The Sorcerer's Handbook

In the training hall of Sword and Roses University.

The moment Sonya stopped her training, time itself seemed to freeze.

The apprentices watched her in awe. They glanced down at their wristbands and saw that it was only nine o’clock in the evening. She has only been training for an hour. Why has she stopped already?

Sonya had been training in the hall for just two weeks, but in the eyes of the sword apprentices, she had already become their brightest spectacle. She had even earned the nickname Queen Selby. Her nightly two-hour sessions had no breaks. Every moment was spent in complete focus, and she executed every movement with perfect precision. Simply watching her sweat through each strike was a spectacle in itself.

Her swordsmanship was extraordinary. Many apprentices would steal glances during their free time and occasionally gain small sparks of insight from observing her. This aided them in deepening their understanding of techniques and enabled them to strike the training dummy with greater precision. Watching her train was both instructive and mesmerizing.

Sword and Roses University boasted many swordsmanship prodigies, like Leona, Lorian, and even Felix, but none of them captured the apprentices’ attention like Sonya. This was partly because others’ schedules weren’t fixed and included breaks, leaving them without the nonstop intensity that defined Sonya’s sessions. Aside from that, there was no particular reason. Everyone simply recognized that her skill was a tier above the rest.

As a result, the training hall was nearly full each evening. When Sonya entered, apprentices barely dared to breathe and greeted her only with reverent eyes.

Tonight, however, the Queen had done something unprecedented. She had altered her training schedule and stopped early. For someone so devoted to swordsmanship, what could possibly compel her to break her routine?

It wasn’t just the students who marveled. Professors and onlookers alike regarded Sonya as a genius born for the sword. Beyond innate talent, she possessed a deep love for the art. Even after defeating Felix, besting Leona, and fully developing her Silver Wing, she maintained rigorous nightly training. That was true passion.

Naturally, the hot-blooded apprentices began to wonder the same thing. Could the Queen be in love? Their gazes zeroed in on Felix, as though they were ready to set him ablaze. Sensing their attention, Felix was bewildered. He was equally puzzled by Sonya’s sudden pause.

In truth, the most confused of all was Sonya. The Watcher had long conditioned her for two-hour training sessions. Tonight, she had come voluntarily and arrived at the appointed time without any prompting. That same morning, familiar glass bottles filled with unknown potions had appeared on her desk. After drinking them, she maintained her energy throughout the day and sustained high-intensity sword training without fatigue.

Sword training was undeniably fun. Each swing, each strike brought her a faint, indescribable joy. Over time, that joy had accumulated into a strange, insatiable craving, one that could only be sated by hunting Knowledge Creatures in the Virtual World and feeding their bodies to her blade.

She didn’t dwell on it and simply attributed the craving to the Watcher’s potion, which certainly enhanced her performance and boosted her output while hunting Knowledge Creatures. Given that, she figured the Watcher was most likely behind this as well.

Nonstop training wasn’t sustainable by willpower alone. After about half an hour, her focus would waver, and for the rest of the session, she had to rely entirely on the Watcher’s influence to keep going. So when she suddenly stopped after just an hour, Sonya immediately realized what had happened. The Watcher’s influence had vanished.

What happened? Has the Watcher suddenly developed a conscience? No, that’s unlikely. Maybe the Watcher is dead?

Her mind raced, but she didn’t panic. Recent results from the Destiny Quiz suggested things were favorable for the Watcher. He couldn’t have suddenly died in prison.

Sonya stared at the wooden sword in her hands and tried to recall her usual nighttime routine. What should I do next?

It had only been half a month, yet it already felt like a distant past.

Since I have no other plans... I might as well keep training? Sword practice is fun...

The thought startled her. Good heavens! I finally have some time to rest! Why would I still want to train?

No. She couldn’t. That would only satisfy the Watcher. If he knew she’d been obedient, he would increase her training intensity. To oppose him, she must not train.

That was terrifying... I nearly became the swordswoman the Watcher had envisioned.

She wanted to be a singer, a movie idol, but absolutely not a swordswoman!

I must leave the training hall for now. Even lying in bed to watch the latest Didaros performance would be fine...

At that moment, shouts rang out at the entrance. Sonya looked up to see a flash of vibrant orange hair. It was Leona, the Orange Dancer.

”Sonya, done training? Want to grab a drink?”

Leona had heard that Professor Trosan accepted two new disciples and knew of Sylvia’s connection with Lorian. Knowing Lorian was causing trouble for Felix, she took the opportunity to test the first-year’s resolve.

They had a minor scuffle, which Sonya won in both her pride and skills, and Leona had since apologized. It was just a small dispute between students, and Sonya saw no reason to hold a grudge against a promising young sword saint. On top of that, Leona’s straightforward and traditional nature made her easy to get along with. Sonya refused to miss such a valuable connection, and since then, her rapport with Leona quickly warmed.

Still, seeing her approach in person surprised Sonya. ”Senior, did you come specifically to look for me?”

Leona giggled. ”Yeah! I just got back and am still excited. Thought I’d see if you were here.”

She glanced at Angelica. ”Want to join us? My treat!”

As Sonya’s roommate and daily training partner, Leona had already met Angelica twice and liked the diligent apprentice.

Angelica shook her head. ”I’m not drinking, and training isn’t over yet.”

”Just as I thought,” Leona said with a smile. She then looked at Felix and teased, ”No boys allowed at a girls’ wine party, Felix.”

Felix replied flatly, ”I don’t like drinking either. Honestly, it’s hard to understand why a swordswoman would even enjoy alcohol.”

