"I barely have any personal time left in my day," Sonia complained, venting her frustrations. "From 8 a.m., I'm stuck in compulsory or general education classes. Now that I've switched to the Swordsmanship department, I don't have to attend Water Arts classes anymore, but I still have to take Introduction to Swordsmanship and Practical Swordsmanship. On top of that, Professor Trozan checks my progress and spars with me almost every day. My schedule's packed from morning to night."
Sonia couldn't help but find Trozan's attention peculiar. After all, Trozan wasn't just some retired professor tending to hobbies; he was the famed Hidden Hand Swordmaster, the pride of Swordflower University.
While it made sense for Trozan to mentor her and Felix as research apprentices, his daily involvement seemed excessive. Trozan wasn't short on geniuses in his career, and as a three-wing Saint sorcerer, his time was incredibly valuable.
Yet, here he was, not only checking in on them daily but also personally sparring with Sonia—a privilege Felix didn't share.
Despite Felix being her senior, Trozan's clear favoritism toward her made Sonia feel a mix of embarrassment and secret delight.
She had wondered if this was one of the Observer's machinations, but it didn't seem likely.
After all, Trozan was the Hidden Hand Swordmaster! The Observer might be able to influence her, but controlling someone like Trozan was on an entirely different level of difficulty.
And if the Observer could control someone as powerful as Trozan, why would he waste that influence just to have Trozan beat her up daily?
"I know you want me to excel in swordsmanship," Sonia began, trying to keep her tone respectful. "But my daytime workload is already overwhelming. I don't need two extra hours of mandatory sword training at night."
"Besides," she added, somewhat sheepishly, "those training sessions aren't that useful anymore. Since I've already got Ripple Blade, I should be focusing on summoning complementary auxiliary Soul Arts instead of repeating basic drills…"
Even as she spoke, Sonia felt a pang of guilt.
Her reasoning was valid. As a sorcerer, her training should now shift to improving her mastery of Soul Arts, not just physical swordsmanship.
Some might wonder why she needed to improve on a Soul Art she fully understood and summoned herself. The answer lay in the gap between theory and practice.
Mastering a Soul Art wasn't just about intellectual understanding—it required real-world application to harmonize theory with reality. That process left plenty of room for growth.
For instance, her recent development of Reverse Ripple Blade—a technique that compressed the Ripple Blade's energy into the sword tip for a devastating close-range strike—was a result of her ongoing practice.
With further refinement, Sonia could even summon auxiliary Soul Arts like Inner Edge. This Soul Art would allow her to fully compress the power of Ripple Blade into a delayed, remotely-triggered explosion, transforming the technique into the advanced Miracle: Reverse Ripple Blade.
While such a Miracle wouldn't make it into the prestigious Sorcerer's Miracle Directory, it would still represent a critical milestone in her growth as a sorcerer.
However, Sonia was also a Swordmaster-in-training.
Among Swordmasters, there was a saying: "If you aim to be ordinary, follow the school curriculum. If you aspire to two-wing gold, three-wing Saint, or higher, you must master the three essential Soul Arts: Slash, Thrust, and Cut."
All swordsmanship Soul Arts were ultimately derived from these three foundational techniques. While mastering them wouldn't guarantee overwhelming strength, failing to master them would ensure a Swordmaster always had glaring weaknesses.
That was why Sonia's continued foundational training was deemed reasonable by everyone, including Felix. Any aspiring Swordmaster worth their salt would seize this time to solidify their basics.
So why was Sonia asking the Observer to cancel her nightly training?
While her fatigue and lack of leisure time were valid reasons, her primary motive was to test her influence over the Observer.
Sonia wasn't planning an outright rebellion but couldn't accept being perpetually under someone else's thumb.
Even if the Observer refused her request, she intended to chip away at his authority gradually. With persistence, she would ensure he remembered her sacrifices and hard work daily. After all, a crying child gets the milk.
Someday, she vowed, she would fully understand the Observer's boundaries and thought processes.
And when that day came, who would control whom might no longer be so clear.
"You make a compelling case," Ash said, nodding as if genuinely persuaded.
