Although Klein patiently expressed his apologies and explained in detail the reasons for the situation, the "Outstanding Graduate Combat Record" still stimulated Lux.
For a period of time afterward, she fully devoted herself to carving magic circuits and conducting simulated training—and the opponents in the simulated training changed from the initial Beetles to more cunning Desert Jackals and Desert Hyenas, and venomous Desert Lizards and Desert Snakes.
And when facing different enemies, Lux gradually learned to solve problems according to local conditions and deal with enemies in a targeted manner, because no matter what kind of animal it was, it had appeared in the bedtime stories Klein told.
After realizing this, Lux would actively think about their advantages and weaknesses, and then deal with them in a targeted manner.
With gradually enriched experience, Lux finally showed a tendency to convert her talent into combat power.
This smooth progress continued until the fifth chapter of the virtual training.
Here, she met Sand Bandits.
This was the first time Lux faced humans as her training opponents, and even though she knew very well that this was fake, a product of memory, when she actually saw these Sand Bandits, she was somewhat startled and couldn't bring herself to attack.
Unlike the viciousness she had previously imagined, the Sand Bandits who appeared in the simulated training were actually not much different from the scavengers she had seen before; they were equally ragged and equally emaciated.
The only thing that could distinguish them from scavengers was the weapons in their hands and their bloodthirsty eyes.
After discovering Lux, the Sand Bandits' sharp scimitars were unsheathed one after another, their blades exceptionally dazzling under the sunlight.
Pairs of Voracity eyes stared at Lux, their salty gaze like a tangible entity scrutinizing every part of Lux from head to toe.
Even in the scorching Desert, even wearing a long robe, Lux still couldn't help but shiver.
Lux did not speak ancient shurima language, so she couldn't understand what the Sand Bandits were saying.
However, from their expressions and eyes, Lux still felt a malice that pierced her soul; this undisguised Voracity was even more direct and bestial than the hyenas she had faced before.
They were human, but more terrifying than beasts.
The Sand Bandits swarmed forward.
When these guys made their move, they clearly showed that they wanted to capture Lux alive—as for what would happen after she was captured alive…
Lux would not think they wanted to make friends with her.
The slight hesitation she had felt when facing her own kind was completely erased; Lux took a deep breath, raised her left hand to condense a ball of Light Element in her palm, and then gently brushed it over her sword blade.
Wherever it passed, the longsword in Lux's hand became completely radiant.
The next moment, to the Sand Bandits' stunned gazes, she swung her sword and charged!
The "enchanted" longsword easily cut through the Sand Bandits' Desert scimitars.
This astonishing burst made the Sand Bandits scatter in all directions, and Lux chose the two slowest runners, quickly giving them a swift end.
And after completing all this, even though she had become accustomed to the smell of blood from fighting jackals and hyenas, Lux still felt a wave of nausea.
Then, before she could calm herself and completely suppress the urge to vomit, those Sand Bandits ran to a "safe distance" and took out slingshots and javelins.
This was the first time Lux faced ranged attacks; the whistling stones and whizzing javelins made her momentarily at a loss—previous battles had made her somewhat accustomed to resolving fights at close range, and being forced to keep distance by enemies was a first for Lux.
However, Lux, having undergone many simulated trainings, was no longer that rookie; she silently estimated her stamina, then pursed her lips, plunged her longsword into the sand beneath her feet, and raised her left hand high.
In Lux's palm, the originally dancing Light Element spirits suddenly transformed into enraged Light Punishers; the brilliant light first spread and erupted above Lux's head, then crystallized into solid needle-like beams of Light Element, shooting out densely.
The Light Element, like heavy rain, struck the Sand Bandits who were still throwing stones and javelins.
And just as heavy rain can wash away all impurities—this crystallized Light Element rain also cleansed a group of impure souls.
When the dust settled, Lux, uncharacteristically, felt exhausted again; she fell backward onto the sand dune, gasping for breath.
Unlike her previous victories over jackals, hyenas, lizards, and venomous snakes, this time, Lux felt no joy of victory whatsoever.
"It's not a good habit to lie down immediately after a battle." Just as Lux was feeling quite uncomfortable, Klein came to her side and extended his arm, actively pulling her up. "After strenuous exercise, even if you're exhausted, you should try to walk as much as possible to protect your body from injury."
Lux didn't speak—she felt the roughness of Klein's palm, which was even rougher than her own father's.
This guy claimed to be a teacher… how could his palms be so rough?
Recalling the enemies she had encountered and the environments she had seen in the simulated training, Lux at this moment truly realized that what Klein said about "he is just an old man who has witnessed too much human suffering" was not a joke.
