Sovereign of the Ashes

On a green plain stood a ten-meter-tall magic tower with only three floors. It featured a black and gray exterior that matched the somber atmosphere of Blackhaven.

A small river about ten meters wide, meandered across the plains outside the tower, creating a picturesque scene with the lush green grass stretching into the distance.

This tower was one of two locations on Mordoron Island marked on the magic map Sein had acquired from House Sneller.

It was highly probable that either Zorro or Faye resided here.

Despite the idyllic surroundings, Sein found it difficult to associate this setting with Zorro, whose nature he remembered as dull and pragmatic.

If Zorro had a choice, this enchanting location seemed an unlikely selection for his tower.

Moreover, Sein detected no signs of a full-fledged mage’s presence around the tower.

The tower itself appeared ordinary, yet Sein observed several prohibition arrays etched into its structure, with functions including aura restraint, spell reflection, and detection.

However, these were ineffective against Sein as they were of too low a level.

Unsure if his arrival had drawn the attention of the magic tower’s owner, Sein took a deep breath before descending in front of the magic tower.

He ascended the stone steps and gently knocked on the door.

“GAAAAH!” A piercing scream erupted from beneath Sein’s feet.

Suddenly, a large mouth split open in the center of what had previously been a plain gray stone slab, snapping viciously at him.

The mouth was large enough to crush the spine of any ordinary creature below Rank One, yet it failed to even damage Sein’s black magic robe.

The magic robe Sein wore was a magic artifact he had crafted himself before leaving the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Although Sein’s tailoring skills left much to be desired, the robe’s protective strength showcased his profound knowledge as a Rank One alchemist.

It was fashioned from the hide of a rare, Rank One extraplanar creature—the Black Scaled Pangolin.

As the gray stone gnawed at his robe, a barrage of Pyro Rays from the tower’s prohibition arrays assaulted him in rapid succession.

Such relentless attacks definitely reflected Faye’s short temper. Alternatively, they could simply be protective measures against the general unrest on Mordoron Island.

Sein had no intentions of damaging Faye’s tower. Whether or not Faye had attained Rank One, she was still his senior.

Beyond their formal relationship in their former faction, Sein also shared a deeper, more intimate bond with her.

The commotion outside the tower was significant; surely, those within had noticed his arrival.

Soon, a low and neutral voice came from the amplification device mounted beside the door of the magic tower. “Who is it?”

The voice did not match the one Sein remembered as belonging to Faye; he surmised it must be altered by some voice-changing technique.

Sein was still clad in his black robe with the hood up.

He pulled back the hood to reveal short blond hair and removed his Verdant Flame Eye Mask, unveiling a handsome, calm face.

Sein was around eighteen when he last saw Faye. Since being promoted to Rank One, his appearance had been preserved in his twenties.

Though the years had slightly altered his appearance, the essence of his features—particularly his eyes and temperament—remained unmistakably the same.

Faye, who had once known him intimately, would surely recognize him.

After he revealed his face, an extended silence ensued from within the magic tower.

Unnoticed by Sein, the gray stone slab beneath his feet had also returned to its original state, and the triggered prohibition arrays had also been deactivated.

After a considerable pause, a somewhat panicked voice finally came through the sound transmission device again. “P-Please... wait for a moment...”

This time, it was unmistakably Faye’s voice.

However, it had matured, losing some of its youthful tone and gaining a depth that spoke of years gone by.

Sein waited patiently at the door, reflecting on the decades that had passed since he last saw Faye. It had been at least thirty years...

Sein was now in his fifties, so Faye should be even older.

Mages, especially those above Rank One, often lost track of time, absorbed in their relentless pursuit of truth. With lifespans nearing a thousand years, they could engage in extensive theoretical research.

However, for the magic initiates below Rank One, a hundred or two hundred years marked the limit of their lifespan, even with various life-extending techniques.

Despite this, Sein was still glad to reunite with Faye.

Yet, as he stood before her door, a sudden uncertainty gripped him. He wondered if she felt the same anticipation.

Her prolonged silence and initial panic hinted that she might though.

Faye did not leave Sein waiting long—only twenty sandglasses passed before the door finally opened.

When Sein looked up, he saw Faye in a white dress, her face radiant with delight and excitement.

The sight of his senior sparked a clear joy in Sein, but the initial rush of excitement soon gave way to a tinge of sadness.

Faye had not attained Rank One.

Her skin, once soft and supple, now appeared dry and slightly wrinkled—though still remarkably fair without spots.

Sein suspected that while he was waiting, Faye had likely treated her skin to mitigate signs of aging.

A faint fragrance lingered in the air, hinting that Faye had applied perfume.

After reconnecting with Marie in the Divine Tower of Dawn, Sein gained more insight into apothecary.

This allowed him to discern the medicinal properties through the scent. The potion Faye used likely aimed to stimulate cellular vitality and maintain the fairness and suppleness of her skin.

While such concoctions were rarely used by male mages like Sein, they were popular among female mages who paid great attention to their appearances.

Aging was inevitable for everyone. Even for a Rank One mage like Sein, his appearance would change noticeably if he could not advance to Rank Two by the age of seven or eight hundred.

By nine hundred years old, he too would likely look like an old man if he remained a Rank One mage.

This was a fundamental principle of biological evolution and growth.

Fortunately, Sein was still relatively young, with plenty of time ahead of him.

His senior, however, seemed to have lost her youthful glow.

“I look old, don’t I?” Faye asked, touching her cheek self-consciously.

“No, not really,” Sein replied, taking a deep breath before stepping forward to gently embrace her.

Dressed in a long white gown, Faye perfectly matched Sein’s fondest memory of his senior.

Nothing had truly changed.