Sovereign of the Ashes

In the days that followed, nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

Morsidor appeared to know the correct route to the surface.

He guided Sein, who was supporting him, through the intricate underground passages, turning left and right.

Despite the complexity of the route, Sein could tell they were moving upward consistently, even navigating through vertically ascending tunnels.

During this time, Sein observed a remarkable shift in his mentor’s demeanor.

While Morsidor had always cared for Sein, the intensified levels of concern and passion he showed in the recent days were beyond the norm.

Morsidor kept a close eye on Sein’s studies and daily training. He would also promptly address Sein’s inquiries about the pyro element knowledge and alchemy.

Morsidor even went out of his way to teach Sein an advanced magic spell model to Sein—the Pyro Blade.

It was actually an enhanced version of the Pyro Chain Blade, an intermediate spell Sein had previously mastered.

The spell model of the Pyro Blade was actually simpler compared to other advanced magic spells, especially given that Sein had already mastered the Pyro Chain Blade.

Morsidor had chosen this advanced magic spell for Sein to expedite his progress to become a senior initiate.

In the past, Sein had independently learned intermediate magic spells like “Fiery Hand” and “Animate” from the magic tomes that Morsidor had given him.

This time, with direct guidance from a full-fledged mage, Sein was able to master the advanced magic spell faster than anticipated.

Observing Morsidor’s changing demeanor and declining physical condition, Sein could not shake the feeling that something was about to happen soon.

Despite the joy of reuniting with his mentor, a sense of foreboding lingered in Sein’s heart.

Morsidor, though visibly deteriorating each passing day, maintained his usual manner and composure.

On one occasion, he even commented on Sein’s cracked crystal ball. “You did well in repairing it, but there’s a better way to fix it. You should do it like this...”

With a pair of metal alchemy tools resembling pens, Morsidor provided hands-on instruction on fixing the crystal ball.

Though not a complex technique, the repair process allowed Morsidor to share more of his personal alchemical insights and special techniques with Sein.

Sein quickly took out his notebook, already filled with notes, and diligently recorded the wisdom imparted by his mentor.

These notes not only helped Sein remember the teachings but also served as a handy reference for future review.

Demonstrating his commitment to learning, Sein’s diligence did not go unnoticed by Morsidor.

The full-fledged black mage lamented, “Zorro possesses commendable skills in alchemy, but, like me, he neglects the exploration of elemental magic. This oversight limits his potential for higher advancement in the future. As for Faye... Despite her innate affinity for the pyro element, she lacks the patience required for thorough exploration and hasn’t inherited much of my alchemical legacy.”

Sitting beside the bonfire, Morsidor told Sein earnestly, “You are most likely the only hope in our faction. I hope you will reach greater heights and carry our faction into the future.”

Sein solemnly nodded, shouldering the weight of the legacy and the lofty expectations passed down by his mentor.

***

A month and a half later...

As they approached the surface, Sein’s heart grew heavier.

It was his intuition that told him that they were getting closer to the surface and that his mentor might be nearing the end of his lifespan.

On the third night of this intuition, Morsidor summoned Sein.

By this time, Morsidor’s health had significantly deteriorated compared to over a month ago.

He looked extremely emaciated, and even his jaundiced eyes had lost their luster.

Despite his frailty, Morsidor mustered the strength to present three items to Sein.

“Sein, I fear I won’t be able to accompany you to the surface. There’s something I must give you and tell you,” Morsidor said, struggling to straighten his back as he looked at Sein.

Sein knelt before him respectfully and lowered his head.

Morsidor began by pointing to a copper antique bangle.

“This space bangle contains half of my life savings, along with magic and alchemy equipment. Whether you tread the path of a mage or an alchemist, resources are essential. Back then, I stumbled into alchemy with the humble goal of earning a few basic energy crystals. The resources in this bangle will make your journey to becoming a full-fledged mage smoother.”

Morsidor then gestured to a heavy magic tome beside the bangle.

“This alchemy note is a compilation of my many years of work and experiments. Although there are other magic tomes and alchemy notes in the bangle, this one is most important and a unique creation of mine. Apart from you, only Zorro has had the privilege of delving into its pages. I hope you’ll study its wonders and forge your own path.”

Master Morsidor’s words caused Sein to bow even deeper in gratitude.

He knew that compared to the wealth within the space bangle, the alchemy note was actually the item that his mentor valued the most.

It represented an inheritance of knowledge, an extension of will.

Finally, Morsidor pointed to a trinket that looked like a piccolo.

“I’ve repaired items like the geo elemental shield ring and the invisibility cloak for you. This piccolo is for your owl.”

“The Divine Tower of Dawn will probably be pursuing the black mages from Gloomhaven for a long time. While it is easier for you to conceal your identity as a black magic initiate, the owl is a magic creature the dean raised. It’s most likely being monitored by the Divine Tower of Dawn. The two of you are only truly safe once you leave the Gloomhaven,” Morsidor explained.