Lunaria Zenthra's thoughts race as she grapples with the rules that echo in her mind, a cacophony of dread reminding her of the precariousness of her situation. She had been so eager to understand the intricacies of this unfamiliar world, yet the crucial moments had slipped through her fingers. Dismissed by the Headmistress before she could finalize the lessons on how to avoid becoming prey to a Master, Lunaria Zenthra feels an unsettling chill creep up her spine.
In this moment of vulnerability, she hopes desperately that she brought her mop; the sheer terror of the encounter threatens to overwhelm her. The thought of fear manifesting itself in such a humiliating way makes her stomach churn. Her gaze remains locked on the icy-blue eyes of the General, a gaze that feels as if it could freeze her soul.
"Forgive me. I'm sorry. I didn't expect you," Lunaria Zenthra stammers, the weight of fear thickening the accent that defines her speech. Every syllable trembles with the reality of her predicament.
"Stand," he commands, his voice resonating like a dozen echoes reverberating within her chest. It's a deep, gravelly timbre, imbued with an authority that sends shivers down her spine. Every part of him seems sculpted to command attention and instill fear.
With a mix of trepidation and instinct, Lunaria Zenthra stumbles to her feet, her heart racing as if it might leap from her chest. The desire to flee—to rocket jump back to Earth, or anywhere but here—pulls at her, but she fights against it. Instead, she lowers her gaze, focusing on the ground as a sign of respect.
Yet, as she stands before him, the tension thickens in the air. Lunaria Zenthra is acutely aware of the precarious balance between submission and defiance. In this moment, she is caught between the rules of survival and the instinct to assert her own strength, a dance of power that could define her fate in a world where the stakes are perilously high.