Sovereign of the Ashes

Upon presenting Medich’s Divine Light Badge, Sein was met with a warm reception from the Rank One mage.

It seemed like Medich was truly popular within the tower.

The mage promptly used a crystal ball to notify Medich, requesting his presence outside the tower and then began chatting with Sein.

Sein learned that the mage, named Gus, had been recently promoted to Rank One.

However, he had yet to experience an interplanar war as he had been undertaking academy quests since his promotion. Through their conversation, he revealed to Sein his longing for the experiences of interplanar warfare.

“Master Medich was my instructor, he’s truly a kind and patient man,” Gus shared.

Turning his attention to Yuri, Gus asked, “By the way, is this your otherworldly familiar? I think I’ve seen similar beings documented in a magic guide.”

“No, she’s my slave, a prize from an interplanar war,” Sein stated plainly.

Gus reacted with a mix of surprise and curiosity, noting Sein’s youthful appearance and composed demeanor, markedly different from his own.

Yuri, who had remained quietly by Sein’s side, blushed slightly at the mention of her status.

She had pretty much acclimated to her role as Sein’s slave, yet being explicitly acknowledged as one stirred a complex mix of emotions within her.

This humiliation, likely influenced by the Soul Enslavement magic, left her without feelings of rebellion or disgust.

It was a very strange feeling to her. In the recesses of her heart, she had a dark desire for Sein to subject her to humiliation and torment.

This inclination might be attributed to the influence of Soul Enslavement magic, yet it could also signify the emergence of her subconscious desires.

For the time being, Sein remained oblivious to Yuri’s internal struggle as she seemed normal on the outside.

***

Although Sein was having a conversation with Gus, the Rank One mage from the Divine Tower of Dawn, Gus did most of the talking, with Sein contributing sparingly.

In the span of a few sandglasses, Gus had inadvertently revealed much about himself, while his understanding of Sein remained superficial.

He only knew that Sein hailed from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, had fought in at least one interplanar war, and possessed an attractive otherworldly slave.

Although Yuri had been a captive for a long while, she retained a distinct heroic aura that intrigued some of the younger members of the divine tower.

Gus’ attention frequently drifted to Yuri before he finally recognized her origin.

“Ah! She’s a Neisse Civilization creature! I saw a mechanic from Steel City selling a similar being in the divine tower’s external commercial area!” he declared excitedly.

“But... why do I have a feeling that your slave seems different from that mechanic’s?” he pondered aloud.

Just then, Sein spotted a bright light high in the sky, approaching rapidly.

He reactivated the metal disk beneath his feet and prepared to meet the streak of light.

Before leaving, he turned to Gus and said, “She’s an engineer from the Neisse Civilization.”

***

Reuniting with Master Medich stirred a tumult of emotions in Sein’s heart.

Medich the peak Rank Two mage also regarded Sein with a gaze filled with mixed emotions.

“Come, let’s go to my quarters in the divine tower. We’re old friends now,” Medich offered.

“Thank you, Master Medich,” Sein responded, bowing respectfully.

Medich’s quarters were on the 1243rd floor of the Divine Tower of Dawn.

The tower’s grandeur with its thousand-plus floors was a reflection of its superior strength and long history compared to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Yet, Sein never regretted the decision he made back then.

Being the apprentice of a Rank Four tower master clearly held more promise than that of an apprentice to a peak Rank Two mage.

“I never doubted that you would shine, yet your status as the Tower Master of Verdant Spring’s apprentice is indeed a delightful surprise,” Medich remarked, serving Sein a glass of otherworldly fruit juice in his spacious living room.

Tiny particles of pyro element danced at the rim of the glass, while the vibrant red pulp looked tantalizing in the liquid.

As a peak Rank Two mage, Medich was far wealthier than Sein, who had only participated in a single interplanar war.

While Lorianne was undoubtedly affluent and often showered Sein with gifts, she appeared to lean more toward pragmatism than indulgence. Sein had observed no signs of luxury items or gourmet delights within her laboratory.

In contrast, Medich’s more personable and generous demeanor explained his popularity within the Divine Tower of Dawn.

Sein took a sip of the fruit juice, then said, “I was only able to enroll in the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring thanks to your badge.”

“No thanks are necessary. I heard about your achievements from Jovian after the Viridian Venom Flame World war ended. He told me that you got first place in the Regional Inter-Divine Tower Academy War,” Medich said.

“Hoho, I’m starting to regret letting you walk away back then, I should have whisked you away to the Divine Tower of Dawn. Had the dean known I allowed such talent to escape, I might have found myself in quite a bit of trouble,” he joked.

Even in Medich’s esteemed presence, Sein felt no intimidation, only warmth from the mage’s affable nature.

His amiable disposition made it clear why he was so beloved among the female mages in the Divine Tower of Dawn.

Sein could only awkwardly take a sip of his juice in response to Medich’s humor.

He was not a very sociable person. In fact, his visit was primarily to express appreciation for Medich’s past assistance.

Sein was someone who deeply valued those who had supported him, particularly those who extended their help without any expectation of reciprocity.

It was probably very rare to find individuals like Master Medich in the divine towers.

“This is the Flame Fruit I acquired during my adventures in the Fire Emblem World. If you like it, I’d be happy to share with you some of its seeds,” Medich offered warmly.