Sorcerer’s Handbook

Chapter 23

"I'm so tired, Ingritt. Do you want to shower first or should I go first?"

Before the person arrived, her voice preceded her. Iris, who was reading a book in the dormitory, immediately turned black.

The dormitory door was pushed open, and two girls carrying sword bags came in, giggling as they barged in. Like a breath of fresh spring air, they filled the dormitory with vitality and gave off a refreshing scent of sprouting soil.

"I'll shower first," Ingritt said as she sat down. "I still have to do laundry later, and your feet are already soft. Sit for a while and recover your strength."

"That makes sense," Sonya yawned and sprawled on the table like a slime. "Ah, I'm already starting to regret switching to the Swordsmanship Department. It's so tiring. Not only the classes, but Professor Trotzam also made me take two extra hours of advanced classes and even spar with him... I still have to continue sword training at night to master the Vibration Sword spirits. It feels like my whole day is packed full."

"That's great though," Ingritt said enviously. "Professor Trotzam is a Three Wings Swordsmaster. Last year he was named one of the 'Top 10 Outstanding Swordsaints' and called the 'Hidden Hands Saint'. He might even advance to become a Four Wings Legend...then you'll be the disciple of a legendary master!"

Iris unconsciously crumpled the book in her hands.

Sonya waved her hand. "Professor Trotzam hasn't said he wants to accept me as a disciple yet, he just thinks I'm very talented..."

Ingritt sighed. "I actually wanted to become Professor Trotzam's disciple at first, but he has never publicly accepted a disciple before. You're one of the only two exceptions he's made!"

"Then I'll recommend you to Professor Trotzam tomorrow. I can't guarantee it, but she should at least give you a chance to interview—"

"No need. The professor is clearly only interested in nurturing geniuses. I'm just an ordinary person, she won't accept me and will only dislike me more." As Ingritt looked for clothes, she said, "Plus I'm about to advance to the second ring soon. In a few months I'll be able to summon my own spirit, and I'll have access to the Swordsmanship Department's resources... Maybe by then I'll catch up to you from behind!"

"I won't wait for you!" Sonya said with a snicker. "Luckily I have you, Ingritt, otherwise I wouldn't know how to turn down Felix's invitation."

Ingritt asked curiously, "I heard he wanted to spar with you again. Don't you want to fight him again?"

"I don't want to!" Sonya said decisively. "He doesn't really want to spar, he just wants to get closer to me."

"What's wrong with getting closer to Felix?"

"Apart from him being a playboy, it's obvious that my future accomplishments in swordsmanship will definitely surpass him. I can't stand men who can't even win against me in their strongest area."

"Swordflower College is still too small. I'm definitely going to have to go to Trinity College in the future to develop myself. As for romance, let's talk about it after I've achieved something in swordsmanship."

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Iris's nails were about to pierce through the pages of the book.

Adele, who had been watching a light screen show, asked half-pretend and half-puzzled, "Sonya, are you going to transfer to Trinity College?"

"No, but Professor Trotzam can help me sign up for Trinity College's swordsmanship competitions and let me use their equipment. I may have to shuttle between the two colleges in the future." Sonya sighed and said, "The more I think about it the more tired I feel."

Adele exclaimed in surprise, "Then won't you be able to meet all kinds of top students from Trinity College? If you meet a handsome guy, remember to introduce him to me!"

"No~pro~blem~," Sonya drew out her words. "How could I forget my roommates if something good comes up? We're such good roommates who have spent a happy year together, right Iris?"

Iris was so angry her mouth twisted, and it took great effort to force a smile. "Of course. I'm just worried the great Swordsaint Sonya will no longer recognize us roommates."

"How is that possible? I'm just a country bumpkin who came from a small village. In the future I'll have to rely on young miss Iris to take good care of me." Sonya said sarcastically. "Oh right, the young miss is reading her watermagic textbook? I'm so envious, I also really want to continue studying watermagic. It's so relaxed and dignified, not tiring like the Swordsmanship Department..."

By now Ingritt also realized Sonya was chatting with her but directing her words at Iris.

She couldn't be bothered to care about their grievances, and simply went into the bathroom to shower.

Sonya was all ready to meet Iris's anger, but Iris didn't make a sound, as if she had given up.

The fun of sarcasm depends on both sides interacting. Now that the other side was just hunkering down, Sonya also lost interest. She picked up her bag and called out, "Forget it. I'll come back to shower tomorrow morning. I have to go to the meditation room now to prepare for my first trip into the virtual world. Have a nice evening, everyone."

Ingritt was showering, Iris didn't speak, only Adele responded: "See you, Sonya."

As the footsteps faded away, the only sound left in the dorm was the shower water.

Adele looked at the silent Iris, thought for a bit, then walked over to strike up a conversation: "Humph, that country bumpkin Sonya is getting arrogant from a little talent. What's so great about some skill in swordsmanship? Don't take it to heart Iris, her arrogance will hit a wall sooner or later..."

Adele walked over and saw that Iris was really reading her book, and had even taken out her workbook to do exercises.

"I lost this time," Iris said. "That country bumpkin Sonya has already climbed to a height I have to look up to. If this continues, when we meet again after graduating in a few years, I'll inevitably have to lower my head to her."

Seemingly having imagined her future humble state already, the corners of Iris's mouth twitched slightly. "I can't accept it... I don't believe I can be inferior even to that country bumpkin!"

Adele didn't disturb her and returned to her own seat to continue watching the show.

