Sorcerer Manual - Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Sonia Sevey
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In Galaxy, capital of the Astra Nation, outside the Sword and Rose Sorcerer University…
As summer approached, the number of brilliant stars in the sky increased from two in the spring to two and a half. If one looked up carefully, one could see a small brilliant star. As a result, the temperature in the world of Galaxy rose, and the brilliance was just right. Walking for a short distance was sufficient to work up a thin layer of sweat.
Sonia came out with small steps and saw her mother, Martha, standing under the brilliant stars and sweating profusely. Aching on her behalf, she pulled her mother to the shade of a tree beside them and said, “Mom, why are you being silly and standing outside? You don’t even know how to come inside the forest paths in the school to seek shelter from the sun…”
Martha smiled dopily. “I was afraid you couldn’t see me, Linda…”
“How many times have I told you? Call me Sonia, not Linda!”
Sonia suddenly lost her temper, and Martha nodded meekly. “Sorry, sorry, I forgot again. Oh right, I also brought your favorite egg custard…”
Looking at Martha’s ingratiating expression, Sonia felt guilty again. She took Martha’s hand and led her out. “I’m not eating it. I’m trying to lose weight recently. I can’t eat something so sweet.”
“You’re already so thin, why do you still try to lose weight? Do you want to lose weight until you’re as thin as a sheet of paper? Do you remember Uncle Elmer? His son fell seriously ill and was never cured. His body is as light as a scarecrow in the field. You’re even thinner than him…”
Martha’s heart ached when she saw Sonia’s body, which was not much thicker than a tree branch. She had been a farmer in an agricultural town of Astra Nation since she was a child, so she could not appreciate the beauty standards for slimness in the city. She truly hoped that her daughter would be fitter.
Sonia did not interrupt her mother’s chatter. When her mother stopped talking, she said, “It’s rare for you to come to Galaxy. I’ll take you around the capital…”
“No need, no need!” Martha quickly shook her hand along with her head. “Don’t waste money. When I walked here, I saw a park over there…”
“Walk here!?” Sonia raised her voice. “Didn’t I tell you that to take a tram here after you get off the train? The train station is so far from school—”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I came early. I have a lot of time. Taking a walk can be considered exercising. I’m not old yet. It’s fine for me to walk…”
It was only then that Sonia realized that Martha’s neck was covered in sweat. The sun was shining brightly today, and the temperature was high. The students on campus were all dressed in summer clothes, but her mother had come to Galaxy last night on a train. It was already autumn in her hometown, so naturally, she had worn several layers of clothes. Just walking for a while made her sweat, and she looked as if she had been fished out of water.
She wanted to tell her not to scrimp this bit of money, but the words that came out of her mouth turned into, “Let me take you to buy some clothes.”
Martha shook her head without thinking. “There are plenty of clothes at home…”
“Listen to me today!”
Sonia Sevey was born in a poor village whose name couldn’t be found on a map in the Astra Nation. She had to walk a day’s worth of mountain routes to get to the nearest town, where the train would stop before she arrived in the capital, Galaxy.
In the past 20 years, among the children in the village town, Sonia was the only one who completed the basic education courses provided by the nation with the free Miracle Bracelet. Before reaching the age limit, she took the Online Unified Admission Test at the Astra High School and successfully enrolled at the Sword and Rose Sorcerer University of Galaxy, also known as the Sword Flower University.
Her father died from binging alcohol when she was very young. In her memory, he was just a good-for-nothing who would throw a tantrum when he was drunk. She was raised all thanks to her mother, Martha.
It was precisely because of this that she could temporarily leave her work and focus on her studies, unlike other children her age who went to work in factories in the day and watched the only Meteor channel in the village at night, muddling through their entire lives in that small town.
The first day she came to the Galaxy, her pupils reflected clean streets, towering buildings, luxurious cars, polite and civilized people, and the giant hologram that broadcasted short promotional videos day and night. From then on, she knew that even if she died, she must die in this city.
The hometown that she had lived in for more than ten years did not even qualify as her grave.
She learned to match makeup and clothes in a short time. Within a month of enrollment, she had corrected her accent.
She managed to get multiple part-time jobs with her good looks, and did not fall behind in her studies. Then, she used her scholarship and part-time salaries to expand her circle of friends to participate in various activities… In addition, she had been the host in charge of many campus activities in the school last year. She had a lot of exposure, and many people already privately thought that she should be the Sword Flower of the 67th batch.
So many people in this world can obtain happiness. Why shouldn’t I?
Sonia spent the entire afternoon touring Galaxy with Martha. At Sonia’s insistence, Martha reluctantly followed her to a clothing store that looked expensive.
If not for her daughter, the saleswoman in the store, whose smile was secretly tinged with contempt, alone would have been enough to intimidate Martha into leaving.
But as a price for buying clothes, Sonia didn’t spend any money for the rest of the afternoon. Martha even filled a bottle with water in advance.
“This is clean water provided by the train station. I’ll just drink this. Don’t buy those colorful drinks. I’m not used to them,” Martha said.
Even at dinner, Martha said she hadn’t finished the bread she’d brought, and it would be wasted if she didn’t eat it. Sonia knew bringing her mother into those upper-class restaurants would only make her mother suffer, so she sat in the park with her mother and ate the bread.
Sonia sent Martha off at the train station before six o’clock.
The return ticket had been bought long ago and was already tied to Martha’s wristband. She just needed to check the wristband when she passed the gates.
When they were almost at the gates, Sonia suddenly said, “Why don’t you stay for the night? I don’t have any classes tomorrow, so I can spend another day with you.”
Martha looked at Sonia in a daze. Her lips trembled, but she shook her head in the end. Her eyes narrowed into slits. “No, it’s a waste of money to refund the tickets. Besides, I’m not used to living here. I don’t even understand what people are saying. I have to feed the chickens at home… Oh yeah, look at my memory, I almost forgot…”
She took out a small bag that she had hidden well. Without opening it, she stuffed it into Sonia’s hands. “There are three silver coins inside…”
“Mom, I—”
“I know you don’t lack money, but I don’t need this money at home either.”
Martha held Sonia’s hand tightly. “I’m useless. I can’t help you with anything. But don’t worry, Linda. I won’t hold you back. You just live here in the capital and don’t worry. I’m doing well in hometown. My neighbors will help me if anything happens. Just remember to write a letter back, but don’t send any money. Keep it for yourself. Besides, the post office might take your money…”
This time, Sonia did not correct Martha for calling her by her nickname “Linda”. After listening to her nagging, she suddenly understood why her mother did not wait for her at school. When Martha was done, she said calmly, “In the future, I’ll take you to Galaxy to live a rich life.”
Martha smiled and nodded. “I believe you. But you have to remember that no matter what happens, I’ll be waiting for you in our hometown with a hot meal. The big city is too complicated. It’s not bad to live in peace at home either…”
Sonia watched her mother’s slightly hunched back disappear into the crowd.
Suddenly, she slid to the right and avoided the man who was about to bump into her. The man’s eyes were filled with surprise. He mumbled something and turned to leave in a hurry.
“Indeed, big cities are too complicated,” Sonia murmured. “But complicated is exactly the kind of person I am.”
She turned around and left the train station, striding back to the brightly lit nocturnal city of Galaxy..
