Chapter 84 – “Sincerity”

Cailleach, Swordflower College.

Sonya returned to her dorm and saw Iris already up reading a book, while Adele was still asleep hugging her doll. She couldn’t help but be surprised and ask: “Wasn’t Adele up early studying diligently with you yesterday too? She even said she wanted to summon a spirit and enter the virtual world before the end of this semester…”

“She had already been studying hard for a long time yesterday until noon when she finished lunch. Then she turned on the light screen to watch ‘Love Across Time’,” Iris said plainly. “Previously, she would usually start spacing out and grooming herself, trimming her nails and playing with her hair after breakfast.”

“Is it the new drama by Dahlia Deros!?” Sonya reflexively asked, but quickly shook her head: “Can she graduate like this?”

Iris shrugged: “It doesn’t matter if she can’t graduate. She has a fiancé who has quite a bit of power and influence. And with her father’s recent promotion, Adele will probably get married directly after graduation.”

Sonya let out an “oh” and was surprised to find that she didn’t have any emotional response to Adele’s circumstances.

In the past, Adele’s family background and life plan would have made Sonya extremely envious: with the support of her family and the assistance of her fiancé, even if Adele didn’t know anything or understand the ways of the world, she could live a happy and comfortable life as a spoiled aristocratic wife, with someone always shielding her from harm.

She was born with everything Sonya desired.

If one didn’t start with nothing, who would be willing to start from zero; if one didn’t lack backing, who would go to such calculating lengths; if one wasn’t raised in a greenhouse, who would be willing to endure the wind and rain?

Hardship was never a way to temper one’s will, unfair fate was simply reality. Sonya’s past terrible relationship with Iris and the others wasn’t only because Iris was arrogant and looked down on her, part of the reason also came from Sonya herself – Iris’ confidence stemming from her strong background deeply hurt Sonya who had just left home a few days ago.

But now, Sonya discovered that when she heard of others’ happy futures, she no longer felt jealousy or resentment.

Although she didn’t have a rich fiancé or family support, she didn’t feel her future would be any worse than Adele’s, Iris’ and the others’ – yes, she was still that superficial, she had to surpass others to satisfy her ego.

Too much had happened in the past week, and unknowingly, Sonya had also undergone an earth-shaking change.

She still loved beauty as much, still demanded perfection in her own looks, was still just as calculative, but she had also become a single-wing mage, the research apprentice of Professor Trotzam, defeated Felix, and could cross swords with Senior Leone (she didn’t consider that a win)…

This series of events was like laying bricks one by one, building a wall behind Sonya.

Even if Sonya wanted to give up and retreat in the future, she now had something to rely on.

Moreover, there was someone by her side, who, although not necessarily reliable, and had many flaws, was even weaker than her at the moment, but at least… he stood by her side.

Sonya came back from her shower and placed a silver coin on the table for her spirit to eat, then started applying a face mask.

At this time she noticed a few extra things had appeared on the table.

First was a glass bottle, filled with green, gold and pink liquids, clearly not a healthy drink. But Sonya recognized this bottle – the first time the Observer had appeared in the real world seven days ago, he had been holding the same glass bottle.

Under the bottle was a note that read: “This contains high-grade stamina potions, high-grade experience potions, and happy potions for spirits, remember to shake before drinking.”

Sonya looked at the glass bottle suspiciously, but eventually still drank it all in one go – what could she do? Last time the Observer had directly transmitted the potion into her throat, letting her drink it herself already showed goodwill.

As for suspicions that the Observer might harm her, Sonya had long given up overthinking it.

Facing someone who could control her actions, and seemed to be a legendary revived amnesiac, unless Sonya could find the Observer’s true body and control and imprison him to exploit his value, all her scheming was as meaningless as New Year’s resolutions.

She might as well honestly cling to the Observer like a blue-chip stock, do whatever he said, give off a ‘I’m very useful’ persona, get the Observer to lower his guard and reveal more flaws.

The more the Observer trusted her, the closer she would be to turning the tables on him.

The potion tasted sweet, like a mix of citrus, lemon and sea salt. Sonya licked her lips and looked at the other jarringly out-of-place item on the table.

A letter?

The Observer didn’t seem like such a poetic person… Rather, he seemed more likely to talk to me while I showered…

Sonya opened it curiously and found a gilded card inside that said:

“Swordswoman, you will now automatically undergo a random spirit summoning ritual, and increase the level of the summoned spirit to match your current level. The ritual will differ depending on the spirit, but will not exceed seven days. When you read this line, the random spirit drawing will begin. Good luck.”

She saw the words on the card start to change, finally forming two golden words:

“Sincerity”

Sonya naturally instantly realized how powerful this card was – an automatic summoning ritual that would raise her mastery of a type of magic she had never touched before to silver level! And it came with a free spirit!

Although it was just an experience orb, she knew her own worth, without the Observer she probably wouldn’t obtain an experience orb in her lifetime.

And “Sincerity” seemed to be a spirit from the psychic elemental branch, arguably the hardest branch to get started in. Sonya had definitely hit the jackpot this time!

Despite her displeasure at the Observer’s repeated interference in her life, he had given her the 2 experience orbs he obtained last night, and was now granting her such a wonderful benefit. Sonya couldn’t help but sincerely thank him – Meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life, Observer!

By now the card had dissipated into light smoke. Sonya waited for a while but nothing happened.

Had the ritual already started? But she didn’t feel any changes at all?

At this moment, the dorm door opened and a sweaty Ingritt walked in slowly, towel in hand. “Adele, time for class!”

Adele sat up woodenly, following her body’s instincts to wash up and get ready without even opening her eyes fully.

Ingritt went to shower, while Sonya and Iris also started getting ready for class – eye shadow to match lipstick, blush not too overpowering, perfume with top notes of mandarin and bitter orange, seeking a subtle lingering scent.