Sovereign of the Ashes

When Sein and Leena approached, Angreas, the Rank One warlock, had already reverted to his normal human form.

His eyes had reverted too, though they retained a demonic greenish-blue hue within the depths of his pupils.

“Thank you for your assistance. I’m Angreas, a Rank One warlock from House Farrell on the West Coast,” Angreas said, formally reintroducing himself despite having done so earlier during the battle.

“Hello, I’m Sein, a Rank One mage from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring in Viridescent Land,” Sein replied with a smile.

Although Viridescent Land was a lesser-known location, Angreas made a mental note to remember the divine tower that Sein was affiliated with.

Beside Sein, Leena remained silent, choosing not to introduce herself.

Finally, Sein added, “This is my wife, Leena.”

The word “wife” seemed to stir something in Leena. Her face flushed scarlet, and she instinctively moved closer to Sein.

Even through his magic robe, Sein could feel Leena’s body heat radiating through her skin despite her usual cold demeanor.

Upon learning that Leena was Sein’s wife, Angreas bowed deeply to her, showing his respect.

Leena’s youthful appearance did not surprise Angreas.

In the Magus World, where mages possessed diverse abilities, altering one’s appearance was nothing new, especially in regions like the West Coast where warlocks frequently changed forms.

Leena’s formidable performance during the battle earlier suggested an age far beyond what her visage indicated.

As to why she maintained such an appearance, Angreas, being an outsider, felt it was not his place to probe.

Meanwhile, Angreas discreetly shot a glance at Sein, who stood before him, wondering if he had a particular preference.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Sein and Angreas got down to business.

Sein’s assistance to Angreas was partly to hone his skills, but the primary motivation was the Dragon Core Fruit.

This fruit, a rare treasure Angreas had found in the trial zone, had not yet reached full maturity when discovered.

Otherwise, Angreas would have taken it and fled long before any complications arose.

With Angreas’ explanation, Sein noticed faint traces of a magic array around the Dragon Core Fruit tree.

It became apparent that Angreas was also a master of array arts.

The magic array in question was designed to gather energy and preserve heat, but it appeared to have other special functions too.

While explaining the magic array to Sein, Angreas expressed his desire for a larger share of the Dragon Core Fruit.

After all, he was the one who had discovered it first and invested the most effort and resources to nurture it.

Unfortunately for Angreas, Sein was not a saint and could not care less about his efforts.

In response to Angreas’ implied expectation, Sein firmly stated, “Just a day ago, you invited us as a couple to join the battle, promising to split the Dragon Core Fruit equally.”

Sein’s blunt reply caused Angreas’ expression to contort slightly—it was a look of pain.

Nevertheless, Angreas chose to keep his word instead of fighting Sein.

After slicing the fully ripe Dragon Core Fruit into three parts, Angreas handed two-thirds of it to Sein and Leena, keeping just one-third for himself.

“Dragon Core Fruit quickly loses its potency after being cut. I recommend consuming it within two days,” Angreas advised Sein and Leena before departing.

Angreas never proposed a long-term alliance with Sein and Leena. In the end, he was just another passerby in their lives.

Moreover, Sein was thoroughly enjoying Leena’s company and had little interest in teaming up with someone he barely knew, despite their recent collaboration in battle.

“Thanks for the reminder,” Sein responded with a nod.

“Then, until we meet again, farewell.” Angreas gave another respectful bow to Sein and Leena before swiftly departing.

“That was quite an interesting bloodline warlock,” Sein remarked to Leena, watching as Angreas vanished into the jungle.

Sein was not commenting on Angreas’s remarkable strength but on his discreet decision to leave the arrays intact around the Dragon Core Fruit tree.

The surrounding trees had been destroyed in a recent skirmish involving several Rank One creatures.

Only the Dragon Core Fruit tree stood proudly, encircled by magic arrays supporting its growth.

Sein speculated that the tree would bear fruits once again in a thousand years when the Knight Continent was next opened.

“Let’s find a place to consume this fruit,” Sein suggested to Leena.

***

Sein and Leena settled beside a tranquil pool of light blue, clear water. Against the backdrop of a red-orange sunset, the setting exuded a quiet, cozy ambiance.

Previously, Sein had not been particular about choosing resting spots.

However, since Leena’s return to his life, he had become increasingly attentive to such details.

Perhaps, he thought, this was what truly living felt like. Only Leena could bring colors back to his otherwise dull life.

Their shelter was a partly metallic tent—a recent creation by Sein that could be considered a magic item.

When stored, it was as compact as a capsule, but when expanded, it could isolate sound and dampen vibrations.

The conveniences afforded by alchemy were evident, even in their daily life.

Sein was busy processing the Dragon Core Fruit they had recently acquired.

Slicing off a third of it revealed its vibrant red flesh, which emitted an exotic aroma with a hint of dragon’s blood. It was no wonder why the fruit was aptly named the Dragon Core Fruit.

Instead of consuming the fruit directly, Sein planned to turn it into a magic potion to maximize its beneficial properties.

Alongside the Dragon Core Fruit, he had a variety of high-grade magical ingredients available, which could be incorporated into the potion.

Crafting magic potions, however, was complex, involving delicate considerations such as the potential loss of medicinal properties and the challenges of ingredient fusion.

Sein mulled over these complexities as he meticulously handled various bottles and test tubes at the experimental table by the pool.

Leena lay on a magic square blanket nearby, examining a gift from Sein—the eyeball of a Noctowl Stag.

This peculiar item resonated with her umbra elemental constitution, though it was uncertain what she might ultimately do with it.

However, it was a black crystal bracelet that captured her attention more than the eyeball.

“I didn’t expect you would still keep this,” Leena remarked, admiring the black crystal bracelet on her wrist.

“Of course, I’ve safely kept everything that was yours. That bracelet has been with me through many days and nights, especially in the Yellow Sand World,” Sein replied, his tone gentle as he continued his work at the table.

A smile lit up Leena’s face as she stretched lazily.

In her older form, such a gesture would have been undeniably seductive. In her current, younger form, however, it was endearingly cute instead.

“Dragon Core Fruit isn’t much use to me, so you can take the entire potion later,” Leena suggested.

“It’s not as if I need to enhance my constitution anyway,” she added nonchalantly.