Andrew looked genuinely puzzled. “Why? Aren’t you worried that since we already know each other, studying under me might actually be inconvenient?”

Luna smiled softly. “I am a little afraid you’ll call me stupid. But your alchemy skills are genuinely impressive, so I’m willing to look foolish if it means learning from the best. Besides, there are other reasons too.”

Andrew’s brow furrowed. “What other reasons?”

Luna’s eyes grew distant as she looked away. “Personal reasons. I’d rather not discuss them with you right now.”

Andrew chuckled and nodded. “Fair enough. Then let’s get started. From this moment on, you’re my assistant. Whenever I need medicinal herbs, I expect you to find them immediately.”

Luna’s palms started sweating, and nervousness crept into her voice. “Right now? Already? But my knowledge of rare herbs is still pretty limited. I haven’t memorized most of the plant names yet."

Andrew’s tone was matter-of-fact. “That’s your problem to solve. What you haven’t memorized, you’ll learn on the job.”

Luna waved her hands frantically. “I can study hard when I get home, that’s fine. But what if I mess up and slow you down? What if I ruin everything?”

Andrew shrugged casually. “Simple… If you cause my ninth-grade supreme elixir to fail, you’ll pay me back in full. Or, we can do it the old-fashioned way between teacher and student. I’ll just give you a few smacks to vent my frustration.”

Luna immediately planted herself in the middle of the pile of herbs, her entire body tense and rigid like a nervous student facing a stern instructor. She began flipping frantically through the medical reference books beside her, reading line after line with intense focus.

Andrew could not help but comment, “You don’t need to be this tense. Relax a little. Be natural about it. Remember this principle: go with the flow, let things happen naturally without forcing them.”

Luna nodded repeatedly, but she did not seem to relax at all.

Moreover, as Andrew called out more and more herbs, his requests came faster and faster. Sweat began to bead on her forehead.

Andrew could not resist asking, “That’s strange. Did you study like this in front of Philip, too?”

Luna gave a bitter laugh. “Mr. Turman was way stricter and meaner than you. Even though I’m a woman, I got the same treatment as Conrad; ten times the punishment if I made mistakes or progressed too slowly. When he got angry, you couldn’t even imagine how terrifying it was.”

Andrew made a dismissive face. “What’s there to imagine? That old guy has yelled at me more times than I can count. The only reason I took it before was because I couldn’t beat him early on, and he had a higher rank than I did. Now? While I can’t exactly control him, I’m not trembling in front of him anymore. If he tries to show off, I’ll knock him down without hesitation.”

Luna simply shook her head and did not respond. She could not really comment on Andrew being disrespectful to Philip. Hence, silence seemed like the safest option. But privately, she had to admit that Andrew was the kind of person bold enough to stand up to Philip.

It was like watching two fierce forces meeting their match.

Andrew suddenly remembered something. “Oh, that’s right. I just recalled something. I was at a private trading event a while back, and I overheard someone putting out a bounty on you. Apparently, you interfered with their interests, so they want you brought in, dead or alive.”

Luna’s eyes turned icy cold instantly. “Thanks for the heads up. But honestly, there are plenty of people out there who are after me. I’ve never been scared of fighting for survival.”

Andrew nodded approvingly with a smile. “Now that’s what I like to hear. You’re definitely Philip’s student.”