The Sorcerer's Handbook

The atmosphere in the treatment room grew heavy.

”Didn’t you survive the Blood Moon Tribunal?” the healer asked.

Ashe replied seriously, ”Yes, but that’s not the end of it. My enemy is still watching me like a hawk. He’ll use every means to ensure I die here in prison.”

Healer No.222 shook her head. ”This is Shattered Lake Prison. The law is absolute here. No one can break it within these walls.”

”But he can still legally and properly push me into a dead end.”

She shrugged. ”Then that only proves you deserve to be lawfully executed. I’m not saying I doubt your innocence, and I do sympathize with what you’ve been through. That’s why I’ll pray for you, that you find redemption in the divine kingdom of the Blood Moon Lord.”

She switched her tone slightly, now tinged with a hint of warning. ”But that is all I can do. Anything more would go beyond my duties.”

She made it clear that Ashe was not to ask for anything unlawful.

Ashe waved a hand. ”I’m not here to ask for anything. I know my time is running out and that my execution is approaching, so I just wanted to thank you properly.”

”Huh?”

He spoke earnestly, ”Healer No.222, you’ve shown me human compassion. In this cold, merciless prison, you let me feel a trace of warmth. To meet you before my death, I have no regrets. I can accept my ending in peace.”

”I... I’m not as good as you make me sound,” the healer murmured softly, a tinge of embarrassment in her voice.

”But when life and death loom so close, fear overwhelms me. At night, I curl up alone, and I feel terror I can’t put into words. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. Every day feels like living through hell.”

”I do have a solution,” she said, taking out a syringe that gleamed with silver light. ”It’s a powerful sedative. One injection, and all your worries vanish. But it has a side effect. It slows the mind. Simply put, it dulls you—”

Ashe cut in quickly. ”So! To spend my final days in peace without losing my clarity, I was hoping you could stay with me.”

”Stay with you? How?”

”Just... eating, sleeping, and bathing. Things like that.”

The healer leapt to her feet and waved her hands in panic. ”No, absolutely not! That’s not what I mean. Rules forbid it. Healers can’t enter inmate activity areas or maintain overly close contact with prisoners. I... I really cannot!”

Ashe let out a long, genuine sigh. He had anticipated her refusal, but its speed and intensity still left him a little disheartened. At least pretend to consider it... Even the crow mask can’t hide how unwilling you are.

”I understand your difficulties,” he said softly. ”I don’t want to trouble you either, but I truly need your care and warmth.”

He blinked, eyes brightening. ”I have an idea.”

”What kind of idea?”

”You could give me your clothes. Then I could treat them as you and hold onto that warmth every night.”

The healer froze. After a tense pause, she stepped back and asked with a trembling voice, ”You... you want to sleep hugging my underwear?”

Ashe quickly explained, ”It doesn’t have to be that personal! Besides, I’ve never even seen your underwear. I couldn’t imagine it as you anyway.”

That finally got through to her. She asked, ”You mean my crow uniform?”

”Yes. Do you have a spare set?”

”I do, for changing. But regulations forbid me from giving it to anyone else. And hugging it while you sleep... it’s a bit—”

Ashe let out a heavy sigh, his face darkening. ”You’re right. I’ve been unreasonable. You’ve already helped me so much. No matter how I look at it, I shouldn’t trouble you further. Someone like me doesn’t deserve to approach destruction in peace. I clung to hopes I shouldn’t have and relied on luck I never should have trusted. I’m sorry. Please pretend I was never here. Thank you, 222. I’ll never forget you.”

Despite his words, Ashe didn’t stand. He simply looked at her with wide, pleading eyes.

Left with no choice, she clicked her tongue. ”Fine. I’ll give you my spare crow uniform. Is that enough?”

Ashe couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. Brilliant!

He had laid all his prior groundwork for this exact moment. He just needed the healer to give the uniform willingly.

During the upcoming prison break, he would need a crow uniform anyway. Thanks to the moral training from his past life, he still respected the medical profession. Survival might push him to extremes, but if a peaceful solution were possible, he would be more than glad to avoid conflict.

Coincidentally, he shared a decent relationship with Healer No.222. There was no point in holding back favors when the time came to use them. So Ashe played both the tragic and pitiful roles. Layer by layer, he executed his plan, from first asking for companionship to requesting her clothes, gradually prying open her heart and leading her step by step into the shadow of his scheme.

Just then, she hesitated once more. ”Ah... seems like it won’t work.”

”What’s wrong?”

”I had just taken off the other set, and I haven’t washed it yet.”

”I don’t mind!”

”But I do! You must wait until I wash it.”

Ashe panicked. ”Actually, I prefer the original scent. Just grant me this wish! It’s my lifetime request!”

The healer shook her head furiously. ”No! Absolutely not. Wait until it’s washed.”

”How long will it take?”

”Not long. The laundry room has a dryer. At most, an hour.”

”Then hurry and wash it. I’ll come by at noon to get it.”

Ashe guided her toward the door. She froze. ”Weren’t you here to talk to me? Didn’t you want me to spend more time with you?”

”Clothes can talk to me too! They can keep me company. Clothes have many uses. Just hurry!”

Completely bewildered, the healer returned to her quarters to wash the uniform.

***

At the seaview terrace.

Iger’s eyes were fixed on a small black dot on the lake that was gradually growing larger. His heart hammered, and goosebumps prickled across his skin. Heat flushed his face, his legs weakened, and his thoughts raced.

It was tension. It was fear. And yet, it was also excitement.

This was exactly why, despite all the money he had earned, he hadn’t stopped. That uneasy anticipation before taking action was a drug he couldn’t resist. Soon, he would deceive an entire prison and execute a breakout in broad daylight. The thought of countless people reacting with shock, anger, admiration, and fear sent waves of exhilaration coursing through him. Nothing thrilled Iger more than mocking others.

His eyes shone with equal parts anticipation and nervousness as the ship emerged on the lake, belching thick smoke and cutting a path toward Shattered Lake Prison.

Yet the closer it got, the paler Iger’s face became.

At first glance, the ship looked like any other military vessel. The only unusual feature was a layer of ultra-durable steel encasing the entire hull, making it resemble a single, solid bullet. In other words, the ship had no exposed deck. Every part was fully enclosed.

Before Iger could fully process the sight, the transport ship reached Shattered Lake and dropped anchor. The first to step off was a white-haired man clad in a dark red hunter uniform. His hood was up, and a black half-sleeve draped over his right shoulder.

He seemed to notice Iger’s gaze and lifted his head calmly to meet his eyes. The blood-red pupils beneath his hood cut into Iger like twin blades.

Iger’s pupils dilated sharply. The Heresy Court Half-Sleeve!

The signature uniform of the Heresy Court director was a pitch-black Heresy Court Trench Coat. Front-line law enforcement captains, tasked with representing the department’s honor, wore the Heresy Court Half-Sleeve. There were only two enforcement brigades in Caimon City, and without exception, the captains of both brigades were... Three-Winged Sacred Realmsorcerers.