Sovereign of the Ashes

The Pyro Blade, radiating scorching heat, abruptly altered its trajectory mid-flight and homed in on the arm of the red-armored knight.

Initially aimed at the red-armored knight’s chest, Sein’s attack was met with the skillful reflexes of the senior squire.

Sensing the imminent ending danger, he swiftly withdrew and parried with his longsword, aglow with the light of his battle qi.

CLANG!

The metallic resonance echoed through the air, accompanied by a shower of blue sparks.

While Sein’s Pyro Blade did not cleave the red-armored knight in half with a single strike, it succeeded in sending his longsword flying and inflicting a long, narrow gash on his arm.

The scent of seared flesh immediately filled the air.

Enduring elemental energy with a mortal body proved unbearable for an ordinary person.

The red-armored knight, resilient as he was, refrained from howling in pain. However, his flushed cheeks had turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat dripped from his face.

The burn on his arm was extremely severe. Even with the protection of battle qi, failure to address the injury promptly could lead to permanent damage.

Despite losing his longsword, the red-armored knight refused to surrender.

He retrieved a short dagger from behind with his unscathed left hand.

Before he could take further action, Sein had stepped out of the carriage and stood before him.

The Acid Wand in his hand emitted an elemental glow, signaling impending doom for the red-armored knight.

The wand was aimed directly at his head, and any movement on his part could result in the corrosive acid melting his skull.

Confronted with the magical radiance of the Acid Wand, the red-armored knight finally relinquished his last trace of resistance.

Clang!

The dagger slipped from his left hand and clattered to the ground.

Meanwhile, Old John quickly recovered from the shock of the unfolding events and hastened forward to restrain the red-armored knight with a firm grip.

The battles among the other squires in the castle concluded swiftly too.

Once the red-armored knight was subdued, the squires from the Zephyr Kingdom promptly abandoned their resistance.

These knight squires, though originally from the marquis family of Zephyr Kingdom, were now considered to serve House Grantt since the marquis’ daughter had married to Earl Grantt.

With the looming threat of war, an internal strife would be ill-received and scorned by fellow nobles of the Lysian Alliance.

Considering the ongoing war between the Zephyr Kingdom and the Orque Empire, it was highly likely that the Lysian Alliance would align itself with the Zephyr Kingdom if it joined the conflict.

The “farce” at the earl’s castle came to an end when Sein revealed his prowess as a senior magic initiate.

Although Sein lacked the strength to take on the entire army of the earl single-handedly, he could effectively subdue the small group led by the red-armored knight.

Judging from the reactions of Old John and Regnar, it was evident that they acknowledged and respected Sein’s identity.

There was virtually no room to doubt about Sein’s lineage. The resemblance between him and the earl in his youth was uncanny. Without a doubt, he was the young master who had presumably “died” in a bandit attack nineteen years ago.

Moreover, Sein had shared one of his childhood memories with John in detail, dispelling any doubts about his true identity.

The red-armored knight was swiftly taken away by other guards within the earl’s castle.

Sein, however, showed little interest in the subsequent proceedings.

Initially, Sein had no inclination toward violence during his “homecoming”.

However, upon learning of his mother’s passing and his so-called father’s remarriage, Sein’s sentiments toward this “home” had slightly waned.

Guided by Old John, Sein proceeded toward the inner depths of the earl’s castle.

Sein must have known his way very well in the castle when he was still a child.

Despite no longer recalling the precise layout of the castle from his childhood, Sein found himself walking in the right direction without requiring too much of Old John’s guidance.

After a short while, Sein reached the heart of the castle.

He walked so swiftly that only Old John and the Regnar were able to keep up.

It was also possible that the lower-ranking guards and squires were not permitted to set foot into the heart of the castle and its backyard.

Sein finally arrived at what seemed to be the council chamber of the castle.

It was a spacious space with connected side rooms.

One of the side rooms appeared to be a dining area for the earl and his family. There was a long dining table, adorned with candles and spotless silver tableware.

The other side halls served mysterious purposes, and a few were too far for Sein to see what was inside.

Compared to the baron’s mansion Sein stayed in back in Berthold City, the earl’s castle before him was evidently more spacious and luxurious.

However, the gardens and the splendor of the castle failed to evoke any awe in Sein.

Upon reaching the council chamber, Sein, who was feeling somewhat irritable and inexplicably moody, suddenly calmed down when he beheld a massive floor-to-ceiling painting positioned in the center.

It was the portrait of a young noblewoman in a white dress, her silver hair and sapphire-like eyes radiating a soul-purifying charm.

The painting emitted a subtle fluctuation of elemental energy across its surface, a sign that it was the work of a certain magic initiate. It gave a lifelike quality to the artwork, ensuring its resilience against the ravages of time and weathering.

Approaching the painting, Sein reached out to touch its frame, murmuring, “So, this is my mother?”

The full-body portrait of the earl’s first wife, Catherine, was placed in the most prominent place within the castle. This revealed the Earl of Cercis’ genuine affection for her.

However, at this moment, Sein was not in a state to ponder such sentiments.

Thump, thump, thump!

The sound of crystal shoes on the floor echoed. Amid the commotion, a noblewoman in a resplendent long dress appeared before Sein.

She was not alone. The red-armored knight with bandages on his arms stood behind her and standing beside her was a young red-haired man, bearing a striking resemblance to Sein.

“Why did you not arrest this despicable impostor posing as the earl?! What is the meaning of this, John, Regnar? Are you defying me, the countess, and the earl?!”

The noblewoman was undeniably beautiful, and her demeanor exuded the dignity befitting a high noble.

Unfortunately, her behavior at this moment did not align with the composure expected of a noblewoman.

She was borderline hysterical at the sight of Sein.