Sorcerer's Handbook-Chapter 609: The First Initiative

Ashe wasn’t as nonchalant as he appeared.

This was evident from the fact that he had been stalling for five days.

Before entering the Virtual Realm that night, he specifically sought out Igor, asking him for a bit of mental miracle.

The look Igor gave him was quite peculiar, as if he was watching a Lala Fatty contemplating testing the heat of a frying pan.

In truth, Ashe just wanted a bit of mental miracle to become braver, more decisive, kinder, and more confident.

Igor understood and told him to head left and find Harvey, who might still have some Snow White Brand candies brought from the Blood Moon-mental sorcerers don’t offer drug services.

After much pleading, Igor reluctantly cast a special miracle on him: using fingers as a medium to directly touch the scalp, soothing the brain nerves to achieve mental tranquility… If Igor weren’t a mental sorcerer, Ashe would have thought it was just a head massage.

But the effect of this mental miracle was indeed excellent. Ashe felt much calmer inside and was mentally prepared for the worst-case scenario, allowing him to face the sword Princess and Witch with composure.

No avoidance, no evasion, bringing everyone’s unspoken anxieties to the forefront.

Yet, despite all his preparations, when the sword Princess said, “You can’t fall in love,” Ashe was left bewildered.

He pondered for a moment and asked, “Do you mean I’m not allowed to fall in love with anyone?”

“Yes.”

“Like Annan, whom I met in reality?”

“No.”

“The Witch I only see in the Virtual Realm?”

“No.”

“What about you?”

Sonya gazed into his eyes and slowly shook her head, “No, not even me.”

Holding onto something without using it… That was Ashe’s first thought.

“Don’t think I’m just trying to restrict you,” Sonya pinched Ashe’s cheek, “though there’s a bit of that… But more importantly, it’s the only outcome we can all accept.”

“The Witch won’t give up on you, and you won’t give up on us, but I can’t stand you maintaining intimate relationships with others.” The Stretch Paw Club President felt one hand wasn’t enough and used both hands to cup Ashe’s face, “So there’s only one answer-since we can’t move forward, let’s step back. Step back to where you’re just friends with everyone, so you don’t have to give up, the Witch won’t refuse, and I won’t have to worry.”

“Your request has a prerequisite,” Ashe said with a smile, “‘Before I meet you in the Stars’-“

“Exactly, once you meet me in reality, you won’t have to follow this restriction anymore.” Sonya huffed, “That’s why I’m willing-because I know that no matter how close we get in the Virtual Realm, it’s just a castle in the air, a drifting weed. Falling in love with you in the Virtual Realm isn’t a high-value option.”

Ashe blinked, “Not high-value, but you like it.”

“I don’t like it,” Sonya stuck out her tongue playfully, hesitating before adding, “And I have to consider the Witch’s feelings too.”

“Just like I’d feel bad seeing you close to the Witch, wouldn’t the Witch feel bad seeing you close to me?” she said softly, “So let’s all step back to a safe range, that way… at least we can still be together.”

“But your request only postpones our problem until the moment we meet,” Ashe pointed out, “We’ll still have to face it then.”

“Don’t worry, because by then, I’ll be by your side. And by then, I’ll definitely be stronger than you, with more power.” Sonya’s lips curled into a smile that outshone the Stars:

“I’ll help you solve this problem completely. And then…”

Then, what would happen?

Before Ashe could ask how she planned to solve it, Sonya continued, “Actually, my request mainly targets your situation in reality! Can you promise not to mess around in reality?”

“I haven’t messed around at all!” Ashe defended himself righteously, then added weakly, “But if…”

“I know, I won’t hold Annan and Silver Lantern against you, you were truly ‘out of control’ then.” Sonya gritted her teeth, hands clasping Ashe’s neck, “But now you’re a sanctuary sorcerer, you won’t be swept away by the Golden Flow every day, right? You won’t be enslaved every day, right?”

Ashe shook his head, “Not really, but you know I’m always adventuring, there’s always a chance…”

“If you really get controlled again, I won’t blame you even if you get involved with someone!”

“Really?”

“False!” Sonya stomped on his foot, triggering the Ice Crystal Shoes to create frost all over, chilling Ashe’s soul. But she quickly calmed down, “But also true, I can at least convince myself not to be angry with you. After all, you can’t guarantee your safety now, and you’ll be adventuring to find a way to the Stars, I can’t demand more from you.”

Not be angry with me…?

Ashe vaguely understood Sonya’s meaning. He ran his fingers through the sword Princess’s crimson hair, gently caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, “I understand, I promise to try not to make you angry.”

Sonya said lightly, “If you can lie and hide it from me, as long as I don’t know, I naturally won’t be angry.”

“Girls are contradictory, aren’t they?” she laughed softly, “On one hand, they like to hear false sweet words, on the other, they hope to hear honest confessions, even if it hurts.”

“Not contradictory,” Ashe said, “The feeling of liking someone is uncontrollable. Ultimately, it’s because I’m not good enough, yet not bad enough.”

“I’m not good enough to avoid hurting you, nor bad enough to deceive you.”

Sonya shook her head, “This time, I don’t want to blame you, because I brought this on myself.”

The Red-Haired Sword Princess lifted her head, eyes misty, stubbornly looking at Ashe with a feigned lighthearted smile:

“Then let’s continue to torment each other like this.”

Being looked at like that, Ashe felt as if his heart had been struck hard, a complex mix of affection and guilt swirling within him. He gazed earnestly at Sonya, leaning down for a gentle kiss.

No entanglement, no depth, just a fleeting touch, yet both felt shy, and even the usually assertive Ashe seemed a bit evasive.

“Not counting that time you deliberately led me to the Dark Miracle Wonderland,” Sonya asked, “Was this your first kiss?”

“That time I just wanted to kiss your cheek, who knew you’d turn around…” Ashe weakly explained, then nodded, “Yes.”

He didn’t realize I had the same thought that time… This realization put the village girl in a good mood, she chuckled, “Though there’s no warmth, no taste, no biting, I’m your first.”

“That’s my third request.”

Even though Sonya’s voice remained steady, her face turned crimson to her ears as she spoke, “All your first initiatives must be reserved for me.”

Ashe looked at her in surprise.

Even though she was so embarrassed she wished to find a hole to hide in, Sonya didn’t back down, meeting Ashe’s gaze head-on, maintaining her dignity as a legendary sorcerer of the love sect. Her soul, swayed by her emotions, caused her pupils to nearly turn heart-shaped.

Pfft.

Ashe couldn’t help but laugh, then looked at her seriously and shook his head.

“No.”