Chapter 125: Luna's Past, and the Memories
An hour later...
"Alright, that concludes our discussion on the upcoming war strategy issues. If anyone has any questions or suggestions, please feel free to speak up," Luna said lightly as she looked at Valen, Natasya, Guren, and Rain, setting down her long, thin log.
Upon Luna's inquiry, silence fell over the group, with none of them offering any input.
"If there's nothing else, feel free to return to your respective tents and rest," Luna continued in a light and nonchalant tone, prompting nods from everyone present.
"In that case, I'd like to take my leave, Bow Hero Luna and Spear Hero Valen," Natasya said with a respectful tone.
"I, too, would like to take my leave," Guren said, bowing his head slightly towards Luna and Valen. However, as he mentioned Valen's name, he subtly pressed his tone, eliciting a broad smile from Valen.
"I, too, will take my leave," Rain stated expressionlessly, prompting immediate nods from Luna and Valen.
After receiving their nods, the trio exited the tent in unison, leaving Luna and Valen alone inside.
"Why don't you leave too?" Luna glanced at him, her tone indifferent.
In response to her question, Valen smiled faintly and folded his arms, his gaze playful as he looked at her.
"If I choose to stay here, is there an issue? Do I not have the freedom to be wherever I please?" he asked, his tone playful and lighthearted.
Luna rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Suit yourself," she said, her tone indifferent and cold.
Unable to realize the plan to accelerate troop movement towards the Desert of Chaos, Luna was in a sour mood and not inclined to joke with Valen.
Without another word to Valen, Luna left the tent, leaving him alone inside.
Watching Luna's retreating figure, Valen smiled and sighed.
"Tch! Her demeanor remains icy, never changing," he muttered to himself.
Shaking his head slightly, Valen turned his gaze towards the map on the round table before him, his expression becoming indifferent.
After a moment, his reckless smile returned, and in a slightly dismissive tone, he whispered, "The Desert of Chaos and the Demon Emperor, huh?"
...
Leaving the tent, Luna didn't head straight to her own; instead, she walked a short distance away from the area where the troops had set up their tents.
She strode 100 meters away to a lofty plateau, pausing momentarily.
Raising her head, she gazed at the two moons above and the stars surrounding them, their glow illuminating the dark night.
Her cold, indifferent expression gradually melted away, replaced by a beautiful smile that blossomed on her lips.
"If Leon were here, he'd probably join me in admiring the night sky, just like he did when we were children," Luna murmured wistfully, her voice low and filled with longing.
When she first arrived at the Holy Orthodox Hall, she was a shy and timid little girl.
Hailing from a poor family in a village near the border between the Holy Empire of Elysium and Holy Orthodoxy, she possessed a humble nature and struggled with low self-confidence.
At that time, she was discovered by the previous Holy Orthodox Saint and brought to the Holy Orthodox Hall to be nurtured and protected, for she was the chosen hero's destined bearer.
However, despite her esteemed status as the bearer of the hero's destiny, her humble and timid nature remained unchanged.
Naturally, within the confines of the Holy Orthodox Hall, no one dared to bully or insult her due to her exceptionally special status. Instead, most regarded her with profound reverence, almost as if she were a deity.
Her days at the Holy Orthodox Hall unfolded peacefully and leisurely, until one fateful day, when she inadvertently wandered too deeply into the forest behind the Hall, becoming lost in its depths.
Left unable to find her way back, she ultimately found herself crying hysterically.
"Is there anyone... Please, help me... I'm so scared. Wuuuu~" She cried out in fear, crouching down and hiding her face between her knees.
In the dark and silent forest, who would come to her rescue?
Did this imply that she would be trapped within the depths of this dark forest forever?
Various conjectures and questions raced through her mind, intensifying her sobs.
Until suddenly...
"Hey, you! Are you Luna? The one Edward asked me to find?" A boy's voice echoed ahead, causing her to momentarily freeze.
Yet, upon hearing Edward's name, her fears evanesced, and she swiftly lifted her face to peer in the direction of the voice.
There stood a boy around her age, with short black hair and stunning golden eyes.
The boy was strikingly handsome, particularly the smile gracing his lips, which captivated her for a few fleeting moments.
