The Sorcerer's Handbook-Chapter 39: Swordswoman Mommy

The Swordswoman crossed her arms, lifted her chest, and raised her chin. "What do you take me for? Some call girl who shows up when you summon her and vanishes when you snap your fingers? Do I need to report my whereabouts to you? Should I file an application just to use the bathroom?"

"I don't mind, but... do you actually need to go? Squat toilet or sit toilet?"

"I'm not talking about the toilet!"

She suddenly stood up and stepped toward Ashe, then forced him back with her sharp gaze until he pressed his back against the wall. Fire burned in her eyes as she pressed a finger to his collarbone. "You may have promised to respect me, but in your mind, those words mean nothing. You still treat me like a bundle of data, a thin paper puppet created for your convenience.

"Even after all the time we've spent talking... even after everything we've experienced in the Virtual World... you still hold that condescending view of me."

Ashe said nothing, and could say nothing. She wasn't asking a question. She was laying out a truth he couldn't hide from, not when she could hear his thoughts. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"I can't change what you think. But you need to remember one thing," her voice slowed, each word deliberate. "I am a person. I have my life. I have my hobbies. I have my goals. I have a world of my own, and you are not the center of it. You're just an accident in my life. Even without you, I'd live just fine in places you'll never see. Do you understand?

"You should be grateful if I help you, but if I don't, you have no right to blame me. Understand?"

"Yes, understood. Thank you, Swordswoman mommy, for everything!"

"Don't call me that!" She jabbed his forehead. "No one wants to be called Mama at my age!"

"I can always call you daddy..."

Seeing her finger twitch and ready to strike again, Ashe quickly changed the subject. "So, Swordswoman, did anything interesting happen today?"

She returned to the bed and stared at the cup on the table. Silence stretched. Just as Ashe thought she would refuse to answer, she spoke. "This morning, I showed off my Torrent spirit at the Meditation Tower entrance. By afternoon, everyone in the university knew I got a Torrent spirit from the Virtual World. Even my high-and-mighty roommate came to me, all smiles, asking if I'd sell it."

"So... you had a pretty good day?"

The Swordswoman rolled her eyes. "Good? It was boring. What's there to enjoy in such shallow vanity? Praise or jealousy from strangers isn't worth a moment of thought. Only ten-year-old girls get proud over things like that."

But aren't you a ten-year-old girl? Ashe thought, far too loudly, as her glare cut into him. No way! Can't I even call you young? You're way too strict!

"The air in this single-man cell reeks of filth and sweat. I'm leaving."

Ashe nearly shouted, "Apologize to the air purifier on the ceiling! Right now! I haven't even done anything here for the last two days. At night, I've been exploring the Virtual World with you. Where's all this filth and stench coming from?"

"Maybe it's your breathing. Or maybe your heartbeat is too loud."

He decided it wasn't worth arguing. "So... Virtual World exploration continues tonight?"

"Of course," she paused, "Unless something urgent happens, I don't usually appear. If you have anything to say, wait for the Virtual World. Nighttime is our shared free time."

Ashe had no objection. After her speech about personal rights, he had expected she wouldn't keep offering twenty-four-hour service.

"What if something happens to me and I really need you? Will you show up?"

"I already said, you're not my everything."

Ashe nodded and looked away.

The Swordswoman glanced at him. "But you are an accident in my life. If something truly happens to you, I'll come as quickly as I can, then mock you for it.

"So don't expect me to keep you company when you're lonely. That's not a service I provide."

"I'm a mature adult," Ashe insisted, patting his chest. "I won't be lonely."

But the joy in his eyes betrayed him.

Ha... how ridiculous... The Watcher of Doomsday, frightened of loneliness, frightened of an unfamiliar prison, and clinging to me like I'm his lifeline. One day without me, and he panicked like a child... So he wasn't born that way after all... Good thing he isn't that sharp right now. I thought hiding things from him would be harder...

Her thoughts drifted far. Then she vanished from the cell and returned to wherever she belonged.

***

At the training hall in Swords and Roses University,

Angelica watched Sonya practically melt into the ground and tried to help her up, only to realize that she, too, had pushed too hard during training and couldn't lift her. "No... my legs have no strength left. I need to rest... just a bit."

The two girls dropped onto the grass beside the path, leaned back against their sword bags, and gasped for breath.

