Sovereign of the Ashes

Although not truly a southern coastal city, Jasmine City bore many characteristics typical of the Magus World’s southern coast.

The architecture within the city was notably low-rise, with roofs featuring gentle slopes unlike the sharp ones common in northern cities.

The overall vibe of the southern coast felt more open and liberal.

Sein observed that women of all social standings in the city wore lighter attire.

As for the women in the north, the commoners typically wore gray linen, while the wardrobes of the noble ladies predominantly featured black.

Here, both nobility and commoners embraced a more diverse lifestyle.

Based solely on the societal aspects of the lower class, the southern coast far surpassed the human nations around the Lysian Alliance and Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

It was understandable why this was a coveted destination for many magic initiates, especially those from Gloomhaven.

After all, the region’s underlying structure and infrastructure were significantly superior to areas around the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Before arriving, Sein had already learned of the existence of four divine towers in the region. Not only that, the more fertile land and denser population also gave rise to a greater number of mage councils.

Aside from these four divine towers, there were also two orders to the knights nearby by, though not directly on Sein’s intended route.

Among these, only the Divine Tower of Dawn, located in the western part of the southern coast, piqued Sein’s interest.

According to the records, the Divine Tower of Dawn was the strongest divine tower in the region.

In stark contrast to the relatively young Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, the Divine Tower of Dawn boasted over a hundred thousand years of existence on the southern coast, rivaling the historical significance of the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame established by Sein’s grandmaster, Feylis.

While Sein could not determine the strengths of these two divine towers from a Rank One mage’s perspective, it was clear that the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame commanded a bigger sphere of influence.

Although the Divine Tower of Dawn occupied a significant territory along the southern coast of the Magus World, its sphere of influence was only half that of the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame.

This contrast highlighted the competitive nature of the region.

The abundance of forces and divine towers on the southern coast of the Magus World meant that even the mightiest among them faced challenges in securing vast territories for themselves, unlike the divine towers situated further inland.

After immersing himself in the unique culture of Jasmine City for a few days, Sein set his sights on the Boundless South Sea.

The high standards of living on the southern coast were immediately apparent. The commodity prices were slightly higher than those around the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Despite their higher cost, the diversity of resources on the southern coast was remarkable.

Sein came across many materials of low and intermediate grades that were new to him in the marketplace.

Interestingly, he observed numerous magic material stores operated by ordinary humans. Without the backing of magic initiates or full-fledged mages, it was unlikely that these ordinary humans could keep the shops running.

Nevertheless, the very involvement of ordinary people in the realm of extraordinary powers was quite uncommon.

Sein had even witnessed the shrewd merchants engaging in serious negotiations with magic initiates and knight attendants on several occasions.

The currencies used on the southern coast of the Magus World were predominantly magicoins and energy crystals, similar to the northern region.

The vastness of the southern coast rendered the task of locating the magic initiates Sein once knew in Gloomhaven over two decades ago an impractical endeavor. To him, it was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

For Sein, accustomed to the ways of living in the north, the unique customs and landscapes of the southern coast presented a refreshing change.

After nearly two months of travel, he finally detected the distinctive, salty scent of the sea breeze.

Gazing out at the boundless azure, Sein marveled, “Is this the sea of the Magus World?”

***

The closer one got to the southern coast of the Magus World, the more evident the prosperity of its magic civilization and economic development became.

Here, the divide between mages, knights, and ordinary humans seemed less pronounced.

Despite the presence of numerous human nations and nobility, the essence of magic and battle qi seamlessly blended into the daily lives of the common populace.

Strolling along a bustling coastal street, Sein observed the lively shops and throngs of pedestrians, feeling somewhat out of place.

However, he was not the only full-fledged mage on this street. Like him, many hid their aura, mingling among the crowd as if ordinary citizens.

Nevertheless, full-fledged mages remained a minority compared to the numerous magic initiates and the commonfolk.

The streets were lined with pale yellow lamps that resembled coconut trees, likely a product of basic alchemy.

These lamps illuminated not only this coastal street but also the entire city.

Sein was currently in a seaport city known as “Fernandez City”. He finally found a city that shared a common trait with the northern cities—it bore the surname of its founder, a powerful Rank Three grand mage.

Rumble!

Suddenly, a massive airship cast appeared in the sky, casting a shadow over the city.

The well-managed and economically thriving Fernandez City, with its advanced magic civilization, was a stark contrast to the regions around the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring to the north.

Fernandez City not only boasted a huge seaport but also featured a small floating port.

The airship in the sky was likely making its way toward the floating port.

Casting a glance skyward, Sein noted the distinctive design of the airship from the southern coast compared to those from the north—they seemed more akin to air cabs than airships.

It had a notably flatter appearance and a somewhat more compact interior compared to what Sein was accustomed to.

Sein had seen the floating port from a distance in the sky before he entered the city. It was a marvel suspended in mid-air.

Its ability to remain in the sky was attributed to the unique properties of the clay and other materials from which it was constructed, further enhanced by engravings of floating magic arrays.

The sight of the air cab gliding by caught the attention of the humans and magic initiates below, all marveling at its appearance.

Having witnessed the grandeur of space fortresses, Sein naturally found the sight of a mere air cab less captivating.

Redirecting his gaze, Sein’s curiosity was soon piqued by a group of humanoid beings nearby with azure skin, shrouded by water vapor.