CHAPTER 130: TEASING MRS LIRA 2

Jae felt her presence before he saw it. The warmth of her body pressed subtly against his back, the faint movement of her hands adjusting his stance, the soft, deliberate cadence of her voice guiding his breathing, it unsettled him more than the technique itself ever had.

Every word she spoke, every breath, seemed to press into him, drawing his focus outward even as he tried to center himself. When he shifted slightly, tilting his head in the slightest, their faces came fully into view of each other.

They froze.

Mrs. Liara’s eyes widened faintly, a shimmer of surprise crossing her calm, practiced expression. Her lips parted for a moment, just enough that he caught the tiniest flash of movement, a whisper of hesitation.

They were only inches apart now, so impossibly close that he could see the faint reflection of his own red eyes glimmering in the lenses of her glasses. For one suspended heartbeat, neither of them moved, as though time itself had paused, compressing the entire world into the narrow, fragile space between them.

Then she pulled herself together, as if snapping back to reality with deliberate effort. With a sharp inhale she stepped back, spine straightening into its usual, commanding posture.

"Try it now," she said briskly, her voice regaining its familiar authority, cool and precise, though the slightest tremor betrayed her earlier surprise.

Jae turned forward again, closing his eyes tightly to block out everything except the connection to his core, to the flow of mana within him. He inhaled deeply, feeling the air fill his lungs and settle his body. He let the weight of the lesson, the discipline, guide him.

This time, the mana responded. Slowly, carefully, deliberately, it pooled at his core, moving in smooth, circular motions as though filling a basin with water.

A small, genuine smile spread across his face, boyish and unguarded. "I did it"

Mrs. Liara allowed herself a small, approving nod, the faintest flicker of satisfaction passing across her features. "Good. Now, let’s refine it," she said, her voice soft but firm, precise and professional, masking the subtle flutter in her chest.

She moved behind him again, her hands lifting lightly, almost weightless, to rest on his arms. Her fingers traced along the firm lines beneath his sleeves, adjusting the angle of his elbow, tilting his wrist just slightly.

The touch was deliberate and measured, professional, but precise, her fingers guiding him along the exact pathway he needed to follow. "Not like that," she said softly, "let it flow with you, not against you. Feel the current, the movement. Don’t force it; let it come naturally."

Jae obeyed immediately, his body bending and flowing with the gentle corrections, responding intuitively to the adjustments she offered.

He glanced back again, almost involuntarily, and caught her gaze over his shoulder. Their eyes met, and the charged silence returned, heavier than before. This time, she froze mid-word, her lips parting just slightly, a faint hitch of her breath escaping before she quickly swallowed it back.

"Again," she said, stepping back, trying to mask the slight tremor in her voice with deliberate firmness. "Do it on your own."

Jae inhaled deeply, focusing all his energy, drawing the mana inward once more. For a brief moment, it seemed steady, circling and gathering... and then, almost cruelly, the thread fizzled out again, dissolving before it reached his fingertips.

He let out a long, frustrated sigh, shoulders sagging as the tension drained from his body. "It’s gone," he muttered, voice low and heavy.

Without hesitation, Mrs. Liara stepped forward again to assist, but this time she chose a different approach, moving to stand in front of him rather than behind. "Then watch closely," she instructed, her voice firm but calm, regaining her professional composure. She lifted her hand, demonstrating once more, slow and deliberate. "Mirror my movements."

Jae nodded sharply, eyes narrowing with focus, every muscle tensed in concentration. She demonstrated the flow slowly, carefully, guiding the motion from core to fingertip in a rhythm that seemed almost hypnotic. He lifted his own hand to follow, deliberately matching her movements.

Then, in one almost imperceptible motion, he allowed his fingertip to brush lightly against hers.

It was a tiny touch, subtle and almost accidental, yet the effect was immediate.

A shiver ran through her body, faint at first, almost ignorable, then stronger, spreading like a quiet electric spark racing along her nerves. Her lips parted slightly without her permission, and for a fraction of a second, she forgot how to breathe normally.

She jerked her hand back abruptly, adjusting her glasses with sharp, practiced movements. Clearing her throat, she forced her voice to sound steady. "Focus. Don’t lose concentration now," she said, the words clipped, careful, professional, but the slight catch in her tone betrayed her inner reaction.

Her mind, however, refused to obey her command completely. Inside, her thoughts tangled and twisted. Why did that feel... good? It was only a touch. Only a simple brush of skin. And yet, the warmth lingered in her hand and down her nerves, echoing faintly in places she hadn’t expected it to. Has it really been so long since I’ve felt any sort of... connection? That even a touch this small could...

She stopped herself sharply before letting the thought finish.

And yet, another suspicion stirred, unwelcome but impossible to ignore. Did he do that on purpose? Or was it truly just chance?

Jae’s lips curved into a faint, subtle smile. It was quiet, almost hidden, yet unmistakable. He tried the technique again, more focused, more determined. The mana gathered smoothly at his core, rising halfway through his chest before sputtering and dying near his wrist.

He groaned softly, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

Mrs. Liara forced herself to steady her breathing, forcing her mind back to the lesson. "Again," she said, her tone firm, professional, though her fingers lingered slightly as she corrected the angle of his wrist with the gentlest of touches. Her heart, however, hadn’t yet returned to its normal pace.

She studied him carefully, narrowing her eyes.

If he is failing on purpose, she thought slowly, her mind sharp, then this entire lesson... perhaps it has been a ruse. A careful plan to draw close to me.

The realization should have annoyed her, perhaps even made her angry. And yet, to her own surprise, a warmth began to bloom in her chest. A heat she had not expected, had not invited, spread slowly and softly.

Does that mean he likes me?

The thought sent a tremor through her chest, softening something inside her she hadn’t realized was tense.

But no. She forced the warmth back down, suppressing the feeling, controlling it. She reminded herself firmly: she was his teacher. She had to remain professional. She had to.