Sovereign of the Ashes

Of course, Cindy’s motives were as clear as day to Sein.

Nevertheless, Sein chose to remain silent about his observations.

As for how long Cindy could successfully maintain her facade, it ultimately depended on her own luck and abilities.

Should any genuine trouble arise for Sein in the future, he would not only deny his friendship with Cindy but also sever all ties with her.

Within the Black Magic Academy, true benevolence was scarce.

Sein was not a saint either. He simply had his ethical limits.

If anyone were to exploit his boundaries and threaten his interests, Sein would teach them the true meaning of ruthlessness through the flames of his magic.

***

Apart from being the center of attention in Master Morsidor’s classes, Sein also noticed another black mage showing a particular interest in him during her public classes.

Master Daelis, whom Sein considered to be the most beautiful black mage in the academy, frequently called on him to answer her questions in class.

Sein did not believe that her interest in him had anything to do with Marie, who was seated not far away from him in class.

Instead, he suspected that it was connected to Master Morsidor.

Despite Sein’s less frequent visits to Morsidor’s residence, he had encountered Master Daelis during some of his visits.

This left Sein wondering if both of them often meet and sparked his curiosity about the relationship between them.

Despite her captivating appearance, Master Daelis possessed the typical temperament of a black mage.

Sein had witnessed several instances where she tested her experimental potions on several fresh initiates during her public classes.

Some of the fortunate initiates emerged unscathed and even benefited from the experiments.

The other less fortunate ones, however, suffered physical discomfort or lingering aftereffects.

Sein recalled a particular incident in which an unfortunate initiate exploded into a crimson mist. The sight of the classroom walls stained red and the satisfied look on Master Daelis’ face remained vivid in his memory.

After witnessing that incident, Sein could not help but wonder whether Marie was fortunate or unfortunate to be Master Daelis’ apprentice.

***

The pursuit of knowledge in the public classes kept Sein occupied for some time.

Despite his busy schedule, he did not forget about his goal to construct and master a few intermediate magic spells.

This was the fourth time Sein had visited the public library this month.

The hundred academy merit points he earned through the academy award from the annual assessment were enough for him to acquire the knowledge required to learn two intermediate spells.

Out of the five tomes he received from Master Morsidor, the “The Versatility of the Pyro Element” and the “Annotations of Enthildor” also contained intermediate magic spells.

The spells were known as “Fiery Hand” and “Animate” respectively.

Fiery Hand was an offensive spell, offering a wider range and greater precision compared to the Minor Fireball spell.

Upon completing the incantation, a colossal fiery hand would materialize, gripping the target and subjecting it to a crushing attack.

On the other hand, Animate was a functional spell primarily used to automate the repetitive tasks of initiates in their magic experiments or daily routines.

From commanding brooms to sweep rooms to levitating beakers to facilitate reagent mixing, Animate demonstrated its versatility beyond the battlefield.

Although its combat applications were limited, the spell was frequently mastered by senior initiates.

Even full-fledged black mages were often seen using this spell during their experiments and classes.

Sein’s main priority was on mastering the Fiery Hand spell, as it would prove valuable for his upcoming mandatory quest.

He had no interest in quests that involved patrolling the city because he intended to prove his abilities beyond the city’s borders.

After all, this would be his very first time demonstrating his strength as an intermediate initiate.

Besides, “Annotations of Enthildor”, the tome containing the Animate spell, was currently being used by Leena most of the time.

Mages placed high value on general and exclusive knowledge. If Morsidor were to discover Sein sharing his magic notes with Leena, he might punish Sein.

That was why Sein kept it a secret.

In any case, he did not consider sharing a magic tome with Leena a breach of etiquette due to his close relationship with Leena.

She had previously shared her knowledge of fireball spells and other magical insights with him, so it was only right for him to return the favor.

Sein also noticed that his generosity and willingness to share with Leena had gradually warmed her heart and deepened their bond.

After experiencing numerous battles and even having the opportunity to witness a fight between two full-fledged mages, Sein realized that mastering the Fiery Hand spell alone would not suffice.

He needed to acquire a defensive spell too.

Despite their potent elemental powers, mages were vulnerable in melee combat due to their inherent weaknesses and frail physical constitution. When engaged in close quarters or when their defenses were breached, they often found themselves at a disadvantage.

Unlike his mentor, Sein lacked an arsenal of magic equipment, and as an intermediate initiate, he did not possess the financial resources or knowledge required to create magical beings to act as physical shields.

As a solution, Sein sought to acquire a defensive spell for protection.

Leena mentioned that only senior initiates and those beyond their rank could fully grasp the spell model of shield magic.

However, the limited selection of basic and intermediate shield magic spells offer inadequate protection, are difficult to control and often consume an exorbitant amount of mana.

This was because unlike offensive spells, which are cast in a single burst, maintaining a magical shield requires a continuous supply of mana from the spellcaster.

There’s too little to be gained from learning those basic or intermediate shield magic spells. Is there any other magic spell that can offer protection?

Strolling among the massive bookshelves on the library’s third floor, Sein meticulously scanned the rows of magic tomes.

After careful consideration, his finger stopped on a magic tome with a red leather cover, bearing the title “Constructing the Fire Wall Spell Model”.

Fire Wall, by definition, was an offensive spell.

It allowed the spellcaster to summon a fiery wall that rushed forward in battle.

In terms of coverage area, Fire Wall exceeded that of the Fiery Hand spell, which Sein was still in the process of mastering. Due to this, it could be classified as an area of effect spell.

Even so, its destructive power and precision fell short compared to the Fiery Hand spell or Sein’s enhanced version of Minor Fireball spell.

From this, Sein realized the magic tomes he received from Master Morsidor had been carefully chosen for their great value.

Although both the Fiery Hand and Fire Wall spells were intermediate magic spells, the former was significantly more valuable than the latter.

After careful deliberation, Sein decided to exchange his academy merit points for the Fire Wall spell for one specific reason: its potential to serve as a defensive spell to protect him from attacks from a specific direction.

Furthermore, the manageable complexity of constructing the spell model and the reasonable mana and focus consumption made the Fire Wall spell a viable addition to his repertoire.