"You are..." she started, her small lips parting as she spoke with a flushed face, her voice hesitant.
This encounter marked the first time she laid eyes on this charming boy, leaving her simultaneously hesitant and intrigued.
The boy simply smiled, and instead of replying, he posed a question: "By the way, why are you crying here? Don't you know that Edward is worried because you disappeared?"
Upon hearing this, she pursed her lips and adopted a saddened expression.
"I got lost in this forest, and I'm crying because it's so dark here," she admitted sadly.
"Pfft!" The boy laughed upon hearing her answer, causing her face to flush with embarrassment.
With a red face and a mix of embarrassment and slight anger, she retorted, "You! Why are you laughing at me?! Is it wrong that I'm scared?"
Her chubby cheeks puffed up as she looked at the boy, dissatisfaction evident in her tear-streaked eyes.
The boy immediately ceased his laughter, replacing it with a handsome, reassuring smile.
"Ehem! Well, I apologize for laughing at you," he said with a slight cough, his tone apologetic.
With a smile on his lips and his head slightly raised upwards, he continued, "Actually, if you find yourself lost in a forest like this, there's no need to be afraid or worried. Lift your head to the sky and observe the light that illuminates it. Then, you'll never fear the darkness that surrounds you." He explained with a soft and calm tone.
"The night sky?" Listening to the boy's words, she whispered softly as she slowly rose to her feet, her face tilting upward toward the sky.
As the lights of the two side-by-side moons and the starry sky enveloped her vision, her eyes widened in sheer amazement.
"So beautiful..." She murmured with admiration.
The boy smiled at her, her face now radiant, a stark contrast to the earlier sadness.
Drawing closer to her, the boy asked, "By the way, it's okay if I call you by your name, Luna, right?"
At the sound of his voice, she snapped back to reality and looked up at the boy, who was already standing beside her.
With her round eyes flashing, she nodded vigorously and replied, "Of course! You can call me Luna! But I don't know your name. Can you tell me?"
As she gazed at the handsome boy beside her, all her fear, low confidence, and everything else slowly dissipated, replaced by courage.
At her question, the boy smiled faintly, his golden eyes sparkling from the reflection of the two moonlights above.
"My name? I am Leon Kruger, destined to ascend to the pinnacle of this world! It's a pleasure to meet you, Luna."
***
"Hah~" Luna sighed, emerging from her reverie with a slightly dazed look.
She took a deep breath, calming herself, and gazed back up at the starry night sky above with an indifferent expression.
"Leon, don't worry; I will find you wherever you are. This is my oath as someone who loves you dearly and also as a hero of mankind..." Luna whispered silently.
After uttering her words, her blue eyes suddenly shone brightly, and her hero power condensed, piercing into the sky and transforming the dark night into daylight in an instant.
This unexpected display of events startled the troops, who had been preparing to rest.
"Could it be an enemy attack!?"
"Alert! Everyone, be ready!"
"Wait, that's not an enemy attack; it's hero power!"
The troops, initially panicked, abruptly ceased their movements, their panic giving way to confusion.
Valen, Guren, Natasya, and Rain, who had been on high alert, now wore expressions of bewilderment.
One question echoed in their minds: "What's happening with Luna?"
...
Meanwhile, on the balcony of his bedroom, Leon stood, his arms resting on the railing, as he gazed fixedly at the starry night sky.
For some reason, as he looked up at the night sky tonight, memories of his time with Luna in the dark forest flooded his mind.
"Tsk! That whiny girl is now a respected bow heroine," Leon chuckled, reminiscing about Luna's chubby, timid face from childhood.
However, after a while, his expression turned indifferent as he contemplated the upcoming war.
"In this war, Luna and Liliana will inevitably clash. While I'm currently aiding Liliana, Luna remains my closest and dearest person. I refuse to see either of them killed." Leon narrowed his eyes, lightly tapping the balcony railing with the tip of his index finger.
Taking a long breath, Leon's golden eyes radiated with passion and determination.
"Therefore, the only solution is to regain my power as swiftly as possible..." He spoke with a blend of indifference and firm resolve.
After his statement, he closed his eyes for a moment before finally turning to enter his room, his posture exuding confidence.