Sovereign of the Ashes

The Order of the Steel Fist served not only as a refuge for a large number of wounded but also as a vital supply hub for Thunderfall World.

War machines and essential resources were continually transported here.

This was also the initial receiving point for resources scavenged from the Thunderfall World upon their return to the Magus World.

Additionally, at the foot of the towering mountains that surrounded the Order of the Steel Fist, hundreds of thousands of various enslaved creatures were corralled to support the war effort.

The dire war conditions in Thunderfall World demanded such reinforcements, using these creatures as expendable forces.

After all, the life of a Rank One knight was deemed far more valuable than that of a dozen enslaved creatures of equivalent rank.

Having been established for many years, the Order of the Steel Fist had amassed substantial resources to support such measures.

Sein did not immediately respond to the female knight’s urgent query.

He wished to contact his father and great-grandfathers first, yet he had no idea how to reach them.

While Sein was lost in his thoughts, a knight in the hall took notice of Sein. Likewise, Sein also recalled meeting this middle-aged knight with a thick beard in the past.

When Old Grantt attained Rank One, House Grantt threw a lavish banquet, extending invitations to many ranked knights who were close friends.

Sein, blessed with a good memory, still remembered all the Rank One knights who had attended in person.

This bearded knight left the biggest impression on him because he had once proposed to have his granddaughter apprenticed to Sein.

After Sein had politely declined, the knight inquired if Sein was engaged or married.

”Hey, if it isn’t Master Sein of House Grantt! Have you also come to take part in this interplanar war?” the bearded knight approached and asked.

He was armed with a square-shaped sledgehammer, imbued with faint aero elemental energy—a magic weapon of considerable quality.

Clad in heavy armor, he seemed prepared to venture into the Thunderfall World to join the fray.

“Griman, you’re acquainted with this master? I’ll leave him in your care then,” said the female knight overseeing Sein’s reception. With that, she departed.

Due to the ongoing war, the Order of the Steel Fist was buzzing with activity.

After leaving Sein, the female knight quickly moved on to other tasks in the main hall, mostly welcoming the other hedge knights and mages who were eager to join the interplanar conflict.

Her departure left Griman, the burly and bearded knight, scratching his head awkwardly.

Unlike the eloquent knight, Griman lacked finesse in speech, but he made up for it with his unabashed forwardness. Otherwise, he would not have spoken to Sein so candidly during the banquet.

“Sir Griman, do you know anything about my father and great-grandfathers?” Sein asked.

Griman shook his head and replied, “I was off on a retreat in an allied microplane until recently. I only returned to find out that another interplanar war has broken out among the orders of the knights.”

“Unbelievable, isn’t it? They’ve only concluded a war a few decades back, and here we go again. I heard it’s to support the Order of the Thunder Knights this time round though,” he added, almost like muttering to himself.

The divine towers and orders of knights usually take breaks in between wars, typically a hundred years between each interplanar war as a good rule of thumb.

The Order of the Steel Fist just ended a war a few decades ago; plunging into another so soon seemed rash, even foolhardy.

Sein could tell that there were surely others like Griman, grumbling in secret about the quick succession of wars.

“Though I’m not fully aware of your elders’ situation, some of my comrades who’ve recently left the war mentioned that this low-level plane is more than meets the eye. Many have already lost their lives there.”

After saying that Griman’s eyes sparkled as he proposed, “Master Sein, why don’t you come with me to the Thunderfall World? At least we can watch each other’s backs, and I might even help you locate your father and great-grandfathers.”

Sein sighed and said, “It seems we have no other choice since my father and the others haven’t returned to the Magus World yet.”

“I’ll handle the war registration for you and secure the best contract terms possible then!” Griman offered, clenching his fists in excitement.

His eagerness stemmed from Sein’s status as an apprentice to the Tower Master of Verdant Spring.

Nevertheless, Sein was glad that the knight did not spread this information around.

However, he persistently reminded the knight responsible for drafting the contracts, “This mage is a descendant of House Grantt from our order. You have to make sure he receives the most favorable terms, understand?”

“I heard you the first time! House Grantt, where Sir Julius and Jeremy are from, right? I know,” replied the young red-haired knight tasked with drafting the contract.

The participation contract was straightforward, free from the typical complexities of magic pacts. Everything was listed clearly, making hidden exploitative clauses unlikely.”

Sein reviewed the document that outlined his duties during the war, along with the rights and benefits he would be entitled to afterward.

Griman was right—the Order of the Steel Fist was indeed generous in their offer.

Furthermore, as an external hedge mage, Sein was granted an additional privilege not available to the order’s knights—the right to refuse extremely perilous missions.

This privilege protected external participants like him from being exploited in deadly assignments often given to outsiders by some orders of the knights and divine towers.

Although the rights and interests of these participants were safeguarded, the benefits they received from the war often paled in comparison to those afforded to members of the order.

This arrangement was deemed fair. After all, the greater the risk undertaken, the greater the reward should be.

After a thorough examination to ensure the absence of any loopholes, Sein officially joined the Order of the Steel Fist as an external support mage for their ongoing interplanar war.

It was evident the order was in dire need of mages.

Having also read Sein’s contract, Griman whispered, “I really envy you mages; your contract terms seem slightly more lucrative than mine.”

In the Magus World, mages were indeed often more highly valued than knights.

Griman’s envious whisper prompted only a modest shake of the head from Sein.

Following the signing of the contract, the Order of the Steel Fist inquired about Sein’s readiness to join the war.

Upon his affirmation of immediate availability, the order made swift arrangements.

Three days later, Sein was scheduled to join the next wave of reinforcements through the interstellar teleportation array set up by the Order of the Steel Fist, transporting him directly to Thunderfall World to join the fray.