Sovereign of the Ashes

The parchment scroll Sein received was a magic map.

When Sein touched the parchment with his elemental power, it emitted a faint glow.

Baron Sneller probably did not find the map useful.

House Sneller had been entrenched in Geyzes City on Thousand Leaf Coral Island for over a millennium and was extremely familiar with the area surrounding it.

There was no way they would consider using this map and fleeing north, where the future was uncertain.

Nevertheless, the map was treasured by House Sneller. Only Baron Sneller and his eldest son were privy to its existence.

Examining the map, Sein realized that it detailed the southern region of Blackhaven.

Although crudely made, the map was rich in detail. On it, Sein found two specific markers.

One of them was likely his next destination, and his seniors—Zorro, and Faye—were probably there.

According to the map, the area where Zorro and the others resided appeared to be quite near Thousand Leaf Coral Island, situated on the southern edge of Blackhaven. Just a bit further south lay the border with the central Western Archipelago.

Of course, the “quite near” in this context applied only to Rank One mages like Sein, capable of flight.

For those below Rank One, it would mean a daunting voyage across the ocean and at least three islands.

No wonder Baron Sneller had scarcely contemplated traveling to Blackhaven to seek assistance from Zorro and the others.

With the magic map in his possession, Sein had pretty much achieved his objective at House Sneller.

Before departing, he decided to reconfirm Baron Sneller’s identity and the map’s authenticity through soul magic, just in case.

While Baron Sneller was distracted, Sein placed his hand on his shoulder.

The baron’s almond-yellow bloodshot eyes involuntarily rolled upward.

A frame with a blurry, grayish-white image swiftly materialized before Sein.

The scene captured a moment from thirty years earlier, featuring a young Baron Sneller at twenty, who had only inherited his title two years prior.

The passage of time had blurred the image significantly.

In the frame, Sein could just discern a tall figure wearing a metal mask, who bore a resemblance to Zorro.

Beside him stood a woman with a hazy allure, her face unmasked in the picture.

This woman had clearly left a lasting impression on the young Baron.

Sein recognized her immediately—it was indeed his senior, Faye.

However, the Faye in Sein’s memories never exhibited the ethereal, hazy aura that the woman in the image possessed.

As for the reason for this discrepancy in Baron Sneller’s memory...

Sein glanced at Baron Sneller before him, surmising that the cause must be deeply personal.

From Baron Sneller’s mind, Sein extracted another image from seventeen years ago.

Since it was from more recent memory, the image was much clearer. It again featured Sein’s senior, Zorro, whose aura had notably changed from three decades earlier.

However, Faye was not in the image. Sein could clearly feel a trace of sadness and disappointment from Baron Sneller himself through it.

The peculiar and potent nature of soul magic had been repeatedly demonstrated.

Sein limited his use of soul magic on Baron Sneller to prevent permanent damage to his spirit and soul.

Beyond extracting memories, soul magic could also delve into a person’s deepest thoughts and mental states.

It was no surprise that the most commonly used interrogation method among the mages in the Magus World involved soul torture. At the soul level, no creature could possibly conceal anything.

Casting another glance at Baron Sneller who had fainted from the strain of the memory retrieval, Sein did not linger in the underground secret cellar but left immediately.

Love and resentment were never unprovoked in this world.

Initially, Baron Sneller was immensely grateful for the assistance Zorro and others had provided.

However, as Zorro failed to solve all of his problems over time, that gratitude gradually turned into resentment and bitterness.

The desires of Baron Sneller and his family grew, but the baron managed to conceal his feelings until Sein uncovered the truth.

This revelation also included the fact that Baron Sneller had harbored feelings for Faye, which only deepened Sein’s disfavor towards the middle-aged man.

After departing from Baron Sneller’s residence, Sein traveled to a mountain pass northeast of Geyzes City, where a well-built manor stood.

Behind the manor lay House Sneller’s cemetery.

Carefully retrieving an urn from his space bangle, Sein solemnly dug into the soil and placed it within.

Throughout the process, he refrained from using magic and did not call on Yuri and Sev for assistance.

Only after completing the task, Sein stood and bowed respectfully toward the modest, unadorned mound.

He had not erected a monument or added any decorations for Master Morsidor—knowing well that his late mentor would have preferred it this way.

After burying the ashes, Sein felt a significant weight lift from his heart. His mood lightened considerably, and his mental focus surged by a few points.

Sein did not consult his crystal ball to determine the exact increase, but he sensed it was substantial—comparable to what several months of diligent training might have achieved.

“Master, where are we headed next?” Yuri asked, stepping forward.

Dusting his hands, Sein looked toward the distant horizon and replied, “North. We’re heading north next.”

Upon hearing this, Yuri took a step backward respectfully, standing behind Sein like she was his loyal guardian with unwavering devotion.

Yuri’s demeanor reminded Sein of Baron Sneller back in Geyzes City.

A person’s heart was truly a wondrous thing.

Offering kindness did not always lead to gratitude; sometimes, it bred resentment and grudges instead.

Conversely, harshness might not result in hatred but might foster affection and loyalty—such was the perplexing nature of relationships.

This realization prompted a deeper understanding of soul magic in Sein.

Certain passages in Mirage’s Almanac of Souls that had once eluded him now began to make sense.

“Come on, let’s head north,” he said, patting Yuri’s head as she gave him a happy smile.