Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 126: Welcome Banquet

Domvall, a Quasi Mage affiliated with the Pyro Emblem, had visited the Grantt Territory with the purpose of recruiting Sein in the first place.

Therefore, the turn of events was not entirely caused by Sein’s ill fortune.

After exchanging a few words with the elderly man in a white robe, Earl Grantt asked, “Master Domvall, you’re on the verge of becoming a full-fledged mage, aren’t you?”

Domvall was significantly older than the earl. Considering his impending transition to Rank One, Earl Grantt held him in high regard.

Although Earl Grantt was a Quasi Knight, he acknowledged that he still had much to learn.

While he had the potential for promotion to a full-fledged knight, potential did not always translate to strength.

Even if Earl Grantt were expected to break through as a full-fledged knight in the future, the process would take over a decade.

“Hoho, I came to Grantt Territory this time for your son, Earl. He’s truly remarkable for being a senior magic initiate despite being in his twenties. I was already in my forties when I became a senior initiate.”

The white-robed old man shook his head as he reminisced, before quickly stating his intention.

“The Pyro Emblem highly values exceptional magic initiates like him. With the potential he possesses, he will be a perfect fit for our headquarters.”

“It so happens that I’ll be reporting to headquarters soon. With your blessing, Earl Grantt, I can take him directly there,” the white-robed old man proposed.

Numerous mage councils existed throughout the Lysian Alliance and its neighboring human nations.

Among the prestigious ones, the Ring of Thorns, the Divine Harmony, and the Pyro Emblem stood out as the top.

All the three mage councils had parent councils and headquarters, overseen by full-fledged mages.

The fact that these three mage councils could rise above their medium-sized counterparts suggested the presence of core members exceeding mere Rank One mages.

The Pyro Emblem appeared to be the most genuine out of the three mage councils, with a Quasi Mage personally extending an invitation to Sein to join their headquarters.

Sein’s treatment inevitably stirred envy among many magic initiates.

Did Elder Domvall hold Sein in such high regard solely because of his outstanding potential in reaching senior magic initiate status in his twenties?

Not entirely.

In reality, the Pyro Emblem and the Divine Harmony held Sein in high regard due to his mastery of alchemy.

Alchemy was not something an average magic initiate could master. Beyond innate talent, persistent practice, and guidance from a renowned mentor, it also demanded a substantial amount of resources.

Sein’s rapid growth in the field of alchemy was greatly attributed to his time spent in Master Morsidor’s laboratory. The direct observation and close learning of numerous specialized processes for crafting magic artifacts had significantly accelerated his development.

In response to the direct invitation from Elder Domvall, Earl Grantt expressed genuine interest.

Establishing connections with mage councils was customary for the majority of noble knight houses.

Lady Catherine’s union with Earl Grantt, besides their childhood friendship, gained additional significance due to her background from a prestigious magic family.

Despite the family’s decline in status, the rumored presence of ancestors who were Rank One or higher mages, along with several high-ranking magic initiates within the family, they still held sway in the Lysian Alliance.

Earl Grantt naturally desired closer cooperation with the Pyro Emblem, as it would benefit both Sein and House Grantt.

However, as a father, he could not unilaterally agree to Elder Domvall’s proposal.

The recent confrontation outside his castle gave Earl Grantt a clear understanding that he could not force Sein into anything against his will.

The similarity in their personalities brought him joy, but it could also pose challenges if they were too alike.

The battle between them provided Earl Grantt with valuable insights into Sein’s combat abilities and made him realize that his son was more than he seemed on the surface.

Therefore, the decision to join the Pyro Emblem was one for Sein to make.

Accompanied by Earl Grantt, Elder Domvall approached Sein at the banquet.

It was evident that Sein, having spent over a decade in the Black Magic Academy, felt out of place among the nobles.

Among the lavishly dressed nobles in the hall, Sein stuck out like a sore thumb in his black robe. He was alone in a quiet corner, sipping on a peculiar fruit wine with a slightly sour taste.

As one of the hosts for the banquet that Earl Grantt had organized to welcome back his eldest son from his studies abroad, Sein found himself under discreet scrutiny from both the attending nobles and the younger relatives of House Grantt in the hall.

The attention he received while feeling out of place made Sein extremely uncomfortable.

While some bold noblewomen who winked at him caught his eye momentarily, Sein spent most of the time swirling his wine glass by himself.

Having been brought back to Grantt Castle, Sein temporarily set aside thoughts of escaping.

If circumstances dictated his stay, he might as well seize the opportunity to observe the situation here.

As for his future plans, Sein had a rough idea.

When Earl Grantt came over with Elder Domvall, Sein was helping himself to a piece of fruit cake.

The luxurious life of a nobleman impressed Sein. Despite being adept in cooking, his skills were far from matching those of the chefs working in Grantt Castle.

Sein spent most of his time at the banquet sampling the delectable dishes and peculiar fruit wines.

As Earl Grantt and Elder Domvall expressed their intentions, Sein set aside his plate, dabbed his mouth with a white napkin, and cleansed his palate with a sip of fruit wine before responding.

Despite his discomfort in noble gatherings, Sein’s keen observation and learning ability shone through.

His flawless imitation of the mannerisms of a noble was a clear reflection of his noble lineage.

For anyone else, performing such a display in the presence of Earl Grantt and the Quasi Mage would be daunting, but Sein remained indifferent.

Earl Grantt and Elder Domvall showed no signs of concern either.

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