Sorcerer’s Handbook

“Ah! I forgot to wash my clothes!”contemporary romance

Adele frantically opened her wardrobe, her face full of despair. “I forgot to do laundry these past few days, and now I have no clean clothes left to wear. Iris—”

“Don’t look at me, it’s your own fault for being lazy,” Iris curled her lips. “My clothes are tailored to fit me precisely. If you wear them even once, they’ll basically be misshapen, especially the chest area which you’d stretch out with your bust…” She tilted her head towards Sonya. “You should ask Sonya.”

Ingrid, who had just gotten out of the shower, chimed in while drying her hair. “I do have some loose-fitting clothes, but I’m taller than you, so the sleeves might not fit well.”

Adele looked pleadingly at Sonya. “Sonya…”

Of the four roommates, only Sonya had a similar build to Adele. Sonya knew she couldn’t get out of this, but still tried to make an excuse—she didn’t want to lend her clothes to others either.

“No, I don’t like wearing other people’s clothes, nor having others wear mine.”

Iris and Ingrid exchanged strange looks at Sonya.

Adele blinked, then went to borrow some of Ingrid’s clothes. But since Ingrid was a full head taller than her, the swordswoman’s top looked almost like a dress on petite Adele.

They had a public lecture class this morning, so all four headed to the cafeteria for breakfast together.

Halfway there, a male voice suddenly called out, “Sonya!”

They looked over to see a rather handsome blonde young man approaching. Iris’ face immediately darkened.

The student was Merowit, who had previously pursued Iris. Thinking he was good-looking and from a noble family, Iris had given him a chance to court her. But with just a few flirty glances from Sonya, Merowit had switched his affection, utterly humiliating Iris in front of her friends.

“Good morning, Merowit.”

“Good morning, Sonya,” Merowit said enthusiastically. “I rarely get to see you since you transferred to the Swordsmanship Department. What a nice coincidence today. How about we have dinner together tonight? It’s seafood season now. Do you want to go to Golden Coast or Eel Matters Fish?”

Iris scoffed inwardly. Sonya doesn’t even care for Felix now, let alone Merowit. Merowit is suddenly so proactive, he must have received hints from his family. After all, Sonya is Professor Trotzam’s apprentice, and has the achievement of defeating Leone. She is almost destined to become a Saint Swordsaint in the future.

For middle and minor noble families, gaining a Spellweaver as powerful as a three-winged mage could provide tremendous assistance. While Merowit may have initially only been interested in Sonya’s looks, now there was likely the allure of status and connections behind his interest as well.

Iris knew Sonya would surely reject him, but it was hard to predict how. She hoped Sonya wouldn’t take the chance to make snide remarks at her…

“No, I’m training and have no time.”

“You’re so diligent, but relaxing is also important for cultivation,” Merowit persisted. “If you don’t like seafood, we could—”

“I don’t think eating with you would be relaxing.”

Merowit’s expression froze. He muttered a ‘sorry to bother you’ and quickly departed. After walking a few steps, Sonya noticed the other three hanging back, exchanging looks. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing,” Iris smoothed out her strange expression.

The four arrived at the tiered lecture hall, with passing students actively greeting them. Putting aside Sonya’s recent antics, even before, she and Iris were considered a beautiful scenic line of the academy. Being surrounded by admirers wherever they went was standard.

Iris enthusiastically returned her classmates’ greetings, while Sonya just calmly nodded, not saying a word. Seeing this, the uneasy feeling in the other three grew stronger.

Having just sat down, Adele immediately turned deathly pale. “Oh no, I forgot to write my essay! The professor is going to collect it this class!”

Even Ingrid couldn’t help gloating. “Well you’re screwed now.”

This lecture was on Modern Cailleach History, taught by Professor Wesley, who was over sixty and infamously strict and traditional. Pop quizzes and collecting assignments on the spot were routine. If the after-class essay wasn’t completed, just wait to retake the class next year.

Sure enough, the first thing the white-haired, straight-backed old professor did upon entering was bark out the dreaded command: “Place your essays on the lectern, we’ll check them now.”

With a flick of his hand, a single-wing Scholar spirit floated up to the lectern. Despite having only one wing, it was the bane of countless students—the ‘Inspector’ spirit!

With detailed settings by its mage, the Inspector could swiftly judge if an essay met requirements. linking it to the school’s Archives, the mage could even cast a Miracle to check for plagiarism from the library’s sources on the spot!

One by one, the students turned in their essays. With a light tap, the Inspector would display green for a pass, yellow for significant similarity to existing works, and red for major suspected plagiarism.

The professor said nothing, merely sitting there watching everyone turn in their assignments, only giving a cold huff when a student had no essay, noting down their information.

When it was Adele’s turn, she walked up empty-handed, big shiny eyes full of sincerity. “Professor Wesley, I accidentally fell asleep while writing my essay last night, so I haven’t finished it yet. May I turn it in next week?”

Wesley glanced at her. “If your essay next week has over 10% similarity, your participation grade is an automatic fail.”

“Okie dokie!” Adele bounced happily back to her seat, not bothered by the pressure at all.

Next was Sonya’s turn. Seeing her also empty-handed, Wesley’s expression softened considerably. “You didn’t write it?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you write it? Was it because of heavy training? I heard Professor Trozam often has you for extra lessons. Though spellcasting cultivation is important, a well-rounded education is also essential.”

The other students were full of envy and jealousy. No essay for them meant definitely losing points, but with Trozam’s backing, Wesley was helping Sonya justify it!

If Sonya just went along with it and buttered up the professor some more, he might even waive the assignment for her completely—

“I was too lazy to write it.”

Dead silence filled the classroom.

After a pause, Wesley’s face seemed to say ‘Did I hear that right?’ “What did you just say?”

Sensing the strangeness from those around her, Sonya reflexively started to repeat herself.

But suddenly she realized—wait, wasn’t I supposed to invoke Trozam’s name here, compliment Wesley a few times, so he’d let me skip this essay assignment?

“I…” Sonya opened her mouth. “I was too lazy to write this pointless, time-wasting assignment with no nutritional value.”

Seeing Wesley’s face that looked ready to erupt with magma, and the admiring expressions of her classmates that wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, Sonya finally understood what the ‘sincere’ summoning ritual really was!

My meeting you really is the greatest misfortune of my life!

done.co