Sovereign of the Ashes

The war in the Viridian Venom Flame World had undeniably brought Sein and Selphy closer together.

Their frequent communication via crystal balls meant it was natural for Selphy to wait for Sein’s return.

The group made their way to the interstellar teleportation array in the operation area, as Selphy and Sein caught up on the events of the past two years.

The sense of camaraderie among the apprentices of the Verdant Flame Faction was unmistakable, fostering a warm and welcoming environment that gradually made Sein feel like he was part of the expansive family.

Approaching a concealed hatch in the operation area, Sein saw Master Holfson, Feylis’ sixth apprentice.

At this point in time, the space fortress was sparsely populated. Most of the mages had made their way back to the Magus World, leaving only a handful scattered across the Viridian Venom Flame World.

As a result, the operation area was quite deserted, with not a soul in sight near the metal hatch where Master Holfson was.

In contrast to the affable presence of Master Andres, Master Holfson exuded a more detached and austere aura.

The group greeted Holfson with respect.

The man cast a glance at his apprentice before turning his attention to scrutinize Sein and the others.

For some reason, Sein felt as though Holfson’s gaze lingered on him a moment longer.

“All right, hurry up and step in. Be mindful that the interstellar teleportation array demands physical resilience. Those with weaker constitution may experience disorientation or dizziness post-use,” Master Holfson cautioned.

The four mages respectfully acknowledged his caution in unison.

Holfson was actually known for being stern yet caring beneath his exterior.

Lorianne had previously shared with Sein that her seniors in the Verdant Flame faction had been exceptionally supportive during her early days, particularly Andres and Holfson.

Though they had only joined the faction a short time before Lorianne, they had shown her considerable kindness.

Andres, the fifth apprentice of Feylis, had already become an old man with gray hair, while Holfson appeared somewhat younger. However, both of them were about the same age.

Sein could see the gray hair on Holfson’s sideburns and the wrinkles on his skin.

Despite this, his mentor, Lorianne, still looked like a young woman.

After parting ways with Holfson, the group entered through the metal hatch to discover a luminescent blue, oval portal awaiting them.

After exchanging glances with Selphy, Sein took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself before leading the way through the portal.

***

For Sein, the journey through the interstellar teleportation passage felt fleeting, lasting only a moment or so.

Yet, behind this brief passage lay the vast expanse separating the coordinates of the Viridian Venom Flame World from those of the Magus World.

A sudden burst of blue light announced their arrival, with Sein materializing first within the ancient, ornate magical doorway, closely followed by Selphy and two others.

They found themselves on an island surrounded by a molten lava lake, located just behind the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame.

Immediately after exiting the passage, Sein experienced moments of dizziness and a sensation of weightlessness that caused him to feel unsteady on his feet.

Despite being a novice in the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique, he found the transition challenging.

It was no wonder Master Holfson made the effort to caution them before their departure.

Selphy and Master Andres’ grand apprentice seemed to fare worse than Sein.

Selphy even nearly lost her balance upon arrival.

Were it not for Sein’s timely assistance, the female mage with weaker constitution might have fallen flat on her rear.

The grand apprentice of Master Andres was also saved from his fall by one of Master Holfson’s apprentices.

Like Sein, he seemed to have also dabbled in the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique.

Sein found himself curious about the technique he had employed to fortify his body with the verdant flame’s power, pondering if there were methods they could exchange or learn from each other to their mutual benefit.

Sein’s constitution and speed of recovery as a Rank One mage were notably superior to those of a typical magic initiate.

Although initially showing signs of weakness, Selphy quickly recovered too.

With a blush of gratitude coloring her cheeks, she rose from Sein’s support after regaining her strength. “Thanks for the help, appreciate it.”

“No big deal. The aftereffects of the teleportation might linger a bit. You’ll probably need some time to fully recover from it,” Sein replied.

Selphy’s smile widened as she nodded in agreement. “The Grandmaster Feylis’ legacy seems to be really useful. I used to underestimate body tempering technique, but the challenges of this interplanar war have forced me to reevaluate it.”

“Having a strong constitution can really shield us from the dangers we face in interplanar wars, enhancing our survival prospects significantly until we can elementalize our body like Rank Two mages,” Sein reflected while stroking his chin.

“Are you already working toward becoming a Rank Two mage?” Selphy asked with a smile.

Sein shook his head. “We’ve only recently advanced to Rank One. It’s still too early to think about ascending to Rank Two. However, we shouldn’t let that stop us from exploring the deeper mysteries that lie beyond our current capabilities.”

“Absolutely.” Selphy nodded in agreement.

After leaving the island in the lake, Selphy extended an invitation to Sein to visit the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame and offered to facilitate his journey back to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring via airship.

The camaraderie among the four divine towers had deepened during the Viridian Venom Flame World war, leading to the establishment of durable communication channels among them.

The Divine Tower of Verdant Flame’s commercial and trade relations with both the Divine Tower of Whispering Flame and the Divine Tower of Floating Flame were well-established millennia ago.

The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, being a relatively new entity, had only recently forged a stable commercial link with them.

The airship Selphy arranged for Sein was part of the trade network connecting the vicinity of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring to the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame, backed by the intertwined interests of the two divine towers and the commercial investments of several prestigious magic families.

“I’ll take you up on that then,” Sein responded, gratefully accepting Selphy’s offer.

Selphy and the other two apprentices in their group were full-fledged mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame. So, they had pretty much already returned to their home.

Sein, however, had to make another brief journey to reach the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Now that he was back in the Magus World, the distance he had to travel back home seemed inconsequential.

“There’s no place like the Magus World. Even the air here tastes sweeter,” Sein remarked, taking a moment to relish his surroundings with a contented sigh.

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