Chapter 234: Leaving
Sein’s experience at House Farion left him feeling somewhat uneasy.
As a once-prestigious magic family that had not seen a full-fledged mage in centuries, their almost obsequious treatment toward Sein felt quite overwhelming.
Sein had refrained from revealing his apprenticeship under the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring’s master.
Had they been aware of this fact, the attention he received would have been even more intense.
Aware that this information could not remain concealed indefinitely, Sein anticipated that House Farion would eventually learn of his true status.
After a three-day stay with House Farion, during which he paid his respects to his late maternal grandparents, Sein swiftly departed atop the winged lion king.
During his stay, Sein uncovered the fact that his maternal grandparents were cousins, explaining House Farion’s rather pointed efforts to match him with Selina.
Even without Selina, there were plenty of eligible women in House Farion, all seemingly ready to be offered to Sein upon his request.
Seated on the back of Samson, Sein mused aloud, “The endless socializing and snobbery among the nobles are far more pronounced here compared to the divine tower’s focused atmosphere of study and truth.”
Although the divine tower was not free from its own forms of elitism and opportunistic scheming, it was nowhere near as blatant as what he had observed at House Farion.
By comparison, House Grantt, with its notable presence of Rank One and Two knights, seemed relatively grounded.
Samson, the super-ranked magic beast, offered a spacious and suitable mount, far superior to Sev.
Despite its impressive seven-meter height, Sein knew this was not the creature's full extent.
He recalled seeing it grow to over ten meters in Grantt Castle’s backyard, easily devouring a fully-grown magic arrow pig in a single gulp.
On their flight back to Grantt Castle, a question crossed Sein’s mind.
“By the way, why do you refer to Julius as Sterk?” he asked. [1]
Samson, gazing at the landscape below, answered, “Sterk was the name Julius used during his travels across the Magus Continent. That’s how I knew him when we first met, and the name stuck. Many people, including those from the order of the knights, still refer to him as Sterk.”
“I see,” Sein replied, nodding.
***
Sein’s stay in the Lysian Alliance lasted a total of two months.
Earl Grantt had initially summoned him home because the two ancestors of House Grantt had expressed their interest in supporting Sein with extraplanar resources, particularly given his status as a Quasi Mage directly descended from their lineage.
However, Sein’s progress had already reached a level rivaling the two ancestors, negating the need for such assistance.
In fact, Sein had accumulated a considerable stock of intermediate and basic magic materials from his exploits in the regional academy war.
While these resources were of little use to the ancestors, they were valuable assets for other members of House Grantt.
After spending two months with his family, Sein decided it was time to return to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.
Upon thoughtful consideration, Julius presented Sein with the heart of a Rank Two extraplanar creature.
“This is the heart of a Rank Two Wind-Billed Mothman. I heard that mages love research, I hope this proves useful in your studies,” Julius remarked.
Jeremy had only become a Rank One knight two or three centuries ago. He had only participated in interplanar wars twice, so he was not able to offer a gift that was as extravagant as Julius’.
His gift to Sein was the core of a Rank One pyro-type extraplanar creature.
These valuable gifts from Julius and Jeremy were tokens of esteem from the elders to Sein and were not meant to be reciprocated.
“Looking ahead, we might not face any interplanar wars soon, possibly giving us a century of peace. You’re always welcome to visit, and don’t hesitate to write if you need assistance,” Jeremy said, patting Sein on the shoulder.
Sein nodded to the elders, then cast a final glance at Earl Grantt and Solon before stepping onto the metal disk and ascending into the sky.
From the warm lawn of Earl Grantt’s castle, Samson, the Reverse Winged Lion King, watched as Sein vanished into the horizon.
Rubbing its sleepy eyes with its huge paws, it mused aloud, “Maybe we should stop by the order soon. Imagine the surprise on Bobby and the others’ faces when they learn that a Rank One mage has emerged from House Grantt, and one who’s an apprentice to the Tower Master of Verdant Spring, no less.”
***
When Sein returned to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, he naturally brought his cousin back with him.
Her initial excitement upon returning home had faded, replaced by a quieter demeanor during their journey back to the divine tower.
At House Farion, Selina had been treated with an unprecedented level of favorable treatment.
However, this newfound favor came with its own burdens, imposing pressures on her that she should have never been subjected to. There also seemed to be underlying reasons for this shift in her treatment.
Selina remained silent on the matter, and Sein, respecting her privacy, did not probe further.
As they flew over a cluster of active volcanoes in the northeastern part of the Lysian Alliance, Selina suddenly embraced Sein tightly and said, “Sein, I’m not coming back again.”
The intense heat and sulfur-laden smoke from the volcanoes made the area hazardous for flying.
Looking down at Selina, who barely reached his chin, Sein simply replied, “Well, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Selina sighed in relief at his acceptance but quickly shook her head and revised her statement.
“No, I mean I’m not coming back here until I become a full-fledged mage. I plan to stay at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring to focus on my studies and delve deeper into magic.”
Sein nodded approvingly. “It’s excellent that you’re so driven to learn. When we return to the Divine Tower, I’ll speak to my mentor about moving you to the top floor with me. The equipment there is top-notch, and my mentor’s private library will be incredibly beneficial for your development and learning.”
Selina’s face lit up with a smile at this prospect.
In the distance, the dark smoke billowing from the volcanoes began to disperse, allowing a ray of evening light to break through the clouds.
1. Author's Note: For readability, Jeremy and Julius will henceforth be referred to as “great-grandfathers”. ☜