Recaps

Quasi-Magician Domvol offered to take Saine to the Fire Crest Chapter headquarters, praising his magical talent and alchemy. Earl Grant left the decision to Saine, who heard the proposal during a banquet and had not yet answered.

• Domvol told Earl Grant that the Fire Crest Chapter wanted to recruit Saine and offered to take him to its headquarters.
• Earl Grant considered the benefits of the offer but decided that Saine had to choose for himself.
• At the welcome banquet, Saine stood apart from the other guests and passed the time eating and drinking.
• Earl Grant brought Domvol to Saine and explained the recruitment offer.
• Saine set down his pastry, wiped his mouth, rinsed it with wine, and listened to them.

At the Grant family banquet, Saine revealed that his mentor had arranged for him to join the Azure Source Holy Tower, shocking Earl Grant and Magician Domvol. The chapter ended with Lady Diya and Solon publicly apologizing to Saine under Earl Grant’s orders.

• Saine told Earl Grant and Magician Domvol that his mentor had already chosen another place for him.
• Saine showed them a badge from the Azure Source Holy Tower, and they were astonished that he had a connection to a powerful organization.
• Solon resented Saine’s sudden prominence, while Lady Diya decided not to provoke him again.
• Magician Domvol left the banquet, and Earl Grant celebrated Saine’s prospects by ordering rare wine.
• After the guests departed, Lady Diya and Solon apologized to Saine in front of the Grant family, and Saine replied blandly.

Saine settled into life at the Grant Family residence, where he read, studied magic, and resumed his experiments with Earl Grant's support. As war approached between the Sifa Kingdom and the Ok Empire, Solon prepared to join Earl Grant's campaign while Saine continued his work in the spire.

• Ten maids attended to Saine each morning, while Solon trained with Earl Grant before dawn.
• Saine learned from Earl Grant that the Lisia Alliance was preparing to answer the Sifa Kingdom's calls for aid, and Solon would likely accompany his father to war.
• Saine made the spire his home and converted its upper floors into a laboratory, alchemy room, and Meditation Room.
• After studying regional histories and practical magic, Saine returned to experimental research and higher-level Spell Models.
• Earl Grant spent Saine's fifty thousand Gold Coins on equipment and materials, and the Earl's residence sought rarer supplies through the Mercenary Guild.
• Saine used mid- and high-grade Energy Crystals in his studies and began working with a Level-1 Fire Energy Crystal.

Saine continued researching the advanced spell Sun's Eye, but his experiments caused repeated explosions at the Earl's Castle. After a blast injured Earl Grant and destroyed much of Saine's tower, the Earl arranged for him to move to a more secluded site, while Solon's feelings toward his brother shifted toward awe and fear.

• Saine's experiment with Sun's Eye caused an explosion in his laboratory, but he resolved to continue studying the spell.
• At the end of Saine's second month at the Earl's Castle, Earl Grant broke into his laboratory after Saine had gone without food for three days, triggering another explosion.
• The blast destroyed nearly half the tower and injured Earl Grant, while Saine escaped serious harm with an Earth Elemental Shield.
• Earl Grant chose a secluded part of the castle grounds as the site for Saine's new tower.
• At dinner, Solon watched Saine and Earl Grant and felt awe and fear toward Saine after seeing the explosions and his father's injury.

At dinner, Earl Grant told Saine he would leave for the Western Front Battlefield with Solon while Saine stayed behind to continue his experiment. He also explained the Ferrell Family’s interest in Saine and warned him to keep his mentor and future studies at the Azure Source Holy Tower secret when his maternal relatives visited.

• Earl Grant announced that he and Solon would leave for the Western Front Battlefield in two days, while Saine would remain at the castle with John to assist him.
• Earl Grant explained that Saine’s mother, Catherine, came from the declining but still influential Ferrell Family, whose strongest member had reached the Quasi-Magician level.
• Earl Grant told Saine that his grandfather and other Ferrell relatives might visit after learning that Saine was an Advanced Apprentice.
• Earl Grant warned Saine not to reveal that he had a Formal-Ranked Magician or above as his mentor or that he would study at the Azure Source Holy Tower.

Saine met his grandfather and Ze Lato Ferrell, who visited Grant Castle while the Ferrell Family answered the call to war. After the visitors left, Saine returned to his magical experiments, nearing success with his research.

• Earl Grant left for the war with Second Young Master Solon, and Saine resumed planning his trip to the Azure Source Holy Tower.
• Saine met his grandfather and Ze Lato Ferrell, the head of the Ferrell Family, when they arrived at Grant Castle.
• Ze Lato indirectly asked whether a famous teacher had helped Saine become an Advanced Apprentice, but Saine gave no direct answer and received no offer of family support.
• Saine's grandfather spoke warmly of Saine and his mother Catherine, invited him to visit the family and teach Serena, and paid respects at Catherine's grave.
• Saine returned to his experiments, where explosions continued as he drew closer to success.

