Sovereign of the Ashes

“How strong is your fourth brother?” Sein asked, unable to contain his curiosity as he lay on Tourmaline’s back.

He had learned that subtlety was lost on Tourmaline. Rather than tiptoe around a subject, direct questions yielded better results.

As expected, Tourmaline responded honestly without hesitation, “Fourth Brother isn’t as strong as Third Sister. I remember seeing it getting beaten up by Third Sister when we were young.”

“But Fourth Brother is all grown-up now, and Third Sister once mentioned that it’s a handful,” Tourmaline added, tilting its head slightly as if trying to decipher its sister’s exact meaning of “handful”.

Sein nodded thoughtfully, choosing not to delve further into Tourmaline’s family dynamics.

Although Tourmaline was simple-minded and straightforward, Sein knew better than to mistake it for a fool and carefully avoided delving into particularly sensitive family matters.

For instance, he had never broached the topic of Tourmaline’s parents or much about its other older siblings.

It was Tourmaline itself who was his friend, not its family.

Given the formidable strength of Tourmaline’s family and relatives, they likely viewed Sein, a mere Rank One mage, as nothing more than Tourmaline’s pet or playmate.

As long as Sein posed no threat to Tourmaline, its family would probably leave him be.

Sein rolled over on the soft, cozy grassland, then suddenly suggested, “Why don’t you visit the Viridescent Land next time? The Jewel Sea is near the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring. I’m sure you’d love it there.”

Tourmaline had heard numerous stories from Sein up to this point.

Although most of them were otherworldly tales Sein had read from books, a few were his personal experiences at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Since Sein had never ventured beyond the Viridescent Land previously, his knowledge was limited to that side of the Magus World.

Of course, Sein only picked the most intriguing stories to share, so upon hearing his invitation, Tourmaline’s eyes sparkled with a hint of interest.

However, Tourmaline’s enthusiasm was not primarily driven by the promise of entertainment but by a good place where she could easily sleep for decades, completely undisturbed.

The Jewel Sea seemed like an ideal vacation spot with its captivating scenery, expansive waters, and warm sunshine.

Yet, Sein had never heard anything about the Jewel Sea being connected to major waterways, so it could be difficult for Tourmaline to travel there.

Tourmaline paused before responding to Sein’s invitation.

This simple and honest dragon turtle was cautious about making commitments.

“I gotta return to the Western Archipelago first to get permission from my parents and sister to visit the place you mentioned,” it replied.

It appeared Tourmaline’s decision-making still heavily depended on its family’s input.

Sein did not press further and simply nodded in understanding.

***

The Marmett Union Alliance was a bastion of strength and prosperity, known for its scenic landscapes and bustling cities.

Upon arriving at a port city known as Dimos, Sein had Tourmaline wait for him by the river and then took Yuri with him to explore.

Sev stayed behind with Tourmaline, presumably to keep it entertained, though perhaps Sein was merely being overly cautious.

Tourmaline’s sense of time differed vastly from humans. Even if Sein and Yuri were to spend a week in this port city, it would feel like merely the blink of an eye to the dragon turtle.

Moreover, Tourmaline could easily pass the time sleeping, as it always seemed in need of a good rest.

Despite its significance, Dimos Port was nothing special compared to the many cities in the Marmett Union Alliance. It was neither the capital of a kingdom in the alliance nor a major economic center.

Its prominence arose from its advantageous location on the riverbank and developed waterway, which contributed to its growth into a huge city.

Dimos boasted its own floating port, a common feature Sein noticed was more prevalent within the alliance than along the southern coast.

Almost every city, regardless of its climate, seemed to have one.

The airships here differed from those Sein had seen on the southern coast and the Viridescent Land.

They were generally smaller but appeared more modern in every aspect, especially their propulsion system, which was distinct from those in other regions.

Despite their reduced production costs, these airships maintained their impressive carrying capacity and speed.

Unbeknownst to Sein, over seventy percent of the Marmett Union Alliance’s airships were constructed with help from Steel City in the north, and they also accounted for more than half of Steel City’s annual production orders.

The ongoing prosperity of Steel City and the sustained strength of the Marmett Union Alliance over the past hundred thousand years stemmed from their mutual support and the astute decisions of their leaders.

In Dimos Seaport, Sein’s primary objective was to acquire materials unique to the Marmett Union Alliance.

These rare magic materials, including those from planes governed by the alliance, were available here at lower prices and in greater variety than at the divine tower stores in other regions.

Sein’s focus was not on high-end materials but rather on a range of resources and experimental equipment useful for a Rank One mage.

His stock had significantly dwindled, hence replenishment was necessary.

The magicoins Sein was using were from his previous savings. He had yet to touch any of the valuable loot obtained from the black mage.

He planned to only handle those precious loots after reaching Blackhaven in the Western Archipelago—a place far more chaotic than any black market he had previously encountered.

In Blackhaven, the lawless heart of the Magus World, transactions in bloodstained stolen goods and even the trade of native slaves above the life level of Rank One occurred openly without repercussion.

It was a haven for the mad and the malevolent in the Magus World.

***

Sein spent two days exploring the bustling streets of Dimos Port.

By the afternoon of the second day, after securing most of the commonly used resources on his list, he stumbled upon an obscure shop nestled in the southwest corner of the city.

The store exuded an eerie tranquility and offered a bizarre assortment of ancient magic tomes.

The shopkeeper was a stooped old man with a bald head, clothed in a short gray robe.

As Sein entered, the old man lifted his gaze slightly, fixing his dull, dead-fish eyes on the new visitor.