierra was speaking.

Valdemar picked the young villain. "Yes, Ken, please continue."

"And, the major gods cursed the dark ones, saying: if your enemy defeats you, you shall perish. This applies to both the humans and the dark ones." Kenneth uttered.

"I'll read the last part." The number 23 hero informed. "Humans being humans, some didn't want to partake in the war and some sought for glory, thus, the world was divided in two—" He continued reading the last paragraph, asking the class to join him.

"Villains and heroes." The whole class said in unison.

"Man, I hate history but this just hits you in a different way." Kenneth commented.

"Ken, stop talking or I won't take the class to flying lessons later on." Valdemar warned.

"Shut up, Kenneth." The whole class said in unison.

"Geez, okay." Kenneth rolled his eyes.

"Alright. I'll give you a homework before continuing our discussion. Write this down: "What would you have done if you were the Demon God of Darkness?" Pass it tomorrow, in time." Valdemar wrote on the magic board with his floating pen.

The ink smudged on the board when Valdemar's body trembled.

Not just his body, but the whole building shook, like it was being controlled.

"What was that?" One of the students asked.

"Earthquake." Nathaniel spouted.

"Hide beneath your tables." Valdemar ordered and so the whole class did.

"Sir Valdemar." Dominique was standing at their door.

"I got it." Valdemar's body was outlined by a yellow aura, including the whole academy, stopping the sudden movements.

"My, you're just as strong as I remembered, Val." The classroom was filled with darkness until a shadow was slowly being formed, revealing Visha. He stood near Valdemar, in the center of the room.

"Visha. Back so soon, I see." Dominique commented.

"Ugh! A light attribute user! Disgusting!" Visha fake a gag.

"This racist—" Dominique casted a spell.

"Stop. Miss Dominique, I got this." Valdemar insisted. Dominique got no choice but to return to her own room. "Visha. Didn't I tell you to never seek for me again?" Valdemar asked in a low voice. The villain shrugged, checking his red painted nails.

"Cool!! It's the Dark Prince!!" Kenneth shouted, making Valdemar glare at him. The boy closed his mouth, behaving.

"Seems like someone wants me here." Visha squealed. "Ooh! You're all talking about me. Perfect! I'll join the class." He stipulated.

"Visha..." Valdemar gulped at the bruise on Visha's wrist. That was his doing, wasn't it? He drowned out his unnecessary thoughts, glaring at the Visha. "You're not allowed to be here." He said, trying to ignore the marks.

"Who said that? This is my alma mater too, why can't I be here?" Visha questioned the green haired professor. Valdemar had no ans to that interrogation.

"Oh, what's this?" Visha curiously read the written text. "Homework: What would you have done if you were the Demon God of Darkness?" The villain laughed with a mix of bitterness. "How about you, professor? What would you have done? Tell me. What would you do if you were to be the Demon God of Darkness?" He placed his hands on the hero's hard chest, leaning towards him.

"I can't answer that since my student will copy it. Of course, I won't be grading those who do." Valdemar reasoned out.

"Then, how about I'll share my answer to my your beloved students." Visha faced the class.

"Visha, stop it, now." Valdemar told him.

"I'll tell you what I would do—" Visha gestured for Valdemar to be quiet.

"Visha, this is your last warning." The hero declared.

"I would kill all the gods who defied me and reign over the heavens and earth." Visha had already conveyed his idea to the young learners.

"Visha La Rouge!!" Valdemar's yelled echoed throughout the room, making his students flinch.

Visha, however, gave him a mischievous smile.

The Dark Prince's cheeks heat up as Valdemar dragged to the door. "Don't poison my students mind. They won't resort to violence." He pointed at him.

"Violence, huh. Aren't you hypocritical, my little hero?" Visha commented, his serious look face intimidated the hero.

"Visha, don't you dare talk about that topic in fromt of my students, ever." Valdemar warned.

"Then, call me "V". For old times' sake." Visha requested, pouting.

"No. I've told you already. We are done. I don't want to have anything to do with you." Valdemar pulled his hair, inhaling sharply. "Now, leave this school!" Valdemar yelled at him.

"How cold-hearted of you, Valdemar." The hero's breath hitched after Visha's words stroke like a thousand lightnings.