Ashan's eyes widened slightly.
'Crap.'
'When did she arrive?'
He replayed the last few seconds in his mind, trying to recall even the faintest hint of her presence, but there had been nothing; no footsteps, no shift in the air, not even the subtle pressure that skilled fighters usually leaked unconsciously.
'I didn't feel her at all…'
His gaze flickered toward Lunara again.
'Did she hide her presence on purpose?'
The realization made his chest tighten.
'Whatever the reason… this is bad.'
From the brightness in her eyes and the way her attention lingered on the ground around him, it was painfully obvious.
She had seen everything.
Ashan slowly steadied his breathing and slid the Kusanagi back into its sheath, forcing the tension out of his shoulders as he turned toward her with his usual calm expression.
"Instructor…" he said evenly. "How long have you been watching?"
Lunara didn't answer.
Instead, she began walking toward him, her boots crunching softly against the cracked sand that his training had left behind.
"That," she said, her voice filled with quiet fascination, "was no ordinary sword form."
Her gaze drifted over the long scars carved across the training ground, following the violent path of the blade as if she were reconstructing every movement in her mind.
"I've never seen movements like that before."
Then her eyes slowly returned to him.
"And it seems," she added thoughtfully, "you've been hiding quite a few things since the beginning… haven't you?"
Ashan narrowed his eyes slightly.
'She saw too much.'
"I was just practicing something new," he replied casually, though the calmness in his voice was more deliberate than natural.
Lunara's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"That 'something new' nearly sliced the wind apart," she said lightly. "So forgive me if I find that explanation a little… underwhelming."
Her tone remained relaxed, almost playful.
But her eyes,
Those sharp blue eyes were fixed directly on him, steady and probing, as if she were trying to peel apart every layer he carefully kept hidden.
Ashan looked away first.
"It's nothing dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Lunara repeated softly as she stepped closer again.
"No."
Her gaze softened with admiration.
"But impressive? Absolutely."
Then her voice lowered slightly, curiosity sharpening into something more serious.
"That technique… where did you learn it?"
Her eyes narrowed just a fraction.
"Because it didn't feel human."
Ashan froze.
'Damn it.'
Lunara tilted her head slightly, studying him with the quiet patience of someone who had already noticed more than she was saying.
"And the way you moved," she continued slowly, "you weren't just copying the form. You were trying to adapt to it."
Her gaze sharpened further.
"That means the technique originally belonged to someone far stronger than you."
She paused.
"I've been fighting long enough to sense the true nature of a blade style."
Her voice became almost analytical.
"That sword technique wasn't created for protection…"
A brief silence hung between them.
"…it was created for pure destruction."
Then she said quietly,
"Ashan… are you hiding something?"
Ashan's fists tightened slightly at his sides.
But despite the tension of the moment, he wasn't nervous.
"…It's complicated," he replied calmly.
Lunara stepped even closer now, closing the distance between them until he could feel the faint warmth radiating from her body.
"You don't have to tell me everything," she whispered gently. "It's not my place to question you about things you don't want to share."
Her expression softened.
"But at least answer me this."
Her voice carried genuine concern now.
"Did you steal that technique from someone dangerous?"
She studied his face carefully.
"Because it doesn't look like something you were formally taught."
Ashan blinked, slightly caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice.
"I didn't," he answered honestly.
Lunara exhaled quietly in relief.
"Good."
Then she raised one hand and lightly poked the center of his chest with her finger.
"Then I'll ask you one more thing."
Her smile returned.
"If you plan to use that technique in real combat…"
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
"…I want to help you test it."
Ashan blinked.
"You can use it on me," she added casually.
"We'll spar."
"You want to spar… with me?" he repeated.
Lunara grinned.
"Of course."
She gestured toward the cracked training field around them.
"Someone who can fracture solid ground just by practicing?"
Her grin widened slightly.
"That's exactly the kind of opponent I want to test myself against."
Inside his mind, Ashan was screaming.
'This is a disaster.'
'If she sees that technique again… she might start digging into where it came from.'
'And if that happens… things could get complicated.'
But then Lunara tilted her head slightly, her smile softening.
"…Besides," she said more quietly, "I want to see what you're really capable of."
"For myself."
