CHAPTER 129: TEASING MRS LIRA

Mrs. Liara set down her quill with a small sigh.

She rubbed her eyes for a moment and then looked at Jae. "Jae, I appreciate your persistence, but I have no time for private lessons right now. My schedule is full," she said, her voice calm but firm.

Jae didn’t move from where he stood in front of her desk. He stayed perfectly still, hands at his sides, but there was something in his expression that made her pause.

His face looked serious, more serious than usual. His voice was calm, but it carried a weight, a kind of honesty she wasn’t used to hearing from him. "I understand," he said slowly. "But... I’ve never struggled like this before. Not with anything. It’s humiliating."

Jae lowered his gaze for a brief second. She noticed the way his jaw tightened, the way his lips pressed together.

He looked like he hated even saying the words out loud. "If I can’t manage something this basic," he said, almost in a whisper, "what does that say about me?"

For a long moment, Mrs. Liara studied him. She tapped her quill gently against the desk, thinking. She had so much to do, lessons to plan, scrolls to grade, students constantly demanding her attention.

She was busy, more than busy, always busy. And yet, there was something different in the way Jae spoke now. Something she couldn’t ignore.

Finally, she exhaled softly. "Two hours. That’s all I can give. Come back then, and I’ll see what I can do," she said, her voice softer now.

Relief washed over his face, but it was quiet, almost hidden. He inclined his head slightly, showing his gratitude. "Thank you. Really," he said, his voice simple but honest.

She gave only a small nod, waving her hand toward the door. "Go, then. I have work," she said, her voice firm again.

Jae left quietly, his boots making soft echoes as they hit the floor in the corridor outside.

Mrs. Liara watched him until he disappeared from view, her fingers resting on her chin. Something about the way he had failed earlier stayed in her mind.

She had seen many mistakes from students before, mana slipping out of control, threads snapping, channels breaking, but this was different.

No, Jae’s failure had not been like a normal student’s mistake. It was too precise, too deliberate, almost like it was planned. She replayed it in her mind: the way his focus had sharpened, the way he had let the thread snap at just the wrong moment. That kind of mistake wasn’t caused by weakness. It required more control, not less.

Which meant Jae had been pretending.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she adjusted her glasses. "What are you planning, boy?" she murmured quietly to herself, almost under her breath.

Two hours later, the classroom was quiet and empty, the kind of quiet that felt heavy. Only the faint creak of the door as Jae entered broke the silence.

The afternoon light was fading, cutting long, soft beams across the rows of desks, turning dust in the air into little glowing specks.

Mrs. Liara was already standing near the front, straightening scrolls on the table, adjusting the sleeves of her robe. She glanced at him over the rim of her glasses. Her expression was cool, serious, professional.

"You’re late," she said, her voice calm but firm.

"By one minute," he replied, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

Her sigh was long and soft, like she had been holding it in. But then, for a brief moment, the faintest curve appeared on her lips before she quickly hid it. "We don’t have much time. I have matters to attend to at home. So listen carefully," she said.

"Understood," Jae replied, stepping closer. But his eyes betrayed him for a moment. They flicked downward, just once, almost accidentally, at her chest before darting away quickly. His throat tightened. He swallowed fast, pretending that he had not looked.

Her gaze sharpened slightly, noticing his glance, but she said nothing. Instead, she pushed her glasses up with one finger, clearing her sight, and began to explain.

"The technique requires steady breathing and acute awareness of your mana pathways. It is not about force. It is about refinement."

She raised her hand slowly, demonstrating the movement. "Begin in your core. Breathe into it. Draw mana there, pool it at your center. From there, carry it upward, through the chest, down the arm, then release it at the fingertip."

Her movements were smooth, measured, elegant. Her mana shimmered softly, like silk in sunlight, following her commands with perfect obedience. A slender thread of blue light formed easily between her fingers, steady and calm.

Jae watched her closely, his jaw tight with concentration. He nodded and lifted his own hand to try to copy her movements. He inhaled, focused, and tried to summon the flow.

At first, there was a flicker of warmth gathering in his chest. It felt almost right, but then the strand wavered, broke, and sputtered into nothing. His skin prickled, heat rushing up his neck and face.

He exhaled sharply in frustration, shoulders slumping slightly. "Still nothing," he muttered.

"Patience," Mrs. Liara said, lowering her hand. "It is a skill of control, not brute strength. Tell me, what part of the process is giving you trouble?"

Jae ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head in frustration. "Pooling it. I can’t seem to gather mana in my core. It scatters before I can focus it," he admitted.

Her brows furrowed slightly, thinking. Then she walked around behind him. "Stand properly. Straight, but not rigid. Your knees should be slightly bent. Keep your center low, it will help stabilize the flow," she instructed.

He shifted his stance carefully, following her instructions.

"Good. Now focus on your core. Build it slowly. Don’t rush," she said, her voice softer now.

As she spoke, she reached out and rested her hands lightly on his shoulders to adjust his posture. Her fingers brushed over the firm muscle beneath his shirt.

For a brief moment, she froze slightly, aware of the warmth coming from his body.

Jae felt warmer than she expected. Heat radiated faintly from him, even through the fabric of his clothes. She leaned a little closer, her voice quieter. "Yes, like that. Hold it steady," she said.

He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes, concentrating once more. The mana responded slightly, tugging at his chest but then slipping away again. Sweat pricked at his temples.

She watched him carefully. His chest rose and fell in a strong, steady rhythm. Unconsciously, she leaned even closer, her chin almost brushing his shoulder.

Then the faint scent of him reached her. It surprised her. She blinked once, realizing just how close they were.

And in that moment, she became suddenly aware of how good he smelled.