"Ah-choo!"

"What's wrong?"

"My underclothes are all wet." Sonya tugged at her collar to let the breeze in. "The wind hits it, and it feels cold..."

"Hehe, you should try sports bras from Fista. Quick-dry, very breathable."

"Really? Let me see."

After a brief discussion about sports bras, Angelica exhaled a long, hot breath, twisted open her water bottle, and found it empty. She turned to Sonya. "Where's your water bottle?"

"What water bottle?"

"You didn't bring one for training?"

"I... I only brought my sword bag. I forgot I needed water too."

At that, Sonya suddenly felt her throat go dry, and her lips crack. "Do you still have any?"

"No! Maybe a drop or two."

Angelica lifted her bottle, waited a few seconds, and a single drop finally fell. She licked her lips and murmured, "Why does that taste so sweet?"

"Let me try!"

Sonya caught a drop the same way and let out a melodious sigh. "This isn't water... it's a vintage even a royal banquet couldn't compare to."

"You've been to a royal banquet?"

"No, but saying that makes me sound impressive, right?"

Angelica giggled. "I have. My father keeps a bottle of wine in the basement that he never opens. He said the empress gifted it at a royal banquet. When I was little, I got curious and secretly took a sip. To cover it up, I added water back into the bottle. But he still found out. That was the worst beating I ever got."

"How did he know?"

"My footprints were too small. As soon as he stepped into the basement, he saw them leading straight to the bottle."

"And the taste?"

"I don't remember. Must've been awful. If it were good, I would've emptied the whole thing instead of diluting it."

"Hahaha, you were such a mischievous kid."

Angelica lifted her chin proudly and patted her sword bag. "Of course. I beat every boy in the town when I was little. I can still do it now."

"The sky above them glittered with stars, and the grass beneath lay soft and cool. Students passed by in the distance, still training, while the two girls sat hugging their knees, laughing at whatever amused them and letting sweat roll from their faces onto the earth.

Just then, the roar of an engine echoed in the distance. A silver luxury car rolled down the path and stopped in front of them.

Felix leaned out the window. "Need a ride? It's no trouble."

Angelica shook her head. "No. Walking helps with muscle soreness. And we're sweaty. It'd be embarrassing to dirty your car."

"Sylvia didn't come to pick you up tonight?" Sonya asked.

"We broke up."

The girls froze, then managed a quiet, "Oh."

Felix didn't explain and drove off.

Watching the car vanish into the distance, Angelica dusted off her shorts and stood up. "Rested enough? Let's go. The water pressure in the showers drops after ten. Wait too long, and you'll get no water."

"You go ahead. I'm heading to the Meditation Tower."

Angelica didn't look surprised. "Still avoiding Louisa? Haven't decided what to do with your Torrent spirit?"

Sonya sighed. "Yeah. I've thought about it... I just want to trade it for a Sword Class spirit."

When word spread that Sonya had obtained a Torrent spirit, her roommate, Louisa immediately came looking for her, offering to buy it. She wasn't trying to take advantage. She even offered one hundred and twenty percent of the market price, far more than Sonya could get on the school platform. Selling to Louisa wouldn't be a loss.

The old Sonya would've sold it on the spot, then laughed herself to sleep while planning how to invest the money.

But after Professor Trosan's guidance, her outlook changed. She now understood that a sorcerer's true power came from their spirit, and not their wallet.

So she preferred a spirit exchange, trading the Torrent spirit for a Sword Class spirit that could strengthen her and help her explore the Virtual World more safely.

However, spirit exchanges weren't always available. Ordinary spirits were easy to find, but rare ones like the Torrent required an equally rare Sword Class spirit in return. Even with Professor Trosan helping her search, there was no guarantee someone suitable would appear anytime soon.

Louisa was ready to spend a fortune at any moment, and with no suitable spirit for trade yet appearing, Sonya was torn between the two choices. Hence, she decided to hide for a few days and think things through.

"Actually," a voice said, "you do have a third option. Keep it for yourself."

Sonya turned her head and saw the Watcher sitting beside her. She suppressed the small flutter in her chest and asked casually in her mind, "When did you get back?"

"While you two were discussing bras."

"..."

"Don't buy Fista. It's made for small to medium builds. For your size, I recommend Doslin. Better shaping."

"That's enough. I'm not discussing this with you."