Sovereign of the Ashes

After a sumptuous dinner, Sein was not only stuffed but also felt a slight increase in his focus and mana levels. A faint tingling sensation was coursing through his arms and the wounds on his body.

These were the unexpected positive effects from eating a meal prepared with ingredients from magic creatures and beasts.

“It seems like Master Morsider highly values you. I can’t remember the last time we had such a lavish meal. On days when we’re busy with experiments, our meals are basically replaced with nutritional potions,” Faye remarked.

Halfway through the banquet, Master Morsidor and Zorro, who had barely touched their food, hastily returned to the laboratory on the first floor. They seemed to have gained fresh insights through their discussions earlier.

Hence, the remaining food was all for Sein and Faye to enjoy. By conversing with Faye, Sein felt an unprecedented warmth that was a stark contrast to the typically cold and competitive atmosphere of the Black Magic Academy.

“I truly feel indebted to Master Morsidor. I also feel lucky to have such a beautiful and considerate senior like you, Faye,” Sein commented respectfully.

His words were not mere flattery; he genuinely sensed a different atmosphere during this brief interaction with his mentor and senior, compared to being around the other initiates and black mages in the academy.

Was this what they call having a sense of belonging?

Compared to those evil black mages who treated initiates as mere experimental subjects, the atmosphere within Master Morsidor’s faction was notably better. Sein’s good fortune and intelligence appeared to have guided him well in making his choices.

After all, three full-fledged black mages had expressed their approval of Sein during their public classes. Yet, Sein had deliberately chosen not the seemingly strongest Master Angelia, nor Master Collance, who had a sizable number of apprentices.

Instead, Sein had dedicated his efforts to winning the favor of Master Morsidor, who had always kept a low profile and never flaunted his talents.

After hearing Faye’s explanation, Sein learned that the lavish banquet held by Master Morsidor served not only to swiftly rejuvenate their stamina and focus, but also played a significant role in helping Sein recuperate quicker.

Being a junior initiate and partaking in such a sumptuous feast for the first time, Sein reaped far greater benefits compared to his two seniors. Even his focus and mana had increased by a few points.

Sein’s compliment brought a charming smile to Faye’s face. After all, every woman loved receiving compliments. They were like rare gems, especially in an environment like the Black Magic Academy, where initiates often fostered competitive or even hostile relationships.

In fact, it had been far too long since Faye last heard such flattering words from anyone.

Little did Sein know, Faye was actually known as the “Black Widow” within the Black Magic Academy.

Although both Faye and Liliana were female senior initiates, Liliana was more popular in the academy. Even so, popularity did not necessarily equate to superior strength.

“I see that you’re on the verge of becoming an intermediate initiate. Your injuries may set you back by a couple of months, but that might not necessarily be a bad thing,” Faye remarked.

“Have you tried the meditation technique Master Morsidor shared with you?” she asked.

“Not yet. I’ve spent my entire day studying the two magic notes provided by Master Morsidor,” Sein replied honestly.

A look of approval shone on Faye’s face as she continued, “Good. It’s wise not to rush into changing your meditation technique. Your body will need time to adjust. I suggest waiting until you’re an intermediate initiate before making the switch.”

“Besides, the annual assessment will take place in two month’s time. You’ll likely rank at the bottom if you’re promoted to an intermediate initiate now. It might be better to stay as a junior initiate and compete for a higher rank. The annual academy awards are pretty impressive, you should try fighting for them,” Faye suggested.

Sein nodded in agreement, finding Faye’s advice valuable.

He could tell that Faye would mainly be the one giving him guidance in Master Morsidor’s faction until his body had fully healed and could assist his mentor’s experiments.

Faye could not help but smile when she realized how mature Sein was.

***

After leaving Master Morsidor’s residence, Sein made his way back to his dormitory.

Given the late hour, the Black Magic Academy was eerily quiet, with no one to be seen.

In the past, Sein usually avoided venturing out at this hour, but now, he no longer cared. Killing Elrik single-handedly, causing a commotion as well as defeating Jack and his group on Black Street with Leena had earned him a certain level of recognition among his fellow magic initiates.

As Sein made his way toward his dormitory, he noticed other initiates pointing and whispering about him.

Reputation often held a certain sway in this harsh environment. It acted as a deterrent against potential bullies among the weaker individuals and helped him steer clear of unnecessary problems.

Upon returning to his familiar dormitory room, Sein noticed that Leena had not returned yet.

He sighed, remembering that Leena had also begun her apprenticeship under Master Fareena today. Judging by her mentor’s behavior in the dungeon, it was clear that Master Fareena was not an easy person to get along with.

Reflecting on his own fortune, Sein felt grateful for encountering a mentor like Master Morsidor, who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Such mentors were indeed a rarity in the Black Magic Academy, where selfishness and self-interest, as displayed by Master Fareena, were all too common.

Even so, he was relieved that Master Fareena was willing to give up a precious energy crystal in order to save Leena. It showed that Master Fareena was truly sincere about having Leena as her apprentice.

***

In the days that followed, Sein established a daily routine that revolved around moving back and forth between Master Morsidor’s laboratory and his dormitory.

Even with the resources of Master Morsidor, it was not possible for him to serve meals prepared with magic beasts for his apprentices every day.

Apart from occasional sumptuous meals, Sein mainly consumed regular food. He also had to resort to nutritional potions that Faye had mentioned twice.

Nutritional potions, while technically alchemical in nature, were considered the most basic of all alchemical concoctions. They were simple enough to prepare without requiring the skills of an alchemist. Even an ordinary magic initiate could craft them using the appropriate proportions of ingredients.

The two nutritional potions Sein had consumed were both crafted by Faye.

Whether Faye’s alchemical skills were lacking or if she was just teasing Sein, the taste of those potions had made a lasting impression. Sein even found them repulsive for quite some time afterward.

As a result, Sein resorted to cooking dinner in Master Morsidor’s residence. After showcasing his culinary skills, Faye began looking forward to the dinner prepared by Sein every day.

Compared to the bland food prepared by the alchemy puppet, Sein’s culinary skills were more appealing to her palate.

During this period, Sein also noticed that both Zorro and Master Morsidor were frequently absent during meals.

This raised a curious thought in Sein’s mind. Could it be that a mage no longer needed to eat after reaching a certain level?