Sovereign of the Ashes

Upon entering the camp at Windhowl Cliff Resource Point, Sein was not greeted by his cousin. Instead, he was greeted by a different female initiate with curly honey blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.

She possessed a striking beauty and a noble air that was impossible to overlook.

As Sein strode into the Windhowl Cliff resource point, he was met with looks of reverence, awe, or curiosity from most of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring’s initiates.

However, this particular female initiate approached him with a generous smile and extended her right hand.

In noble circles, a lady extending her right hand to a man often signified a gesture of intimacy and appreciation, akin to a hand-kiss, rather than a mere handshake.

While Sein was only moderately versed in noble etiquette, he was well-acquainted with the mage etiquette.

“Greetings, Sein Grantt, I’m Anna Jonnes. It’s a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for supporting our Windhowl Cliff Resource Point,” she said.

Anna Jonnes was one of the two most esteemed top initiates at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Beyond her combat prowess, consistently ranking second in the academy’s power rankings, her status was further bolstered by her lineage and surname.

Mark, with a grandmother who was a full-fledged mage and being part of the royal family of a small dukedom, made him a high-born.

Yet, his reputation paled in comparison to Anna’s.

House Jonnes was the wealthiest business tycoon and the sole ducal family in the Malgheria Kingdom, a neighboring nation to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Sein had marveled at the grandeur of Jewel Bay when he first arrived at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, unaware then that it belonged to Anna’s family.

From the day she joined the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Anna was recognized as a talented prodigy.

While having Rank One or Rank Two elders in the family like Mark was impressive, Anna’s great-grandfather was a Rank Three grand mage... and also the dean of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Although Anna’s individual prowess might have been a shade below that of Daniel, she was unquestionably his superior in terms of background and influence.

Sein subtly raised his eyebrows in response to the confident and attractive female initiate’s forward greeting.

Instead of returning her gesture with a hand-kiss, he shook Anna’s hand briefly and with composure.

“You’re welcome. As an initiate of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, supporting the local resource points is my inherent duty,” Sein responded nonchalantly.

His demeanor, coupled with his cool response, left Anna slightly embarrassed, though she managed to hide her reaction well.

As they walked deeper into the camp, Anna casually inquired about Sein’s family and mentor. After all, reaching such heights as an initiate typically required the backing of a distinguished family and the guidance of an accomplished mentor.

While Anna’s questions were tactful, Sein had little interest in engaging in small talk with a stranger.

After giving brief replies, he found her persistence irksome and promptly left without another word.

Being a loner for many years and not keen on learning about prominent figures at the academy, Sein was unaware of Anna’s background.

Even if he had known, it likely would not have changed his behavior.

At most, he would only moderate his demeanor, recognizing that nothing beneficial could come from offending a woman hailing from such a powerful background.

Sein’s indifference and abrupt departure left Anna in an awkward position.

Many initiates were observing them discreetly, and Sein’s cold treatment did not go unnoticed. While the onlookers might not have thought much of it, Anna felt as if they were mocking her.

Initially in high spirits and harboring a measure of admiration for Sein, her mood visibly shifted, her complexion turning noticeably paler.

“That’s just how he is, Anna. Don’t take it to heart,” Daniel said, having approached Anna unnoticed at some point.

As fellow top initiates and prominent figures within the academy, Daniel and Anna shared a cordial relationship.

Their mentors were close friends, which had also brought them closer as peers of similar standing.

Anna and Daniel had always considered themselves the unrivaled initiates in the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Therefore, Sein’s sudden emergence was a surprise to them!

The sight of a brilliant golden pillar of light radiating from Sein’s form elicited a sigh from even the proud Anna, compelling her to acknowledge his exceptional talent.

Perhaps it was the nature of geniuses to be arrogant and aloof.

Anna, previously an unapproachable, revered figure among the ordinary initiates of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, now faced someone even more formidable.

Sein’s aloofness and brilliance made him seem beyond reach, even for someone as accomplished as her.

“Fine, Daniel,” Anna said with a sigh.

The recent battle had significantly altered both Sein’s and Daniel’s perceptions of each other.

This change was evident in Daniel’s effort to encourage Anna to understand Sein’s character.

The initiates from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, unlike the black magic initiates Sein encountered in Mystralora City, were less hostile and rarely harbored twisted intentions.

Most were amiable, including the somewhat arrogant Mark.

Though Mark could be pompous, he was not malevolent.

This nurturing, deceit-free environment at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring had subtly shifted Sein’s own hostility and mindset ever since he left the Underworld.

Medich, the Rank Two mage, had been pivotal in Sein’s journey. Without his token and introduction to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Sein’s swift advancements would have been impossible.

After parting ways with Anna, Sein soon spotted his cousin on one of Windhowl Cliff’s platforms.

The platforms scattered across Windhowl Cliff’s Resource Point were fortifications ingeniously crafted by the initiates from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Given the cliff’s naturally high altitude, initiates were able to leverage the terrain for strategic defense advantage.

Coupled with various magic prohibition arrays, the defensive capabilities of the area were significantly enhanced.

Anna, the female Quasi Mage, had certainly proven her mettle.

Even without timely support from Sein and others, the initiates at Windhowl Cliff could have held their ground for a month or two.