Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 121: Truths about the War

After carefully stashing the massive painting of his mother, Sein made his way toward the exit of the castle.

During his arrival here, many “welcomed” him. Some harbored goodwill, while others had less noble intentions.

Surprisingly, no one attempted to hinder his departure.

Old John initially tried to dissuade Sein, but after Sein said a few words to him through Voice Transmission, John fell silent and eventually gave up with a sigh.

Regnar felt that he should stop Sein from leaving, but the countess’s hysterical outburst and the cold indifference in Sein’s eyes as he exited the castle sent a shiver down Regnar’s spine.

It was not Sein’s power that unnerved him, but rather the look in his eyes.

Regnar had seen that look in the earl’s eyes many times.

Despite the earl’s status as a powerful and esteemed noble, those familiar with him knew about his unpredictable temper.

While Earl Grantt presented an approachable exterior most of the time, his anger could chill the air.

Sein took in the scenery of the lavish castle interiors and gardens as he made his way to the exit, knowing that this opulence was not rightfully his.

When he finally reached the stone bridge before the castle, a squad of weary knights appeared in his path.

This elite group, numbering twenty, boasted the strength of at least an intermediate squire, if not higher.

Their black horses had claws instead of hoofs, hinting at their magic beast lineage.

The nobleman leading this formidable group was clad in violet armor with a flowing red cloak.

At the mere glimpse of this figure, Sein immediately confirmed his identity.

Likewise, the nobleman also recognized Sein.

Beyond the reminder of the bloodline tracing magic Sein had mastered, both bore an uncanny resemblance!

No wonder the leader of the guards at the city gates mistook Sein for the earl.

Their hair color, height, and faces bore a remarkable resemblance, and there was an uncanny similarity in their aura when neither of them spoke.

The subtle distinctions between them were in Sein’s sapphire blue eyes, a feature inherited from his mother.

Additionally, the earl exuded a knightly masculinity absent in Sein. Sein had a quieter and more sensible demeanor.

Although not a full-fledged knight, the Earl surpassed Sein in strength, holding the rank of a Quasi Knight.

When Catherine gave birth to Sein, Earl Grantt was merely a noble of eighteen or nineteen years old. This meant he was in his early forties now.

The age of forty marked a significant milestone for many squires.

Senior squires and above could typically live to eighty or ninety years, or even reach a century.

Despite being able to harness the power of battle qi, it was undeniable that after hitting their peak at around forty-five, every subsequent year witnessed a decline in the strength and potential of these knights and squires due to the natural aging of their physique.

Additionally, some squires and knights had suffered irreparable internal injuries and external wounds on battlefields in their younger years, further accelerating the process of aging.

Conversely, mages seemed to defy the conventional aging process.

The older a spellcaster was, the more knowledge and truths they grasped.

Under the premise that knowledge equated to strength, no one dared to underestimate an old spellcaster.

On the contrary, older spellcasters were generally considered more reliable than their younger counterparts.

Backed by the resources of House Grantt, the earl had overcome several severe injuries in his early years and had essentially recovered from them later on and became a Quasi Knight in his early forties.

According to the norm and Earl Grantt’s demonstrated potential, there was at least a sixty percent chance of him being promoted to a full-fledged knight in the future.

Sixty percent was considered to be an unusually high probability.

Advancing to the Rank One or above would open a whole new world of opportunities and horizons, with the added benefit of a potential lifespan nearing a thousand years.

More importantly, it was only after reaching Rank One and above that knights and mages were granted access to knowledge regarding the very “essence” of the world.

They would come to understand the “Magus World” and the “Magus Civilization” better.

Earl Grantt, as the leader of House Grantt, had discovered part of the essence and truth of this world many years ago.

For instance, Earl Grant had gained insights into the perpetual war between the Lysian Alliance, the Zephyr Kingdom, and the Ohrque Empire through connections with the other noble houses when he attained the rank of a senior squire at the age of twenty-three.

In the Lysian Alliance, nobles of ranks above viscount had profound family backgrounds. They could access classified information upon assuming leadership of their noble house or when they were promoted to Rank One.

The reality behind the ongoing war was veiled from the millions of civilians and low-ranking squires.

Most believed the war arose from long standing animosities between the three major human nations, and even tried to capitalize on it.

While some squires did indeed receive hereditary titles for their contributions in the war, most of them were at least senior squires.

In the Lysian Alliance, “baronet” and “knights” were the most commonly awarded hereditary titles.

Senior squires with exceptional performance in wars were given the title of a “knight”, while Quasi Knights were granted the title of a “baronet”.

Further breaking through their mortal limit and reaching Rank One would earn them a noble title.

The first generation of nobles, who were the founders of their houses, typically held the title of a viscount as the minimum standard.

Sein’s father, holding the position of an earl despite being only a senior squire, suggested that at least a Rank One knight had once existed in House Grantt.

The presence of a higher-ranked individual in House Grantt remained unknown to Sein, who had been away from home for years.

His father, who had inherited the position of the leader of House Grantt at an early age and was in the direct line of descent, would likely have more information about it.

“Where are you going?” Earl Grantt quietly observed Sein on the stone bridge from his warhorse, holding a horsewhip in his hand.

The earl had traveled to Skurvayne City for a pre-war meeting with a larger entourage.

Upon learning of the appearance of his eldest son, Sein, in his territory, Earl Grantt immediately abandoned his larger troop and rushed back with only twenty of his own retainers and guards.

Beads of sweat rolling down from the surface of these black warhorses, bearing the bloodline of magic beasts, signified the strenuous exercise they had endured earlier.

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