Sovereign of the Ashes

After dropping Sein off at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Tourmaline left to play in the north of the Jewel Sea.

The dragon turtle’s enthusiasm for new experiences never waned.

Despite having lived in the area for nearly seven years, Tourmaline never seemed to tire of her adventures here.

When playtime exhausted her, she would take a nap—such was the simplicity of her daily routine.

Tourmaline’s enduring curiosity might stem from an incident during her last nap, where she accidentally slept for three years in the eastern waters of the Jewel Sea.

As a result, although she had been in the region for seven years, she had actually been awake for less than two, considering she had taken more than one nap during this period.

She had only managed to welcome Sein home because she detected his aura during a light sleep.

Tourmaline departed with a yawn, likely to succumb to sleep again once her energy waned from playing around.

White Stella mentioned that Tourmaline was still growing.

More sleep would not only be beneficial but would also accelerate her growth.

Given the massive size of her big brother, the Maned Tyrant, and with Tourmaline’s shell only a kilometer in diameter, she indeed had plenty of room to grow.

After Tourmaline swam off to play elsewhere and the other mages dispersed, Sein followed his mentor to the top floor of her divine tower.

Over the past few decades, the divine tower had undergone rapid development, even though its structural height remained unchanged.

However, Sein noticed the addition of new buildings and specialized areas on both the east and west sides of the tower.

Lorianne had indeed invested wisely where it mattered most.

The expansion of the divine tower itself was progressing at a deliberate pace, likely waiting until it reached full occupancy by registered mages.

Sein observed a significant increase in the number of registered mages compared to forty years ago.

There were also more full-fledged mages roaming the academy buildings than ever before, and presumably, even more were secluded behind the closed doors of their labs, deeply engrossed in research.

With no outsiders present, Lorianne’s demeanor relaxed considerably, almost reverting to her “true self”.

Gone was her usual elegant composure as she playfully poked Sein’s head with her slender, pale finger and exclaimed, “You’ve certainly had a fruitful journey, huh!”

“You even brought a demigod-level dragon turtle here, huh?”

“I also heard you took part in the Knight Continent Trial not long ago?”

“And you’ve advanced to Rank Two already? That was quick!”

Lorianne fired off these rhetorical questions in rapid bursts—a stark contrast to the atmosphere Sein had experienced with his previous mentor, Morsidor.

Yet, Sein found he preferred this lighter, more informal interaction.

In Lorianne’s presence, he felt comfortable enough to reveal a more impish side—though not quite childish, as that was not in his nature.

But it was clear he relished this unique dynamic.

Perhaps because of a lack of affection in his early years, Sein was not put off by Lorianne’s tone; instead, he felt a deep attachment to it.

Despite her questioning tone, they were actually her way of expressing pride in Sein’s accomplishments.

“Look, this is my apprentice!”

That was how Lorianne felt.

With Sein by her side, she felt she could walk taller in the presence of her seniors within the Verdant Flame Faction.

Observing Lorianne’s joyful expression, Sein’s lips curled into a smile too.

“How did you know I’ve been to the Knight Continent, Master?” he asked curiously.

“It was Selphy who told me,” Lorianne replied.

“I thought she was mistaken at the Western Archipelago, but then right after, you brought back that thing.” She gestured northward, indicating Tourmaline.

Initially, Lorianne was puzzled by the arrival of the giant dragon turtle, Tourmaline, as she was not acquainted with her at all.

Fortunately, someone from Verdant Flame Faction recognized her.

When Tourmaline settled in the Jewel Sea, the first to extend a welcome was Feylis, Lorianne’s mentor.

Soon after, representatives from the Pyro Secret Society, Byrne Empire, Dawning Secret Society, various aquatic races, and other factions followed suit.

Lorianne quickly realized that the dragon turtle had an extraordinary background.

She even seized the opportunity to meet and converse with Tourmaline’s sister, White Stella.

After ensuring Tourmaline was comfortable at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, White Stella departed hurriedly, seemingly preoccupied with other matters.

White Stella found Lorianne much more agreeable than Sein.

After all, his overly bold actions with Leena and Faye on Tourmaline’s back during his time in the Western Archipelago had, understandably, marred her opinion of him.

With her ability to read minds to some extent, White Stella felt comfortable entrusting Tourmaline to Lorianne’s care.

“Selphy? She participated in the Knight Continent’s trial as well? I didn’t see her in the trial zone though,” Sein remarked, shaking his head.

“All the promising apprentices from the Verdant Flame Faction were sent there. You weren’t at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring at the time. I didn’t expect you could still participate without the tower’s formal recommendation,” Lorianne said.

“It was mostly thanks to Tourmaline and her sister, White Stella,” Sein replied.

“I knew it,” Lorianne said, then mumbled something under her breath.

“What was that?” Sein asked.

“Nothing!” Lorianne replied, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

They really saved my wallet—That was what she was mumbling to herself.

“Did you return this time to ask for a favor?” she asked suspiciously, giving her apprentice a sidelong glance. The flush quickly faded from her cheeks.

Regardless of his achievements outside, Sein still had to rely on his mentor in the end.

The contributions Sein made to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring left Lorianne feeling slightly deflated despite feeling proud of him.

The sheer impact of Tourmaline’s arrival had eclipsed Lorianne’s two-hundred-year efforts at the divine tower.

No wonder Lorianne’s earlier questions had carried a hint of smugness.

Aware that Sein had provoked the Order of the Dark Sword, Lorianne waited smugly for her apprentice to seek her help.

As expected, Sein did not disappoint her. In a humble and earnest tone he explained, “During my trial on the Knight Continent, I had a conflict with a few Rank One knights from the Ylli Knight Alliance. At the time, it seemed trivial, but I’ve since learned that I was maliciously slandered for colluding with black mages upon returning to Viridescent Land.”

“Please defend your apprentice, Master Lorianne!” he pleaded.

Sein’s demeanor was akin to a child seeking solace from a parent after being wronged.

Lorianne’s response did not disappoint him either.

“How dare they slander my apprentice! Don’t worry, your mentor shall prove your innocence!” The Rank Four female mage waved her hand assuringly.

“How could my apprentice conspire with black mages?” she said indignantly.

Life is like a play; it’s all about acting.

The mentor and her apprentice perfectly embodied this, each playing their part in a drama that satisfied both.