The Sorcerer's Handbook

At Sword and Roses University.

The Sylvan Library could not compare to Truth University’s Four Doors of Truth Libraries in scale, but it was still one of the most renowned scenic spots in Cailleach. In terms of collection size, neither library even ranked in the top ten in the region. Yet when it came to atmosphere and comfort, the Sylvan Library was unmatched. It even earned a reputation within the university as the number one dating spot for couples.

Unlike the Flower Library, where blooms competed for attention in a dazzling display, the Sylvan Library embraced the theme of a tranquil forest. From the outside, it appeared as a dense woodland. Inside, arched bridges spanned flowing streams, rabbits mated openly, squirrels gnawed on pinecones, and a gentle breeze drifted through the trees. Comfortable swings, benches, treehouses, and even bears—actual, exceptionally friendly bears—could be found everywhere. Leaning against one’s belly while reading was not only allowed but encouraged.

For Sonya, the most remarkable feature was the total absence of mosquitoes. Having grown up in an agricultural town and spent much of her childhood foraging for mushrooms in the forest, she found this almost miraculous.

Of course, comfort came at the cost of functionality. Books were stored inside hollowed tree trunks, and the four library levels were connected by winding tree passages that first-time visitors often found confusing, even with a map. Sonya was not a first-time visitor. She had her Miracle Bracelet linked to the library’s navigation system, yet she still spent considerable effort locating the book she needed.

As she searched for a bench, she unexpectedly ran into an ”enemy.”

Sonya looked up to see Sylvia approaching. She greeted, ”Hello, senior.”

Compared to their first encounter, the third-year senior seemed slightly worn, yet the frailty only added to her delicate charm, stirring a protective instinct in onlookers. The nearby male students, glancing between their books and Sylvia, were a testament to her presence.

Sylvia looked just as surprised. She nodded gently, but just as they were about to brush past each other, she stopped. ”About last time... when I caused you trouble...”

Sonya replied, ”Yeah. So how do you plan to make it up to me?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Sonya realized she had long since ended the Sincerity spirit-summoning ritual. She no longer had to tell the truth, yet out of habit, or perhaps due to the lingering effects of the ritual, she still blurted out her honest thoughts instead of offering a polite lie.

Sylvia froze briefly, then covered her mouth and laughed softly. ”Then... how about I treat you to a glass of Tree Juice?”

Inside the Sylvan Library was a café. Every drink followed a forest theme, with names like Tree Juice, Flower Nectar, and Dew. The names sounded questionable, but the beverages, crafted by Water Department students as part-time work, far surpassed ordinary drinks in both sweetness and texture. They were also cheaper than anything outside. Naturally, students loved them.

Sylvia clearly intended to mend their relationship, and Sonya saw no reason to refuse. She agreed and followed her to the café, where she ordered a drink called Dew That Dripped onto a Blade of Grass.

As soon as they sat down, Sylvia said, ”I’m sorry. I acted on impulse last time and didn’t think things through. If there’s anything I can do, just say the word. I’ll make it up to you.”

Seeing her sincerity, Sonya softened. ”You were ninety-nine percent at fault, but I wasn’t completely blameless either. I may have caused some misunderstandings on my part... By the way, senior, I saw you in My Child Takes My Surname. You were amazing.”

Sylvia caught on to Sonya’s subtle hint at once. She widened her eyes in surprise. ”My uncle directed and wrote that film, so he let me do a guest role... Sonya, are you interested in the path of a movie idol?”

Sonya’s eyes lit up. ”Mm-hmm! I actually read performance-related books in my spare time.”

Sylvia was secretly surprised that Sonya hadn’t set her sights on becoming a Sword Saint, but she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she played along and promised to ask her uncle to try to arrange a good role for her.

”If it were anyone else, my uncle might not agree. But you’re the disciple of the Hidden Hand Sword Saint and the fastest sorcerer at Sword and Roses University to unfurl your Silver Wing. That résumé alone is enough to draw attention. It’s free publicity. Still, if your performance disappoints and leaves no lasting impression, you’ll fade into obscurity just as quickly. I can only offer you an opportunity. Whether you seize it depends on your effort and luck. My uncle isn’t filming right now, so you may have to wait.”

Sonya said cheerfully, ”That’s fine. I still have three years until graduation.”

The two quickly hit it off. The atmosphere warmed as they chatted about campus life. Sylvia then asked a little shyly, ”I heard that he... is still alone?”

Sonya understood who she meant. What else would he be? Did she expect him to turn into a dog?

”At least, I haven’t seen any other girls around him.”

”Then you—”

”Absolutely not.”

Sylvia let out a quiet sigh of relief just as their drinks arrived. Sonya sipped Dew That Dripped onto a Blade of Grass and found it surprisingly rich and creamy, almost like milk tea but fresher and not cloying. She thought becoming a Water Sorcerer might not be so bad after all.

Louisa and Adele were also pursuing Water sorcery. Being their roommate might mean Sonya could occasionally enjoy free drinks, but they didn’t seem interested in creation-type sorcery.

