After yesterday's grueling lesson, Mike lay motionless on his bed, his arms heavy and aching as if they'd been filled with lead. Even the thought of moving sent a sharp reminder of the endless hours he'd spent practicing mana control. His limbs refused to budge, and as he lay there, the thought of another day's lesson seemed unbearable.
"Maybe...… I could just...… take a break tomorrow…...." he mumbled, eyes already closing as he sank deeper into his bed.
A soft knock at the door broke his half asleep state, and he groggily opened one eye. There stood Lyria, smiling, her form framed by the dim glow of candlelight. Her outfit was more daring than usual, her outfit was completely transparent . Mike blinked, trying to convince himself he wasn't still dreaming.
"Hey, Mike," she said with a smirk, crossing the room. "Skipping out on tomorrow's lesson already?"
Her words snapped him to attention, but he fumbled to respond, his voice getting stuck somewhere between a stammer and a squeak. Lyria chuckled, amused by his reaction, and leaned over him, her hand resting gently on his chest.
"Oh, no.....I mean, yes....… but, well....."
"Maybe this will help you feel a bit more motivated." She grinned, leaning in even closer, until her face was just inches from his. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she closed the distance and pressed her lips softly against his. The kiss was brief, but enough to leave Mike breathless and blushing.
As she pulled away, she winked at him. "Finish all your lessons, and maybe I'll have a special reward for you."
With his face redder than a tomato, Mike could only nod. His exhaustion from the day's training vanished, replaced by a new, invigorating sense of motivation. Tomorrow, he would be ready.
The next morning, before he could fully prepare himself, Giselle whisked Mike away in a blink of light, transporting them to a dense forest just outside the kingdom. They landed near a majestic waterfall, its crystal-clear water cascading down into a tranquil pool surrounded by lush greenery. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting shimmering reflections across the water.
"Beautiful spot, right?" Giselle said with a smirk, gesturing to their surroundings. "A little change of scenery should help you focus. Today's lesson is all about control."
Mike gulped, feeling both intimidated and a little thrilled. He barely had a chance to take it all in before Giselle clapped her hands, getting his attention.
"First things first," she began. "Today, you're going to learn how to lift objects with mana alone. No touching. It's all about precision."
She gestured to a small rock by his feet. Mike stared at it with determination, but as he focused, the rock merely wobbled before rolling back into place. He groaned, realizing this might be harder than he'd thought.
Giselle watched with a bemused expression as he continued trying to lift various objects a twig, a stone, even a leaf. Each attempt left him straining, his hands trembling as he tried to channel mana without losing focus. For every one rock that lifted slightly, five more remained stubbornly on the ground.
"Ugh, come on, just..... move!" he muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.
Hours passed in this slow, frustrating cycle. Mike was panting, his muscles aching from the effort. Seeing his exhaustion, Giselle's expression softened, and she handed him a small pouch of food. She even fed him, her grin hinting at the slight amusement she found in his struggle.
"Take a break," she said, handing him a canteen. "You've earned it."
After catching his breath and regaining some strength, Mike was ready to dive back into practice, and slowly but surely, he began to make progress. Rocks that once sat stubbornly on the ground now floated, albeit shakily. By the afternoon, he'd managed to lift several at once.
Giselle nodded approvingly. "Not bad for one day's work. Now, let's move on to something a little more challenging."
She instructed him on the basics of creating simple weapons and shields from mana. Mike was excited, albeit nervous. The idea of shaping magic into something physical was daunting. But Giselle was patient, guiding him through each step. Slowly, the mana swirled around his hands, forming a faint, glowing shape.
It took several attempts, and many broken mana constructs, but by the end of the day, Mike managed to form a basic sword. It wobbled and flickered, but it was there, solid enough for him to hold.
"Good," Giselle praised. "Now, let's see how well you can use it."
They squared off, and Mike found himself sparring against her, his heart pounding with both excitement and nerves. Giselle held back, gauging his form and watching his movements carefully. Despite his limited magic experience, Mike's movements were quick and strategic, a testament to his natural skill.
Giselle found herself impressed, muttering under her breath. "If this were purely a battle of skill, he'd have a decent chance.....…"
But in magic, experience mattered. As their duel continued, Giselle's powerful attacks easily shattered Mike's weapon, leaving him defenseless. She couldn't help but smile, admiring his resilience.
A month went by in a similar fashion. Mike threw himself into his lessons, improving steadily. He learned to levitate, to use telekinesis to lift objects, and to shape mana into weapons and shields. His confidence grew, as did his bond with Giselle, who began to see him as more than just a student.
One day, after a particularly intense practice, Giselle suggested they have a sparring match to test his progress. The forest echoed with the sounds of their clash, and for the first time, Mike felt he was holding his own.
Their sparring match was intense, Mike's movements fluid as he used his skills to the fullest, each spell and counter carefully timed. Giselle continued to have the upper hand, but the fight was close. He focused on her movements, anticipating her next steps with a precision that surprised even him.
As the final round ended, Giselle was left panting, her dress torn from the intensity of the battle. She laughed, genuinely impressed. But as she glanced down, she realized her dress was torn in more places than she'd intended. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to cover herself, only to stumble and fall forward….... right into Mike.
Giselle's bare boobs pressed right against Mike's face, blocking his breath and leaving him awkwardly frozen. But the real mishap came when, in his flustered attempt to shift, one of her breasts slipped into his mouth. Reflexively, he licked only to taste the faint saltiness of her skin.
Eyes wide, he froze, but it was too late.
Giselle jolted back, her face redder than he'd ever seen. "You….... you pervert!" she shouted, standing up and delivering a slap that made his cheek burn.
"Hey, I didn't exactly plan that!" Mike stammered, rubbing his cheek, but Giselle's glare told him he'd be apologizing for this one for a long time.
They both froze, wide-eyed. Then, as if realizing the ridiculousness of the situation, they burst into laughter.
"Mike…" Giselle said, narrowing her eyes as a mischievous grin crept onto her face. "Don't get any ideas."
"I...I wasn't! I swear!" he stammered, trying to wriggle away, but somehow managing to trip in the process.
She finally managed to straighten herself, looking down at him with a smile that was equal parts amused and exasperated. "Well, that's enough training for today. Rest up. You've earned it."
They shared a brief, lingering glance, and for a moment, Mike felt like he'd won something far greater than any sparring match.