Sovereign of the Ashes

Of course, not all knights were thick-skinned.

Natalya was an exception, choosing to overlook some of Sein’s “minor flaws” because of her feelings for him.

In this world, it was not just men who pursued women shamelessly.

When a woman set her heart on a man and pursued him relentlessly, even the coldest heart could be warmed over time.

At this moment, Sein found himself deeply moved as he listened to Natalya.

His relationship with Selina had developed through their daily interactions at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

His bond with Leena was forged during their time together at the Black Magic Academy in Mystralora City.

Natalya was the first female knight who had truly persistently pursued him. Sein, far from being cold-hearted, found it difficult to remain unaffected by her dedication.

In contrast, other women in Sein’s life—Eileen, Marie, and Faye—held significant roles but could not be considered his partners in the absolute sense.

Eileen was Sein’s “colleague” at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Marie was a “friend” since their days as black magic initiates, Faye was his “senior”, and Selina was his “cousin”.

Thus, it appeared that only Leena and Natalya would spend the rest of their lives with Sein as his wife.

Undoubtedly, Leena was the sole woman Sein truly saw as his wife. Then, what was Natalya to him?

A nominal wife? A mere cover, as Master Lorianne suggested?

Such a label might be a little too cruel to Nataly.

Sein let out a long sigh. Despite his potential and notable achievements in unraveling the truth, his relationships were a tangled mess.

“Can people really do as they please?” Sein wondered.

He decided to push these complex thoughts aside for now and wait for Leena’s promotion to Rank Two before confessing the truth to her.

No matter what, Sein resolved to honor Leena’s wishes.

This conviction had been with him since his days in Mystralora City.

In the dark, endless abyss of the underground world, Leena was his sole beacon of light.

Without her, he would not even be here today.

***

The Thunder Pool War went on for a full two years.

Reportedly, the Rank Four creature, Violet Thunder, was defeated by Lorianne and others in one of the elemental oceans east of the plane’s navel before Sein could even lay eyes on it.

During that period, Sein was mostly fighting on the outskirts of the Thunder Pool’s battlefield.

It was not that Sein was unwilling to venture deep into the heart of the Thunder Pool battlefield; rather, it was rumored the navel of this low-level plane was located there.

To avoid severe damage to the plane’s navel, which could lead to catastrophic disruptions to the world’s fundamental laws, the Magus World Army refrained from penetrating deep into that region.

Although some otherworldly gods of Rank Four and above might contemplate the drastic action of destroying both their homeplane and the invaders, such extreme measures were unimaginable among the guardians.

The Rank Four Violet Thunder Guardian could draw the most energy and power of laws near the plane’s navel, it ultimately chose the elemental sea in the eastern part of the Thunder Pool for the final confrontation.

This sea, a maelstrom of thunder and lightning, was both the birthplace of Violet Thunder and its chosen final resting place.

Desiring neither the destruction of its homeplane nor subjugation under the Magus Civilization, it decided to fight until its last breath.

With the fall of the Rank Four creature Violet Thunder, the Thunderfall World War was finally concluded.

The three orders of the knights would remain in this plane for some time.

However, Sein and the other mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring were free to depart, as stipulated by their contracts.

Each participating mage had profited immensely from the conflict, which had spanned over five years.

In just half a decade, Rank One mages had amassed hundreds of magicoins each, while higher-ranked mages like Sein had garnered even greater wealth.

This venture proved to be far more lucrative than undertaking quests at the divine tower academy.

Moreover, with a strong legion of knights and enslaved creatures on the frontlines, the casualty rate among the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring mages remained remarkably low.

Given this success, it was likely that the next interplanar war initiated by the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring would attract the majority of its registered mages.

After all, only a fool would decline to participate in such a lucrative event.

***

After the conclusion of the Thunderfall World war, the mages of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring began their orderly withdrawal from this lower-level plane.

Sein was to depart alongside his mentor, Lorianne.

Natalya, Gould, and others even made a special trip to see him off. Unbeknownst to them, a Rank Four mage was actually aboard the war airship behind Sein.

According to the directives of the Order of the Steel Fist, Natalya and her companions were obligated to stay in the Thunderfall World for at least another five years, after which they would gradually return to the Magus World over the following fifteen years.

This mandate also applied to Sein’s father and others from House Grantt.

Sein had promised his father that he would find time to visit House Grantt.

As he waved goodbye to Natalya and the group gathered outside the fortress camp, Sein turned and boarded the war airship.

Given their extended lifespans as Rank One beings, a separation of a decade was relatively minor; Sein was confident that their paths would cross again.

After Sein disappeared into the airship, which then headed toward the south-central part of the Thunderfall World where a massive interplanar space teleportation array was located, Gould and the others slowly dispersed.

Reina, observing Natalya’s reluctance to leave, chose to stay by her side.

Soon after, a mature female knight bearing a striking resemblance to Natalya approached from behind.

In a low voice, she asked, “How’s it going? Think you have a chance?”

This inquiry from her mother, Sia, caused Natalya’s face to flush—a rare show of emotion for the typically stoic female knight.

Natalya feigned composure and replied, ”He has changed quite a bit over the past few years and seems to be treating me differently now than when we first met.”

Her daughter’s response brought a mischievous look to Sia’s face.

She smiled and encouraged, “Keep up the good work. Based on my experience, I believe you can win him over!”

Natalya’s pursuit of Sein was fueled not just by her admiration for Sein but also by the influence of her mother, who had pursued Natalya’s father with similar determination.

With such a compelling example, Natalya felt empowered in her quest to win Sein’s heart.

Happiness, as Sia often reminded her daughter, must be actively pursued.