Sovereign of the Ashes

“As someone who also hails from the Western Archipelago, do I really need a specific reason to stop by?” Master Daelis asked casually as she stepped into Morsidor’s laboratory.

“Of course not, you are most welcome,” Morsidor replied with an awkward smile.

Master Daelis possessed an undeniably youthful and striking attractive appearance, which stood in a stark contrast to the typically gloomy appearance of other black mages in the Black Magic Academy.

Moreover, her popularity was widely acknowledged throughout the academy.

Although Dedaelon’s words failed to sway Morsidor, the involvement of Daelis as a mediator appeared to hold promise for Katherson’s reprieve.

“How about three Grade One energy crystals, five hundred grams of powdered Elandria, two Reagan Fruits, and a branch from a five-hundred-year-old ancient mystic tree?”

Daelis leaned back in her chair, her legs crossed, and asked, “These are what Katherson could offer. Will these items be sufficient for you to spare his life?”

“Hmm, quite the collection he’s amassed. To think he possesses Reagan Fruits, which are becoming rare in most parts of the Magus World, as well as that mystic wood from a five-hundred-year-old ancient tree...” Morsidor remarked with a sardonic smile.

“Indeed, for a dendro-type mage like him, cultivating Reagan Fruits isn’t an impossible task with ancient seeds and a copious amount of magic beast flesh. Besides, that five-hundred-year-old mystic wood makes an excellent raw material for a high-quality magic rod,” Daelis remarked.

She leaned forward slightly and asked, “So, will you agree to spare him in exchange for these items?”

Although Morsidor was very pleased by the offerings, he feigned indifference and snorted.

“Hmph. I wonder what he might have promised in return for you to speak on his behalf?”

”Nothing, really. That old man simply possesses remarkable expertise in botany, and I rely on him for a steady supply of some raw ingredients for my potions,” Daelis replied nonchalantly.

“Very well, I shall agree to spare him. He better not show his face around me in the future,” Morsidor said.

He shook his head and added, “I’m also intrigued by the considerable sum he’s willing to give up to remain in the Black Magic Academy. That fortune is no trifling matter even for full-fledged black mages.”

In response, Master Daelis chuckled lightly and explained, “Ah, that’s because news of a space-time rift has been spreading throughout the academy.”

She continued, “Many are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to explore the other side of that rift and amass great wealth. Should it lead to a resource-rich demiplane or, if we’re particularly fortunate, a complete plane governed by established laws, one could simply plunder it. The rewards would likely surpass the compensation he offered you.”

Plane conquests and pillaging were the quickest routes to amassing wealth, an avenue beyond the comprehension of regular beings who could not fathom the vast riches held within an entire world.

Throughout history, the act of interplanar invasion and plundering had remained an exclusive purview of the Divine Towers and the Order of the Knights in the Magus World.

Such aspirations were nothing more than pipe dreams for Black mages like them.

However, the discovery of a space-time rift in Gloomhaven had given these black mages a cause to linger around.

Upon hearing Daelis’ explanation, Morsidor let out a soft chuckle.

He likely possessed a deeper understanding of that space-time rift compared to Daelis, or even Andes, the most formidable Rank One mage in their midst.

His reaction made Daelis suspect that there was more to it than met the eye.

Just as she was about to inquire further, Morsidor rose from his seat and concluded their meeting.

“Well then, tell Katherson that I will agree to spare him. But he must deliver the promised compensation within three days.”

***

Sein remained unaware of his mentor’s reconciliation with Katherson.

On this day, after completing his usual daily experiments, Zorro called out to him.

“Thanks to the basic healing potion you gave me last time, I’ve been recovering nicely. I’ve noticed you don’t have a crystal ball of your own yet, so I made one for you last night.”

While speaking, a crystal ball suddenly appeared in Zorro’s hand out of nowhere. Sein figured that he had probably retrieved it from a spatial storage, just like Master Morsidor did with the tomes before.

Sein’s attention was immediately drawn to the crystal in Zorro’s hand.

“Thank you, Zorro. This crystal ball will come in handy for me to find out my focus value. I won’t have to trouble Master Morsidor or go all the way to the public library anymore,” Sein gratefully expressed.

Zorro gave a nod of approval and said, “Master Morsidor should have made one for you, but he’s been too busy lately and may have forgotten.”

“Keep up the good work. Both Master Morsidor and I can tell you have great potential in alchemy,” he encouraged, patting Sein on the shoulder.

“I will,” Sein responded respectfully.

In reality, the basic healing potion he had given to Zorro was of little use for him, but it was the thought that counted.

This was the dynamic within Morsidor’s faction. The mentor was nice to his apprentice, and the apprentices supported each other.

While Sein wasn’t as close to Zorro as he was to Faye, his caring nature and thoughtful gesture had strengthened their connection.

The crystal ball Zorro had gifted him held deeper significance. It was an unspoken invitation for Sein to seek guidance in alchemy whenever he needed it.

After spending several months under Master Morsidor’s apprenticeship, Sein had gained a basic understanding of his fellow apprentices.

Zorro, who was quiet and reserved in nature, had inherited most of his mentor’s wisdom in alchemy.

Faye, on the other hand, was more easygoing. She displayed no interest in alchemy but had inherited Master Morsidor’s knowledge in the field of pyro element knowledge and magic spells.

Sein exchanged a few words with Zorro before parting ways.

Apparently, Zorro lived in their mentor’s residence instead of the dormitories. This arrangement made it more convenient for him to assist Master Morsidor with his alchemy experiments.

In their brief conversation, Sein also learned a particularly intriguing and useful piece of information.

He found out that Zorro held the rank of a “Quasi Mage”, a classification that fell between that of a senior initiate and a full-fledged black mage.

Initiates at this rank possessed significant abilities and knowledge as they progressed toward becoming a full-fledged black mage, which was why they were referred to as Quasi Mages.

Their designation emphasized their roles as the primary reserve for full-fledged black mages, and they could almost be considered part of the academy’s higher echelons.

Certainly, Zorro was not the only Quasi Mage in the Black Magic Academy

Moreover, during their conversation, Sein stumbled upon a somewhat embarrassing secret about Zorro. It appeared that Zorro was not particularly skilled at combat.

Without activating his magic equipment ahead of time, Zorro’s prowess was not necessarily superior to that of an average senior initiate.

This was primarily because Zorro had devoted too much energy on alchemy, which had inadvertently led to the neglect of his combat training.