Sovereign of the Ashes

“I already have a mentor.” Sein’s simple response cut through the air

The glances exchanged between Earl Grantt and Elder Domvall held no surprise or disbelief. It seemed they had anticipated this response from Sein.

Without a mentor, Sein would not have been able to achieve the rank of senior initiate in his early twenties, along with possessing exceptional skills in alchemy.

Besides, the black magic rod he was seen wielding during the day and the presence of a quasi-ranked magic beast as his familiar strongly hinted at a mentor who could very well be a full-fledged mage.

Undeterred, Elder Domvall said, “Having a mentor doesn’t hinder your potential membership in the Pyro Emblem. In fact, if you can persuade your mentor to join us, the council might bestow benefits and rewards beyond your imagination.”

His interest was not solely in Sein now, but also his mysterious mentor who was potentially a full-fledged mage and an alchemist.

Despite the vast populations of the surrounding nations of the Lysian Alliance, full-fledged mages were rare, and those adept in alchemy were even rarer.

Domvall had not heard of any willingly taking apprentices within the Lysian Alliance, making Sein and his mentor outsiders in their territory.

Faced with Elder Domvall’s persistence, Sein fell into a momentary silence.

This pause subtly conveyed Sein’s reservations, stirring a faint unease in Domvall.

Could it be that his mentor is already affiliated to another mage council?

That was the only fleeting thought that crossed Domvall’s mind.

Sein shook his head and clarified, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to join the Pyro Emblem, but my mentor has already charted a path for me.”

Sein’s response caused Elder Domvall to lift his white eyebrow curiously.

“Oh? Which mage council could it be? The Ring of Thorns, or perhaps Divine Harmony?” he asked.

“In the neighboring nations of the Lysian Alliance, only those two mage councils and their parent councils could rival the Pyro Emblem... That is, unless you speak of mage councils beyond the neighboring nations of the Lysian Alliance,” Elder Domvall remarked.

In response to Elder Domvall’s inquiry and the somewhat curious gaze of Earl Grantt, Sein contemplated for a moment before revealing a badge that emitted a white-golden glow.

“It’s a mage council known as the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring,” he replied.

“A magic artifact created by a Rank Two mage?!”

“The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring?!”

Elder Domvall and Earl Grantt both gasped in succession.

Their exclamations, along with the sudden appearance of the white-golden light, instantly made Sein the focal point of the entire banquet.

Curious, envious, and awestruck gazes were directed at Sein, but amidst the crowd, two people reacted differently.

One was Sein’s half-brother, Solon. Born into a wealthy family, Solon was far from impressed by Sein’s sudden return.

He could not find it in him to admire his elder brother. Instead, jealousy and resentment consumed him.

Why had his supposedly deceased brother reappeared, and with such strength that garnered the attention of so many?

The other person who had a different reaction was Sein’s stepmother, Lady Thea.

Although her action today was rash and foolish, she was usually a shrewd noblewoman, unlike her son, who wore his heart on sleeves.

Before the banquet, Lady Thea reflected on her missteps today and had temporarily shelved thoughts of revenge against Sein.

She was not going to repeatedly push the earl’s boundaries.

Even if she had provided the earl with an heir, provoking him continuously would come with severe consequences.

Observing how highly valued Sein was by Earl Grantt and Domvall, it was evident that Sein had secured a place in House Grantt.

Even if she wanted to give Sein a hard time, she had to weigh the potential repercussions carefully.

Despite their inner musings, neither Solon nor Lady Thea disrupted Sein, who remained the focal point of the banquet.

At this moment, both Elder Domvall and Earl Grantt stood before Sein, still in a state of astonishment.

As a Quasi Mage and Knight, they fully grasped the caliber of a Rank Two mage and the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Domvall gazed at the Divine Light Badge for a moment before smiling wryly. “The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring isn’t just an ordinary mage council. Each branch of the Divine Tower serves as a haven for spellcasters within a specific region of the Magus World.”

“Joining the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring is a commendable choice—it’s indeed a superior option compared to our Pyro Emblem,” Domvall spoke truthfully.

Even Domvall could not help but feel a twinge of envy for Sein’s opportunity.

Although with his imminent promotion to a full-fledged mage, joining one of the Divine Towers would not be a formidable task.

However, Domvall had already entered a contract with the Pyro Emblem, obligating him to serve them for at least two hundred years after becoming a full-fledged mage.

This was the cost of enjoying the privileges and resources within the council.

Earl Grantt, too, was pleasantly surprised by the revelation.

Having a Rank Two mage as a mentor and the potential affiliation with a Divine Tower provided a considerable advantage.

If the two esteemed ancestors of House Grantt knew about this, they would undoubtedly recognize and hold Sein in high regard.

Most importantly, Sein was his son!

After receiving an answer from Sein, Elder Domvall lost interest in the banquet.

After a few more exchanges with Earl Grantt and Sein, he gracefully took his leave, finding little allure in such gatherings at his advanced age.

In contrast, Earl Grantt remained in high spirits. He instructed his servants to retrieve a few bottles of precious wine brewed from the blood of rare, high-level magic beasts from the cellar of the castle.

Previously, only one of those bottles had been opened during Solon’s coming-of-age ceremony.

The banquet continued well into the late night.

As the guests gradually dispersed, leaving only a few members and relatives of House Grantt, Lady Thea and Young Master Solon heeded Earl Grantt’s unspoken command and approached Sein, each holding a wine glass.

“Sein, I wish to extend my sincere apologies for the events earlier today. I acknowledge my wrongdoing,” Lady Thea said with a graceful curtsy.

“My apologies, big brother,” Solon apologized and bowed deeply to Sein.

Such a public display in front of the other members of House Grantt had undoubtedly solidified Sein’s future authority as First Young Master of House Grantt.

It went without saying that this pair of mother and son had only apologized under the pressure exerted by Earl Grantt.

Observing the completely different attitudes of his stepmother and half-brother, Sein brought the wine glass to his lips and responded with a faint grunt.