No, You Need to Practice Swordsmanship

Sonia leisurely opened Water Art Basic Principles while removing her makeup.

Using makeup-removal time to study was perfect. Removing makeup was a hassle: first, she had to carefully clean every eyelash with a cotton swab, then give her eyes a bath with Eye Wash. She had put sunscreen on her arms today, and body wash could not remove it, so she had also bought a large, cheap bottle of makeup remover specifically for washing off sunscreen.

After showering, she still had to do her basic skincare. She could not skip toner spray or serum, and even her eyelashes needed serum, or they could easily get pulled out by an eyelash curler. She did not have the money to get eyelash surgery at Perfect Star Glory.

All those miscellaneous tasks added up to nearly an hour. If she did not seize every spare moment to study, how could Sonia possibly have earned a scholarship last semester?

Moreover, she planned to summon her first Water Art Spirit before next year, preferably fully unfurling the Silver Wing before graduation and becoming a One-Winged Arcanist.

Though Sword Flower University was not a first-rate arcanist university in Gala City, Sword Flower's training of Swordsmen, Water Arcanists, and Wind Arcanists was second to none. As long as students from those three departments graduated normally, their futures would be boundless.

Among them, Water Arcanists often became Healing Arcanists because they possessed many related Healing Spells, which was why Sonia had chosen it as her major.

Having seen the prosperous world of Gala City, Sonia knew full well that she would likely need decades to gain a foothold here through her own efforts alone. Thus, finding a good man as a shortcut into high society had naturally become her first choice.

Otherwise, why had she spent so much time, effort, and money maintaining her beauty? Was it supposed to be wasted on some poor man?

According to Sonia's research, more than fifty percent of noble wives were Water Arcanists.

If the noble himself was also an arcanist, that proportion could even exceed seventy percent!

Without question, being a Water Arcanist was an enormous advantage when nobles selected wives!

Compared to Water Arcanists, Wind Arcanists often became Meteorological Arcanists and had to work outdoors frequently under harsh conditions. As for Swordsmen, there was no need to mention them—being strong and martial was a disadvantage for women...

Sonia's life plan was perfectly clear—

Become a Water Arcanist, then find a way to participate in on-campus activities at Gala City Truth Arcanist University and hook a young nobleman.

Unlike Sword Flower University, Truth University was Gala City's top arcanist university, even the foremost institution in Star Country. Everyone there was either rich or noble. That was where Sonia's future boyfriend would appear; she did not think much of a single boy at Sword Flower University.

Become a Water Arcanist, get acquainted with noble students from Truth University, then enter high society as a noble's wife. Through her husband's social connections, she would find a way to build up some assets for herself. Then, even if she got divorced, she could still establish herself in Gala City and bring her mother over to live like a noblewoman...

"No, you need to practice swordsmanship."

Hearing that familiar yet unfamiliar chaotic voice, Sonia's right hand instinctively reached to grip a weapon.

If her seated posture had not restricted her movements, she might even have immediately used Iai Slash Evasion to dodge.

But in the next second, she came to her senses and stared in horror at the strange man who had appeared beside her out of thin air. He wore a pitch-black trench coat, and his face was dim and blurred!

"If I were you, I'd look at everyone else's reactions first."

The Watcher leaned against the wardrobe, raised one finger, and made a silencing gesture. "If you want to speak to me, just repeat it silently in your heart."

Sonia looked toward Lois and Adele. Adele was tapping the air, clearly engrossed in a program on the Light Screen. Lois had just emerged from the washroom, and as she passed the Watcher, she did not even glance at him, as though he did not exist in her eyes at all.

Sonia lowered her head to look at the floor, then immediately understood—there was no shadow beneath the Watcher.

Suppressing the urge to speak, Sonia asked in her heart:

"Who exactly are you?"

"My name is the Doomsday Watcher. You can call me Watcher. If you're already this forgetful at such a young age, I can only recommend that you abstain from sex..."

"You know that isn't what I'm asking."

"But that is all I can answer."

The Watcher said, "And you know, I used to hate people who acted mysterious the most, especially those who held important secrets and put on that 'it's not yet time for you to know' attitude. It made me want to beat the shit out of them."

Sonia said nothing, merely watching the Watcher.

The Watcher nodded. "Yes, just as you said, I've now become that sort of mysterious person too, because—I discovered it really is quite fun. Especially seeing you clearly so furious you want to stomp your feet, yet utterly helpless. It truly makes this trip worthwhile."

"But isn't that normal? People often grow into what they hate most. Or rather, the more annoying people usually live longer."

Sonia suddenly realized something, and a chill ran down her spine.

"You can hear my thoughts!"

"If I couldn't hear what you were thinking, how would I be any different from performing a pantomime?"

"But you can't—you have no respect—you've even taken away the freedom of my mind!?"

"Don't worry, Sword Maiden. I'm not your enemy." The Watcher said, "Right now, I don't even count as a complete person. If you truly insist, I can stop appearing before you."

"Then what exactly are you?"

"I'm merely a distant longing." The Watcher shook his head. "That's enough about that. Let's get to business. Besides, you'll soon stop caring whether I can hear your thoughts."

"What business?" Sonia recalled the cruelty of the Dream Realm.

"First." A bottle of blue potion suddenly appeared in the Watcher's hand. "You need to drink this."

"No, I won't drink it!" Sonia answered instantly.

But then something horrifying happened—Sonia watched the potion in the Glass Bottle vanish at a visible rate, while at the same time, she felt liquid slide down her throat!

"Then." The Watcher handed her a Wooden Sword. "You want to practice swordsmanship."

"No, I don't!"

The Watcher had been right. Sonia no longer cared whether he could hear her thoughts.

Compared to controlling her words and actions, hearing her thoughts was practically insignificant!

No matter how hard Sonia struggled, she could only watch helplessly as she accepted the Wooden Sword, and then—

Crash!

With the harsh scrape of a wooden chair across the floor, Lois and Adele turned around just in time to see Sonia's back as she left the dormitory with the Wooden Sword. The door slammed shut with a loud bang!

"What the hell is wrong with her?"

Lois muttered softly, but she immediately realized that made her seem timid, so she sneered loudly, "She hasn't practiced swordsmanship for an entire year, and now she suddenly goes training tonight? Don't tell me she's trying to seduce some senior from the Swordsmanship Department?"

Adele blinked in confusion. "I don't remember her buying a Wooden Sword before, and Ingrid doesn't have one in that style either. Where did she get it...?"