Chapter 143: Home
Lor blinked once—slowly, the gold fading from his irises like the last rays of dusk, leaving only his usual hazel, soft and human again.
His shoulders loosened, the weight of the ritual and teaching slipping off quietly, leaving behind just a boy—slightly tired, ink smudging his fingers, a faint streak of sweat clinging to his temple.
He cleared his throat, his voice no longer humming with magic, just warm and relaxed. "So..."
The silence that followed was full of thought, the lavender lamp’s glow casting soft shadows across Lia’s cozy bedroom.
Sophia leaned forward, hugging her knees, her blonde twin tails swaying slightly, her blue eyes bright with a mix of awe and exhaustion. "That... was more than I expected."
"Me too," Lia agreed, her red curls framing her freckled face, her green eyes thoughtful as she rested her arms on her knees. "Not even counting the, you know—wild ritual chaos—the magic and the math... you actually taught. Like, taught well."
"Yeah," Sophia added, a soft smile tugging at her lips, her petite frame relaxed against the bed. "The Guiding Light delivered."
Lor smirked, brushing a hand through his tousled black hair, his hazel eyes glinting with quiet pride. "It’ll be happy to hear the reviews."
They laughed, the sound light now, the kind of tired laughter that came after too much emotion, too much effort, too much everything.
Moonlight poured through the window, quiet and silver, the rain having passed, leaving the air calm.
Magic lingered in the room, but it had settled, like the house itself was exhaling.
Sophia glanced at the clock on the wall, her blue eyes widening. "Oh gods, it’s late."