Free Web NovelChapter 304: inch off
Lor closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed visibly. His fingers twitched once at his sides. The coin wobbled, then rose smoothly.
It rotated slowly an inch off the floor, then two. A faint hum filled the air.
The lantern seemed to dim slightly, as if the light itself was being drawn inward.
Eva watched with the quiet attention of someone who had seen this many times and still found it remarkable.
Viora’s eyes were locked on the floating coin, her shoulders slightly tense, somewhere between wariness and fascination.
She had seen it once before in the abandoned classroom, but it still affected her.
Lor’s eyes opened. A white-gold glow shone from them.
When he spoke, his voice had dropped into that deep, layered register, the Guiding Light weight behind every word.
"Two seekers. One ritual space." A long pause. "The Light... is curious."
He turned his glowing gaze to Eva first. "What guidance do you seek, child?"
Eva remained composed. She framed it correctly, having done this enough times.
"I seek guidance to strengthen my bloodline magic. My wood ability. For the path ahead."
The Light hummed approvingly. Then it turned its attention to Viora.
Viora straightened. She was steadier now than she had been on the bed. She had made her decision. "I seek guidance to improve my magic casting ability. Stronger and more controlled."
Silence fell. The coin rotated slowly between them.
Then it dropped. It hit the floor with a clean, ringing sound and went still.
Lor blinked. His hand rose to his temple with a practiced wince. He breathed through it, eyes refocusing on both girls.
"The Light has heard you," he said. His voice returned to normal, the weight gone. "Both requests. It found them... acceptable."
He paused, rubbing his temple again.
"Like always it wants to be pleased first."
He looked at Eva first. Then at Viora.
He let the silence sit between them, heavy and expectant.
"The Light’s first demand is for Eva."
He paused, letting the words settle in the warm lamplight. "It wants you to use the toys you brought with you tonight."
Eva went very still. Her head pulled back slightly.
Color flooded her face instantly — a deep, immediate blush that started at her neck and spread rapidly across her cheeks and ears.
Her full breasts rose faster beneath the tight green blouse, straining against the fabric.
"How—" she started, voice catching. "How does it know about that?"
Lor gave a small, wry shrug, keeping his tone casual.
"It is mystical, Eva. It sees things." A deliberate beat. "You have been working with it long enough to know that by now."
In truth, he had discovered the toys only moments ago.
When the three of them were climbing the stairs, he had sent a small, almost invisible current of wind magic drifting downward — too faint for anyone to notice.
The current slipped into Eva’s bag like a gentle breath, then returned to him carrying clear scents.
Polished wood. The faint musk of her juices.
The light floral scent of the oil she used to maintain the Velnar-crafted toys.
Viora’s bag on the other hand had smelled normal — paper from books, a trace of her usual womanly items, nothing more.
He had said nothing then. He said nothing now.
Eva’s mouth closed.
She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, knuckles paling.
Inside that bag were the smooth wooden toys she had carefully selected and packed before leaving home — hoping, quietly, that tonight’s session might go exactly this direction.
She had nearly abandoned the idea the moment she spotted Viora approaching from the opposite side.
She had never breathed a word about them to anyone.
Yet the Light knew.
She didn’t ask again how.
She simply stared at the floor for a long moment, jaw tight, breathing through the flush that refused to fade.
Viora turned to look at Eva, confusion clear on her face. "Toys? What toys? What is it talking about?"
Eva’s blush deepened to a darker shade.
She didn’t answer directly. She kept her eyes down, fingers still gripping the bag like an anchor.
Lor continued calmly. "Since this is a joint ritual, the Light wants you to participate with her toys as well."
Viora’s eyes widened.
A heavy beat of silence filled the room.
Then she shifted on the floor, her thick thighs pressing together involuntarily.
Her face went pink.
She looked between Lor and Eva, then back at Lor, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and a rising heat she clearly didn’t want to name.
"That’s..." she started, voice slightly rough.
"That’s too much. I came here for magic guidance. Not for—" She stopped, pressing her lips together tightly. "That’s too much for just teaching magic."
Lor didn’t waver.
"The bigger the request, the steeper the price. The Light would be teaching you a higher level than before — not foundational casting, not basic precision. Real improvement. The kind that shows up clearly in practical exams." A pause.
"And the results of Class D’s theory exam are already proof of what it can do when it is pleased."
Silence fell heavily between the three of them.
Eva spoke first, quietly but with real feeling behind every word. "I scored 45."
She said it like she was still slightly surprised by it herself. "I’ve never even dreamed of scoring that high. Ever." She looked at Lor and something in her expression settled into quiet decision.
"I was so happy when the results came out. I know what this does."
She reached for her bag. Her knuckles were white where she gripped it. But she wasn’t leaving.
"I agree," she said. Clear. Determined.
Viora remained quiet for a long moment.
She looked down at the floor, then at Eva, then at the silver coin still lying where it had fallen.
Including the 20 marks of help she got from the light during the exam, she had scored 32 on that paper. Myra had scored 37.
The gap sat heavy in her chest.
She straightened her posture. Sat properly.
When she finally spoke, her voice was composed, but just barely.
"Fine." A beat. "Yes. I am ready"
She looked at Lor directly, her cheeks still flushed. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"Just... be gentle. I know I look athletic. But still."