Sylvia hesitated, then spoke softly. ”He’s different from before... In the past, he would start a new relationship right away after ending the last one...”

”Mmhmm.”

”Do you think... he might still be thinking about me?”

Sonya nearly spat out her drink. She barely managed to rein in her expression. When she looked at Sylvia’s eager yet anxious face, she felt a faint trace of pity rise in her heart.

After the Sincerity spirit-summoning ritual and her recent exposure to the world of sorcerers, Sonya had begun to suspect that Felix’s habit of drawing attention and entangling himself in romances had never been random. It likely served a purpose. It might be part of a ritual or a necessary condition to resonate with a spirit.

Once Felix became a sorcerer, he cut off all romantic relationships without hesitation. He stopped visiting entertainment venues altogether and threw himself into study and grueling training. Sonya did not believe the Virtual World possessed the power to rewrite a person’s values overnight. That left only one explanation. Felix had been acting all along, and once he no longer needed the act, he discarded it.

Still, there was no reason to say any of this to Sylvia. For one thing, it was only speculation. For another, Sylvia was not without hope.

She had long black hair that fell over her shoulders, with delicate facial features lending her an elegant air. Her tall figure carried graceful curves, and her hips were beautifully shaped, only slightly smaller than Sonya’s. More importantly, her feelings were sincere. Who could resist the earnest devotion of a soft-spoken, pitiful black-haired senior with the bearing of a classic beauty?

”It’s possible,” Sonya said.

Sylvia’s eyes lit up. ”You think so too? Then what do you think I should do to get back together with Felix?”

Sonya hesitated. ”Well...”

Then she remembered the question from the Destiny Quiz and muttered, ”For a greater cause? Or by facing a shared crisis together?”

Seeing the confusion on Sylvia’s face, Sonya realized she had gone too far. They were still students. There was no need for such grand justifications.

Sonya said instead, ”You just need to take the initiative and step back into his life. He won’t reject you. Don’t rush straight into reconciliation. Say you want to clear up misunderstandings and start as friends. If needed, I can even help create chances for you to run into each other.”

”Mhm, mhm!”

Sonya continued with a smile, ”Once you grow familiar again, you can start using some techniques. For example, the woodpecker tactic.”

”The woodpecker tactic?”

”You sigh at random during conversations. When he asks what’s wrong, you say it’s nothing. Or you suddenly fall silent, look a little listless, and make him worry without explaining why. Then, from time to time, you rely on him or act spoiled, making him feel indispensable. Through repeated emotional probing, you establish shallow emotional control. Eventually, a single sigh or gesture from you will stir his emotions, and all his attention will stay on you. That’s the woodpecker tactic.”

Growing more animated, Sonya continued, ”If you get back together, you move on to the second phase: negative emotion transfer and positive emotion control. When you feel unhappy, you must share it so that he becomes unhappy too. But if he wants to share something that makes him happy, and it’s not something you like, you deny it and suppress him. In short, if you’re unhappy, he can’t be happy. And if he’s happy, it has to be within the limits you allow.”

She went on without pause. ”The third step is time distortion. When he treats you well, you stay calm and make him promise to do so for the rest of his life. Stretch his effort across a lifetime and turn devotion into routine.

”Then comes the fourth step. Historical projection. When he grows distant, you bring up his past behavior to prove he’s changed. As long as he apologizes, you reward him with a little sweetness.”

Sonya concluded confidently, ”Master these four steps, and Felix will become a perfect, devoted partner.”

Sylvia blinked as she listened. When Sonya finally stopped, she smiled and asked, ”Sonya, have you ever been in a relationship?”

Sonya’s face flushed. ”No. I’m sorry. I got carried away and showed off these useless personal theories in front of you...”

Sylvia gently shook her head. ”They’re not useless. If this were the past, I would’ve happily learned them and put them to use.”

She lowered her voice. ”But love is a kind of miracle. I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t want to see him unhappy. I just hope that I can stand beside him.”

Sonya froze.

Only then did she notice the books Sylvia was holding—Sword, Wind, and the Abyss, A Wind Sorcerer’s Guide to Support, and Recommended Wind Spirits for Combat. Every one of them focused on how a Wind Sorcerer could support a Swordsman in battle.

Sylvia smiled. ”Still, thank you for the advice. I might trouble you again in the future. Can we exchange Curtain IDs?”

”Of course.”

They exchanged personal curtains. From now on, they could communicate directly through their Miracle Bracelets.

Sylvia then glanced at Sonya’s books. ”By the way, are you planning to self-study the Mind Class? But these two seem a little...”

The Interpretation of Dreams and Psychological Linguistics Explained were required reading. The other two, however, left Sylvia puzzled.

Days Spent with a Criminal Sorcerer read more like an adventure novel, while How to Guide Others Through Psychological Stress leaned more toward practical, real-life applications. Neither provided much help for studying the Mind Class itself.