Chapter 492: Black Tower of Cinderbones

Chapter 492: Black Tower of Cinderbones

Sein and Leena spent a total of two days resting in their tent by a pool.

During this time, Sein rarely engaged in studying magic or delving into elemental knowledge.

Instead, he enjoyed the simpler pleasures of life, much like an ordinary person might.

He crafted a fishing rod and caught palm-sized, light blue fish from the pool for their dinners.

Although he did not delve into any research or meditation, Sein noticed a subtle increase in his focus by the time they left this picturesque location.

This slight boost in focus might have been the residual effects of the red potion he had taken a few days ago.

Alternatively, it could have been influenced by some other factor.

Sein had long discovered that meditation was not the only way to enhance focus.

***

After resting for two days in their temporary shelter, Sein and Leena resumed their journey northward.

The trial zone they were navigating in the Knight Continent was vast. So far, Sein could not grasp its true size or their distance from its center.

Each day, their journey was enriched by encounters with new species of flora and fauna, along with several research discoveries.

Knight Continent was a treasure trove, offering knights and mages who ventured into it unimaginable rewards.

Over the ensuing days, both Sein and Leena experienced steady growth in their knowledge, as well as in their mana and focus levels.

They also shared their collections of magic tomes with each other.

Sein was particularly fascinated by Leena’s collection, which included books on synthesizing undead chimeras and mastering umbra elemental magic.

Likewise, Leena was keenly interested in Sein’s knowledge of pyro elemental magic, soul magic, and apothecary.

In the Magus World, legacy knowledge was highly valued.

The mandatory quests assigned by the Black Tower of Cinderbones served as both training and a virtual “pledge” for their magic initiates who had just been promoted to a Rank One mage.

Once marked by the major divine towers and knightly orders as wanted individuals, these black mages stood little chance of clearing their names.

Magic initiates received different treatment compared to full-fledged black mages. During his early days as a black magic initiate, Sein experienced kindness from Medich, a peak Rank Two mage from the Divine Tower of Dawn.

Leena remained uncertain whether the Black Tower Master of Cinderbones intended to take her on as an apprentice.

Despite speculation by many at the academy, including one of the deans, that the tower master was interested in mentoring her, Leena had yet to receive a definitive answer.

Furthermore, she knew little about the tower master, including their gender.

During their limited interactions, the Black Tower Master of Cinderbones manifested before Leena as a formless, impenetrable black mist, speaking with a raspy, androgynous voice.

In the southern part of central Blackhaven, the Black Tower of Cinderbones stood as a formidable and enigmatic entity.

Unlike typical divine towers, it rarely participated in interplanar wars, with its last known conflict dating back four to five thousand years. At the time, the Black Tower Master of Cinderbones was already a powerful Rank Five black mage.

The tower masters’ authority discouraged many mages in Blackhaven from discussing them, reflecting the region's strict hierarchical nature.

This stood in stark contrast to the more liberal and egalitarian atmosphere of the Magus Continent, where figures like Lorianne and other tower masters displayed a more approachable demeanor.

Sein felt a growing unease after learning more about Blackhaven and the Black Tower of Cinderbones from Leena.

However, he chose not to display his concerns in her presence, hiding them deep within his heart.

For now, they resolved to set aside these burdensome thoughts, focusing instead on living each day with joy and fulfillment.

“Where did you get this book?” Leena suddenly asked, pulling out a black leather tome titled “The Compatibility Between Necromancy and Summoning Magic” from Sein’s spatial storage.

“I picked it up while I was in Marmett Union Alliance,” Sein replied.

“It’s a good book; lend it to me for a while,” Leena said, flipping through the pages.

“It’s yours now,” Sein responded with a smile.