No Romance

Sonia let them fuss over her, saying softly, "Lois, I really troubled you this time. I don't even know how to thank you." "Hmm?" Lois twirled an eyebrow pencil, sketching in her brows stroke by stroke. "Didn't you ask me because you knew my family makes combat outfits?" "Huh? I had no idea." "Then you're really something, asking any random roommate to find you a combat outfit—wait, did you actually just want me to go to Huajian to rent one for you?" Sonia didn't answer, merely gazing at Lois with large, innocent, slightly dry eyes. Lois sighed. "So I was just flattering myself and running around like an idiot..." "No, you gave me a one-hundred-and-twenty-percent pleasant surprise," Sonia said with a smile. "I truly received your heartfelt kindness." "Don't flatter yourself either." Lois cupped Sonia's face and administered eye wash into her eyes. "I just want to use your pretty face as an endorsement to advertise my family's combat outfits. If you can win in style tonight, maybe Sword and Rose Sorcerer University will choose my family as their supplier. So if you want to thank me, you know what to do?" "Understood." Unaccustomed to eye drops, Sonia clamped her eyes shut, letting the liquid slowly soak in. "Then keep your eyes on me—though I might disappoint you, because everyone will only be looking at me, not your family's combat outfit." "Hmph," Lois chuckled. "Let's see if you can still say that in a bit." The combat outfit they spoke of was actually a special kind of attire in the Starry Country. Because battles between sorcerers easily damaged ordinary clothing, fights staged before watching crowds required outfits that did not tear easily. At the very least, one's clothes shouldn't burst open and expose oneself, which would be intensely humiliating for any sorcerer—especially since many sorcerers were of noble birth, for whom losing face was practically equivalent to suicide. In the past, not a few "Cock-Flashing Counts" and "Bare-Bum Marquises" had ended their own lives, unable to endure the filthy rumors that spread about them. Thus, combat outfits with superior defensive performance had come into being. Initially, combat outfits were simply the armor of noble sorcerers. However, as alchemy and materials science developed, steel armor that excessively impeded movement gradually faded from the historical stage, replaced by resilient fabrics boasting various resistances. Although this fabric still couldn't withstand the direct offensive power of sorcerers, it at least would not shred or fly apart. Wherever it was struck was where it tore; it wouldn't split wide open and cause one's clothes to come undone. Yet with the changing times, combat outfits progressively became magnificent and ornate, turning into a fashion showcase for the nobility. The Intercollegiate League in particular was virtually a runway competition of combat outfits among students from every school, only with an added index of "combat prowess"—only the victor's combat outfit had the right to be praised, while the loser was deemed to have failed in aesthetics as well. Naturally, anything associated with sorcerers was never cheap, let alone combat outfits whose original position was high-end luxury goods. At the very least, a country bumpkin like Sonia couldn't afford one—or rather, buying a combat outfit that saw no everyday use was simply too extravagant. However, Sword and Rose Sorcerer University had Huajian, a facility dedicated to renting combat outfits. Any student qualified to compete could rent a suitable outfit at a low price, and Huajian would even repair it free of charge if it was damaged. In truth, Sonia had lied. She had known Lois's family manufactured combat outfits. After all, the bad blood between them had run deep before, and Sonia always made sure to know her rivals. If Lois had been someone she couldn't afford to provoke, Sonia would have backed down long ago. Even so, she genuinely hadn't expected Lois to urgently requisition an outfit from her family just to equip her. Her original intention had merely been that Lois had good taste and could help select a suitable outfit. Sonia had needed to finish her evening swordsmanship training ahead of schedule that afternoon—she had tested it before: if she completed her training quota in advance, she wouldn't be compelled to train at night. With so little time to prepare her attire for the evening, she had no choice but to ask Lois for help. "Done." After a full half hour, Lois finally finished Sonia's makeup, setting it with the 'Fix Day' sorcery spirit. The senior girls also helped drape the combat outfit over Sonia, fastening every button and attaching every accessory. The others stepped back in unison. Lois reached out, pulled Sonia to her feet, and turned her around to face the dorm's only full-length mirror. "Tell me: are you more beautiful, or is my combat outfit?" Catching sight of the beauty in the mirror, Sonia reflexively caught her breath. She had once believed she had tapped every ounce of her aesthetic potential and couldn't possibly become any prettier. But Lois had shown her that her horizons had been too narrow—she had never worn truly expensive clothes before! Only such garments were worthy of her, meaning there was still plenty of room for improvement! Many things in this world defied reason, but expensive things were definitely expensive for a reason. The base of this combat outfit remained Sword and Rose's blue-and-white dress uniform, but it had been tailored to perfection, hugging Sonia's slender waist with striking allure. Draped over her shoulders was a white-trimmed red-velvet mantle fastened by cords across double-breasted buttons, its vibrant colors delivering a layered, striking visual impact. Silver accents adorned the gloves, ankle boots, and hemline, lending the ensemble a youthful vigor while infusing her with a graceful, regal poise. Sonia could only describe herself in one way—she felt her beauty was now no lesser than Daidalos's. Lois let down the village girl's crimson hair, combed it out, and then picked up 'Tears of the Shooting Star.' Under the pained, covetous gazes of the onlookers, she spritzed it across the outer sides