Chapter 108: Black Dream Meditation Method
Inside the horse carriage, purple velvet covered the compartment. It looked like an ordinary-sized carriage from the outside, but the interior was as spacious as a house.
The vast space was covered with a deep purple carpet, and elegant round table and chairs were placed in the center of the carpet. At this moment, a teapot emitting hot steam sat on the table, along with tea water.
“Sit down.” Melinsa let Xilutiya sit, then lightly tapped the tabletop with a folding fan.
Hearing the sound, a black stork flew in from outside the window and landed on the table. It seemed to possess intelligence as it looked at Tiya and Madam Melinsa, then grabbed the handle of the teapot with one foot and poured tea into the two teacups on the table.
The gentle sound of water was exceptionally clear in this quiet space. Watching the rising steam from the tea water, Melinsa picked up her cup first and blew on it gently in small sips.
She didn’t seem eager to explain anything to this maiden, simply savoring the tea water leisurely.
Xilutiya held the teacup with her fingers, her eyes slightly curious as she examined the black stork on the table.
This black stork didn’t seem to be an ordinary creature, but a special bird of Second Order Nightmare Nature.
“This is a Dream Snatching bird. It flies into the dreams of creatures and snatches their dreams.” Melinsa set down her cup, blew on it for a moment, and explained in a slightly lazy voice.
“Dream Snatching?”
“That’s right. You can understand it as the disappearance of some intense desire, making people calm.”
“However, this ability usually only manifests at Fourth Order or above. Right now, it can at most achieve Entering Dreams.” Melinsa set down her teacup, her deep purple eyes beneath a slightly teasing smile at the corners of her mouth.
“That girl who died last night, her name was Iona, right?”
“Yes.” Xilutiya nodded.
“What do you feel about her death, Tiya?”
“Probably some regret, or melancholy.”
“Oh, what is the regret, and why the melancholy?”
“As for the regret, I think she didn’t actually have to die there. The melancholy comes from thinking that if I were in her position, I might also find it hard to let go. The only reason I didn’t end up like that is that I was just a bit luckier.”
“An interesting answer.” Melinsa covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
“And quite cute too, Tiya.”
“This is probably your first time seeing such a scene, so you feel a lot of emotion, while I haven’t been moved by such things for a long time.” Her fingers lightly tapped the tabletop.
“From now on, in the woodland, you’ll see even more people who resort to any means. I hope you’re mentally prepared. I still have high hopes for you.”
“Regarding Iona’s death, you don’t need to worry or explain. I’ll talk to Viscount Xue Feng later. He won’t pursue the matter, and the other nobles won’t care about such boring trivialities.”
“The team picking you up to go to the woodland will probably arrive in about a week. Prepare during this time. At least for the next three years, you won’t be able to come back.”
“Keep that badge safe. Its value and meaning, you’ll gradually understand later.”
“Consider this an early investment. This gemstone is for you. You have a pair of beautiful eyes; using this will probably be very interesting.” With that, she slowly pushed a purple octagonal gemstone across the table to Xilutiya.
【Gemstone（ Inscription）】: A gemstone inscribed with some Secret Arts or information. When placed on the forehead during meditation, its contents can be glimpsed.
Although she didn’t know exactly what was recorded inside, Xilutiya still took it and carefully placed it in her palm.
“Alright, time is short. I should head to the next place. Let’s say goodbye here.”
“If you reach Third Order someday, come visit me at the Nightmare Tea Party. I’m sure by then, we’ll have plenty to talk about.”
……
Outside the horse carriage, Scholar Heide and Viscount Xue Feng finished listening to the report and learned that Xilutiya was the winner of this assessment. They were greatly surprised, but since the two most important people weren’t there, they suppressed their curiosity and began arranging for the students and team personnel to return.
Afterward, Xilutiya stepped out of the black horse carriage, and then that carriage slowly moved toward the distance, disappearing into the forest.
