Sovereign of the Ashes

The red vermilion fruit, known as a “Blood Fruit”, was a basic ingredient found only in the depths of forests.

While not highly valued by mages, it held special appeal for magic creatures and beasts.

Gloomhaven’s knights and squires ventured into the forests each year to search for this fruit.

When consumed in its raw form, it was believed to enhance qi and blood, effectively expediting the cultivation progress of junior squires.

In the end, Frank secured the Blood Fruit by trading two vials of his own blood circulation potions.

Strictly speaking, a blood circulation potion was not considered a magic potion.

It was slightly inferior to a basic healing potion, primarily used to improve blood circulation and cure blood stasis.

What surprised Sein was the revelation that Frank had personally invented the blood circulation potion while collaborating with a group of ordinary herbalists in Berthold City.

It was at this moment that Sein discovered Frank’s passion for apothecary, shedding light on his earlier excitement when Sein presented the nutritional potion.

Following Frank’s transaction with the intermediate initiate, the trade fair continued smoothly.

Given the camaraderie among the participants, there was little room for bargaining.

Several more items were presented, mainly featuring various basic magic ingredients.

The diverse types and applications of these magic ingredients proved enlightening for Sein.

For example, a female initiate with bright red lips presented a rare item known as the “Screaming Branch”.

When activated, the branch served as an alarm system, to be placed outside a tent at night.

If any creature approached within twenty meters, the leaves on the branch would shake violently, emitting an ear-splitting screech.

Regrettably, the “Screaming Branch” found little interest among the magic initiates present, as most resided in nearby cities and had no practical use for such an item.

Despite Sein’s keen interest in the Screaming Branch, he refrained from expressing his desire, considering the fair still far from over.

While Sein maintained his composure, the other initiates around him grew anxious.

The decision to initiate the trade fair earlier was unanimously influenced by Sein’s participation.

Given his mysterious origins and senior initiate status, many believed he possessed something valuable.

However, Sein’s apparent lack of interest in making a move led to murmurs among the initiates.

“Could it be that our items don’t appeal to that senior initiate?” Some began to wonder.

In the end, the gray-hooded senior initiate burst into laughter.

“It seems our new friend here isn’t interested in these ordinary magic ingredients. Alas, our region lacks the allure of unique resources. Rumors suggest crystal mines to the east and bountiful resources from magic beast forests to the west. The furthest south lay the Boundless South Sea, rumored to be home to multiple mage councils and Divine Towers along the coastline.”

The senior initiate was younger than Frank, but seemed well-traveled to be able to share those insights.

Sein, who had been observing in silence, could not resist asking, “What about the north? What lies in the north?”

According to Morsidor, his family resided beyond the border of Gloomhaven, in the north.

Being less informed about the northern region, the gray-hooded initiate fell silent for a moment upon hearing Sein’s question.

Eventually, he answered, “The situation in the north is somewhat more favorable than here. There, you’ll find several mage councils as well as full-fledged mages.”

“Are you planning to journey north, brother?” the gray-hooded initiate inquired curiously.

Sein did not conceal his intentions and simply nodded.

The gray-hooded apprentice seemed contemplative and said, “I plan to head south. Staying here, I fear reaching a higher level may prove elusive in my lifetime.”

“The southern regions are regarded as most favorable for us mages, especially if there’s an opportunity to join the Divine Towers,” he added, his yearning evident.

It appeared that the gray-hooded initiate’s decision to journey all the way south to the coast of the Magus Continent was being disclosed to the group for the first time.

Excitement and curiosity welled up among the initiates. Questions began pouring in, especially from the female initiate who had earlier referred to Sein as “mister”.

It seemed that these initiates were likely to form a group and venture south together.

In contrast, Frank stood next to Sein indifferently.

While occasional glimpses of envy and fascination flashed in his eyes, the elderly man refrained from involvement. Instead, he lowered his head to examine the Blood Fruit he had recently acquired.

“Aren’t you considering heading south for a look?” Sein asked, having grown more acquainted with the old man after days of interaction.

“Hoho, I would have certainly ventured south if I were twenty years younger. But now...” Frank shook his head and continued, “It’s too late for me. I don’t even know how long these old bones of mine can last.”

“Rather than taking risks in the south, I should stay here and contribute what I can for the future generations of my family.

“Even if my little Pio lacks the talent to become a mage, he shows much potential in the path of a knight,” Frank said with a smile while rubbing the Blood Fruit in his hand.

Journeying to the Boundless South Sea was no small endeavor. Despite Sein’s strength, aided by Seven, the fastest route to the north of Gloomhaven would still span over half a year.

The distance from their current location to the Boundless South Sea was no less than the journey Sein had to undertake to the north.

Moreover, “the coast of the Boundless South Sea” was just a general direction; the Magus World stretched far beyond the comprehension of these initiates.

The actual conditions in the south, including the number of mage councils, access to resources, and learning opportunities, all presented crucial factors for consideration.

Knowledge was invaluable, and joining a mage council offered no guaranteed coverage for the expenses of acquiring knowledge there.

Furthermore, the journey from their current location to the Boundless South Sea was fraught with challenges.

Aside from the troublesome magic beasts and bandits along the way, the nearby area was rife with rumors of black mages.

Carelessness could lead to fatal encounters with those ruthless characters.

Even the seemingly inconspicuous bandit could boast the strength of an intermediate squire or, in some cases, a senior squire.

Facing those bandits would undoubtedly be an extremely daunting task for these magic initiates, especially if the encounter escalated to a close-quarter combat where magic might not be as swift as a blade.