Watching them bicker and chatter, Sonya raised her glass to Angelica. "Congratulations on stepping into the world of sorcerers."

Angelica clinked her glass against hers, took a sip, and said, "Thank you... though, to be honest, I'm a little scared."

"Scared of what?"

Angelica admitted, "Scared of exploring the Virtual World alone. The books all warn that when sorcerers enter for the first time, the unfamiliar environment, the lurking dangers, and the absence of anyone to guide you can trap you in a self-tormenting panic.

"Alone in a vast sea, with no one to rely on and no goal to chase... vicious Knowledge Creatures could appear from the white mist at any moment, and the deep sea hides secrets meant never to be uncovered. Just thinking about it is terrifying.

"I've even heard of sorcerers who couldn't endure it. They'd rather stay in the real world forever than return to the Virtual World."

Angelica looked at Sonya. "Don't let my appearance fool you. I've never lived alone much. Aside from killing a brown bear that broke into our yard when I was sixteen... I have no accomplishments worth mentioning. I'll probably need a lot of time to adjust to the combat pacing in the Virtual World. Yet, Sonya, you seem completely unaffected. Every night, you enter the Virtual World full of enthusiasm, and you're always in a great mood the next day."

Adele muttered quietly, "It feels like Angelica secretly raised the average combat strength of sixteen-year-old girls..."

"If someone hadn't seen you coming out of the Meditation Tower, Sonya, we might have thought you were on a date," Louisa added.

Angelica blinked. "Any secrets you can share? Or maybe Lady Sonya could give advice to a newcomer about to enter the Virtual World?"

Louisa and Adele perked up, hoping Sonya might reveal some trick not in the books but still usable in practice.

Sonya froze, falling into a sudden silence.

Angelica exchanged a glance with the others and said cautiously, "Sonya, I was just joking..."

Sonya swirled her glass gently. "Ah, sorry. I was thinking about something else... The reason I adapted to the Virtual World so quickly is that..."

She could have told any lie here. Even a joke would work. For example, "At least in the Virtual World I don't have to return to the dorm and listen to Adele snoring."

Perhaps it was the faint buzz of alcohol, or the vague resentment buried in her heart. Sonya could not help herself. "Because I went on dates in the Virtual World."

Everyone blinked. Dates? In the Virtual World?

Sonya immediately regretted the words, but before she could explain, she shot to her feet.

"What's wrong with you now?"

"I... my soul is healed," she said, clenching her fists.

Louisa's eyes widened. "What? Your soul... healed? But it's only been seven days—"

"Wait, what time is it?" Sonya interrupted anxiously.

Adele glanced at the clock. "10:45."

"Then there's still time. Bye! I'm going to the Virtual World!"

Before the others could react, Sonya had already dashed out of the Secret Garden. She moved so fast it almost seemed like she had used a spirit.

"Is the Virtual World really that exciting..." Adele said in shock. "When I went on my first date at fifteen, I wasn't even this hyped."

Louisa frowned. "Wait, what did she mean by dates in the Virtual World? A date needs at least two people. Who exactly is she dating?"

"I get it," Angelica said suddenly.

Louisa and Adele turned to her, puzzled. "You get it?"

Angelica explained seriously, "What Sonya meant is that she has a date with the Fish-Slaying Dragon, the Mudfish Drake, and the Canopy Dragon. In other words, she wants to hunt those Knowledge Creatures. What drives her to adapt to the Virtual World and keep advancing is the fearless spirit in her heart, the spirit of drawing the sword without hesitation! That's the pride of Sword and Roses University. Her cultivation has already surpassed that of ordinary swordsmanship apprentices!"

Louisa felt Angelica's explanation didn't quite add up, but she couldn't think of a better interpretation. After all, Sonya couldn't have meant the word "date" literally... right?

***

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tap tap. Tap tap. Tap tap.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap—

At first, she walked quickly. Then it became a jog. Before long, she was sprinting along the campus road.

The night swept past in a blur. Stars stretched across the sky like a glittering curtain, guiding her path. Sonya paid no attention to her appearance as she ran recklessly. The cool wind brushed against her face, and her shadow seemed to push her forward, urging her to move faster. Sometimes, walking was simply too slow.

Her soul had recovered. That meant the Watcher's soul must have healed as well. After all, they had died in the Virtual World in the same way; the damage to their souls had to be equal.

Yesterday morning, when Sonya had combed her hair, she noticed a bottle of sparkling liquid on the table. A note beneath it read "Pure Radiance Tonic." It claimed the potion could restore the soul and accelerate the absorption of mana.

Sonya immediately knew the Watcher had sent it. Muttering complaints in her heart about why he still refused to show himself, she drank it down in a few swift gulps.

She never considered the possibility that the Watcher might have taken the potion first and recovered before her. After all, he couldn't enter the Virtual World alone. Even if his soul had healed, it would be meaningless. He still had to wait for her to open the Door of Truth before they could explore it together.

She trusted him. If the Watcher discovered something valuable, he would surely give it to her first, not hoard it for himself.

Instead, Sonya worried there might be only one bottle of the Pure Radiance Tonic, and perhaps the Watcher's soul wasn't fully restored yet. She wondered if he had escaped from prison, whether he was safe, whether he had enough to eat, whether he was injured... and why he hadn't come to see her. He used to bother me all the time. Could he really be in such danger that he couldn't spare even a moment?

No matter what, she had to keep her promise. Even if the Watcher didn't come, she would wait for him in the Virtual World.

Meanwhile, Felix felt the atmosphere at home could never compare to the Meditation Tower. Tonight, he decided to check in as usual.

The moment he stepped out of the car, a red-haired figure shot past him at astonishing speed, racing toward the Meditation Tower. Felix froze. Isn't her soul still injured? She's a Full-Winged Silver Rank sorcerer. After dying once, she should need at least half a month to recover. It hasn't even been seven days... Even if her soul has healed, there's no reason to rush into the Virtual World like this...

Then he remembered how she had beaten him just days ago. A thought flickered across his mind. Could Sonya be rushing into the Virtual World to hunt Knowledge Creatures? With that temperament... perhaps she might even earn the favor of the Lord of Infinite Light. Perhaps I should...

While Felix weighed whether to recommend her to the cult, Sonya had already entered the meditation room. She sat cross-legged, summoned her Wave spirit, pinpointed the Door of Truth, and connected to the Virtual World.

Here we go.

When she opened her eyes, solid ground greeted her feet. A lush forest stretched in every direction. Plants condensed brilliant golden droplets that flowed upward against gravity toward the radiant sky, forming dazzling curtains of Ascending Golden Rain. Every fortunate visitor to the Continent of Time would bathe in this magical phenomenon.

Sonya, however, had no time to admire the spectacle. Her gaze was fixed entirely on the man not far away, dressed in a dark red gradient coat.

Ashe's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her. The corner of his lips curved upward. This hateful man, who hadn't come to see her for days, spread his arms as if to embrace her.

Her lips parted slightly, yet no words emerged. All doubts and resentment vanished in an instant. Her body moved on its own, and she reached out... seizing his throat.

Sonya's eyes flicked to the Black-White Witch Dia beside him, whose beauty rivaled her own. Then her gaze returned to Ashe. "Who is she?"