of Sonia's arms, her neck, and her waist. "A masterwork complete." Lois looked at Sonia in the mirror as if admiring a freshly finished work of art, shaking her head with emotion. "What a waste, doing all this just for a social mixer... It would only be fitting if this were the League finals." "There will be plenty of chances," Sonia said. "Tonight is the first time I'll be battling sorcerer students from another university, and the first step toward making my name resound across the stars." "'Resound across the stars'—you really dare to say that?" Lois said in exasperation. "How about you make your name resound across Jialesi first?" "I think that will happen soon enough," Ingrid said. "As long as Sonia wins in style tonight, she'll instantly become the top seed for the League." "I see!" Adele realized. "No wonder Sonia asked Lois for a combat outfit. She wanted to use the clothes to build up her aura and leave a deep impression on the audience..." "No." Sonia gently shook her head. Looking at herself in the mirror, she adjusted the fine details of her outfit. "I just like wearing pretty clothes. "I actually like swordsmanship too. I like many things—singing, acting, winning. And, I also like..." She paused. "...letting the city folk of Jialesi watch helplessly as I, a girl from the countryside, live a life more magnificent than a legend, more dazzling than the stars, and happier than anyone else!" The red-haired Sword Princess spun around lightly, put a finger to her lips toward the stunned crowd, and gave a playful wink. "Don't tell anyone, okay?" Yes, Sonia Cavell was precisely this kind of hopeless, vulgar, vain girl. She needed to feed on the admiration of those who yearned for her, digest the envy of the incompetent, and revel in the gaze of countless mortals to feel true happiness from the bottom of her heart. She wanted mountains of money, the finest houses, the most exquisite food, the most expensive clothes, and even the most noble titles. Only when she was better than everyone else in every way could she feel that life had meaning. Therefore, not only could Sonia not miss the chance to fight in the mixer's Chief Bout, but she had to seize this opportunity to take the most crucial step toward her vulgar, vain dream. Moreover, she knew that the vast majority of sorcerer events took place at night—just as the Intercollegiate League had to be held beneath the gaze of the stars. As long as she continued down this path, she would inevitably miss Void Realm explorations. Was the Watcher in the Void Realm more important, or were opportunities in reality more important? This was not a multiple-choice question with only one answer—at least, Sonia would strive to make it one where she could choose both. She certainly detested that unseen changes had occurred in the team behind her back, but she hated her current weak, suspicious self even more! From start to finish, there had only ever been one correct choice. And that was to believe in the Watcher, and... To believe in herself. To believe that even if she lost the Watcher, she would still bloom with pride! She, Sonia Cavell, would live only for herself! Her mother couldn't dictate her life, and the Watcher couldn't sway her decisions! Why had she studied so hard to leave that small town? Why had she worked diligently to earn scholarships? Why had she learned makeup and even spent money on minor cosmetic refinements? She had done it all to enjoy the finest things in this world, and no one was going to stop her! "There's still some time, but you should head over early to gather," Lois said. "We aren't qualified to attend the mixer, but there should be a live broadcast on the Curtain. Now that you're wearing my clothes, make sure you win in absolute style for me." "Mhm." Sonia waved to everyone. "Then I'll see you all tomorrow. I'm off to turn Locus University into my first stepping stone." "Good luck!" "I've already drafted your victory announcement! As soon as you win, I'll post it on the campus forum!" Accompanied by everyone's well-wishes, the red-haired Sword Princess briskly walked out the door, only to suddenly pop back in and stride over to Lois. "Right, I almost forgot to answer your question." "What?" Sonia's face leaned in startlingly close, and Lois instinctively took a step back. "Your eyes were focused on my face," Sonia said, lifting her chin proudly. "See? Even you admit I'm prettier than the clothes." "You leaned in out of nowhere, of course I'd look at your face!" "Yes, yes, whatever you say." Sonia nodded in total compliance. "Hehe, that's what I like about you, Lois. Pretty cute." "What did you say?!" Lois bristled, feeling as though the Sonia from a month ago had returned. Amid cheerful laughter, Sonia took the sword bag Ingrid handed her and subconsciously glanced toward the spot where the Watcher had first appeared. *Hey, I'm taking the night off.* *Do your best.* Sonia froze and rubbed her eyes. Lois immediately swatted her hand away. "Don't smudge my makeup!" "I used the Fix Day sorcery spirit, it's fine." She looked closely once more, confirmed that the corner was completely empty, gave a soft huff, and strode out of the dorm with her head held high. Yet after just two steps, she suddenly came sprinting back. Everyone looked at the red-haired Sword Princess in bewilderment. "What's wrong? Did you forget something?" "No..." Sonia's gaze swept across every corner of the dorm, a hint of confusion on her face. This time, she truly departed. *** Listening to Sonia's footsteps fade into the distance, the Watcher lying on the bed yawned. "This counts as an unforeseen incident. Do you think we need to intervene?" "Yet it is a completely natural development," the Sword Princess on the other bed said, sitting up. "Leave them to handle it themselves; we just need to take care of her leave of absence. Besides, we couldn't intervene even if we wanted to. Sonia's mind is made up. Unless Yaxiu appears in the Starry Country right this second, no one can shake her rational decision. "Not to mention, I'm actually glad Sonia made this choice. After all, it shows that Sonia and I still share the same attitude toward romance." "What attitude?" "No romance."