Sorcerer’s Handbook

“Hey, how’s the air back there? The air up front is quite clear, especially since I’m the only one in the first three rows. But that’s actually quite alright. If you students were passionate about the history lessons of the past, I might start worrying about the future of the Stars… But if you don’t spend a little time on the past, then you should start worrying about your future grades.”

“Turn to page 173 of your textbook. In the year 871, the court Prime Minister, Blaido Usgael, drafted the Noble Act, and became the first noble to be granted the Blessing of Stars by the Empress. The content of the Noble Act is…”

The history Professor is not a stern old scholar, but rather a quite humorous and stylish old man. However, his strong personal style cannot salvage the dull content of the lectures, unless he cracks a few Duke jokes or minister anecdotes, otherwise the classroom atmosphere would remain between a sleepy haze and a muddled daze.

For Sonya, the only benefit of attending the class was being able to slowly untangle the messy threads of her mind. This was a habit she had developed after starting university, as her other spare time was packed too full, and those freely allocable time resources were all invested in herself.

More importantly, Gales was not her destination. If she stayed alone in a place with no one around, she would easily be crushed by the boring pressure, and fall into a state of self-pity. After trying once to secretly cry in bed, the rustic girl forced herself to stay as much as possible within sight of others, not allowing herself to run off to a corner to lick her wounds like a defeated dog.

Tears that could not arouse others’ sympathy and affection were utterly worthless.

Thus, the only places she could use to daydream and think about life were the dull general education classes. After all, as long as she studied a bit for the finals, she could easily pass these classes, so she could use the class time to freely contemplate her gains and losses.

Who had offended her, who had designs on her, whom she should try to please, whom she should target… Conveniently, general education classes were large lectures, allowing Sonya to survey around and lock onto her targets.

Recently, Sonya found a new form of entertainment during class—monitoring online forums to see if any students from noble families were discussing her. If she found any, she would “execute” them on the spot by calling them out, and then observe the reactions of the surrounding students. Quite a few peers who were meek in person but bold online calling her a “rustic girl” had been caught this way.

When in a good mood, Sonya would approach these students after class, tap them on the shoulder, and call out their forum nicknames, causing them significant emotional distress in the moment. When she was feeling less generous, Sonya would secretly dig up personal details about them and then, posing as a Sorcerer from the Prophecy Faction on the forums, she accurately revealed embarrassing personal details about these students. She would predict things like “you will definitely be cheated on,” “your family will fall,” or “the skincare products you use will definitely ruin your face,” inflicting lasting psychological damage.

Both scenarios were tremendously fun for her. When Adelle learned about this game, she too eagerly joined in as a “classroom police officer.” Anyone who dared to mock the Swordswoman on the forums instead of paying attention in class would face their swift justice!

So, when Adelle saw Sonya suddenly start writing intently in her notebook—her expression alternating between tension, smiles, and anger—she assumed Sonya had hooked a big fish.

Who was lucky enough to be the day’s target for the president of the Stretching Claws Club?

Thinking this, Adelle leaned over to see what damning information Sonya was recording, but today, the usually oblivious Sonya was quick as a protective mother wolf, snapping her notebook shut in an instant.

Keeping it all to herself?

Adelle turned her gaze away, pretending to focus on the Noble Act, but her mind was still on Sonya’s notebook.

Because she had glimpsed a line:

“Let’s go back together and torment each other again.”

The vibe of that scoundrel was as blatant as the fountain at the school entrance, and Adelle felt sure Sonya must have caught some playboy in her claws, ready to toy with him.

Indeed, Adelle’s guess was not wrong; Sonya was indeed up to just that.

After finally getting over the humiliation of her amnesia, Sonya quickly realized a problem—the Observer, given their nature, would definitely cling to this incident. They would remember every word she uttered during her amnesia and abruptly bring it up during a Battle, distracting her and putting her in danger. Just as she was about to falter, the Observer would dramatically step in to save her…

Thinking about this plot development made the rustic girl both embarrassed and angry. To avoid such an awkward situation, Sonya also needed to gather some leverage on the Observer to create a “deterrence of amnesia,” ensuring that no one would bring up her amnesic moments casually!

