Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein was open to the idea of joining the group.

Guinness was right—navigating the trials of the Knight Continent with a supportive team would likely prove more successful than going it alone.

Without much hesitation, Sein nodded and accepted Guinness’ invitation, making the bonfire gathering especially joyful.

He could not help but wonder about the whereabouts of Ghur, who would have made an excellent partner too.

From Guinness, Sein learned that their current location was still on the outskirts of the trial zone.

To encounter more valuable finds, or creatures like the Noctowl Stag, they needed to head further north.

This underscored the advantage of having a team. Previously, Sein had traveled mostly northeast—close, but slightly off from the direct route to the center of the trial zone.

On the other hand, Ghur had significantly veered off course.

However, this deviation was not necessarily a mistake.

Each trial zone on the Knight Continent was vast, and even a knight like Ghur could stumble upon substantial rewards far from the expected paths.

Choosing a less traveled route might even lead to the discovery of a secret realm strategically placed off-center in the trial zone.

Guinness and the others knew the correct direction because they had shared information among themselves and met two other groups of trialists.

This collaboration, along with what they learned from Sein, convinced them that heading north offered the most promising opportunities.

Given that the need for sleep among Rank One creatures had greatly diminished, their campfire roast continued well into the night.

Except for Genevieve, who retired for a nap later, the others seemed to become more animated as the conversation progressed.

Sein had not encountered anything particularly noteworthy during his six months in the Knight Continent’s trial space, so most of his stories were from earlier times.

Guinness, Hopp, and Mainz showed keen interest in Sein’s adventures from several years ago.

After briefly sharing about their families and the divine towers they hailed from, Hopp and the others focused on their experiences over the past six months in the Knight Continent.

Most of what Hopp and Mainz shared did not particularly captivate Sein.

However, one story from Guinness caught his attention and visibly shook him.

Guinness recounted a recent encounter when he and his sister unexpectedly stumbled upon a group of knights from the Ylli Knight Alliance targeting black mages during their meetup.

The Ylli Knight Alliance was known within the Magus World for its aggressive stance against black mages.

According to the Magus World’s annual report, they captured more black mages than any other group every year.

Driven by substantial rewards, knights from the Ylli Knight Alliance frequented the Magus World, especially around the Western Archipelago, in their relentless pursuit of black mages and black knights.

This had fueled a deep-seated vendetta between Blackhaven’s black mages and black knights against the Ylli Knight Alliance.

Guinness had encountered several experts from the Ylli Knight Alliance in the past.

Sein was well-acquainted with the Ylli Knight Alliance too, as this major force was located not far from Viridescent Land.

Technically, Viridescent Land lay on the periphery of the Pyro Secret Society’s sphere of influence, with Sein’s mentor, Feylis, serving as a prominent member of this society.

The Ylli Knight Alliance was situated just west of the Pyro Secret Society.

Both in terms of territory and historical significance, it surpassed the Pyro Secret Society and was an ancient power on par with the Marmett Union Alliance.

However, in terms of knightly prowess alone, the Ylli Knight Alliance surpassed the Marmett Union Alliance.

The only forces in the Magus World that could match the Ylli Knight Alliance in knightly strength were likely the Byrne Empire and the Desert Kingdom of Jehannah.

Sein’s intense reaction was not due to the ongoing conflict targeting the black mages. It was because Guinness mentioned that among the besieged black mages, there was a woman who resembled the one Sein had previously encountered in Port Allen.

When Sein used his elemental power to conjure an image of this tall female black mage, Guinness confirmed her identity with a nod.

Taking a deep breath, Sein said, “It seems that I cannot travel with you guys...”

“Who is this female black mage? A friend of yours?” Guinness asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

As a native Rank One mage of the Western Archipelago, Guinness harbored no particular animosity toward black mages.

This attitude was partly shaped by his experiences, as many knights and mages in the region had interacted with those from Blackhaven to some extent.

The black knights and black mages rarely caused serious trouble in the Western Archipelago since it was close to their home.

At most, they harassed ordinary civilians and the lower-level creatures at the border.

In the end, Sein never answered Guinness’ question.

***

Early the next morning, Sein bid farewell to Guinness and the others.

Since no formal magic contract had been signed, Sein’s departure was merely a break from a verbal agreement.

“It’s fine. Go settle your own matters first. We’re still friends, and we’ll have the chance to meet again in the future,” Guinness assured him.

They had already exchanged contact information, so it would not be difficult for Sein to reconnect with them.

Sein nodded and then quickly flew northeast.

A pair of flaming wings, conjured from verdant flame elements, sprouted behind him.

These wings enabled Sein to fly at speeds close to his maximum in the trial space, where gravity differed from standard environments.

Whether by coincidence or some mystical fate, the direction Sein had initially chosen was where the female black mage described by Guinness had been sighted.

Verdant green firelight streaked across the sky.

Watching Sein’s departure, Guinness said, “He’s stronger than me!”

Soon after, Hopp added, “Stronger than me too!”

“Is he really not a Battle Mage? Can a pure elementalist have such a strong physique and resilience? I’d believe him if he said he was a Bloodline Warlock,” Hopp muttered, shaking his head.

***

Trying to locate someone in the vast trial space was no easy task, especially when Guinness mentioned that it had been months since the female black mage had been seen.

Despite this, Sein had a feeling that he could find her.

His flight, sustained by verdant green-colored firelight, continued at an unyielding speed for days on end.

As he traversed several areas of the trial space, Sein’s conviction only grew stronger.