Why didn’t he tell me?

The late afternoon sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the academy's cobblestone path as Eva hurried to her home. 

"Eva!" Olivia called, jogging to catch up, her voice sharp but tinged with urgency.

Eva turned, her green eyes narrowing, her bow bobbing slightly. "What do you want, Olivia?" Her tone was guarded, her curvy figure tense as she crossed her arms, accentuating her blouse's strain.

Olivia caught her breath, her hazel eyes flashing with irritation. "I saw you with Lor again. Another one of those rituals. You were in the classroom, doing that… Guiding Light thing."

Eva's lips curled into a sneer, her green eyes glinting with defiance.

"You're a bitch for peeking and stalking us, Olivia. What's your deal? Jealous I'm getting better at math while you're stuck crying over your spells?" Her skirt shifted, revealing a flash of lace panties as she leaned forward, her voice dripping with mockery.

Olivia's cheeks flushed, her wavy bob trembling as she clenched her fists. "Don't misunderstand me, Eva. I'm not here to fight. We're the only one who believes in Lor's powers so far. The rest of the class? They think it's a joke, a prank, or that he's playing me like a fool. We're out here trusting 'Loser Lor,' and it's making me look pathetic."

Eva's sneer faltered, her green eyes flickering with doubt.

"That's obvious," she said, her voice softer but still sharp. "I didn't believe it myself at first. Neither did you, right? That's the problem, isn't it? You're starting to believe, and it's freaking you out."

Olivia's jaw tightened, her hazel eyes narrowing. "Maybe. But that's not the point. I'm here because we need to work together. If we show the class Lor's being honest—that his Guiding Light actually works—they'll stop laughing and start listening. We could change everything."

Eva's brow furrowed, her bow tilting as she stepped back, her tight skirt swishing.

"Work together? That's a bad idea, Olivia. If everyone starts believing in Lor's Light, they'll all try to get to the top. You think that'll help us get to Class C? The competition will just get worse, and we'll be stuck fighting each other instead of moving up."

Olivia blinked, confusion clouding her hazel eyes. "What are you talking about? Didn't Lor tell you the truth about the ranking system?"

Eva froze, her green eyes widening, her curvy figure tensing. "What truth?"

_________

Lor sighed, scratching his back under the warm spray of the shower, the water soothing the faint chill that had prickled his spine moments ago.

"Ahhh~," he murmured, tilting his head back, his black hair slick against his scalp.

Eva would be at his house soon, and the thought of her twerking in her underwear sent a grin spreading across his face.

Why hadn't he cooked up this Guiding Light scheme sooner?

It was genius—far better than his old tricks with subtle wind spells to peek at panties.

That felt stale now, childish compared to the thrill of his current game.

He stepped out, toweling off, his hazel eyes glinting with anticipation.

___________

"What are you, serious? Are you really serious?" Eva's voice rose, her hands grabbing Olivia's shoulders, shaking her as they stood on the cobblestone path, the evening air cool against their skin. "Miss Silvia lied, and Lor knew about it?"

Olivia nodded, her wavy bob steady, her hazel eyes earnest.

"Yes. I was with him at her office. He told me he'd help me—help the whole class—with his Guiding Light so we can all get to Class C together. It's not about individual scores, Eva. The whole class has to rise."

Eva's green eyes widened, a flicker of betrayal cutting through her shock.

Lor hadn't told her.

After all their rituals, after she'd handed him that damn muffin today, practically offering her friendship, he'd kept this from her.

Her bow quivered as she stepped back, her tight blouse straining with her quick breaths.

"Why didn't he tell me?" she muttered, her voice soft but sharp with hurt.

Olivia frowned, her hazel eyes softening. "I don't know. But that's why I'm here. I need your help, Eva. If we improve together—top the spell-casting competition from our class—the others will see Lor's Light is real. They'll believe him, and it'll give them hope to get better, to work as a team. We can make Class D stronger."

Eva's lips parted, but her green eyes narrowed, her mind racing.

"But what if someone gets greedy?" she said, her voice low, her curvy figure tense. "What if word spreads about Lor's Light, and someone kidnaps him for it? He's weak, Olivia. It wouldn't take more than a hand to drag him into a room and force him to 'guide' them. You know how desperate people are."

Olivia's hazel eyes widened, her wavy bob swaying as she shook her head. "That's not gonna happen. You're thinking too much, Eva."

"Am I?" Eva snapped, her bow bouncing as she leaned closer, her green eyes blazing. "Think about it, Olivia. If word gets out that his Light can actually guide people—make them better, smarter, stronger—he's an asset. People could use him to make money, to make the strong even stronger. And if Class A hears about him? You know what they'll do. They'll lock him up, milk his power for themselves. Lor's a walking goldmine."

Olivia stared, her mouth slightly open, her hazel eyes flickering with surprise. "Why are you even in Class D?" she asked, half-laughing, half-awed. "That's some serious calculating."

Eva shrugged, her tight skirt swishing as she relaxed slightly, a smirk tugging at her lips. "

My family owns a furniture business. Enchanted tables, chairs, you name it. We've got a head for strategy—supply, demand, outsmarting competitors. Class D's just… bad luck." Her green eyes glinted with pride, her bow steady now.

Olivia nodded, her expression thoughtful, then cut in, her voice lighter. "Okay Eva, So, what's your plan for the evening."