Chapter 43 43- Do Not Meet His Eyes, You Might Become Hypnotized (Or Lunch)
LEXI
Once I’m fairly confident that I’ve followed every step Layla described, I let out a slow breath and deliberately relax, releasing the strange buzzing sensation in my hand and letting the magic slip away. Only then am I brave enough to move my hand back. I lean closer, eyes scanning my elbow, searching for anything, a change in colour, a difference in size, some sign that I didn’t just imagine all of it. And… Nothing. The bruise looks exactly the same. Still yellowed at the edges. Still the same shape. The same size. My stomach drops.
“Oh…” I murmur, my shoulders sagging.
“I guess it… didn’t work…” I sigh heavily. The disappointment hits harder than I expect. I’d really wanted this. I’d felt something, felt like I was finally doing what I came here to do. For just a moment, it had seemed possible that I might actually be good at this. Apparently not. I glance at Blake without really meaning to. His brow is furrowed deeply, eyes locked on my arm with an intensity that borders on irritation. He looks… Annoyed. Not at me, but at the bruise. Like it personally offended him by still existing. Layla notices my expression and reaches out, patting my arm gently.
“It’s alright.” She says soothingly.
“Don’t be too discouraged. Very few people succeed on their first ever attempt at a spell.” She is clearly trying to comfort me. I sigh, trying to accept that.
“Thanks. It’s just…” I trail off, then force myself to finish.
“I really felt like it was working. I was sure I was doing something.” I explain. Layla frowns slightly at that.
“Hm. Let me see the bruise again.” She prompts. I shrug and lean forward, offering my arm. She bends closer, studying it with careful attention, her eyes moving slowly over the skin.
“Do you mind if I prod it a little?” She asks. I blink.
“You want to… Poke my bruise?” I ask.
“Essentially, yes. I have a theory.” She replies calmly.
“Well… Okay.” I say hesitantly.
“Kind of weird, but if you think it’ll help…” I trail off. She smiles faintly and presses a single finger down on the bruise. I brace myself for the familiar dull ache. But it never comes. There’s no discomfort. No soreness. Nothing at all. I blink again, startled.
“Does that hurt?” Layla asks. I shake my head slowly.
“No. Nothing. At all.” I inform her. Her face lights up.
“In that case, I have good news for you. You DID succeed at the spell. Or at least, I’m fairly certain you did.” She says, clearly pleased. I stare at her.
“Uh… What? I mean, I want to believe you. But the bruise is still there.” I say honestly.
“Yes. And that’s the key detail.” She agrees. She straightens slightly and fixes me with a sharp, teacherly look.
“Walk me through exactly what you visualised while healing.” She demands.
“Well…” I think back.
“I did what you said. I pictured the damaged capillaries mending back together.” I sum up. Layla smiles knowingly.
“There it is. You healed the injury, but you forgot about the blood that had already leaked out.” She says. I blink.
“The bruise is not the injury itself. It’s the visible evidence left behind. The blood is still trapped beneath the skin. You sealed the vessels perfectly, but you didn’t guide the blood back where it belongs.” She continues. Realisation clicks into place.
“So the damage is gone… But the bruise just… Hasn’t caught up yet?” I say slowly.
“Exactly.” Layla says.
“Next time, before repairing the vessels, visualise the blood returning to circulation. THEN mend the source.” She explains. I sit up straighter, excitement bubbling up before I can stop it.
“So… I actually did it? I used magic?” I ask.
“Yes. You did. And quite efficiently for a first attempt.” She says warmly. My chest feels suddenly light.
“The bruise should fade on its own now. And likely much faster than you expect.” Layla adds. I grin, unable to stop it. For the first time since arriving here, I don’t feel like an imposter. I did actual magic!
I’m still beaming when I launch out of my chair without thinking, my body moving before my brain can catch up. I aim straight for Blake, arms already lifting, heart buzzing with excitement, and somewhere between here and there, my foot slips. The world tilts. I gasp, instinctively bracing for the floor, but I never hit it. Blake moves so fast it barely registers. One second I’m falling, the next I’m being hauled upright, strong arms locking around me, steady and unyielding. The impact jars through me anyway, my weight slamming into his chest as he absorbs it effortlessly.
“Careful.” He murmurs, amusement threaded through his voice even as his grip tightens.
“You might know how to heal a bruise now, but that doesn’t mean you need to give yourself more of them.” He teases me. I laugh, breathless, adrenaline still fizzing in my veins, and this time I don’t let go. I wrap my arms fully around him, pressing close, cheek against his chest, the solid warmth of him anchoring me.
“Thank you. For helping me again. I can’t believe it actually worked!” I say fervently.
“I knew you could do it.” He replies without hesitation. There’s no exaggeration in his tone. Just certainty. He really means that. And that somehow means everything. He really did believe in me. Not in a vague, encouraging way, but genuinely, unwaveringly. The thought makes my chest ache in the best possible way. Blake’s arms close around me in return, strong and secure, holding me like it’s the most natural thing in the world. For a moment, I forget where we are entirely. Then Layla clears her throat. The sound snaps me back to reality. Heat floods my face and I loosen my grip immediately, embarrassed… But Blake doesn’t. He keeps his arms around me for several more seconds, firm and unapologetic, as if he hasn’t even registered the interruption. When he finally does move, it’s slow and deliberate. He gives me a gentle squeeze first, almost possessive, before easing his hold just enough to let me steady myself. He still doesn’t fully let go. I glance up at him, confused, and catch the look on his face. His eyes are narrowed slightly, focused past me, on Layla. Protective. Assessing. Almost territorial. It is not a nice expression to have directed at you. Oh. That’s… Unnecessary. I lift a hand and lightly pat his chest, smiling up at him, but my eyes clearly say stop it. Don’t scare off the one professor I actually feel comfortable with! His gaze flicks back to mine. Something in his expression shifts. Softens. He exhales a quiet, rumbling sound under his breath, more vibration than noise. I can feel it more than I hear it. Then he finally releases me completely. I take a step back, and immediately sway.
“Woah” I mutter., grabbing the edge of the desk to steady myself.
“Headrush. What’s with that?” I blurt out. Layla smiles knowingly.
“That’s to be expected. It’s your first time using magic. Your system isn’t used to it yet.” She says. She glances between us pointedly.
“I think we’ll finish here for today. We can practice more on Monday, assuming you’re feeling well. There’s no class tomorrow because of the dance.” She reminds me.
“Oh, right… That makes sense.” I say, nodding. Layla turns back to me, her tone firm but encouraging.
“You did very well, Lexi. I’m giving you permission to practice that spell again on your own, if you find another bruise. Just be careful.” She warns me.
“She could practice on me too.” Blake says immediately. I blink. Layla does not.
“No, that’s not allowe-” She starts, then trails off under the weight of Blake’s unwavering stare. She sighs, clearly reassessing her life choices.
“…Fine. It’s your risk.” She concedes.
“I don’t recommend it, but I can’t realistically stop you. Just be careful.” She repeats her warning.
“Of course.” I say quickly.
“I don’t think I’ll practice on anyone else until I’m a lot more confident anyway.” I add. Layla relaxes, smiling at me again.
“Good. I’ll see you on Monday. And have fun at the dance!” She tells me. With that, she turns and exits briskly, very clearly relieved to escape Blake’s attention. I watch her go, still slightly lightheaded, still buzzing with magic, and very aware of the dragon standing just a little too close behind me. Today turned out a lot better than I expected.