"This is the Void Realm?"
Ash cupped some seawater in his hands, sniffed it, then tentatively licked it. It tasted faintly sweet.
Peering into the water below, he noticed how murky it was; he couldn't make out his reflection at all. Looking down at himself, he realized he was dressed in a sleek, dark trench coat, the kind of attire that wouldn't look out of place in a character portrait.
"Well, it's just as the textbooks described," Sonia remarked, breaking the silence.
Since there didn't seem to be anyone else around, she let her voice rise freely. "This must be the Sea of Knowledge—also called the Silver Sea or the Primordial Sea. Everyone starts here, whether they're a one-wing novice or a legendary six-wing deity."
Her gaze swept across the surroundings, settling on the small boat they were in. The prow bore the mark of a book, while the stern displayed the symbol of a sword.
"The textbooks also said newcomers usually start naked," she added, her tone tinged with confusion.
"Naked?" Ash's gaze drifted to Sonia's black slip dress.
Her face darkened, and she instinctively covered her chest. "Not literally naked! The term refers to arriving without external tools or aids—nothing from the real world can accompany us here. I've heard most people find themselves swimming in the sea when they first arrive, with no boat in sight."
"I get it!" Ash suddenly clapped his hands.
"What do you get?" Sonia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This boat must be your true form," Ash declared confidently.
"…What?"
"Your consciousness has split into two parts," he explained, "Your heavier soul transformed into this boat to aid your navigation, while your lighter intellect formed your current image. Your soul is the vessel, your awareness is the passenger, and together they journey across the sea toward some distant shore. That has to be it!"
It sounded plausible, but…
"How do you prove that?" Sonia asked skeptically.
"Simple," Ash replied. "If you don't believe me, jump into the water and see if you can leave the boat. I bet you can't!"
Without hesitation, Sonia dove headfirst into the sea. Though she wasn't a strong swimmer—her only experience came from a dream trial—she at least managed to stay afloat.
She clambered back onto the boat, her hair dripping. "You're wrong. I can leave the boat. It's not my soul manifesting!"
Proving Ash wrong felt like a small victory. She was about to revel in it when she noticed him staring at her.
Though his features were obscured in the dim light, Sonia could clearly feel his gaze. Looking down, she realized her soaked dress clung tightly to her body, tracing every curve.
"You—!" she shouted, grabbing a wooden sword that had appeared in her hand without her even realizing it. Summoning her Wave Sword Spirit, she prepared to strike.
Ash scrambled back, holding up his hands in surrender. "Wait! Where did that sword come from?"
"Huh?" Sonia paused, glancing at the weapon in her grip. She hadn't been holding it a moment ago, yet the instant she felt the urge to clobber Ash, it had materialized.
"See?" Ash pointed out. "When you wanted a wooden sword, it appeared. The boat must work the same way—it's here because you didn't want to swim."
"That doesn't mean you weren't testing my patience by staring at me! And the sword is probably just the weapon I'm most familiar with, like how I'm wearing the clothes I imagined myself in."
"Don't accuse me unfairly! I wasn't sneaking a glance—I was openly admiring!"
Their brief quarrel eased the initial tension of finding themselves in an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous environment. The presence of another person provided a surprising sense of comfort; even if something went wrong, at least there would be someone to share the blame.
But while Sonia remained unaware of the full nature of the "Observer" beside her, Ash likewise had no idea how different this "Swordmaiden" was from the one he thought he knew.
One Hour Earlier
After dinner, Ash had returned to his cell, where Swordmaiden immediately began a rather grim conversation.
"I have two pieces of news for you. The good news? You'll have free housing for the rest of your life, courtesy of the state."
"Wow, that's generous."
"The bad news is that you could be dragged off to the gallows at any moment."
"Does this mean I have no chance of escaping?"
Swordmaiden sat cross-legged on the bed, her arms folded as she cast him a sidelong glance. "You should already know that in this world, sorcerers hold absolute power. As a mere mortal, you don't stand a chance against them."
"Even that diamond-bodied Martial Sorcerer you saw today would be nothing more than a rodent in a sewer without their link to the Void Realm."
"And with that miracle chip embedded in your neck, you're essentially shackled. No matter where you go, the chains will follow."
Ash's face grew serious. He had originally thought the chip was like a personal computer implant, but he now realized it had turned him into a computer—a machine entirely under someone else's control.
"Is there any way to remove the chip?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"You could try jumping into a vat of molten steel," Swordmaiden quipped. "Short of that, ordinary methods won't work. However, there is a chance—if you can acquire the Miracle of Cleansing Blade."
This defensive sorcery, she explained, could purge any abnormal status, including the influence of the miracle chip.
"And how do I obtain this miracle?"
"To wield miracles, you need a Spirit. To get a Spirit, there are four options:
1.Learn and resonate with Void Knowledge to summon one.
2.Venture into the Void Realm and find a wild Spirit.
3.Kill a sorcerer and steal their Spirit.
4.Purchase one through a Spirit trade."
"Option one is out," Swordmaiden continued, "since the chip prevents you from resonating with the Void. Killing a sorcerer is equally implausible for someone like you, and you lack the resources to trade for one."
"That leaves option two," Ash concluded.
"Exactly. You'll need to enter the Void Realm and hunt for a wild Spirit."
"How do I enter the Void Realm?"
"The only way is through the Gate of Truth within a Spirit," she replied.
Ash frowned. "Wait. So I need a Spirit to access the Void Realm, but I need to access the Void Realm to find a Spirit? That's a catch-22!"
Swordmaiden smirked. "Who said you need your own Spirit? I already have one. Thanks to the soul bond we share through the Manual, I can bring you along."
Ash opened the Sorcerer's Manual to confirm. Sure enough, a new feature had appeared: Void Exploration. Selecting it, he saw an option to form a team with himself and Swordmaiden.
When he clicked "Ready," however, nothing happened. Swordmaiden's status remained as "Preparing."
"I'm ready. Hurry up!"
Swordmaiden stood, stretching with a smug grin. "I need to prepare properly. Unlike you, I care about appearances."
"You—! I'm not—"
Before he could retort, she vanished with an infuriating smirk. Left alone, Ash lay back on his bunk, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep came surprisingly quickly. When he woke, he found himself aboard a small boat in the midst of a foggy sea.
Back in the present, Ash focused on the Manual, its interface slightly altered in the Void Realm. Many functions were grayed out, but Void Exploration remained active.
A map appeared before him, accompanied by a notification:
"You have entered Void Exploration Mode. Please read the tutorial."
Sonia, meanwhile, experimented with the sea, dipping her hand in to push the boat.
"Wait, don't rush!" Ash called out. "Let me handle it."