Although the show was still good, Adele's mind could not calm down.

She turned and looked at Iris again, and saw that Iris was not just having a brief burst of motivation. She was still concentrating wholeheartedly on studying. Adele thought for a bit, and also turned off the light screen to take out her textbooks to study.

When Ingritt finished her shower and came out, she was slightly surprised to see both roommates studying diligently.

But she didn't say anything, and quietly went to the balcony sink to do laundry.

After the gatekeeper checked the student information in her wristband, Sonya entered a completely enclosed special building.

As soon as she stepped past the threshold, Sonya felt like she had passed through an invisible boundary. Her thinking suddenly sped up significantly, and the Vibration Sword spirits even jumped out from her shoulder, seeming extremely excited.

"So after I enter the virtual world, will you still be by my side?" Sonya asked.

"That would actually be overtime work," the Observer casually said. "Beyond my service scope."

"So you mean you don't want to..."

"So, there needs to be overtime pay!" The Observer rubbed his fingers and said, "When you go to a bar to find someone to chat with, you still have to buy them a drink, right? When you find someone to accompany you into the virtual world to chat and travel, you still need to express some gratitude, right!?"

"I'm super broke!"

"Apart from money, you still have a lot of residual value you can sell off."

Sonya raised an eyebrow slightly and hooked her tight shirt with a finger, revealing a deep cleft. "The most valuable thing I have is myself..."

"That's exactly what I was waiting to hear! Then from now on you'll be an employee working for me." The Observer snapped his fingers. "But since you haven't graduated yet, you're still on probation. And since it's probation, there's no employment contract. As for wages during the probation period, the energy potions and wooden sword you used before have covered it already, so..."

"So you want me to work for free?"

"Tsk tsk, don't say it like that. I'm providing you with all kinds of opportunities for growth, and you just need to provide some labor in return while you grow. Isn't this a good productive employee-employer relationship where we progress together?"

Sonya didn't reject this unequal tyrant's contract, but asked back, "You've spent so much effort, training me in dreams, arranging my practice, stimulating my talent in swordsmanship. Is it just to get me to work for you? What would my job duties be?"

"To live."

"Live?"

"To live is the rarest thing in this world. Most people just exist."

"I still don't understand." Sonya said, "I believe every gift comes with a price. You've invested so much to nurture me, you must want to gain even more from me. Unless you're just my mental illusion, otherwise I can't think of a reason for your selflessness."

"I'm not selfless at all, on the contrary, there's no one more selfish than me in this world." The Observer laughed. "I'm asking you to live your life according to my wishes. What could be more selfish than that?"

"But..."

"Haha, I was just joking earlier. How could I be such a good person who only thinks about your well-being?" The Observer laughed. "I do have proper business to ask of you—due to certain reasons, I've become very weak now and can't explore the virtual world alone, so I need you to protect me."

As they spoke, Sonya had arrived outside room 311. She used her wristband to open the door. Inside was a narrow, empty meditation room. The only thing inside was an orange carpet covering the entire floor. The ceiling lights illuminated every corner.

This was Swordflower College's meditation room, and the best quiet place Sonya could find to enter the virtual world.

She closed the door and sat cross-legged on the carpet, letting the Vibration Sword spirits float above her palm. She poured her whole mind and soul into the spirit, seeking the Gate of Truth within knowledge, trying to take her first trip into the virtual world.

Although Sonya had successfully summoned her first spirit, she could not yet be considered a One Wing Sorcerer, because she had not condensed her 'Silver Wings' yet.

Without arcane power, without coalescing virtual shadows, she naturally could not fully harness the spirit, and could not count as a Sorcerer.

And in order to condense the Silver Wings, she had to enter the virtual world, freely roam the sea of knowledge, use her soul to attract knowledge, extract arcane power from knowledge, condense that power into virtual wings, use the wings to leverage authority over the laws of the world, and thus become a Sorcerer!

The only way ordinary people could enter the virtual world was by finding the Gate of Truth within their spirit, and letting their soul pass through the Gate of Truth to directly reach the illusory world constructed of laws and knowledge—the virtual world!

It was said the virtual world was tens, hundreds, even thousands of times larger than the real world.

Countless Sorcerers spent their entire lives without encountering another person in the virtual world. Therefore, all Sorcerers could only rely on themselves to explore the virtual world.

The meditation building was a quiet room specially used for Sorcerers to explore the virtual world. Apart from being quiet with no one to disturb them, Swordflower College had also cast the miracle [Starchild Guiding Lights], which not only sped up the students' thinking to more easily find the Gate of Truth, it also channeled countless rays of starlight from the Starchild Archon, making the students' souls give off a fragrance that knowledge liked. This allowed them to condense their Silver Wings faster!

Soon, Sonya found the Gate of Truth within the Vibration Sword spirits.

After all, it was her first time in life, and Sonya couldn't help but feel nervous, like she was going to open a hotel room. In her heart she asked, "Observer?"

"I'm here. Don't worry. There is a bond between us, sacred destiny has connected you and me."

Sonya's mind instantly calmed down. Her consciousness touched the Gate of Truth, and her vision was immediately swallowed by darkness.

When she woke up, she found herself lying in a boat, floating on a leaden gray sea.

Before her was the thick, heavy ink-black sky, surrounded by hazy fog.

She lay at the rear of the boat, and saw a familiar figure also lying in the bow.

Sonya: "Observer?"

Ashe: "Swordswoman?"

The two looked at each other and both heaved a sigh of relief.