Sorcerer’s Handbook

"How many minutes has it been?"

"Ninety-six minutes. Did anyone count the strikes?"

"I started counting from the beginning. I got to around 1,700 when I saw her sword pierce the seventh ring. I was stunned for a bit, but I think it's around 2,400 now."

When Sylvia opened the door to the training hall, she saw an unbelievable scene—the swordplay students who were usually drenched in sweat swinging their blades had all cast aside their training swords and gathered in a circle, discussing something unknown.

She thought they must be gathered around her boyfriend Felix, and figured he must have finally summoned his "Vibration Sword" spirit.

With this thought, she hurried her steps, pondering where they should celebrate—the Amber Club, or maybe the Golden Gulf Bar?

But Felix must be exhausted now, so why not just go back to his place and "properly rest" with him? They'd known each other for so long, yet he still held back from taking the next step. Sylvia felt it was time she took the initiative.

However, when Sylvia reached the crowd, she realized she was mistaken—because her proud, handsome boyfriend Felix was also just a spectator in the crowd, wearing the same dumbfounded expression as the other ordinary students as he stared ahead.

Following their gaze, Sylvia saw there was an even prettier girl than herself training in the hall: her hair casually tied up revealed a fair, delicate neck, and even the sweat beads running down her natural, exquisite face shimmered like pearls.

Friend and foe, she sensed it immediately, even before the girl had said a word.

The "first love" look that seemed bare-faced but used meticulous makeup techniques, the seemingly casual yet perfectly revealing dress, the seemingly plain accessories that flawlessly accentuated her beauty...if not for intensive research and preparation, how could anyone fake such a nearly perfect, dream girl image that ticked all the right attraction boxes for men?

One look confirmed it—she was a fellow huntress!

With this thought, Sylvia immediately narrowed her eyes. Disregarding Felix's sweat, she clung possessively to his arm.

In her view, there was no better prey in the entire training hall, no, in the entire Swordflower University, than Felix.

Even including Trinity College, Felix was a top-tier catch. Just gaining the Vlozrada family name would bring Sylvia endless benefits.

She had schemed over Felix for a long time, and even knowing he was a playboy, she had full confidence in tying down this wild stallion.

Used well, his fickle ways weren't necessarily a bad thing—as long as she gained a wife's status, she didn't mind if he fooled around.

She was finally nearing her harvest after working so hard. Felix even planned to introduce her as his partner at his birthday banquet. Now someone wanted to swoop in and steal her prize? Not a chance!

"Felix, what are you all looking at?" Sylvia asked casually. "I didn't know there were such pretty juniors in the swordplay department."

"Sis, you're here." Only now did Felix notice Sylvia's arrival, but his eyes didn't glance at her even for a second, as if the training girl was all he could see. "She's...she's not from the swordplay department. She's a freshman water mage named Sonia Therave."

He even knew her name and year... Sylvia's sense of crisis grew. She wanted to drag Felix away immediately but also knew the value of playing hard to get. Feigning curiosity, she asked, "Why are you all watching her train? Because she's pretty?"

"No...not just that..." Felix shook his head. "Since you're not a swordplay student, I don't know how to explain it to you."

"I cross-studied swordplay for a few months freshman year before focusing on water magic where I had more talent. And you're a swordplay genius - with you explaining, how could I not understand?" Sylvia huffed.

"Alright, let me explain simply." Felix said, "An hour and a half ago, she was still a newbie who didn't even have proper swordholding form. But now, she can already pierce the ninth ring on the armor stand."

"She must be faking it, right?" Sylvia didn't say this out of malice, but from her few months of swordplay training, she understood the significance—even she could only pierce the second ring, which was above average among new students.

"That's what I thought at first, what I hoped to see, which is why I watched her train - I wanted to see her hit a bottleneck, I hoped to see her make no more progress...But after an hour and a half, my petty jealousy has turned entirely to admiration."

Sylvia could hardly imagine Felix uttering such humble, sincere words. Even when speaking of his father the Starforger Duke and his brother Demian, his tone was aloof and indifferent.

Yet for a girl he barely knew, he showed admiration and curiosity - dangerous signals. Curiosity often led to infatuation.

And he had watched this girl for a whole hour and a half...?

He watched for an hour and a half, so the huntress named Sonia had trained for a full hour and a half!?

Only now did Sylvia closely observe Sonia's training: gliding steps, sword swings at the face - steady as a boulder, fast as lightning...every action precisely according to the Swordplay Manual, no cheating or relying on force, putting her all into each strike!

Normal people needed to rest every few minutes of training, while Felix at most lasted three hours, one hour of which was rest and relaxation. But by their account, this girl had trained continuously for over an hour without any breaks!?

This explained why they were all spectating—compared to ogling a beauty, these buff swordplay guys were probably more curious about attaining such terrifying stamina.

After watching a while though, Sylvia also joined the crowd, unable to resist staring at Sonia's form.

Her motions contained the aesthetics of swordplay, of strength, of maidenhood. And scarier still, she seemed to improve every second, each swing stronger, more precise, and more skillful than the last.

It was artistry, an artistry of swordplay.

At this moment, Sylvia admitted total defeat.

If this girl Sonia really wanted Felix, she had virtually no chance of victory.

She knew well Felix's obsession with swordplay. If her appeal as an "intelligent, beautiful senior" scored 80 points with Felix, then Sonia's "sword prodigy beauty" type was a solid 150.

Clang!

When Sonia's wooden sword pierced the tenth ring of the armor stand, everyone gasped together, the air in the training hall practically chilling—they had witnessed a miracle!

An utter novice upon entering had, after two hours of uninterrupted training, succeeded in piercing the tenth ring!

Even if she did nothing else from now on, the moment she resonated with the virtual world's knowledge, she would summon a swordplay spirit, step into the virtual plane, and become a virtual wing sorceress! In a second if fast, or months if slow!

It was known that not everyone at Swordflower University became sorcerers, with graduation rates hovering around 50%. Every graduating virtual wing sorcerer had a bright future!

Which meant as of this moment, Sonia could be certain of a secure livelihood for her later years!

At the same time, Sonia also put away her wooden sword, easing the heavy stone in everyone's hearts—the monster in a beauty's skin had finally tired.

If Sonia had trained further, they would have truly suspected girl's clothing provided stamina boosts. Even now it was outrageous - a full two hours, averaging thirty strikes per minute, totaling three thousand six hundred strikes...just calculating this number made the swordplay students' scalps tingle.

At this time Ingrid hurriedly went over to hand Sonia a towel and water, ready to support her back to the dorm.

When Sonia had swung one thousand times, Ingrid was already won over, for the first time pondering getting closer to her—what sinister intentions could a swordplay trainee have?

"Sonia, you must be tired too. Let's head back together?"

Going back together, going to the bathroom together, eating together...this was Ingrid's only method for getting closer.

Sonia, feeling nearly melted into the floor, accepted the towel and lightly rinsed her mouth, giving Ingrid a look of relief. Just as she was about to agree, she suddenly felt energy course through her limbs, reinvigorating her.

Her expression also froze as she stared fixedly at Felix in the crowd.

It was practically a hunter eyeing prey.

The other swordplay students sighed silently, Sylvia gritted her teeth resentfully, and Felix lifted his chin slightly, giving Sonia a confident smile.

The reason for these reactions warmed the heart, because in Sonia's eyes, the observer stood right behind Felix.

The despicable little trumpet waved his finger and said:

"Swordswoman, you can't rest yet."

"Next," he pointed at Felix, "you must defeat him."