Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein wasted no time in leaving Berthold City behind the next day.

As he progressed further north, the well-trodden road eventually gave way to winding mountain paths and human settlements began to dwindle.

Fortunately, Sein had previously procured a supply of daily necessities in Berthold City, and was well-prepared for the months ahead.

Maintaining his routine of traveling by day and resting at night, Sein decided to release Seven for some fresh air this evening.

A beam of divine white light shot out from the badge in Sein’s hand, enveloping Seven.

Observing Seven’s improving condition, Sein smiled and commented, “The effect of the Healing Light is certainly remarkable. I think you’ll be fully recovered after two more sessions.”

“That is a spell only Rank One lumen-type mage could unleash,” Seven hooted in response.

“Medich may not seem like an alchemist, but his ability to craft a badge like this showcases his knowledge and prowess as a Divine Tower mage,” it added.

“You need not blame yourself because I couldn’t join the Divine Tower of Dawn. While you may be part of the reason, it’s primarily my own feelings. How could I possibly bring myself to join them, given their indirect role in my mentor’s downfall and my separation from my seniors and Leena?” Sein clarified, shaking his head.

Seven responded with a couple of hoots, acknowledging Sein’s words.

Since they were in a remote area, Seven chose to stay outside instead of returning to the space piccolo.

As a flying magic beast, the sky was Seven’s natural domain.

It soared high into the air, transforming into a black dot against the sky before disappearing into a dense forest.

Sein was not particularly worried about Seven since it was a quasi-ranked magic beast.

He retrieved a tent from his space ring, then started a campfire and began preparing dinner.

Acknowledging the pivotal role of knowledge in amplifying a spellcaster’s power, Sein, a diligent learner acknowledged by his late mentor, persisted in his quest for wisdom.

After tossing some spices and chunks of meat into an iron pot over the campfire, Sein began reading the “Field Guide” he had received from Frank.

“I’m running low on those basic magic ingredients and raw materials from the Underworld,” he contemplated to himself.

“I should have delved deeper into apothecary with Marie back then. It would have helped me quickly identify which ingredients from the underground could be substituted with those from the surface world,” he muttered while stirring the meat soup and reading the book.

The intricacies of apothecary were comparable to alchemy.

The control of the heat, the precise order and quantity of ingredients, and the timing—all of them demand profound understanding.

Since it was easy to produce nutritional potions, Sein was able to master it quickly right away.

However, with the main ingredients gradually running out, it became impractical for him, as an amateur, to spend a lot of time blindly experimenting.

The time would have been better spent on studying the magic tomes left to him by his mentor.

After all, the nutritional potion was just a relatively basic potion, and it was not worth Sein’s while to invest too much time in it.

“When I reach the north, connecting with the mage councils there or joining the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring could open avenues for knowledge and resources. I can’t afford to remain closed off,” Sein thought to himself.

As an initiate, he would not be able to make significant progress by isolating himself in the laboratory for a few decades. The situations of those intermediate and senior initiates around Berthold City were the best examples.

Only by joining the Divine Tower, or an organization with the presence of a full-fledged mage would Sein be able to access a broader platform for personal development.

His unwavering desire to advance beyond Rank One and explore the Western Archipelago was fueled not only by the quest to honor Master Morsidor’s last wish but also by his determination to find Leena.

As dinner was almost ready and the aroma of the soup filled the air, a few hoots from the sky reached Sein’s ears, indicating Seven’s return.

Seven did not return empty-handed today.

Alongside three blue stalks of grass, Seven carried two red vermilion fruits in its mouth.

Sein recognized them immediately—they were the same fruit he had seen offered at the recent trade fair.

Sein was also able to identify the three stalks of grass as Verdant Shadowgrass, a relatively basic yet valuable magic ingredient.

According to the field guide from Frank, initiates could hold this grass in their mouths to enhance meditation efficiency.

Unfortunately, its effectiveness was limited to intermediate initiates with a focus of 50 points or less, rendering it useless for Sein.

“Holding Verdant Shadowgrass in the mouth during meditation is a primitive and inefficient way to use it. If it can be utilized as an ingredient to make a relevant magic potion, it’ll certainly be effective to even senior initiates like me,” Sein examined the three stalks of grass while mumbling to himself.

The acquisition of these plants deepened Sein’s interest in apothecary.

After placing the three Verdant Shadowgrass into his space ring, Sein noticed the messy feathers between Seven’s wings and the blue blood staining them.

“You fought?” Sein questioned.

“Well, there was a snake while I was picking the fruits. We had a little scuffle since it refused to let me go,” Seven said as it lowered its head and combed its feathers.

There were not many powerful magic beasts around, so Sein assumed that the snake was not that powerful either.

Most of the blue blood on Seven was likely from that snake, though it was unclear if the snake survived.

“I consumed the magic core of that snake. It was rather large, so I didn’t bring it back,” Seven explained, as if anticipating Sein’s thoughts.

Seven’s reply left Sein a little speechless.

“Even if the opponent is large, you could consider bringing back some of its valuable parts next time. They could prove useful, especially considering my skills as an alchemist,” Sein reminded.

“Understood. Should I go bring it back now?” Seven asked.

“Forget it. Let’s eat first. I can see you’re tired,” Sein replied and shook his head.

Although Seven was a magic beast, it had gotten used to sharing hot meals with Sein during their travels.

Even in the recent battle, Seven had only consumed the magic core of the intermediate-level magic beast, leaving its remains untouched.

“Snake meat should be delightful. If you find yourself in a similar situation next time, bring back a portion of the magic beast’s meat,” Sein suggested during their meal.

Seven hooted in acknowledgment.

“By the way, I found two Reagen Fruits among my mentor’s inheritance. You mentioned that they were beneficial to you, so why did you not eat them?” Sein inquired as he took a sip of hot soup.

“I said that because those Reagan Fruits could speed up the recovery of my injuries. With the Divine Light Badge now, there’s no need to waste them,” Seven replied.

After a brief pause, it continued, “In fact, the primary function of Reagan Fruits is to help quasi-ranked magic beasts like me to reach a higher rank. I sense that I’m still a bit far from becoming a Rank One magic beast, so consuming the Reagan Fruit is a bit of a waste.”

Sein pondered for a moment and then suggested, “If we use the Reagan Fruits as the main ingredient to create a magic beast potion, would it improve your chances of a breakthrough?”

“Probably,” Seven replied.