Sincerity

Jialesi, Sword and Rose Sorcerer University. Returning to the dormitory, Sonia saw Lois already awake and studying, while Adele was still curled around a plush doll, fast asleep. Sonia couldn't help asking in surprise, “Didn't Adele get up early to study hard just like you yesterday? She even claimed she wanted to summon a sorcery spirit and step into the Void Realm before the semester ended...” “She did stick to studying for quite a while yesterday—right up until she finished lunch, at which point she turned on the light screen to watch *Love Across Time*,” Lois said flatly. “Before that, she'd usually start spacing out, trimming her nails, or fiddling with her hair right after breakfast.” “Is that the new drama starring Daedalus?!” Sonia asked reflexively, but quickly shook her head. “At this rate... will she even be able to graduate?” Lois shrugged. “It doesn't matter if she doesn't. She has a fiancé who's a powerful noble, and her father got promoted recently. Adele will probably just get married right after graduation.” Sonia let out a soft “oh,” surprised to find herself feeling no envy or bitterness over Adele's circumstances. In the past, Adele's family background and future prospects would certainly have made Sonia green with envy: supported by her family and backed by her fiancé, Adele didn't need to know how to do anything or understand the ways of the world. She could spend her entire life as a pampered noble lady who did nothing but act spoiled and squander money, living a blissful, tranquil life with others shielding her from every misfortune. She had been born with everything Sonia yearned for. If one didn't have nothing, who would want to start from scratch? If one had someone to rely on, who would want to scheme and calculate at every turn? If one could grow up in a greenhouse, who would willingly brave the wind and rain? Hardship had never been some noble trial; the unfairness of fate was simply reality. The reason Sonia had gotten along so poorly with Lois and the others wasn't just Lois's haughty disdain; part of the fault had also lain with Sonia herself—Lois's unshakeable, well-backed confidence had cut deeply into someone who had only just left her hometown a few days prior. Yet now, Sonia found that hearing about other people's happy futures no longer provoked jealousy or resentment in her. Even without a wealthy fiancé or a supportive family, she didn't believe her future would be any worse than Adele's or Lois's. Yes, she was still that shallow, still needing to place herself above others to satisfy her self-esteem. Too much had happened over the past week, bringing about an earth-shattering transformation in Sonia before she even realized it. She still loved looking pretty, still held herself to strict standards with her makeup, and was still calculating and ambitious. But she had also become a One-Wing Sorcerer, become Professor Trozan's research apprentice, defeated Felix, and fought evenly against Senior Leonie (though she didn't consider that an actual victory)... This series of events was like bricks and mortar, building a solid wall behind Sonia. Even if she couldn't hold on in the future and wanted to retreat, she now had something to lean on. What was more, she had someone by her side. Though he might not be entirely reliable, had plenty of flaws, and was currently even weaker than her, at the very least... he stood beside her. After taking a shower, Sonia returned, placed a silver coin on her desk to let her sorcery spirit come out to feed, and applied a face mask. That was when she noticed a few new items sitting on the desk. The first was a glass vial filled with a swirl of green, gold, and pink liquid that looked far from healthy. But Sonia recognized the bottle—seven days ago, when the Watcher had first appeared in the real world, he had been holding an identical glass vial. Beneath the bottle lay a note reading: “Contains advanced stamina potion, advanced experience potion, and sorcery spirit delight potion. Remember to shake well before drinking.” Sonia eyed the bottle suspiciously, but in the end, she shook it thoroughly and downed it in one gulp. What else could she do? Last time, the Watcher had teleported the potion straight down her throat; letting her drink it herself now was practically an act of goodwill. As for whether the Watcher meant her harm, Sonia had long since stopped worrying about it. Faced with an amnesiac eccentric who could control her actions and was suspected to be a revived legend, unless Sonia could find the Watcher's true body, capture him, lock him in a basement, and wring out every drop of value from him, all her scheming was as pointless as a New Year's resolution. She was better off dutifully clinging to the Watcher like a blue-chip stock, doing whatever he asked and projecting the persona of being 'exceptionally useful' to lower his guard and make him show more flaws. The more the Watcher trusted her, the closer she would be to turning the tables and taking control. The potion had a sweet flavor that tasted like a blend of citrus, lemon, and sea salt, and went down quite pleasantly. Sonia licked her lips and glanced at another conspicuous object on the desk. A letter? The Watcher didn't seem like the poetic type... He seemed more like the kind of person who would talk to her through the bathroom door while she was showering... Puzzled, Sonia opened it to find a precious card adorned with gold leaf. Inscribed upon it were the words: “Sword Princess, you will now automatically undergo a random sorcery spirit summoning ritual, elevating your attainment in that spirit's corresponding faction to your current level. The summoning ritual varies depending on the spirit, but will take no longer than seven days. As you read this line, the random spirit draw will commence. Best of luck.” The text on the card began to shift and blur before finally forming two golden words: “Sincerity.” Sonia instantly realized just how powerful this card was: without requiring any study or cultivation on her part, an automated summoning ritual would raise her realm in a magical faction she had never even touched before straight to the silver rank! It even threw in a free sorcery spirit! Even though it was only equivalent to an Experience Orb, she was well aware of her own circumstances—if not for the Watcher, she likely wouldn't have acquired a single Experience Orb in her entire lifetime. Moreover, “Sincerity” appeared to be a spirit of the mind faction, which was widely considered the most difficult magical school to enter. Sonia had made an absolute fortune this time! Much as she resented the Watcher constantly meddling in her life, he had given her both Experience Orbs they obtained the previous night, and now he had arranged such a wonderful boon for her. Sonia couldn't help but feel heartfelt gratitude: *Watcher, meeting you is truly the greatest fortune of my life!* By then, the card had dissolved into wisps of smoke. Sonia waited a moment, but found that nothing seemed to happen. *Has the ritual already begun? Why doesn't anything feel different?* Just then, the dormitory door swung open, and Ingrid walked in, radiating heat from her workout. Wiping away sweat with a towel and taking a drink of water, she called out, “Adele, time for class!” Adele sat up numbly, heading off to wash up on pure muscle memory without even opening her eyes. As Ingrid headed into the shower, Sonia and Lois began their pre-class preparations: eyeshadow paired with lipstick, blush kept subtle so as not to overpower the look, and a perfume dominated by fingered citron and bitter orange, meant to leave only a faint, lingering trace in the air.