Sovereign of the Ashes

As summer gave way to fall, with fallen leaves dancing in the wind and the sound of cicadas fading, it was time for Sein to head south.

“Can’t I go with you?” Faye asked, reluctance clear in her eyes.

“You’re still too weak, and this is a time for you to concentrate on meditation to improve your mana and mental focus levels. I would rather you reach Rank One by the time I return, instead of seeking temporary gains by traveling south with me,” Sein replied.

“If you attain Rank One, we’ll have plenty of time together in the future,” he added.

He spoke bluntly because clarity and rationalization were necessary with Faye.

In front of others, Faye maintained her facade as a smart and level-headed black mage. However, around Sein, she often reverted to acting like a spoiled child—a behavior that highlighted their closeness but also revealed a certain immaturity.

In the end, Faye remained at the magic tower instead of accompanying Sein to the Knight Continent in the heart of the Western Archipelago.

She accepted his advice, understanding that her presence could only complicate Sein’s journey.

Faye watched Sein until his figure disappeared into the sky, then silently returned to her magic tower.

She was determined to follow the personalized study and training plan Sein had prepared for her.

Perhaps motivated by his departure, Faye found that her abilities were improving much faster than before.

Just as Sein had hoped, Faye was eager to surprise him with her progress.

***

After departing Mordoron Island, Sein did not travel south alone but was accompanied by Zorro, along with several black mages from the nearby area of Mordoron Island.

Upon reuniting with Zorro, Sein encountered two familiar faces. One was Lady Jeanne, a Rank Two black mage who was Zorro’s primary patron.

She had played a crucial role in helping Zorro and Faye establish themselves in Blackhaven.

Lady Jeanne had extended far greater favors to Zorro compared to Martin, who had offered protection to Zorro and others solely out of self-interest. In contrast, Lady Jeanne’s extensive support was motivated by a request and favor from Morsidor.

Thanks to that, Zorro was able to live more comfortably on Mordoron Island.

Back when Zorro was trying to gather the resources Faye needed for another attempt at breaking through to Rank One, many of Zorro’s clients seeking custom magic items, especially those from the eastern coast, were referrals from Jeanne.

Sein could see that Zorro was profoundly grateful to Lady Jeanne.

Besides Lady Jeanne, the second familiar face Sein encountered was her apprentice, Liliana.

Once known for her distinctive style of leather pants and boots during her days as a magic initiate, she was now also a full-fledged mage.

Now, appearing before Sein, Liliana’s attire was strikingly different. Gone were her leather pants and boots, replaced by a long, pitch-black magic robe.

While the robe did not conceal her tall stature and good figure, she appeared far less imposing than before.

People could change, and Liliana was no exception.

During her time at the Black Magic Academy in Mystralora City, Liliana was a top initiate and the academy’s pride. With her mentor, Lady Jeanne, being the vice dean, she rarely acknowledged most of her peers.

However, their return to Blackhaven of the Western Archipelago proved challenging, even for someone as esteemed as Martin, a Rank Three black mage, let alone for a recently promoted Rank One black mage like Liliana.

Her current situation and the harsh realities of the world had erased Liliana’s former arrogance.

Upon seeing Sein, who was also clad in a black robe, she greeted him warmly, “Long time no see, Sein.”

“Long time no see,” Sein replied, his gaze lingering on Liliana’s face for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment.

The black mages from Blackhaven utilized a unique travel route to the southern outskirts of the Knight Continent.

This passage was specifically established by the divine towers and orders of the knights in the Western Archipelago to accommodate these formidable black mages, ensuring they would not disrupt the activities of other mages from different parts of the Magus World.

After all, some from the Blackhaven were also eligible to explore the Knight Continent.

The group traveling with Sein was sizeable, consisting of twenty or thirty black mages, primarily from around Mordoron Island, and could be considered as directly under Martin’s influence.

Sein did not encounter Martin; presumably, the Rank Three mage had either delayed his arrival or headed to a different location.

Hierarchy had always been prevalent in the Magus World, or rather the entire Astral Realm.

The differences between each life level signified vast disparities in status, vision, and influence.

Rank Three mages typically formed their own circles, as did Rank Two mages. Likewise, Rank One mages like Sein most frequently interacted with peers of the same rank.

Among the twenty to thirty people accompanying him, there were two other Rank Two black mages besides Lady Jeanne.

However, these mages seemed to hold less trust from Martin compared to Jeanne, and their strength was also notably inferior, making their presence in the group relatively subdued.

They did not greet Sein but merely offered a smile to Zorro, who stood by Sein’s side.

Zorro had built a reputation around Mordoron Island over the last decade with his alchemy skills, making him a potential resource for these Rank Two black mages.

This trip contrasted sharply with Sein’s previous journey to the Viridian Venom Flame World, where mages from the same faction or the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring were more interactive.

Although all the black mages present were from around Mordoron Island and under Martin’s influence, there was little camaraderie among them.

Beyond some initial exchanges with Lady Jeanne, each mage soon kept to themselves.

The black mages even maintained a considerable distance from each other during their flight, reinforcing the notion that black mages were indeed solitary creatures.