Sovereign of the Ashes

Following the incident at the arena, Sein resumed his attendance in classes at the academy building the next day.

When Sein claimed the center seat in the front row in the classroom during the Pyro Elemental Transformation course, none of the other initiates dared to make any objections.

Most of them had caught wind of the previous day’s battle and the ultimate victor.

While some harbored a degree of fear toward Sein, the sudden rising star of the academy, most simply intrigued.

After all, he was an enigmatic figure who had suddenly burst onto the scene with remarkable strength.

Mark also came to class today, but unlike the previous day, his arm was wrapped in a thick layer of white bandages.

Upon spotting Sein, he no longer exuded the same air of arrogance.

Yet, a trace of unresolved frustration lingered in Mark’s eyes.

Nevertheless, he was not foolish enough to challenge Sein again right away.

A temporary setback meant little to Mark, and he was confident that he would have an opportunity to redeem himself in the future.

After leaving the arena stage yesterday, Mark learned from his grandmother that, in addition to the Pyro Blade spell, Sein also had an advanced magic wand in his clutch, capable of instantly unleashing an advanced magic spell.

Had it not been for Eileen’s timely intervention, Mark would have met his end at the hands of either Sein’s Pyro Sword spell or the spell in his Acid Wand.

This revelation left Mark shocked and wary of Sein, a fellow senior initiate who had always kept a low profile and seemed rather peculiar.

Even so, Mark was not ready to admit defeat.

He firmly believed that the sole reason for his loss was Sein’s superior magic equipment.

Whether it was the ring with geo elemental shield or the Acid Wand, both items were considered rare gems among advanced magic items.

Mark was convinced that given another chance, he could strategically counter Sein’s equipment.

Perhaps he could even request superior magic items from his family that rivaled Sein’s Acid Wand.

However, this remained a mere fantasy in Mark’s mind.

There were no such things as second chances in the real world.

Even if Mark was convinced that the reason for his loss was the disparity in their equipment, full-fledged mages like Eileen and the other yellow-robed mage, who closely observed their battle, knew that the true difference lay in Sein’s keen senses in battle and his ability to navigate danger.

Even with another rematch, there was a high likelihood that Mark would not be able to defeat Sein.

The disparity in their equipment was merely a secondary concern. The crucial question was whether Mark, given the opportunity, would charge headlong into the Mass Explosion spell.

Sein’s bold and extremely daring action inadvertently exuded an aura of courage and determination to fight for his life, all while maintaining his handsome and refined appearance as a magic initiate.

Faced with Sein’s decision to claim his usual seat, Mark could only muster a grunt before relocating with his two companions to second and third rows of the classroom.

Shortly after, Eileen entered the classroom punctually and commenced her lesson.

The beautiful female mage headed straight to the podium, paying no heed to Mark and Sein, who had become the center of attention in the classroom.

She seemed indifferent to the incident that took place the day before.

As Eileen opened her magic book, the lesson on the Pyro Elemental Transformation officially began.

Sein quickly retrieved his magic notes, disregarding the discreet glances from others in the classroom, and once again immersed himself in the pursuit of truth and knowledge.

***

Eileen’s Pyro Elemental Transformation classes were not conducted on a daily basis.

Initiates were often required to follow the schedule set by the instructor.

This was facilitated by crystal balls distributed to all initiates during enrollment, enabling them to check a day in advance if their desired classes were scheduled by any full-fledged mages.

By the time Sein completed the Pyro Elemental Transformation course by Eileen, it was already the end of the month.

Sein also received his monthly power rankings rewards—an advanced energy crystal, a refreshing potion, and two stalks of Elandria herbs that could improve the effects of meditation.

While such rewards would bring delight to a typical senior initiate, they were nothing special to Sein, considering his wealth.

The refreshing potion and advanced energy crystal were considered lower value compared to the two stalks of Elandria herbs.

However, to Sein, who had inherited Morsidor’s legacy, he was not in dire need of these supplies.

All this while, he had been using the concentrated powdered Elandria for his meditation.

While a month’s worth of reward may appear modest, the accumulation over a year holds significant value for me.

The rewards for those in the top ten or top three power rankings are undoubtedly scarce and precious.

Unfortunately, my current circumstances don’t permit me to invest excessive effort in achieving something as temporary as power rankings.

According to Master Jovian and Eileen, the Regional Inter-Divine Tower Academy War eight years from now presents an opportunity for initiates to shine, capture the attention of the upper echelons, and reap substantial rewards.

Hence, it’s crucial for me to focus on acquiring knowledge and self-improvement at present.

Apart from expediting the elevation of my focus and mana levels to the standards of a Quasi Mage, I need to continue improving Solar Eye and other magic spells.

Sein sighed contemplatively.

Additionally, Sein remained committed to his role as an alchemist in training.

Whether it was for the sake of his late mentor, Morsidor, or for his personal growth, Sein could not afford to abandon the rigorous and time-consuming study of alchemy.

Additionally, Sein also harbored a keen interest in exploring apothecary knowledge.

The breadth of knowledge and specialized skills Sein aspired to master was vast, overwhelming his daily schedule to the point he wished each minute could be stretched into two.

This intense commitment explained Sein’s seemingly quiet and indifferent demeanor, leading to his absence from noble balls.

Social events were a luxury he could not afford with his demanding daily routine.

Sein even contemplated giving up on the power rankings reward.

He simply lacked the time to contend with senior initiates vying for his position on the arena stage.

If others sought the title, he was willing to relinquish it.

Since their battle, Mark had been diligently analyzing Sein’s fighting techniques in an attempt to overcome him.

One could only wonder how he would react upon learning Sein’s thoughts and attitude toward the power rankings.