Ashan felt something tighten faintly in his chest.
"Think about it," she continued, turning slightly as if preparing to leave. "I already know you're hiding a lot."
She glanced back at him.
"After watching your duel yesterday, I realized your abilities might be far greater than I first assumed."
Her tone remained calm.
"I didn't question you because I have a feeling you have your own reasons."
Then she added casually,
"And besides… Madam Maren personally told me to keep a close eye on you."
Ashan gave an awkward smile.
"She said that?"
Lunara nodded.
"Yes."
Then she chuckled lightly.
"But not in a suspicious way. More like… curiosity."
Ashan closed his eyes briefly before answering.
"I'm still not at the level where I can actually use that sword technique properly."
He sighed.
"I'm still figuring it out."
Then he smiled politely.
"But thank you for offering to help."
"When I finally understand it completely… I'll come ask for your guidance."
Lunara suddenly stepped forward and grabbed both of his hands.
Her grip was warm.
Her gaze even warmer.
"That's my good junior," she said with a gentle smile.
"You're my responsibility."
Her thumbs squeezed his hands slightly.
"So don't ever hesitate to ask me for help."
Her voice softened.
"Think of me like an older sister. You can relax around me."
Ashan exhaled slowly.
'Her intentions are clearly good… she's just worrying too much.'
But strangely,
It didn't feel unpleasant.
His attention drifted to their joined hands.
'…They're warm.'
Now that he looked at her more carefully, he realized something he had overlooked before.
Lunara was undeniably beautiful.
Her bright eyes, her confident voice, the way she carried herself, everything about her had a natural charm that was hard to ignore.
'She's probably one of the most beautiful women I've seen since arriving here.'
A strange thought crossed his mind.
'If Narasha ever looked at me like this…'
'I might actually lose my patience.'
At that exact moment, a translucent window suddenly appeared before his eyes.
—--------------------------------------
Conditions met.
[Nervebreaker Touch] Activated.
—--------------------------------------
Ashan's eyes widened in shock.
A strange surge of warmth suddenly spread through his body, flowing down his arms and concentrating where his hands were connected with Lunara's.
Lunara reacted almost instantly.
Her expression changed.
The calm warmth in her eyes blurred, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as her breath suddenly caught.
"M..mmh…?"
Her body trembled slightly.
The sensation spreading through her nerves was overwhelming, an intense wave of pleasure that rushed through her limbs like a sudden storm.
Her grip tightened around Ashan's hands without her realizing it.
"Aah… ah…"
Her voice came out breathy and unstable as the strange sensation intensified, flooding her senses and making it harder for her to remain steady.
Ashan froze.
'Oh no… The ability activated.'
'I didn't mean for this to happen.'
His thoughts raced.
'Did it activate because I remembered Narasha?'
'I need to stop this before it gets worse.'
He tried pulling his hands away.
But Lunara's fingers clung to his instinctively, her body leaning forward as another wave passed through her.
She pressed weakly against his chest, her voice trembling.
"Something… feels… strange…"
Her eyelids fluttered.
"What's… happening…?"
Her body finally gave out.
Lunara collapsed against him, unconscious.
Fortunately, despite the overwhelming sensation, her strong endurance prevented the reaction from going any further.
Ashan quickly caught her before she could fall.
'I'm done for.'
'What the hell is this ability?'
Even though he had stopped the contact, it was already too late.
Then,
"Hey, Ashan. I…"
Zevi suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He stopped mid-sentence.
His eyes slowly moved from Ashan…
…to Lunara resting in his arms.
Silence filled the training ground.
Zevi squinted suspiciously.
"Ashan…"
He pointed between them.
"You and our instructor?"
His brows furrowed.
"What exactly is happening here?"
Ashan turned toward him, momentarily speechless.
Then he forced himself to answer.
"Zevi."
"Come here."
"The instructor and I were talking, but she suddenly fainted."
His tone remained calm.
"We need to take her to the infirmary."
Zevi rushed over immediately.
"She fainted?" he repeated in disbelief.
"How does that even happen?"
He stared at Lunara's unconscious face.
"Is she sick or something?"
"I don't know," Ashan replied.
"We'll figure it out after the doctors check her."
He carefully lifted Lunara into his arms.
"Let's go."