Mage Manual

The capital of the Kingdom of Stars, Jiale City, outside Sword Flower Mage University.

As summer approached, the Heavenly Curtain's Dazzling Stars increased from two to two and a half since spring. If you looked up carefully, you could see a small Dazzling Star, causing the temperature in Jiale City to rise: the light shone brightly, and just a few steps would make you break into a light sweat.

Sonia, with small strides, came out and saw her mother Martha standing under the Dazzling Star, sweating profusely. She pulled her to the shade of a nearby tree with concern, "Mom, why are you standing outside like this? You should come into the university streets and avoid the sun…"

Martha chuckled foolishly, "I was afraid Linda wouldn't see me…"

"How many times have I told you, call me Sonia, not Linda!"

Suddenly, Sonia lost her temper, and Martha nodded repeatedly, stammering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I forgot again. Oh, I also brought your favorite custard tart…"

Seeing Martha's ingratiating look, Sonia felt guilty again and took her by the hand to leave, "I'm not eating it, I'm on a diet lately and can't eat anything so sweet."

"You're already so thin, why diet any more? Do you want to be as thin as paper? Remember Uncle Elmer? His son has a serious illness that hasn't been cured, and he's as light as a scarecrow in the field, thinner than you…"

From a distance, Martha could see Sonia's figure, not much thicker than a tree branch, and she felt a surge of heartache. Martha was a farmwoman from the agricultural town of the Kingdom of Stars, having never understood the slender aesthetics of a big city. In her heart, she hoped her daughter would be a little sturdier.

Sonia didn't interrupt her mother's rambling. Only when her mother stopped did she say, "Since you're here in Jiale City, let me show you around the capital…"

"No need, no need!" Martha waved her hand hurriedly, "Don't waste money, I saw a park over there when I walked by…"

"Walked here!?" Sonia's voice rose eight octaves, "Didn't I tell you to take the tram after getting off the train? The train station is so far from the university—"

"It's okay, it's okay, I came early, and there's so much time, walking was just a bit of exercise. I'm not old yet; walking is no problem…"

At this point, Sonia noticed that Martha's neck was sweaty. Today, the sun was out and the temperature was high. The students on campus were dressed in summer outfits, but her mother had taken the train last night to Jiale City, where it was already autumn with cool breezes, so she wore several layers. Just a short walk made her forehead sweat, and she looked like she had been fished out of the water.

She wanted to tell her mother not to save on this small expense, but what came out was, "Let me take you to buy some clothes."

Martha shook her head instinctively, "There's plenty of clothes at home…"

"Listen to me today!"

Sonia Sevi, came from a poverty-stricken village in the Kingdom of Stars that couldn't even be found on a map. To take a train to the capital, Jiale City, she had to walk a day along mountain roads to the nearest town where the train stopped.

Among the village children, Sonia was the only one in nearly twenty years who, thanks to the Miracle Bracelet given for free by the kingdom, completed the basic education courses it provided. Before reaching the age limit, she took the kingdom-wide unified online admissions test for higher institutions and successfully entered the Sword Flower Mage University in Jiale City, abbreviated as Sword Flower University.

Her father had drunk himself to death when she was very young. In her memory, he was just a drunken wastrel who would get angry for no reason. It was entirely up to her mother, Martha, to raise her.

Precisely because of this, she could temporarily escape labor to focus on her studies, rather than like other children her age, working in factories by day and watching the only Meteor channel the village could receive at night, spending a muddled life in that small town.

On her first day in Jiale City, when she saw the clean streets, towering buildings, flowing luxury cars, polite and civilized people, and the giant Light Screen broadcasting propaganda clips day and night, she knew that even if she died, it had to be in this city.

That hometown she lived in for over a decade wasn't even qualified to be her grave.

In a short time, she learned makeup and clothing coordination and corrected her accent within a month of entering university.

She obtained multiple part-time jobs thanks to her superior appearance, without neglecting her studies. With scholarships and part-time wages, she expanded her social circle and participated in various activities… Plus, after hosting several campus events last year with plenty of exposure, she had already been vaguely regarded by many as the Sword Flower of the 67th class.

So many people in this world could find happiness, why couldn't I?

The entire afternoon, Sonia took Martha touring Jiale City. Under Sonia's insistence, Martha reluctantly went with her to a stylishly expensive clothing store to try on clothes.

Without her daughter, the contempt-hidden smiles of the shop assistant would have been enough to make Martha shrink away and leave.

But as the price for buying clothes, Sonia didn't spend any more money for the rest of the afternoon, not even on water, as Martha had filled her water bottle beforehand.

"This is clean water from the train station, it's good for me," Martha said. "Don't buy those red or green drinks, I'm not used to them."

Even for dinner, Martha said the bread she brought wasn't finished and it would be a waste not to eat it. Sonia knew taking her mother to fancy restaurants would only make her uncomfortable, so they sat in the park and ate the bread.

Before six o'clock, Sonia took Martha to the train station.

The return train ticket had been bought long ago, bound to Martha's bracelet: passing through the gate would just require scanning the bracelet.

As they neared the gate, Sonia suddenly said, "Why don't you stay for a night, I don't have classes tomorrow and can keep you company for another day."

Martha stared at Sonia blankly, her lips moved but she eventually shook her head and narrowed her eyes, "No, it's a waste to refund the ticket, and I can't get used to staying here. I don't even understand what people say, and I have to hurry home to feed the chickens… Oh, look at me, I almost forgot…"

She pulled out a tightly wrapped little pouch from her bosom and handed it to Sonia without opening it, "There are three silver coins inside…"

"Mom, I—"

"I know you don't lack money, but I can't spend it at home."

Martha tightly held Sonia's hand, "Mom is useless, can't help you with anything. But Linda, rest assured, Mom won't burden you. You live well in the capital, I'm doing well at home, and neighbors will help me if anything happens. Just remember to write back, but don't send money, save it for yourself. And the post office might even embezzle your money…"

This time Sonia didn't correct Martha about calling her by her nickname, "Linda." She quietly listened to her mother's chatter, suddenly understanding why Martha didn't wait for her inside the school. When Martha finished, she calmly said, "I will bring you to live the good life in Jiale City someday."

Martha smiled and nodded, "Mom believes you. But also remember, no matter what happens, Mom will be at home with a good meal waiting for you. Big cities are too complicated, after all. Wouldn't it be nice to return home and live simply…"

Sonia watched her mother's slightly hunched back get smaller and smaller until she disappeared into the crowd.

Suddenly, she swerved to the right, avoiding a man who was about to bump into her. The man looked surprised, muttering something under his breath and hurriedly turned away.

"Indeed, big cities are too complicated," Sonia murmured softly, "but I am precisely this kind of complicated person."

She turned away from the train station, head held high, striding back to the bright lights and bustling din of the City of Eternal Night, Jiale City.