Swordflower University, Meditation Room
Sonia's consciousness snapped back into her body, and she collapsed to the floor, completely drained. After a few deep breaths, she managed to prop herself against the wall, gasping for air. The fatigue of her soul reverberated through her body, and soon, beads of sweat rolled down her face and slipped along her collarbone, disappearing into the folds of her dress like pearls vanishing into the sea.
She was utterly exhausted.
Outside, the sky was still dark. This was the earliest she'd ever exited the Void, and even so, Sonia felt like she'd left too late.
Just moments ago, eight knowledge creatures had relentlessly hunted her and the Observer through the Sea of Knowledge for over an hour. No matter how far or fast they fled, the creatures pursued them tirelessly. Even when the Observer deliberately led the pack into another creature's territory, the pursuers didn't hesitate—though it did result in a ninth hunter joining the chase.
Technically, they didn't have to fear so much. As Silver Sorcerers, their first death in the Void was almost inevitable. Every sorcerer faced it eventually. The only question was when.
By delaying their first death until they'd already formed their Silver Wings, Sonia and the Observer were part of a rare elite. If there were a "Most Delayed First Death Leaderboard for Virgin Sorcerers," Sonia thought she might at least make the top 100.
But the moment Sonia realized they'd been surrounded, a fragment of hidden knowledge surfaced in her mind. During their desperate flight, the Observer explained its toxic implications.
"Exile Taint"
Taint Details: If a sorcerer lingers too long in one location within the Void, their "scent" will be detected by nearby knowledge creatures, triggering their hostility. This is perceived as a challenge to the creatures, who view the Void as their home and will not tolerate invaders attempting to settle. They will relentlessly hunt and devour the invader's soul until nothing remains.
Infected Count: 31
Taint Amplification: 31%
Current Effect: Makes it easier to detect nearby knowledge creatures (at 51%, the effect becomes negative; at 10%, it provides a significant boon).
Sonia immediately understood why professors always emphasized "Never linger too long in one place in the Void" as a cardinal rule, yet could never explain why. The truth was simple: it was a Taint.
Unlike the Vortex Taint, which held great practical value and was sometimes shared between trusted individuals despite its risks, the Exile Taint offered no such utility.
Now that Sonia knew the truth, she would never linger in one spot again. But this knowledge didn't exactly revolutionize her understanding—it was already a basic principle taught in every class.
Because of this, sorcerers who discovered the Exile Taint rarely shared it, and the infection rate remained low. Most of those infected were probably just unlucky, lingering too long by accident.
Considering tonight's grueling ordeal, Sonia suspected many of those who discovered the Taint hadn't lived long enough to tell the tale.
Without their little boat cutting through the waves and the two of them working together, Sonia and the Observer would never have escaped. Even then, they barely managed to shake off their pursuers before exiting the Void at the last possible moment.
Sonia shuddered to imagine how a lone sorcerer swimming through the Void must feel when surrounded by knowledge creatures. The despair must be crushing.
And the worst part? The sheer quantity of creatures could cause a qualitative shift in a sorcerer's death.
When a sorcerer dies in the Void, their consciousness returns to their body, but a portion of their soul remains, making it vulnerable to being gnawed on by knowledge creatures.
In most cases, this damage is minor, as the soul's lighter weight allows it to return to the body more quickly.
But being attacked by multiple creatures? That was an entirely different story.
With nine knowledge creatures, each taking a bite, their souls would've been devoured completely, leaving nothing to return.
That's why the rule existed: "Don't linger too long." Prolonged stays led to a sorcerer's scent growing stronger, attracting creatures who would strip their soul bare. Their body, left waiting in vain, would assume their soul had abandoned it and simply… shut down.
Tonight's incident derailed their plans entirely. They'd had no time to explore. Instead, they spent the night fleeing and barely made it out alive. The gains were negligible—a slight improvement in a few disciplines—while the losses were mental and physical exhaustion. Worse, Sonia had a new Taint to stress over.
The Vortex Taint had already been a headache. Now, with the Exile Taint added to the mix, Sonia felt like her mind was growing more polluted by the day.
Sure, the current effects were positive, but if this Taint ever spread, it was only a matter of time before it turned against her.
Still, surviving was its own kind of victory. Sonia had genuinely feared that she and the Observer would die in the Void tonight.
Taking a deep breath, she rose and left the meditation hall.
Outside, the night sky sparkled with stars, as bright as daylight. The largest star, Waxing Crescent, glowed a deep blue, illuminating the school grounds. According to the lunar calendar, tomorrow the meteorologists would swap it out for the Third Quarter Moon.
Sonia found herself idly wondering—was the Observer's blood moon like the stars here in Galos? Was it also managed and replaced by some celestial bureau?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden burst of radiant color streaking through the night sky. Startled, she realized the light came from the White Tower.
Though designated as a restricted area and filled with Galos's most distinguished sorcerers, Sonia couldn't shake the feeling that the Void Rift above the tower was of profound significance. Whatever was happening, it was far beyond her current standing to comprehend.
Back in her dorm, Sonia tiptoed past her sleeping roommates, careful not to wake them. She washed with cold water, stood on the balcony to let her hair air dry, and opened her Miracle Band to watch the latest drama starring her idol, Daedalus.
She glanced at the full-length mirror on the balcony and couldn't resist adjusting her posture, smoothing her hair, and scrutinizing her reflection.
What are you doing at this hour?"
Adele, her roommate, peeked out from under her blanket, curiosity piqued.
Sonia turned, hesitated, then asked, "Would you say I'm a pure, cute, and well-proportioned girl?"
Adele blinked, then nodded with a sly grin. "Yeah, but you're just a little bit below me." She held her thumb and forefinger a fraction apart to emphasize just how small the gap was.
Lakebreak Prison
Ash jolted awake, falling off the bed and onto the cold floor. The chill seeped into his skin, soothing his frayed nerves after the frantic chase.
Standing, he realized his clothes were soaked through. He headed to the bathroom for a hot shower. Though the prison didn't have tubs, hot water was always available—any denial of such amenities would've been deemed inhumane.
Leaning against the pristine tiles, warm water cascading over him, Ash opened his Void Interface to review tonight's gains.
To most, the Exile Taint might seem like a burden. But in the Aurora Manual for Sorcerers, it introduced a significant change:
"Your Exile Taint has strengthened the Endseer's ability to detect knowledge creatures in the Void. The Void Map has been updated."
Now, his map displayed nearby knowledge creatures within a 24-cell radius, complete with simplified details:
Fogfish Dragon: Worth a visit.
Blastfish Dragon: Slightly troublesome.
Umbrellabird Dragon: Slightly troublesome.
This small change was a game-changer. It allowed Ash and Sonia to navigate the Void with precision, avoiding unnecessary risks and targeting valuable encounters.
With Sonia's knowledge of creatures' strengths and weaknesses, they could specifically hunt those that dropped useful or rare items, like Swordcraft Orbs to boost Sonia's Swordcraft Discipline to gold.
Once Sonia reached the Continent of Time, Ash could once again hitch a ride, leveraging her progress to ascend to Golden Wings himself—without lifting a finger.
But for that to happen, Ash needed to survive. He needed freedom.
Drying off, Ash stared at his reflection in the mirror. Water dripped from his hair onto his bony shoulders and slid along his collarbone.
"Uh-oh," he muttered, smirking. "I think I'm starting to like this world."
His reflection tilted its head, and his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Today was… another hopeful day."