Sovereign of the Ashes

After the Thunderfall World War, Sein could tell that his mentor, Lorianne, was in a good mood.

This was likely due to the substantial magicoin proceeds that had eased her loan pressures.

Sein’s earnings from the war in Thunderfall World were considerable. Over fifteen years, his efforts had accumulated a significant sum.

Apart from various resources and special specimens collected during the war, Sein had amassed nearly six thousand purely in magicoin earnings.

With such resources, mages like Sein could comfortably fund their experiments and research for many years to come.

Sein spent this time indulging in experimental research, occasionally relaxing with Selina and Eileen, and strolling with friends.

This simple, ordinary, yet fulfilling lifestyle seemed set to continue for decades.

As the tower master’s apprentice, Sein was privy to Lorianne’s plan to initiate her own interplanar war and knew it would likely happen soon.

He was prepared to actively support her, curious about which of the two dendro elemental realms she would choose to conquer.

During their journey back to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Lorianne seemed as though she wished to have a private discussion with Sein.

However, she refrained from doing so. Ultimately, the conversation between a mentor and her apprentice should only revolve around elemental knowledge and experimental research.

The vast, beautiful Jewel Sea unfolded before them once again.

Although only a few years had passed, the mages of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, inexperienced in interplanar warfare, found themselves longing for their home in the Magus World.

Tourmaline the dragon turtle greeted Sein upon his return to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

When Sein had departed over five years ago, Tourmaline was asleep, so he had chosen not to disturb her.

Now, with Sein and Lorianne returning, it appeared that Tourmaline had just awakened from another nap.

“Wow, both of you visited a foreign plane? Why didn’t you invite me?” Tourmaline whined to Sein and Lorianne upon seeing them.

While Lorianne was still unfamiliar with Tourmaline, she had an awkward look, unable to respond to Tourmaline.

Sein gave Tourmaline an apologetic look and said, “Next time for sure!”

***

After returning to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Sein gradually settled into his daily routine.

Combat held little appeal for mages like him, given the abundance of advanced experimental equipment in the tower, which more than sufficed for the experimental plans he had postponed for the past decade.

Decades of travel, combined with over ten years of war in Thunderfall World, had allowed Sein to amass a collection extensive enough to fill three large storerooms.

Looking at the rare materials and biological specimens, Sein experienced a deep sense of satisfaction.

He ran his fingers along a complete biological specimen of a Rank Two Thunder Rhinoceros, how its texture felt akin to a woman’s skin—an odd and unsettling comparison that somehow seemed normal among mages.

Six months after his return, Sein received good news—Leena had been promoted to Rank Two.

Her advancement came only about ten years after Sein’s, but she had successfully elementalized her body a year and a half earlier.

She had delayed informing Sein, as she had been concentrating on stabilizing her newfound powers and mapping out her path forward.

Like Sein, Leena had a clear plan for her future.

Their forward-looking wisdom showed that neither were satisfied with their current state.

With Leena’s promotion, the spatial channel they had co-developed could now fully accommodate their needs.

Even though utilizing it as a transit route through the Undead World consumed more energy at Rank Two, it was significantly safer than before.

Sein was unconcerned with the increased cost.

Two months after her promotion, Leena visited the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring for the first time.

Her curiosity about everything in the divine tower was palpable.

Previously, Leena could only imagine Sein’s life in the tower from his descriptions.

Now, she was experiencing it firsthand

Without a divine tower badge, it was inappropriate for Sein to take her to the divine tower’s library or out of his quarters.

Nevertheless, his twenty-floor residence within the tower, along with its top-tier, ultra-precise experimental instruments, left Leena in awe.

The emergence of a formidable grand mage depended not only on the mage’s inherent potential but also on the environment and resources available to them.

Black Tower of Cinderbones, one of the renowned black towers in Blackhaven, was rumored to be established by a Rank Five black mage.

Despite its prestige, the experimental equipment it offered to full-fledged black mages was likely far inferior to that of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

The latter’s superiority was the result of the Tower Master of Verdant Spring’s investment of tens of millions of magicoins and extensive efforts.

Regardless of the Black Tower of Cinderbones’ notable development, it could not match the advanced facilities of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, especially since some of the experimental equipment in Sein’s laboratory was previously used by Lorianne herself.

“I’ll take you to meet my mentor,” Sein suggested.

“There’s something else I need to tell you,” he added.

“Uh-huh,” Leena responded warmly, leaning against Sein’s shoulder. She noticed the seriousness etched on Sein’s face and could already guess what he was about to tell her.

Without beating around the bush, Sein honestly shared the trouble he had recently encountered and the advice his mentor had given him.

By confiding in Leena, he implicitly entrusted her with the decision-making, ready to abide by her guidance unquestioningly.

To others like Natalya, Sein was a formidable, decisive Rank Two mage.

However, it was only in Leena’s presence that he allowed his vulnerabilities to surface, perhaps finding comfort in her maturity and composure.

Leena listened, her smile gentle yet knowing, as Sein detailed the concerns that had been distracting him from his experimental research.

She understood that Sein felt troubled because he cared about her feelings.

Back when they were in the Western Archipelago, Sein had once voiced his desire to remain by Leena’s side indefinitely.

However, she had firmly refused, insisting that Sein return because it was only within the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring that he could fully realize his potential and delve into the profound mysteries he sought.

Meanwhile, Leena was destined to remain in the shadows, silently advancing along her own path and doing everything she could to support Sein while ensuring she did not fall too far behind him.

Her commitment to Sein was already cemented decades earlier in the Yellow Sand World, when Sein had selflessly risked his life to offer her a future.

Leena had never considered Sein to be indebted to her either.

“What a silly man you are,” Leena whispered affectionately.

“I can feel your love, and after all these years, I’m sure my feelings aren’t misplaced. We, as spellcasters, are committed to uncovering the most fundamental truths. Why should we care about what’s on the surface? They’re just mere illusions,” she said.