Chapter 41: Arriving at the Training Ground

After deciding to train under Eliza, Luna began to look forward to the next day.

After dinner, Eliza suddenly disappeared, leaving behind only a single sentence—”I need to go prepare.”

Luna was left bewildered.

Despite the curiosity and confusion in her heart, Luna didn’t ask further, simply waiting for the next day to reveal the answers.

Eliza didn’t appear again for the rest of the night, leaving Luna alone in the bedroom. The room felt unusually empty and quiet.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Luna’s gaze wandered through the empty room, a vague sense of emptiness rising within her.

Although Eliza had only become this lively recently, she had quietly taken up a place in Luna’s life.

Now that Eliza was gone, Luna felt a bit of loss and discomfort.

“Something feels missing…”

Luna muttered to herself, a tangle of emotions stirring in her heart.

She didn’t know why, but she began to miss the sudden presence of Eliza in the bedroom.

No, that’s not right. She hasn’t died! What am I even thinking!?

Luna slapped her own cheeks, trying to clear her mind.

She just went to prepare, not like she’s dead. Why am I thinking such nonsense…

So, Luna composed herself and left the bedroom to find Qingyan and the others.

She tried to focus on other things, hoping to distract herself from her current emotions.

***

When the next day—Monday—arrived, Luna’s training finally began.

After morning classes ended, Luna rested in her room, feeling a mix of tension about the afternoon’s training.

Xiao Xi and the others had already returned to their rooms for a nap, making the entire dorm unusually quiet.

“Are you ready? Kid.”

After a long absence, Eliza suddenly appeared.

After a night of preparation, she was fully ready for Luna’s training.

“Huh? Right now?”

Luna asked in confusion, not sure how the training was supposed to begin.

“Or did you want to wait until after your nap?”

Eliza looked at her helplessly. For things like training, the sooner the better.

Luna hurried to explain:

“No… it’s not that… I just don’t know how to start training.”

After all, Eliza hadn’t explained the details, so she had no idea what would happen next.

Eliza smiled slightly at her words, saying nothing more.

Suddenly, a Portal appeared beside her, shimmering with mysterious light.

“If you’re ready, come in.”

With those words, Eliza stepped into the Portal first.

Luna stared at the Portal in confusion. Still, she chose to follow.

Before leaving, Luna left a note on her desk for Qingyan and the others, telling them she was heading to the Training Room and not to wait for her.

Then, she too stepped into that mysterious Portal.

As Luna entered, the Portal vanished from the room as if it had never existed.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a new, breathtaking environment.

She was in a vast, endless Forest, lush and teeming with life.

A waterfall cascaded down from above, its thunderous roar filling the air, mist rising and adding both mystery and grandeur to the Forest.

Birdsong echoed from all directions—some birds danced joyfully on the branches, others soared freely in the sky, as if welcoming newcomers.

“This place is…”

Luna took a deep breath of fresh air, savoring the unique charm of nature.

Everything here was utterly different from the bustle and noise of the city, bringing her an unprecedented sense of peace and relaxation.

“A Forest…”

“This is your training ground, kid.”

Eliza’s voice rang beside Luna’s ear, pulling her from her thoughts.

“This place is…?”

Luna asked in confusion, unsure why she was brought here.

Eliza simply smiled gently, a trace of mystery in her tone.

“You can see it yourself—it’s a Forest. Where exactly it is doesn’t matter.”

Although Luna still had many questions, seeing Eliza’s unwillingness to say more, she could only suppress her curiosity for now.

What Luna didn’t know was that this Forest held special meaning for Eliza—a memory she preferred not to speak of.

This place had witnessed her pain and sorrow…

“Alright, enough talk. It’s time for your training, kid.”

“Okay…”

“Follow me.”

Eliza called her along, and Luna followed her footsteps, walking through layers of green as if each step resonated with the heartbeat of nature.

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, scattering mottled shadows across the tranquil Forest path, adding a sense of mystery and wonder.

At last, they arrived at the edge of a Cliff.

It felt as though nature itself had carved out this secluded spot, isolated from the world.

Atop the Cliff, a simple Mat waited quietly—the one Eliza had prepared for Luna.

Luna stood at the edge, breath caught by the sight before her.

The Forest stretched endlessly, green and boundless, like the lungs of the earth breathing with the vitality of life.

Sunlight, breeze, birdsong—everything blended here into a harmonious and magnificent scene.

Staring at the vast Forest before her, Luna couldn’t help but marvel.

“Such a vast and beautiful Forest actually exists…”

Her eyes were full of curiosity and awe.

“Do you think this Forest is beautiful?”

Eliza suddenly asked, her gaze also resting on the endless green.

“It’s absolutely beautiful…”

Luna answered sincerely, then asked with puzzlement,

“Eliza, how did you find this place?”

She really couldn’t imagine how Eliza had discovered such a quiet, mysterious spot.

But Eliza avoided the question, a subtle sadness flickering in her eyes.

“Let’s talk about that later. For now, kid, walk bravely to the Mat ahead and sit down.”

She pointed lightly to the Mat near the Cliff’s edge, a place that seemed to merge with heaven and earth, quietly awaiting a trainee.

Luna had already been drawn to the Mat. Alone atop the Cliff, it looked like a serene corner prepared by nature itself for a trainee.

But when Eliza actually told her to sit there, a wave of inexplicable fear crept up.

She glanced at the Mat, then at the bottomless Cliff, a sense of hesitation filling her.

What if I fall off by accident…?

She worried, but Eliza encouraged her from behind.

“Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll catch you.”

Eliza said this to help Luna muster her courage.

With Eliza’s encouragement, Luna braved her fear and approached the Mat. Though turmoil still churned within, she tried to keep calm on the surface.

Suppressing her fear, she slowly sat down.

Eliza walked over quietly and began to instruct her in a gentle voice.

“Relax… let every inch of your body feel the support of the earth.”

“Control your breathing… let each breath become a bridge between you and nature.”

“Close your eyes, and feel the magic flowing through this natural world…”

Following Eliza’s guidance, Luna slowly closed her eyes, trying to calm her mind and sense the magic in the air.

However, as Eliza had said, Luna’s thoughts were too chaotic—like leaves in a storm, unable to settle.