Sovereign of the Ashes

Above the vast turquoise sea, a battered alchemy ship sailed forward at an agonizingly slow pace, contradicting its massive build.

Despite its sluggish speed, it continued its northward journey steadily.

Sein marveled upon spotting it; it was remarkable that the vessel was still operational.

Tourmaline, with only its back visible above the water, was comparable in size to the giant alchemy ship.

Yet, if one considered the entirety of Tourmaline’s submerged body, it clearly dwarfed the ship.

The sudden emergence of a colossal dragon turtle stirred panic among the remaining magic initiates and sailors aboard the alchemy ship.

The memory of the black mage’s recent rampage was still vivid in their minds.

The sudden emergence of a giant dragon turtle from the sea presented an even more terrifying spectacle than the previous black mage.

However, the panic and confusion gradually subsided when some of the people on the deck of the giant ship noticed Sein standing atop the dragon turtle.

Although the magical initiates were not very familiar with the Rank One mage who had only stayed briefly on their ship, they had some impression of Sein.

The curiosity and desire of mages to uncover the mysteries of truth meant they naturally paid attention to higher-ranked mages.

While they were not as acquainted with Sein as they had been with Thatch, they were certain they would not mistake him for someone else.

A cheer soon erupted, replacing their panic.

Many magic initiates mistook Tourmaline for Sein’s new mount, interpreting its massive size as a testament to the kind of power a full-fledged mage could wield.

This assumption further ignited the initiates’ thirst for knowledge and truth.

***

Tourmaline, the dragon turtle, was equally curious about the ordinary people and magic initiates on the ship.

It poked its head through the sea surface, inspecting the tiny humans with its large, round black eyes.

Many of the magic initiates and human sailors on board gasped in surprise.

After saying something to Tourmaline, Sein soared into the air and descended on the giant ship.

This alchemy ship was owned by the Guilleman Chamber of Commerce, where Sein had done his registration before boarding.

Sein could find himself in trouble should he return to the Magus Continent while the ship remained adrift in the Boundless South Sea.

He would likely be interrogated by the Guilleman Chamber of Commerce.

For this reason, Sein figured he should guide the vessel back to one of the ports along the southern coast of the Magus Continent to avoid future complications.

Upon landing on the deck, Sein observed that the previously blood-stained deck was now considerably cleaner and tidier.

This suggested that someone had taken the initiative to clean the deck and repair some of the damage from the battle.

The edges of the giant ship, as well as multiple spots on the deck, showed signs of relatively rough repairs.

The self-preservation skills and resourcefulness displayed by the group of magic initiates prompted Sein to nod almost imperceptibly in approval.

He later learned that an initiate named Eric had led all the others, along with the sailors, in these efforts.

Impressed, Sein personally met with Eric, rewarding him with an advanced pyro-attribute energy crystal to encourage his leadership and initiative.

Given that Sein’s recent encounter with the Rank Two Black Mage had yielded considerable loot, the gift of a single advanced energy crystal was trivial in comparison.

Moreover, if his suspicions were correct, the spatial equipment of Thatch and two other fallen Rank One knights had also come into his possession.

Sein had no intention of voluntarily relinquishing these items.

His display of generosity and kindness in front of these magic initiates served to ensure that they would not speak ill of him once they reached the Marmett Union Alliance.

Given the limited abilities and awareness of these initiates, the chances of them safely returning to a port on the southern coast of the Magus Continent were slim without his help.

“Master, I do not want your energy crystal. Please take me as your apprentice!” Eric, the red-haired initiate, rejected Sein’s gift and made a bold request instead.

Eric was known among the initiates for his courage, meticulous nature, and organizational skills.

Sein also learned from other initiates that Eric had managed to operate a secondary cannon on the alchemy ship, firing directly at Van Basten.

Surprisingly, no one could explain why the Rank Two black mage had spared his life.

The red-haired initiates before him reminded Sein of his younger self.

Back then, he had also tried everything he could to become the apprentice of Morsidor, a Rank One black mage. It had been that arduous path that propelled his growth to his current achievements.

Eric was a reflection of his younger self—a determined intermediate initiate with limitless potential.

Unfortunately, Sein had no plans of taking on an apprentice at the moment.

The timing was not right, and he felt his knowledge had not yet reached the point where he could adequately mentor another.

Morsidor had only taken on apprentices after living over eight hundred years to pass on his legacy in his twilight years due to his inability to advance to Rank Two.

In contrast, Sein, who had yet to reach a hundred years old, was definitely considered young among the full-fledged mages.

He was not driven by an urgent need to pass on his mantle, nor did he possess extensive life experience or the depth of knowledge necessary to become a mentor.

In his hand, what was initially an advanced fire-attribute energy crystal soon multiplied to three, along with a notebook detailing an intermediate magic spell—Fiery Hand.

“I have no plans to take on an apprentice, but I see great potential in you, little one. This is a magic notebook containing Fiery Hand, a pyro magic spell I mastered during my days as an initiate. I hope it serves you well and helps you surpass your aspirations,” Sein explained as he handed over the three energy crystals and the magic notebook to Eric.

Upon hearing Sein’s decision, a trace of regret and bitterness crossed Eric’s expression.

However, the young initiate did not persist in his request. Instead, he bowed respectfully to Sein before respectfully departing.

As Sein watched Eric walking toward the deck, a female magic initiate, evidently familiar with him, quickly approached him.

Sein could not help but let out a sigh. “How nice it is to be young!”