Mage Manual-Chapter 1251 - 910: Why Do I Have Nothing?

"Where is Ash?"

"You were acting with Ash, weren’t you?"

"Since you know me, we shouldn’t fight!"

In the wasteland village, two red-haired female sword fighters tore down countless houses and walls while fighting, their sword light like waterfalls, and sword sounds like rain. The evenly matched swordsmanship, identical appearance, gave Sonia the illusion of looking in a mirror. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Amidst the flying red hair, she saw the hatred and violence reflected in the ruby eyes of her opponent, even feeling that she was another version of herself.

Even the deep-seated resentment was so similar.

But—

With a clanging sound, Sonia swung her sword heavily to force Nia back and said calmly, "If I had the chance, I’d be happy to fight you as long as you’d like, but I have other tasks now, I don’t have time to waste! Has Ash come here? Does he know that this is the Distant Realm, overlapping with the Kingdom of Stars—"

"He knows, of course he knows."

Nia said in a flat tone, her disheveled red hair covering her expression, "He is even looking forward to you descending into my body again, just like last time to meet him privately."

Sonia’s body stiffened, her expression slightly embarrassed. She didn’t know how to feel about using someone else’s body to get intimate with her lover and being caught; such a plot hasn’t even appeared in dramas, naturally making her feel ashamed.

"You know?"

"Of course I wouldn’t know why a man was kissing me when I opened my eyes." Nia said with a smile tinged with anger: "Nor do I know why that man looked at me with the gaze of a lover."

"Sorry, I’m really very sorry." Sonia didn’t know what else to say, "I was overwhelmed at the time, and didn’t consider your feelings—"

"Why would you care about my feelings? I’m just the vessel you descended into, a threat to your health, an exact replica of you." Nia shook her head, her voice hoarse: "You all obviously don’t care, the light is so bright, who cares where the shadow went?"

Sonia was stunned: "Ash told you even this?"

"I don’t know how much more he keeps from me, but I have already understood my position." Nia placed a hand over her chest: "The only reason he pays attention to me, protects me, takes care of me, is all because he loves you. He’s terrified of any harm coming to you, so I am treasured by him as well."

"My greatest value alive is to not affect you." She laughed dryly, "I never imagined I would live for someone else in my life, let alone in such a... such a..."

Sonia couldn’t help but get closer, reaching out to comfort her: "I actually don’t—"

Clang!

The clash of blades, Nia desperately pressing her sword against the Sword Maiden, blood-red eyes misted with water, gritting her teeth: "Sword Maiden, Ash thinks I’m your curse, but to me, you are my greatest curse."

"Maybe without a body, the shadow has no meaning, but a shadow never wanted to be a shadow, no shadow ever wants to be stepped on forever!"

"That’s impossible!"

Sonia struggled to parry her, pressing her against the wall, earnestly saying: "Ash might take care of you out of selfishness for me, but he absolutely cannot think of you as a substitute, a shadow, a curse!"

"His flaws could be discussed for three days and nights, impulsive, lazy, going with the flow, kind-hearted, unaware of his own infidelity, and can’t lie... but he is absolutely not a jerk who doesn’t respect others!"

"You can scold me, hate me all you want, but you’re not allowed to smear my lover like that."

"But he is like that!" Nia kicked her away, biting her lip gently: "He’s never looked at me!"

"If so, then why are you so mad?" Sonia asked calmly, not angry at all: "If he truly didn’t care about you, why would you care about him so much?"

"For someone like you, who can’t suppress their temper, if he humiliated you like this, you should have killed him already, why still appear here with him?"

"I never care about people who aren’t worth it." Sonia quietly watched her: "I believe you’re the same."

Nia’s shoulders trembled: "I... I don’t care..."

"I still remember, when I descended using your body, he immediately recognized me." Sonia cautiously approached, "I believe when I leave, he will immediately recognize you too."

"Weren’t you at that place last time because you wanted to save him?"

Nia gritted her teeth and said: "I’ve regretted it! I wish I could kill him myself!"

"I have that thought quite often too." Sonia shrugged: "But you still chose to act with him, which means he must have touched you in some way. I don’t know why you insist on denying his respect for you, but the fact that he acts with you shows he trusts you."

"You are slandering him, which insults his trust in you, and also insults your own judgment."

"Of course, we never need others’ approval." Sonia placed a hand on Nia’s shoulder, "But even without my influence, Ash would undoubtedly be eager for your help, you have that qualification and that charm."

"Because you are me."

Clang.

Sonia hurriedly retreated, yet her face still got grazed by a sword. She clutched her face, looking at Nia as she leaped onto the roof of a flat house, sheathing her sword, saying coldly: "You’re disgusting, I don’t want to see you again, don’t follow me."

Sonia was momentarily taken aback, barely believing her ears—she, as a dignified Sword Maiden, could actually be associated with the word ’disgusting’?

But she could understand Nia’s current mindset, impulsive, irritable, insecure, almost a spitting image of her past. Such a person particularly doesn’t want to admit their mistakes, let alone acknowledge others’ correctness. Nia’s earlier words almost shut the conversation down, now making her lower her head would be harder than killing her.

Yet no matter what, Sonia couldn’t let Nia go as the clue, so she pursued and asked: "How many of you are there? Is Ash safe? Do you have any plans?"

"Now everyone is scattered, we should unite!"

"Oh right, you haven’t introduced yourself, what’s your name?"

However, Nia paid no heed, and just as she was about to dash into the portal, Sonia took a deep breath and quickly drew her sword to block her path, "Stop!"

Clang!

Nia drew her sword, defending herself against the Sword Maiden, "Get out of my way."

"You also want to help Ash, right!?" Sonia earnestly urged: "We are on the same side, why can’t we—"

"Who told you I want to help Ash?" Nia stared intensely at her, her tone growing increasingly agitated, "I wish he and I could die in there together!"

"You’re different from me, you’re prettier, more elegant, you live comfortably, have many friends, a lover looking forward to your reunion, almost as if you live in complete happiness... You even trust your lover so much, understanding and considerate, gentle and kind, willing to soothe my irritability. Oh, and you’re also a Mage, possessing destructive power, an ally Ash can rely on!"

"But I have nothing!" Nia’s tears cascaded down her cheeks, her voice growing hoarse with emotion, biting her lip she murmured, "Why do I have nothing?"

"Why should I help Ash get back to you, to help you live happily ever after... Why are you so perfect, I detest you..."

"I don’t want to see you, I beg you..."

Sonia was momentarily lost, silently stepping aside to let Nia pass. But just as Nia was about to step into the portal, Sonia couldn’t help but dash forth, entering the portal at the same time.

However, upon landing, Sonia realized this was bad—this scene was an expansive grassland, her eyes met more than forty Mages wearing uniforms of the Fortress, Griffin, and Starburst divisions!

This was the hunting ground of the Star Mages!