”That’s because you’re still a student. Once you step into the Abyss and face real combat, you’ll understand that even the sharpest blade needs proper maintenance. Let’s go, Sonya!”

Watching Leona and Sonya leave, the swordsmanship apprentices collectively let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness... It’s just for a casual drink with the Orange Dancer. Our Queen is still the pure, romance-free maiden we’ve always known.

”Are we heading to your dorm?”

Leona shrugged. ”I’d love to, but my roommate would probably mind. Let’s go to the Secret Garden instead.”

The Secret Garden was the only bar-café on the Sword and Roses University campus. Sonya had visited once before, but the drinks were expensive. Careful with her spending at the time, she had declined later invitations, citing her lack of money. Over time, the group had simply started meeting at more affordable cafés.

Back then, she had gone along with the label of poor female student. Now, however, she had money. Even if Leona treated this round, Sonya could easily return the favor next time. She no longer had to feel uneasy when accepting someone’s kindness.

Inside the Secret Garden, a faint lavender scent lingered in the air. There was not a single lamp inside. Instead, the open ceiling and mirrors were strategically arranged to channel starlight, illuminating every corner with a soft, mysterious glow.

Gentle music flowed from a small stage, where a three-person student band performed to earn some pocket money. Couples and groups of friends gathered at tables, sipping and chatting. The relaxed, pleasant atmosphere immediately put Sonya at ease.

Leona guided her to a small booth and drew the curtain for privacy. Then she ordered, ”One Screwdriver, and one Summer Breeze.”

”Do you come here often?” Sonya asked.

”After every Abyss expedition,” Leona replied. ”You can’t survive that kind of pressure without numbing yourself a bit.”

”I always thought you were the super-strong type,” Sonya said.

”Even the strongest need a way to relieve stress. Drinking is normal for me. One of my teammates even goes running naked through the streets after missions. I suppose you’ve heard that rumor before?”

”Ah, so that urban legend is true? That’s terrifying!”

”Don’t tell anyone, okay? Actually...”

As Leona recounted amusing tales from her expeditions in the Abyss, Sonya found herself drawn into the conversation. In return, she shared her recent experiences in the Virtual World, leaving out the parts involving the Watcher’s interference. Even so, her encounters with Knowledge Creatures and exposure to sorcerer legacies still captivated Leona. From time to time, Leona offered her own insights on dealing with such creatures. As a fellow swordswoman, her advice proved invaluable, and Sonya learned a great deal.

They gossiped, talked about the Abyss, and discussed the Virtual World. Before they realized it, their glasses were empty.

Sonya blushed. Carried away by the conversation, she asked, ”Senior, did you participate in some special event the other day?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake and quickly added, ”Sorry—that was sudden.”

Missions in the Virtual World were often bound by secrecy contracts, and discussing them was strictly off-limits. Sonya had nearly crossed the line. From a strict standpoint, she had just tested Leona, tempting her into a slip.

Leona smiled and shook her head. ”It’s fine. I can’t reveal too many details about it... But the event was actually a game organized by the church.”

”A game?”

”Yes. Have you ever played a role-playing game on your bracelet? It’s something similar to that.”

Miracle Bracelets served many functions. Ordinary people could connect to the Curtain through them, allowing long-distance communication. Sorcerers could also harness their computing power to construct fully virtual games, giving ordinary users access to magical, immersive experiences. Those capable of developing such functions often gained considerable prestige.

Sonya had once considered specializing in illusion magic. However, lacking experience with Curtain-based games, she ultimately chose water magic instead.

Sonya rarely played these games, not because she disliked them, but because she could not afford them. As a poor rural girl, studying was her only viable path; high-end entertainment was a luxury beyond her reach. Television dramas were her sole source of escapism.

Hearing this, Leona looked surprised and explained with a smile, ”The church let me enter a fully virtual world, filled with monsters we had to defeat. The more monsters we killed, the higher our score and the better the rewards. The whole game lasted two full days and nights. It was exhausting.”

”Sounds fun,” Sonya said, intrigued. ”Were the enemies strong?”

”No, some were weak, even incapable of fleeing. Occasionally, sorcerer-level monsters would chase me... they even cried and begged for mercy...”

As Leona spoke, her voice softened, and her expression grew distant.

”Sounds easy enough. All you have to do is just slaughter some weak monsters... Senior? Are you okay?”

Leona snapped back to reality. ”I’m fine, maybe just a little drunk.”

”You were talking about the game’s monsters, right?”

”Of course. What else would I be talking about? Waiter, another glass of Melodie, please!”

***

After parting from Leona, Sonya strolled lazily toward the Meditation Tower.

Ah... it’s been so long since I’ve had an evening like this. First, invigorating sword training. Then drinks and conversation with a friend. And now... a test in the Virtual World, slaying Knowledge Creatures with my new techniques, letting their blood bloom like flowers beneath my blade. This is perfect.

”Huh?”

Something caught her eye. At some point, the white tower had vanished. The Virtual Channels that had been suspended midair were gone, and starlight once again poured freely across the campus.

Sigh... With the tower gone, the campus lockdown will be lifted, and classes will resume tomorrow.

She sat in the meditation room, clumsily summoned her spirit, opened the Door of Truth, and immersed her consciousness in the Virtual World.

When Sonya opened her eyes and saw the Watcher, she grinned foolishly. ”Watcher, I’m telling you, tonight I—”

”Tonight is the last night I’ll accompany you in exploring the Virtual World.”

Hearing that, her grin vanished instantly, and she sobered at once.