Thinking of this, Lux, who had originally been in a very bad mood, suddenly felt… it didn't seem so bad anymore.
She even felt a little sorry for Klein—so, she actively opened her arms, stood on her tiptoes, and gave Klein a hug, and like a little adult, patted Klein's back, and whispered, "You've worked hard."
Klein, whose line was stolen, was dumbfounded.
He had originally intended to comfort Lux after her real combat, but as soon as he pulled her up, he was comforted by Lux instead…
This girl!
"Being cute won't help." Klein snorted and turned away, "The training must continue—don't waste time here, it's Sona's turn!"
.........
Klein had originally been very worried about whether Sona would hesitate when facing the Sand Bandits.
Unexpectedly, the seemingly frail Sona was even more ruthless than Lux when she took action—under the interference of the etwahl music, the Sand Bandits fought each other, and the final victor eventually fell amidst the gentle etwahl music; throughout the entire process, Sona didn't even blink an eye.
"Aren't your eyes dry?" Looking at the calm Sona, Klein was also a little helpless. "You and Lux are truly strange; you were both not calm at all during your first battle, but when you fought humans for the first time, you both acted as if nothing happened afterward…"
Then, before Klein could finish speaking, Sona suddenly shoved the etwahl into his arms, bent over, and dry heaved.
In a simulated training, Sona couldn't actually throw up anything—but at least this reaction made her feel much better mentally.
"I was completely immersed in the crazy movement just now…" Sona's face flushed completely as she looked at Klein's stunned eyes. "I didn't expect it to be like this."
"Alright, alright." Klein waved his hand, "In short, you both passed this round of training—you're tired, let's end it, quickly!"
.........
Thus, after more than a month of training, Lux and Sona passed Klein's first round of simulated training, truly possessing a certain degree of practical combat ability.
Then, just as Klein began to prepare for the second round of practical training, Augatha found Lux and assigned her a "practical mission" belonging to the Crownguard Family.
"What, you want me to return to Silvermere?" Hearing her mother's request, Lux was quite surprised. "To investigate the frost disaster there, tally tax collections, and organize disaster relief?"
"That's right." Augatha nodded, stroking her daughter's soft, golden hair. "You are twelve years old this year, and you can start learning to handle the family's internal affairs."
"But I've never dealt with these things before!" Although she wasn't against disaster relief, Lux was still very worried. "I'm afraid I'll mess it up…"
"Don't worry too much, darling." Augatha smiled. "Mister Kulen will act with you—this time you are the nominal leader, but in reality, the focus is on learning. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask Mister Kulen."
"…Phew, so that's how it is!" Lux patted her chest. "Thank goodness, thank goodness, but it will probably take a long time to get from here to Silvermere. Dad is at Sorrow Pass, Auntie went to Erwindale, and only you and brother are left at home. Won't it be too lonely?"
"Your brother also returned to join the army." Augatha corrected her. "However, his military post is not far from Silvermere, and last time Tiana wrote, she said her work in Erwindale was almost finished—maybe the three of you can spend New Year's together in Silvermere!"
"What about you?" Lux frowned. "Otherwise… Mom, why don't you come with me? We'll go back to Silvermere for New Year's this year, and let Dad stay at Sorrow Pass with his soldiers!"
"You shouldn't talk about your father like that." Augatha tweaked her little cotton jacket's nose. "I won't go; someone always has to stay in The Capital. Since our Crownguard Family's little princess is leaving on official business, I naturally have to stay and cover for her…"
Lux ultimately accepted this disaster relief mission.
Back in her bedroom, Lux couldn't sleep no matter how she lay.
On the one hand, she didn't want to leave her mother, nor did she want to be separated from Sona; on the other hand, she was excited to be able to go out and see things freely—even if, as Augatha said, she was to learn from Mister Kulen, it still filled her with anticipation.
"Klein, Klein, do you think Mom will be very bored staying in The Capital by herself?"
"No, her work will only increase; she'll have to take over all the banquets you used to attend."
"Klein, Klein, won't Sona's learning progress fall behind then?"
"She can focus her energy on music study during this time, practice more, learn Demacia's classical music styles, and even join an orchestra or something, so it won't count as falling behind."
"Klein, Klein, have you ever been separated from your friends?"
"Hmm, many times."
"Klein, Klein—"
"…"
"Klein…"
"…"
Finally, Klein, dizzy from Lux's incessant questions, had no choice but to end this "hundred thousand whys" with a story—and then, as soon as he began to tell it, Lux fell into a deep sleep.
"This brat." Klein sighed softly. "Forget it, let me think… Silvermere…"