Sonia blinked, taken aback. That easy?
"But let me ask," Ash continued, "what would you do with those two extra hours if I canceled your training?"
"Um… read books, watch plays, maybe attend a ball and meet more people?"
"So, entertainment and leisure, then?"
Ash tapped his finger against the boat's edge, recalling how his former bosses used to motivate him.
"Have you ever met someone wealthier than you?"
"Of course."
"What about someone wealthier and just as talented as you?"
"Yes."
"Then let me tell you the most terrifying thing in the world," Ash said solemnly. "It's someone who is wealthier, just as talented, and works harder than you."
Sonia stiffened slightly, her thoughts flashing to Felix and his silver luxury car.
"When you feel like resting," Ash continued, "those people are pulling ahead of you."
He leaned in, his tone growing more intense. "Don't waste the years when you're supposed to be striving. Don't let the prime of your youth slip by in indulgence. There are too many people whose starting lines are where we can only dream of reaching. Do you really want to spend your life staring at their backs? Do you want to settle for being ordinary, leaving no trace in the Sea of Knowledge?"
Sonia's lips moved as if to argue, but she eventually shook her head. "No, I don't."
Ash's voice softened, but his words cut deep. "Then, Sonia, I have to say your current mindset is dangerous. Feeling tired? That's normal. Comfort is for the old. Want to enjoy life? That's fine—but enjoyment is for the successful.
"Right now, you need to step out of your comfort zone and fill your life with purpose. Don't let other people's lives blind you to your own goals. Don't let fleeting desires cloud your judgment. Chase what you want relentlessly, so that if you fail, you can curse the world instead of blaming yourself.
"As sorcerers, we don't worry about past lives or future ones. We only care about making this one count."
Sonia fell silent for a long moment before nodding firmly. "You're right, Observer!"
Whew, dodged that one, Ash thought, relieved. He wasn't used to this kind of pep talk—it was usually his boss manipulating him into overtime.
But he had to admit, instilling anxiety in others was oddly satisfying. No wonder his boss loved sharing stress-inducing articles.
"Reducing it to one hour wouldn't hurt, right?" Sonia pressed.
Before Ash could respond, the Void Exploration notification changed from "Wait a moment" to "Now's the time." He seized the opportunity to change the subject.
"No more chit-chat! Focus up—we're heading into dangerous territory!"
Their boat slipped through thick fog, revealing an island.
At its center lay a massive white fox, its fur shimmering with purple and white hues like moonlight given form. Curled under a tree, it seemed almost divine—beautiful, serene, and irresistibly fluffy.
"A Starveil Fox," Sonia whispered, her voice trembling with excitement. "And it's asleep!"
They docked the boat silently and crept to the fox's head. With a glance, they signaled each other and prepared to strike.
Sonia assumed a drawing stance, while Ash summoned his doppelganger using his Soul Art. Each wielded unsharpened swords.
"Draw Wave Blade!"
"Dual Strike!"
Their synchronized attacks struck the fox's head, shattering its calm slumber. It let out a piercing roar that left Ash and Sonia momentarily deafened, while Ash's doppelganger disintegrated instantly.
The fox flailed wildly but seemed too dazed to stand. Wasting no time, they pounced, battering its head relentlessly. Ash even stole a quick pet of its silky fur.
After several tense seconds, the fox let out one final, despairing cry before dissolving into white mist.
It left behind three dazed Soul Arts, each floating as if uncertain of their new surroundings. But Sonia's attention wasn't on them. Her eyes were fixed on a glowing orb lying on the ground.
"What's that?" Ash asked.
"An Experience Orb," Sonia said, her voice trembling with desire. "No restrictions, no prerequisites. If a sorcerer absorbs this, they gain all the insights of the knowledge entity it came from—instantly mastering an entire school of sorcery."
"If it's from a familiar school, it could even elevate the sorcerer's mastery to new heights, making breakthroughs effortless and paving the way for their growth."
"Void Exploration is the accumulation of a thousand miles," she murmured, clutching the orb tightly.
"But an Experience Orb… it's an instant epiphany!"