Inside the private training room.

Sonya lowered her wooden sword and exhaled a breath of scorching air. "Phew."

The moment she stopped, crystal-like beads of sweat slid down from her temples. They passed over her flushed cheeks before falling like pearls onto her collarbone and trickling into the valley beneath her training vest.

She walked over to the side, picked up her water bottle, and took quick, shallow sips. As her rapid heartbeat gradually calmed and her nearly depleted mana slowly recovered, the country girl simply removed her training vest. This was a private room, after all, so she chose whatever was most convenient.

The vest was completely soaked with sweat. With just a little force, she could probably wring water out of it. She stuffed it into her changing bag, then took out a dry towel and carefully wiped away the sweat behind her ears, along her neck, across her forehead, and beneath her chest.

After changing into clean clothes, Sonya untied her hair and let it fall loose. Carrying her training bag and wooden sword case, she left the training room.

It was afternoon, and the three luminaries had already spread far apart in the sky. The sunlight was bright without being harsh. Just as Sonya...