Second Female Leads' Playbook

Have you ever watched a drama about a girl training to be the best chef? Her teacher gives her a list of impossible challenges, like finding 100 different plants, being able to distinguish what's the ingredients in a dish with just a taste, cutting carrots while having her eyes covered etc. 

My life turns into this. I feel like I'm being trained to be a top chef. I have to try to distinguish the ingredients in a poison with just a smell, I have to go to different places with Lord Valentine to find different herbs and ingredients. 

"A poison that makes people lose their sight?" I say out the answer after taking a sniff of the transparent liquid in front of me one last time. 

"Permanently or temporarily?"

"Eh..." I take another sniff. If there is a hint of bitterness amid sourness, it's temporary. If there is a hint of bitterness amid tartness, it's permanent. Aren't they the same thing? I take another sniff. 

I believe it's more sour than tart. "Temporary?"

"That's... correct!" 

Yes! I do not wish to continue guessing today. It's not that I am so well versed in the art of poison, it's just that I am lucky enough to pick out the correct answer. This guessing game is tiring. 

"Ianthe, how long have you started learning magic?"

"About five years."

It's been five years since I transmigrated here. It has been such a long time. Sometimes, especially late at night though it has been getting more and more rare recently, my heart still aches from home sickness. I wonder if my parents have moved on already? If they still miss me as much as I do?

"It's time for an exam," Lord Valentine suddenly says. 

An exam? Lord Valentine is a pretty strict instructor, during these past five years he gives me challenges at random time. Like pretending to be him, like finding a herb in the middle of nowhere, like trying to predict the menu for next day's dinner... But he has never uttered the word 'exam'. I am a bit nervous now. If his 'challenges' are like quizzes, then this 'exam' is the real deal. But his challenges are already challenging enough!

"Ianthe, have you heard of the Realm of Deep Sea?"

"No, my lord." Aren't we already in the deep sea?

"The realm is just outside the capital, it's a good training ground for nymphs like you. If you're lucky, you might discover some treasures. But of course there are dangers too, such as monsters and poisonous water. I want you to get a plant that can only be found in the realm and bring it back."

This sounds like an adventure, but can I do that? I have to trust Lord Valentine, he always gives me challenges that I can achieve, albeit a bit too hard. 

"I'll try my best."

He rewards me with an affectionate smile and a pat on my head. "I am sure you can do that." 

  Lord Valentine's smile really cheers one up. 

"Now, go and pack for things you need! Papers for spells, herbs, potions, anything you think you need! Dolphin will go with you." .

With a snap of his finger a tiny bag appears in his hand. A bag in different shades of blue. The clasp and strap are made of pearls. It's a pretty bag. 

"This is for you. This is charmed, so you can place everything you need in this bag."

So it's like Doraemon's pocket. As expected from Lord Valentine's creation! It's pretty yet super practical!

"Thank you, my lord." 

"You're welcome. Now go and pack things you need! Don't forget things! No one will come and save you!"

"Not even you, my lord?" I ask before I can stop myself. 

A mischievous smile breaks on his face. "No, this is Ianthe's challenge, so I won't come and save you. You're a strong and independent sorceress, so I am sure you can save yourself. I believe in you. And who are you? You are my pupil, so I have trust in myself too."

"I am the pupil of the Royal Sorcerer, I will try my best!" I vow with determination.

"Exactly, that's the spirit! I'll accompany you to the entrance of the realm tomorrow, so go and prepare!"

I beam. Lord Valentine's words always comfort me. He is like a sun that guides me in this new world.

-------------------

Just where is the flower!!! I stomp in desperation as I follow the guidance of Dolphin. Dolphin after these two years, has been upgraded by Lord Valentine. Dolphin can now work like a GPS and notify me when dangers are close. As expected of Lord Valentine. Lord Valentine is the best!

It's been five days since I was dropped in this realm. If this goes on I might have to resort to hunting for food as my food storage is reducing. Spells require a lot of power and energy. But I am a little averse to hunting for food myself, who knows if the fish I catch is a to-be spirit or not? What if I kill a nymph to be? 

I sigh and continue to walk on. I am surrounded by seaweed everywhere I look. Suddenly Dolphin starts flicks its tail at me urgently. Here it comes again, the deeper into the realm, the more monsters I encounter. I take out my protective spells and activate them. 

The monsters burst out from the seaweed jungle. They are fish like but not exactly. They have huge heads but exceptionally small tails. When they open their mouth, rows and rows of sharp teeth and fangs occupy their mouth. They roar and snap their jaws. They are like sharks hunting for food. 

The one closer to me attacks first. With lightning speed, the monster opens its large gaping mouth and try to snap at me. I keep chanting the protective spell to try to strengthen my shield. The monster bounces at the shield and is repelled off. 

The current protective spells may not hold a second attack, judging from my experience since I first encountered these monsters five days ago. I sense a crack already. I need to fight back and get rid of them as quickly as possible. To do so I need to free myself from chanting the protective spell. After much deliberation, I take out another protective spell from my bag and activate it. It's one of my last reserve. I need to draw some more spells after getting rid of the two deep sea monsters in front of me. 

This time the two monsters attack at the same time. Like last time, they open their monstrous mouth, but unlike last time, this time they spit something at me. I nearly yelp in disgust. When the 'spit' comes into contact of my protective shield, my shield starts to erode away. The monsters I met earlier on definitely did not have such skills. So that's what Lord Valentine said. The deeper into the realm, the stronger the monsters. And also the closer I am to my target. The plant blooms in the centre of the realm. 

I have no time to activate another protective spell. I have to gamble. I quickly throw the two lightning spells in their direction and chant to activate them. Lightning strikes them just before they cross my already eroded protective shield. This spell was strong enough to kill the monsters I encountered these past few days, but I am not sure about these two monsters who are surely at a more advanced level.

I heave a sigh of relief. Then I realize both of my hands are shaking uncontrollably. If you ask me if I am scared or not. Of course I am. Back when I was still a normal university student, I have never killed anything, not even a ċȯċkroach. Suddenly I am being thrown into this realm where it is normal to duel, to use magic to attack others. I am not used to it and am still getting used to it. When I first enter the realm, I nearly screamed when I first met the monster. I was indecisive when I had to give the monster a killing blow. 

It seems like I have grown a lot in these five days.

You're just protecting yourself. You're just protecting yourself. You're just protecting yourself...

I have to find somewhere to replenish my dwindling supply of spells. I need somewhere more quiet and safe. Who am I kidding, there is no where in this realm that is safe. 

"Dolphin, can you find somewhere where I can sit down and draw some spells?"

Dolphin swims in circle around me and guides me to a place behind a huge rock. 

"Thanks Dolphin, you're the best." I rub Dolphin on its head and Dolphin flicks its tail excitedly in return. "Notify me when anything is coming too closely, alright?"

Then I get to work.