Sitting in the returning team, Xilutiya was still pondering her conversation with that witch just now, as well as recalling the scene of Iona’s mutation last night. Her head lightly rested against the carriage window, her eyes quietly gazing at the tabletop.
“What are you thinking about, Tiya?” Komiya, sitting beside her, couldn’t help but ask curiously.
“It’s okay. Iona’s death has nothing to do with you; it was all her own fault.” She comforted her softly.
At this moment, Xilutiya lightly shook her head, pulling herself out of her immersed thoughts and memories. Under the framing of her soft silver hair, she stood out much more prominently today than usual.
Seeing this maiden recover, the other students on the carriage who had been sneaking glances looked away, then pretended to chat enthusiastically with their companions. However, the occasional glances from the corners of their eyes betrayed some of their thoughts.
Without glasses and without tying her hair into the low-key style of the past, today’s Xilutiya was like a true young lady, surrounded by the focused gazes of the students. Her simple actions seemed extremely beautiful to others, and they were surprised that they hadn’t noticed such a dreamlike girl in the class before.
At first, Xilutiya just thought everyone was curious about her significant change.
Later on, she realized this attention had exceeded normal levels; even when she leaned to the side for a nap, many people kept staring.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she rubbed her forehead to slightly block the gazes, and Xilutiya began to regret not doing the work before descending the mountain—dyeing her hair black again and putting on glasses.
For the other classmates, this journey was probably filled with novel topics, a day to see a brand-new silver-haired beauty. But for Xilutiya, the center of everyone’s attention, it was a day of feeling restless, shy, and embarrassed.
……
After returning to Jiaoshi City, Viscount Xue Feng indeed did not pursue any questions about Iona, just as that witch had said. For Iona’s death, the public announcement was that it was an accident brought on by her own fault.
Although everyone was surprised by this outcome, in Jiaoshi City, Viscount Xue Feng was the highest-ranking person, and he was also the one with the closest blood ties to Iona. Since even he said so, naturally no one dared to challenge it, and not many people truly cared.
And upon returning home, Xilutiya naturally couldn’t avoid being grabbed by Madam Fran for a detailed inquiry about the process and the final situation.
“So, you saw her fall step by step, eventually becoming a twisted monster?” Madam Fran leaned lightly on the sofa armrest, listening to this maiden’s account.
“That’s how it was.” Xilutiya answered honestly.
“That was truly a nightmare-like experience. Rest well today. I’ll prepare a soothing herbal tea for you later to help you sleep.”
“Thank you, Teacher.” At this moment, Xilutiya remembered something and took out the purple octagonal gemstone, handing it to Madam Fran.
“This was given to me by that witch, as her personal extra reward.”
Taking the gemstone, Madam Fran examined it, a smile of keen interest appearing on her face as she handed it back to Xilutiya.
“Inside is a Secret Arts of ‘Nightmare’ Nature. It’s very practical and valuable.”
“It seems that witch really thinks highly of you, actually using this method to tempt you.”
“Temptation?”
“That’s right. Most new students heading to the woodland lack resources. To learn such Secret Arts, they’d have to spend a lot of money and points.”
“But if you have it naturally, you’ll make good use of it and learn the Secret Arts inside. Once learned, you’ll probably use it for a long time and make it your main core ability.”
“In this way, you’ll gradually lean toward 【Nightmare】 Nature, and might even change your Nature at some stage, joining their organization.”
“Because the inheritance for subsequent advancements and other uses of this Secret Arts is only available in their organization.”
“Now that I’ve told you their plan, the choice is yours.”
With that, Madam Fran handed the gemstone back to Xilutiya.
【Black Dream Meditation Method】（Nightmare）: Mid-tier Meditation Method, recommended for use after Second Order. It releases the shadows deep in the heart during dreams and battles them. Breaking them enhances mental strength further. Additionally, this Meditation Method can be used against enemies, enveloping them in fearful black dreams to make them collapse on their own.
