Lor's grin was barely concealed as he leaned against Eva's desk, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief.
"How?" she demanded, crossing her arms, which only accentuated her curves. "How could you possibly help me with math? You're the class loser."
Lor's grin didn't falter. He straightened, adopting a serious tone, though his mind raced with the ridiculous plan forming.
"It's a secret," he said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "You can't tell anyone. I have a… special magical ability. A bloodline power called 'The Guiding Light.'"
Eva's brows furrowed, her bow quivering as she tilted her head. "The Guiding Light? Never heard of it. Sounds like something you made up to sound cool."
Lor chuckled, unfazed. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "It's rare. My grandfather discovered it, passed it down through our family. He was a wandering mage, helping the hopeless with his gift. It's not in any academy records because it's… unconventional."
She rolled her eyes, but curiosity flickered in her gaze. "If you've got some fancy power, why aren't you using it on yourself? Why're you stuck in Class D, flunking like the rest of us?"
"Simple," Lor said, his tone smooth as silk.
"The Guiding Light only works on others. My grandfather's vision was to uplift those in need, not to selfishly boost himself. It's a power of guidance, not personal gain." He fought back a smirk. The lie was so absurdly perfect, he almost believed it himself.
Eva's suspicion didn't waver. "Okay, so what is this Guiding Light? What does it do?"
Lor paused for effect, letting the silence build tension.
"It's a mystical force," he said, his voice taking on a reverent tone. "If you tell me your problem and seek my guidance, the Light reveals a… ritual. A specific act we must perform together. Once it's done, and the light is satisfied, it grants you clarity and wisdom for a time. But," he added, his eyes glinting, "the acts it demands are… like I mentioned earlier, unconventional. Sometimes downright obscene."
Eva's face flushed crimson, her eyes widening. "You're such a pervert!" she shouted, slamming her hands on the desk and standing up, her skirt riding up slightly to reveal a flash of her panties.
"You think I'm gonna fall for this crap? You just want an excuse to creep on me!"
Lor raised his hands defensively, though his grin betrayed his amusement.
"Believe what you want, Eva. But think about it." He stepped closer, his voice low and persuasive.
"What if I'm telling the truth? What if this could get you that score you crave, get you out of Class D, all the way to Class A? You're desperate, aren't you?" He gestured to the crumpled test paper. "Two out of a hundred isn't gonna cut it."
Eva's glare faltered, her lips trembling as she sank back into her seat.
The weight of her failure hung heavy, her dreams of climbing the academy's ranks slipping further away.
Lor watched her, his heart racing.
He was playing a dangerous game, but the thrill of it—blending his Earth-born intellect with a fake magical ruse—was intoxicating.
"Tell you what," he said, grabbing his spellbook from his desk. "Think it over. If you change your mind, let me know." He turned to leave, his steps deliberate, counting on her desperation to pull her back.
"Stop," Eva called, her voice softer but firm.
Lor paused, his grin widening as he turned to face her. Her face was red, her hands clenched into fists on the desk. "Fine," she said, barely meeting his eyes. "I'll… I'll do it. But this better not be some sick joke."
"It's no joke," Lor said, his tone serious but his eyes gleaming. "But it's a secret. No one can know."
Eva nodded, her cheeks still flushed. "Okay. But the academy's too public—no way we're doing anything weird here. If this is real, we'll do it at my place. A… study session." Her voice wavered, as if she couldn't believe her own words.
Lor raised an eyebrow, impressed by her boldness. "Fair enough. But first, you need to tell me what you want. Then I'll tell you what the Light demands."
Eva hesitated, then leaned forward, her voice low. "Tell me what I have to do first. Then I'll decide if I want the help of the light or not."
"Alright," Lor said, sitting across from her, his pulse quickening.
He pulled a silver coin from his pocket and placed it on the desk between them.
"This is how it works. I enter a trance, the coin levitates, and you tell me your problem and what guidance you seek. The Light will tell me the ritual, and we'll know what to do."
Eva's eyes narrowed, but she nodded. "Fine. Do it."
Lor closed his eyes, his fingers twitching subtly under the desk.
A faint pulse of magic—carefully controlled, far more precise than anyone in Class D suspected him capable of—flowed through him.
The coin wobbled, then rose smoothly, hovering between their faces with eerie stability.
Eva's breath caught, her skepticism wavering.
Lor sucked at magic—everyone knew that.
He could barely light a candle in class.
Yet here he was, levitating a coin like a master.
"What guidance do you seek, child?" Lor intoned, his voice deep and theatrical, barely suppressing a smirk.
Eva stared at the coin, then at him, her resolve hardening.
"I want a perfect score in math," she said firmly.
Lor's eyes remained closed, his voice steady. "That's a wish, child, not guidance."
Her bow quivered as she leaned forward, frustrated. "What's the difference?"
"Guidance is a path," he said, his voice still deep, the coin steady in the air. "I can guide you to score higher in math than you did this time. Much higher."
"Yes!" Eva said immediately, her voice desperate. "Do it!"
Lor let out a low, guttural hum, as if channeling some ancient force.
His eyes snapped open, and the coin dropped to the desk with a sharp clink.
He pressed a hand to his forehead, feigning strain, though his mind was clear as ever.
He'd already decided the "ritual" the moment he saw her test score.
"What did you see?" Eva asked, her voice urgent, leaning so close her blouse strained further, offering a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage.
Lor met her gaze.
"The Guiding Light has spoken," he said. "To receive its wisdom, I must… squeeze and play with your breasts for five minutes."