Sovereign of the Ashes

Eileen’s prolonged silence was a clear indication that she understood Sein’s perspective.

Their views on life and values, shaped by distinct early experiences, diverged significantly.

Sein valued Eileen’s individuality and refrained from imposing his philosophies on her. He cared about her and did not wish for her to mirror his ways.

Sein’s voice softened as he offered Eileen a new perspective.

“The average lifespan of a Rank One knight in the Magus World is around a thousand years, similar to us mages. Yet, most knights only reach seven to eight hundred years due to the extensive physical strain and cellular damage they endure. My body tempering experiment mirrors the approach of knights in their quest to be promoted to a higher rank.

“Moreover, advancing to Rank Two extends our lifespan to three thousand years, negating the damage I sustained at this stage. Besides, the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique I’m using is similar to how Rank Two mages are elementalizing their bodies,” Sein explained softly.

Eileen’s mood finally lightened at Sein’s explanation, and a small smile appeared on her face.

Sein was never good at comforting others, but Eileen appreciated his efforts. She could sense his genuine concern for her.

“Becoming a Rank Two mage, huh? You sure have pretty high ambitions,” Eileen teased him with a smile.

“And how do you know so much about knights? Do you come from a knight family?” she asked.

Sein shook his head gently and replied, “I just read a lot. Everything I know is documented in books.”

“Really? I’d love to know which ones,” Eileen expressed her curiosity.

Sein then shared a few titles with her.

Although Eileen had been a Rank One mage longer than Sein, her dedication to her studies did not quite match Sein’s.

After concluding the experiment, Sein proceeded with his routine physical fitness assessment.

The crystal ball displayed various data, including heart rate, cellular metabolism, and muscle damage.

Such “daring” body tempering experiments were not conducted daily.

Even for a Rank One mage like Sein, there was a limit to his physical endurance. Consequently, a meticulously planned body tempering regimen was essential to optimize the benefits of the experiments.

While the crystal ball captured many details on his physical conditions, Sein was only concerned with a select few outcomes...

Focus: 137.02

Mana: 141.69

Constitution: 67.88

Elemental Affinity: Pyro, Lumen, Umbra, Venom...

It had only been less than twenty years since Sein achieved Rank One, yet the improvement in his mental focus and mana was notably rapid for mages of his rank.

That was because Sein had never slacked off ever since he returned from the interplanar war.

His dedication to the ongoing body tempering experiments and consistent research had fueled a rapid phase of growth in all aspects of his life.

He absorbed knowledge voraciously, like a sponge soaking up water.

Currently, he showed no signs of hitting a knowledge ceiling. His curiosity knew no bounds, driven by an eagerness to explore and understand everything in his reach.

His thirst for knowledge was a lot stronger than most mages.

Perhaps it was this drive that led him occasionally to seek an outlet for his pent-up energy.

Despite his hectic schedule, he set aside some time to spend with Eileen and Selina privately.

Each encounter with Sein was marked by his intense passion and the women had always struggled to keep up with his stamina. As the results of Sein’s body tempering experiments became increasingly evident, their challenge grew.

There were times, even after an intense session, Sein still felt a lingering dissatisfaction. As a result, he briefly considered the prospect of finding a female knight partner.

However, this fleeting thought of Sein’s never evolved into reality. His days were filled with the demands of his experiments, leaving little room for such diversions.

During this time, House Grantt had sent several letters to Sein. His “great-grandmother” appeared to have identified a few potential matches for him, suggesting he visit the order of the knights in the Ohrque Empire.

Sein, however, showed no interest in answering those invitations.

Through the letters from House Grantt, he learned of another significant news. His father, Kelman Grantt, had officially joined the Order of the Steel Fist.

The Order of the Steel Fist, to which Sein’s ancestors belonged, boasted a history that spanned tens of thousands of years.

Its influence stretched far beyond the borders of the Lysian Alliance, encompassing the Zephyr Kingdom, and the Ohrque Empire, even reaching the wealthier human nations to the north that surpassed the Lysian Alliance in prosperity.

The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring’s sphere of influence overlapped with the Order of the Steel Fist. Yet, due to the distinct objectives pursued by each, no significant conflicts of interest have arisen between these two powers.

Being a newer establishment, the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring had yet to form many affiliations with the other orders of the knights in the neighboring regions.

The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring only shared closer relationships with the other divine towers in the neighboring region due to the Regional Inter-Divine Tower Academy War and Master Lorianne’s personal connections with the other tower masters.

Kelman Grantt’s affiliation with the Order of the Steel Fist was no doubt a positive development. With the support of Julius and Jeremy, he should not have any issue in establishing his standing within the organization.

The thought of his father prompted Sein to review his own progress in constitution.

Upon his promotion to Rank One, Sein’s constitution was just over thirty points. Now, it has soared past sixty points, doubling in value, clearly indicating the success of his Verdant Flame Body Tempering experiment.

Yet, this is merely the beginning. Sein saw the potential for further advancements in his body tempering endeavors.

Master Gregory’s formidable physique, which rivaled that of knights at the same rank, demonstrated the effectiveness of the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique.

Sein speculated that his own current constitution might be on par with that of a senior squire. To ascertain the precise disparity, experimentation with a live subject was essential.

Projecting forward, should Sein’s constitution escalate beyond a hundred points, he might be as resilient as a Rank One knight.

However, constitution and combat strength were distinct. Sein could not possibly physically beat someone up with a magic rod.

Even Master Gregory fought with potent elemental magic rather than mere brute force.

At his core, Sein remained a traditional elemental mage.

Nevertheless, body tempering had broadened and extended the horizons of his journey as a mage.