Thus, Sonya spent a good half hour documenting every phrase the Observer had said during their amnesia, then she selected the “Top Ten Most Affectionate Phrases,” “Five Famous Quotes on Infidelity,” and “One Shameless Statement Worth Ten Thousand Words.”

Observer, do you still have enough ammunition?

Sonya could even imagine the scene: just as the Observer was about to mock her, she would cough and casually retort, “Or perhaps in a more direct manner, without any ambiguity, opening my heart completely—currently, I…”

Thud!

The history Professor adjusted his glasses as the red-faced Sonya nonchalantly pointed at the cracked desk surface: “There was a mosquito.”

The Professor sighed with relief: “You scared me! I thought my lecture was so unbearable that it drove a student to smash the desk.”

After class, Sonya, satisfied, packed up her notebook. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and said to Lois and Adelle, “Oh, by the way, I died again in the Virtual Realm, and it was because I accidentally wandered into the Static Domain. Gosh, I’m so silly.”

Watching Sonya playfully tap her own head, her roommates began to wonder if they had somehow misheard “I’m in love” as “I died in the Virtual Realm,” because that would be really hard to explain her cheerful demeanor.

They understood what Sonya meant—spread the word, our great Chief, the Red-haired Swordswoman, has actually died twice in the Virtual Realm this month!

This would certainly provide a perfect target for the “Anti-Swordswoman League,” but this was exactly what Sonya had hoped for. With the forum’s atmosphere now, the “Anti-Swordswoman League” had already crumbled. Anyone daring to mock Sonya would be overwhelmed by a barrage of counterattacks, and if this continued, the Noble students who disliked the Swordswoman might just keep their heads down.

However, Sonya’s upcoming Songstress album was about to be released, and it was a prime time to stir up some heat. The “Anti-Swordswoman League,” like tap water, naturally needed to be utilized frequently, throwing out bait now and then to keep their enthusiasm alive. Sonya anticipated that when her album was released, it would surely spark numerous flame wars, followed by a skyrocketing in sales.

Sonya wasn’t afraid that such “scandals” would impact her, especially since the public would soon learn that in just one month in the Virtual Realm, Sonya had gone from an Apprentice Sorcerer to a Two Wings Sorcerer.

This was also the promotional strategy of the Stretching Claws Club (the name unanimously approved by supporters after seeing the photos Adelle took): a genius doesn’t need to promote her genius, just her flaws. Attracting the public’s attention with her flaws allows them to discover the Swordswoman’s genius on their own.

Adelle watched Sonya bounce out of the Classroom and sighed, “She was so distracted before class, but after, it’s like she ate a strawberry sundae, exuding a blissful aroma of cream… Women are really hard to understand.”

“She looks…” Lois said uncertainly, “like she might be in love?”

“However,” Adelle pondered, “the only people she interacts with are us. And that time I stood naked in front of her, she showed no impulse at all, which shows she doesn’t have any particular desire for women…”

“So there’s only one conclusion.”

Lois looked at Adelle, and Adelle looked at Lois’s chest.

“I’ve had my suspicions before,” Adelle said seriously. “Lois, are you actually a man?”

Lois did not respond, just looked at her calmly. Adelle then realized her joke might have gone too far and mimicked Sonya by playfully tapping her own head, “Hey, just kidding!”

“Adelle…”

“I’m now the high-ranking manager of the Stretching Claws Club. Speak politely, don’t bully me.”

“Even if I were a man,” Lois said with a chill in her gaze, “I wouldn’t choose you as a paramour.”

Adelle blinked, her eyes beginning to moisten.

Her heart was falling, continuously plummeting.

“I even thought about marrying you if I were a man… Don’t talk to me anymore!”

As Adelle turned and ran off in tears, Lois remained expressionless: “There seems to be a quiz next period in the Water Department class…” Adelle’s steps halted.

Lois strode out, with Adelle trailing behind, her eyes fixed on Lois’s backside as if cursing it to shrink.

However, Lois suddenly stopped, causing Adelle to bump into her.

“What’s wrong?”

It wasn’t just Lois; other students also paused in the hallway, looking out the windows at the sky with puzzled expressions.

Adelle looked up.

Reflected in her eyes was the shadow of the stars.