Chapter 36: THE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

"Good morning, Luna Xina." A woman in her late thirties entered the room with a bright smile on her lips. Her expression was warm and welcoming, despite the fact that Xina had just woken up and probably resembled something closer to a sleepy-eyed mess. Her hair, wild from sleep, added to the disheveled look, far from the flawless image she wished she could project—like those women in commercials who wake up looking radiant and perfect. The term "Luna" still felt foreign to Xina. It sounded regal and important, something that she had never associated with herself. But here she was, being addressed with a title that seemed to carry weight and significance. "How was your sleep?" the woman asked, her tone gentle as she gestured for someone else to enter the room. "It was nice," Xina replied, stretching her neck to get a glimpse of whoever was about to see her in her not-so-glamorous state. She wasn’t particularly eager for an audience at this moment. "What is that?" Her eyes widened in