Sovereign of the Ashes

Although irritated by the mermaid’s threat, Sein did not outright reject her request.

Instead, he probed, “As a member of the imperial family in the Magus World’s ocean, surely your kind possess secret techniques to undo soul control. Why seek help from a mage like me instead of returning to your family?”

This question showed Sein’s wariness toward the mermaid.

He had numerous secrets, especially now, as his journey to the Blackhaven was far from a mere vacation.

Having a mermaid as a companion proved to be more of a burden than a benefit.

The mermaid did not directly answer Sein’s question.

The reason behind her decision was tied to specific customs and detrimental practices within aquatic races.

Mermaids placed a high value on chastity, encompassing more than just physical purity—it included various aspects of their social conduct.

Underaged mermaids were rarely allowed outside their homes.

Even adult mermaids only had the opportunity to meet potential partners once every fifty years during an ocean festival, under the strict supervision of their elders.

Although the pink-tailed mermaid was of age, she had missed the last festival due to the timing of her birth. She had to wait another fifty years for the next one.

For ordinary mermaids, who could live nearly two hundred years, fifty years was excessively long, particularly for those of a more adventurous disposition.

The young pink-tailed mermaid had secretly escaped from Crystal City to explore the broader Magus World.

However, before she could fully experience its wonders, she was captured by Van Basten and endured two years of imprisonment.

Returning to her clan would consign her to a sheltered, freedomless life—a fate that not even her parents could save her from.

She could hope to reintegrate into Mermaid City without undue difficulty by attaining a life level of at least Rank One or ideally Rank Two.

There was a good reason why mermaids always fetched higher prices than even the beautiful elves in the Magus Civilization’s black market.

One might wonder whether it was their beauty or the mystical “Blessing of the Sea” that inflated their value. However, the true reason was their rarity.

Unlike elves, fewer mermaids strayed away from home, making them highly coveted.

While the world recognized the mermaids’ beauty and their unique Blessing of the Sea ability, not many knew about the grim fate that often befell mermaids who were harmed.

The existence of Half-Merfolk hybrids was an indelible stain in mermaid history.

Only a few were aware of the challenges Half-Merfolk endured in the ocean.

Purebred mermaids view them as a disgrace, prohibiting them from reproducing to avoid tainting the mermaid’s noble lineage.

Approximately seventy percent of Half-Merfolk were confined to undersea stone fortresses built by the purebred merfolk, where they spent the remainder of their lives isolated in the ocean depths.

In comparison, the Grand Elven World, a member of the Magus Alliance, was far more tolerant and accepting toward the hybrids.

The elves did not discriminate against the Half-Elves, despite their diluted heritage. Instead, they were empathetic toward the growing population of Half-Elves.

Consequently, Half-Elves received the same treatment as purebred elves.

Many beings of Rank Four and above in the Grand Elven World were Half-Elves, and they were revered as deities.[1]

The mermaid’s daring escape from the undersea Crystal City spoke volumes of her courageous and independent nature.

Given her willingness to defy tradition by leaving the merfolk city, there was no way she would ever return to accept punishment from her clan.

Moreover, having escaped the clutches of a black mage, arguably one of the most formidable threats in the Magus World, what could possibly pose a greater risk to her?

She might wonder about Sein’s character, but her observations of his interactions with Tourmaline, the child of the Sea God, had allayed her fears.

The Sea God was an unparalleled figure across the four oceans of the Magus World, adored and honored by countless aquatic races as their ultimate protector since the primordial era.

Among the merfolk, the Sea God’s status was on par with that of Avril, the queen of the mermaids.

For the other aquatic beings, his prestige even eclipsed that of the so-called queen of the mermaids.

He was the foundational pillar of the aquatic races in the Magus World, a steadfast guardian in the vast ocean.

***

With an extra companion by his side, Sein’s elation from looting the Rank Two black mage was somewhat diminished.

Although he verbally promised to assist her with the lingering soul magic bond left by the Rank Two black mage, Sein was secretly contemplating the possibility of using the soul magic from “Mirage’s Almanac of Souls” on her.

This method had proven effective with Yuri, and Sein was quite pleased with its outcomes.

Besides, it was not like Sein was breaking a promise. He had not signed a contract with her anyway.

Such was the naivete of a young mermaid.

The mermaid could never have guessed that Sein was not as benevolent as she perceived.

Tourmaline’s favor toward him was not due to Sein’s noble character, but rather because of the Planar Light bestowed upon him by the Summer Guardian after he clinched first place in the Regional Inter-Divine Academy War.

Beyond the complexities of soul magic, Sein found himself intrigued by mermaids as they were a unique race within the Magus World.

Sein was intrigued by the mermaid’s unique abilities, which sparked his curiosity for further research in the laboratory.

Meanwhile, the mermaid was in a good mood. She swam close to Tourmaline in the sea, basking in her newfound freedom.

Sein learned her name was Elisa—a common name among mermaids.

***

Tourmaline’s massive form, akin to an island, glided through the ocean.

Both the giant turtle and Sein were ultimately bound for the Western Archipelago but Tourmaline agreed to first make a detour to the Marmett Union Alliance and Steel City after discussing with Sein.

However, Tourmaline had a different purpose for visiting that region.

Although it had few only acquaintances within the Marmett Union Alliance, Tourmaline sought to reconnect with old friends it had known during its time in the Western Archipelago within the largest magic beast forest in that region.

1. Author’s Note: The Grand Elven World embraces theism, where low-level creatures often honor individuals of Rank Four or above as “gods”. ☜