Ash had almost forgotten that The Sorcerer's Handbook allowed for in-game purchases.
He'd assumed the daily login crystals were his only way to draw cards, but it turned out the game recognized certain currencies in this world. Regardless of how valuable this discovery was, it gave Ash a surge of motivation. It felt like hearing a boss say, "Keep it up, and the next promotion will be yours!" Even if the chance was slim, it was something to strive for.
However, he hesitated to immediately exchange the medal. He could see this medal wasn't just a trinket—it was something far more significant. It was a Spirit, the supernatural cornerstone of this world and the ultimate pursuit of every sorcerer.
"Do you want this Spirit?" he asked Sonia.
"You want it?" To Ash's surprise, Sonia didn't seem interested. "If you do, take it."
Ash was puzzled. "But this is a Spirit. Don't you want it?"
"It's neither a sword-related Spirit nor a general-use one. It'd be useless to me and just a waste of money."
"Money? What does money have to do with this?" Ash asked, utterly confused.
Sonia gave him a long look, wondering if he was playing dumb or if he genuinely didn't know. Was this one of those "clueless noble" tropes where the rich have no idea how normal people live?
Under Sonia's patient explanation, Ash learned the ecosystem of Spirits was far more complex than he'd thought.
First, Spirits require feeding. And not just any kind of sustenance—they consume currency!
One-winged Spirits feed on silver coins, while two-winged Spirits require gold coins. If left unfed, a Spirit will eventually dissipate. Many poorer sorcerers have, quite literally, starved their Spirits to death.
While Spirits can technically be fed with other materials, figuring out what each Spirit prefers is tedious. Silver and gold coins, being universally accepted by all Spirits, became the go-to solution. Over time, most sorcerers stopped bothering with alternative materials and just threw money at the problem.
Second, simply owning a Spirit takes a toll on a sorcerer's mental energy. Having multiple Spirits is like juggling numerous demanding relationships—hard on both the wallet and the psyche.
For this reason, lower-level sorcerers, especially those from more modest backgrounds, couldn't afford to hoard Spirits. Quality over quantity became the golden rule. Most chose to focus on just one or two Spirits that suited their needs best.
Third, Spirits come with usage restrictions.
Spirits are divided into specialized Spirits and general-purpose Spirits. Specialized Spirits, like Sonia's Wave Blade, require specific tools or conditions—such as using a sword. General-purpose Spirits, like Eagle Eye, are simpler to use and can be activated with minimal prerequisites.
The ideal setup for a sorcerer was a mix of specialized and general-purpose Spirits tailored to their abilities. Hoarding useless Spirits was an expensive and impractical mistake.
Finally, Sonia explained why she had no interest in the Rapid Fire Spirit:
"It's outdated. That Spirit was useful centuries ago when flintlock rifles were still in use. But nowadays, everyone has automatic firearms capable of firing seven rounds per second. Who needs an extra shot?" Sonia shrugged. "It might work with mortars or naval cannons, but even those have better options. At best, it's worth one silver coin—barely the minimum price for a one-winged Spirit."
"Alright then, I'll take it!"
"Go ahead." Sonia didn't care.
Ash activated the exchange. The medal dissolved into mist, and a notification popped up in his game interface:
"Top-up successful! You've gained 10 points."
The game's cheapest purchase option was 6 points for 1 crystal. This meant Rapid Fire could barely buy 1.5 crystals, and Ash needed 3 crystals for a single draw. In other words, two one-winged Spirits equaled one card pull.
For something as rare as a supernatural power, this Spirit's value felt insultingly low—like the salary of a fresh college graduate. Ash clicked his tongue, then picked up the hunting log.
"What about this journal?"
"It's a Sorcerer's Handbook," Sonia replied with a puzzled look.
"A what now?"
"A Sorcerer's Handbook," Sonia repeated, nodding. "These books summarize a sorcerer's life. For this hunter, his entire life revolved around hunting, so his handbook catalogs all his prey. Essentially, it's like a diary."
"But not a voluntary one," Sonia continued. "When a sorcerer dies, their soul returns to the Void Realm, leaving behind a projection. Their memories crystallize into a book—it's as natural as life and death."
"These books are what we call Sorcerer's Handbooks. If the Void Realm is a graveyard for sorcerers, then their Handbooks are the tombstones."
Ash felt a chill run down his spine. That hunter they'd fought wasn't a living sorcerer—it was the projection of someone long dead.
Still, Ash shrugged. "Doesn't change the fact that we kicked his butt. Death's just a temporary setback here, right?"
Sonia ignored his bravado. "Like Spirits, you can use a Sorcerer's Handbook. By absorbing it, you gain one of the sorcerer's non-magical skills—completely at random."
"Do you want this one?" Ash offered.
"No, I just skimmed through it, and it already drained me," Sonia said, shaking her head. "But you read the whole thing. You should be fine absorbing it."
"Drained you? What do you mean?"
"Handbooks carry residual influence. If the sorcerer's worldview or experiences clash with yours, absorbing their memories can damage your soul—maybe even drive you insane."
"That serious?"
"Very. But it's easy to avoid. If you don't feel any discomfort while reading the Handbook, it's safe to absorb." Sonia tilted her head, looking intrigued. "It's rare for someone to find a compatible Handbook so easily. Usually, only two or three out of ten are safe to absorb. How'd you luck out on your first try?"
Ash didn't answer. Instead, he focused on the journal, guiding his consciousness into it.
The log dissolved into smoke and flowed into him. A cool sensation spread through his mind, followed by a sudden influx of knowledge.
Checking his game interface, Ash saw a new skill had been unlocked:
"Counter-Surveillance Mastery"
For a former hunter-turned-soldier like Carbin Story, counter-surveillance was a survival skill honed to perfection. For Ash, it might just come in handy for his future jailbreak.
Once the log was absorbed, the island began to sink. Ash and Sonia quickly retreated to their boat. Within moments, the island vanished into the calm sea, leaving no trace it had ever existed.
"This is the beauty of the Void Realm," Sonia mused. "Ephemeral encounters, fleeting legacies. The knowledge we find here is the essence of those who came before us. These islands are their way of leaving behind something to be remembered by."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Sounds poetic."
Sonia smirked. "Do you really want your life story laid bare for future generations? Every triumph, every… let's say questionable choice?"
Ash grimaced. "Can sorcerers delete chapters? Maybe leave out the 'study materials' and 'artistic films'?"
"Learning how to live shamelessly and die with dignity has always been a sorcerer's greatest challenge."
Sonia stretched, looking satisfied. "So, where to next? Your call."
Ash opened his game interface to check the nearby tiles:
"Wasted effort,"
"Wasted effort,"
"Wasted effort,"
"Wasted effort,"
"Best avoided,"
"Wasted effort,"
"Wasted effort,"
"Wasted effort."
"Uh… what the hell?"