Sovereign of the Ashes

The dinner was modest yet comforting.

Sev, the owl, was extremely perceptive and tactful. During Sein and Eileen’s intimate moments, it had already retreated to its incubation room before they even began.

When the aroma of the meal filled the air, it quietly reemerged.

“How long are you going to be resting in the fortress?” Sein asked Eileen, who sat next to him, during the meal.

“I have another month left. And you?” Eileen asked him.

“Two months for me, but I can end it earlier to join you on combat missions,” Sein offered.

“Fantastic,” Eileen’s expression briefly lit up with delight.

Since they have already forged a deep bond, Sein and Eileen grew increasingly protective of one another.

Both of them were survivors in the chaotic and perilous environment of the battlefield. Thus, even as the situation in the Viridian Venom Flame World began to stabilize, neither succumbed to a false sense of security.

After all, the luxury of relief was reserved for those of Rank Four or higher, like Sein’s mentor, Lorianne.

For Rank One mages like Sein, among the lower echelons of the interplanar war, the easing of the broader conflict did not extend the same sense of ease to them.

***

After staying another month in the space fortress, Sein partnered with Eileen to undertake a war mission assigned by the fortress.

Initially, Sein could have also enlisted the help of Selphy, another Rank One mage.

However, with Eileen by his side, he decided against it.

Nevertheless, Sein, Eileen, and Sev formed a trio of Rank One beings and proved to be an effective team during the Viridian Venom Flame World War.

With the major conflict now on pause, their upcoming assignments, as indicated by the fortress, would mainly involve patrolling the eastern and southern regions.

This was a hint that these areas could potentially become the next focal points of the war.

In the third month of their joint mission, Sein received a summon from his mentor, Lorianne, marking the first such call since his deployment to the Viridian Venom Flame World battlefield.

Lorianne’s silence was not due to neglect. Her duties as a Rank Four mage, overseeing a critical section of the interplanar war, left her with no leisure for breaks, unlike Sein, who could enjoy recuperation periods of one or two months after every combat mission that spanned across a few months.

Sein’s meeting with Lorianne took place in one of the rooms on the top floor of the fortress. It was only then he discovered that his mentor’s quarters were actually close to his own.

Lorianne seldom stayed there though, as evidenced by the absence of her personal belongings in the room.

As a Rank Four mage, Lorianne’s presence was mostly required in the fortress’ control and command centers.

“It’s been years since we’ve met, and to see how much you’ve grown brings me relief,” Lorianne said, fatigue marking her features yet managing a smile upon seeing Sein.

“My progress is largely thanks to your guidance. Without the Viridescent Seeds you gave me, I likely wouldn’t have survived the battle at the main base of the fortress a few years ago,” Sein responded with respect.

Lorianne recalled the mentioned battle vividly.

It was the only major conflict in the Viridian Venom Flame World War where a mecha army nearly breached the defense of a Magus World’s space fortress.

It was during this battle that Lorianne demonstrated the might of a Rank Four mage by invoking a forbidden spell.

The after-effect of the spell continued to linger in the western continent of the Viridian Venom Flame World to this day.

The prowess of a Rank Four mage was indeed terrifying.

After acknowledging Sein’s achievements and growth, Lorianne reflected for a moment before sharing a secret unknown to most mages, in her capacity as Sein’s mentor.

“Your grandmaster will return to the Viridian Venom Flame World soon. Once she’s back, we’ll launch a full assault on the native creatures and mecha armies in the Viridian Venom Flame World. You should use the coming days to recuperate and ready yourself for the significant battle ahead,” Lorianne advised.

“Yes,” Sein responded respectfully, despite being visibly taken aback by the news.

Rank Four and Five mages of the Magus World, like Lorianne and Gregory, were already extremely formidable. One could only imagine how much more powerful Grandmaster Feylis was compared to her apprentices.

The war in the Viridian Venom Flame World War had spanned over five years, and now it seemed to be drawing to a close.

This conclusion appeared to arrive much sooner than the original plan had anticipated.

Yet for some reason, it felt as if a very long time had elapsed for Sein.

It seemed he was not alone in this perception as many other mages shared his sentiment.

“Keep the news of your grandmaster’s return a secret for now. It remains a top-secret matter within our Magus Civilization Army, unknown even to many Rank Three mages,” Lorianne cautioned.

“Understood,” Sein affirmed, once more with respect.

Apart from that, Lorianne also inquired about Sein’s progress in his magic research over the recent years.

Her knowledge of Sein’s activities had thus far been primarily through his mission engagements and involvement on the battlefields, as they were all meticulously recorded in his crystal ball and the mission center of the fortress.

It was no surprise that upon their reunion, Lorianne commended Sein’s growth.

However, Sein admitted that the progress of his research had been stagnant as he spent most of his time exploring the initial applications of the verdant flame magic.

Regrettably, Lorianne had limited knowledge to impart to Sein about verdant flame magic.

Beyond providing guidance on broader concepts, Lorianne intended to seek further insights into verdant flame magic from Master Feylis upon her return to the Viridian Venom Flame World, to enrich her apprentice’s understanding.

“The verdant flame patterns you’ve tattooed on your skin warrant further exploration. I recall similar experiments conducted by my seniors before,” Lorianne suggested.

“The journey toward truth ultimately requires one to tread it independently. A mentor can only offer guidance, correction, and reminders within their capabilities,” she reminded.

“Understood,” Sein acknowledged once more.

Their conversation spanned merely two hours, yet the insights Sein garnered were profound.

Aside from learning about Grandmaster Feylis’ imminent return to the Viridian Venom Flame World, Sein valued even more the broader wisdom and guidance Lorianne shared with him.

Having recently ascended to the Rank One, Sein recognized his foundational knowledge was still burgeoning.

While Lorianne’s insights into verdant flame magic were not exhaustive, her sage advice illuminated Sein’s future path.