Saine investigated the advanced dual-element Sun's Eye spell in his tower, then chose to strengthen his knowledge before trying to modify it. Winter arrived, bringing news that Earl Grant and Solon planned to return home, while Saine wondered how Lina was doing.

• The maids at Grant Castle gossiped about Saine's experiments and the explosions in his tower.
• Saine discovered that Sun's Eye contained both Fire and Light Elements and considered increasing its light-element proportion.
• Saine decided to master the spell as written and study light-element magic further before attempting any modifications.
• Saine made steady progress with Sun's Eye as his experiments became less explosive and winter arrived.
• Saine reflected on his twenty-sixth birthday, wondered about Lina, and learned that Earl Grant and Solon planned to return soon.
• Owl Qi returned to Saine's window, and Saine asked where it had gone.

Saine decided to leave Grant Territory for the Azure Source Holy Tower in two months so he could continue his magical studies. After Earl Grant returned from the front, Saine told him of his plan and received his blessing, though he felt a trace of envy watching Solon reunite with his family.

• Little Qi returned from the southern woods, drank Saine's sweet soup, and asked when Saine would leave.
• Saine told Little Qi he planned to depart for the Azure Source Holy Tower in two months, once Earl Grant returned.
• Earl Grant returned with Solon, whose experience in battle had left him with a scar and a newfound sharpness.
• Saine explained to Earl Grant that he needed the Holy Tower's resources and academic environment to advance in magic.
• Earl Grant respected Saine's decision to leave in two months, and Saine watched Lady Diya and Solon with a trace of envy.

After leaving Earl Grant's castle, Saine traveled northeast across several nations toward the Azure Source Holy Tower, accompanied by Owl Little Qi. He reached Gem Bay in the Malgeria Kingdom, where he saw enormous Floating Ships and wondered if he was finally close to the tower.

• Earl Grant and Solon returned to the front lines, while Saine spent two more months at the castle studying magic and making progress on Sun's Eye.
• Saine left a letter for Earl Grant, attended a farewell banquet hosted by Lady Diya, and departed the next day with Old John.
• Old John drove Saine to Gray Territory, where Saine and Owl Little Qi began crossing the extinct volcanoes on foot.
• Saine traveled through the Gruni Kingdom, Ethiopia Duchy, Macedonia Empire, and Fitt Alliance before reaching the Malgeria Kingdom.
• At Gem Bay, Saine saw giant Floating Ships glide over the sea and wondered whether he was finally near the Azure Source Holy Tower.

Saine explored Malgeria Kingdom’s magical technology and sought a way across the Green Source Sea to Azure Source Holy Tower. He paid for passage on a floating ship and learned from Tom that the academy enrolled students once every ten years, leaving him to consider whether he could join in two years.

• Saine compared Malgeria Kingdom’s advanced magical conveniences with those he had seen in the Lisia Alliance and wondered whether its Flying Messengers could carry letters to his father.
• Saine determined that taking a ship was the best way to reach Azure Source Holy Tower across the Green Source Sea.
• Saine paid an earth-element Intermediate Energy Crystal for boarding qualifications on a floating ship bound for Azure Source Holy Tower.
• Saine met Tom, an Intermediate Apprentice and Azure Source Holy Tower student, who told him the academy enrolled students once every ten years and that Saine might have a chance to join at the next enrollment.

Saine traveled by floating ship across the Green Source Sea and arrived at the Azure Source Holy Tower, where he saw its immense central tower and explored a bustling outer island. He had not yet registered for admission when the chapter ended with crowds favoring the reserved mages’ stalls over the knights’ loud vendor calls.

• Saine boarded the last floating ship of the day, where he met Tom and observed the apprentices, knights, and other passengers traveling to the Azure Source Holy Tower.
• After two days and two nights at sea, Saine passed through a vast Black Tornado Storm and saw the Azure Source Holy Tower’s islands and colossal central tower.
• The floating ship landed on an outer Chain Island, and Saine chose to explore rather than immediately register for admission.
• Saine wandered through a crowded commercial street where knights loudly advertised their goods while mages displayed theirs quietly.
• Saine noticed that few people bought from the knights, while crowds gathered around the mages’ stalls.

Saine explored the Azure Source Holy Tower’s outer district, where he saw alien slaves being sold and learned that entry to the Holy Tower was restricted. At the guarded entrance, he said he had come to study and presented a Holy Light Badge bearing Master Midiqi’s recommendation.

• Saine toured the commercial streets and found that Energy Crystals, Magic Cores, and Magic Coins were the main currencies.
• Saine watched the Blackbeard Knight sell Qing Yu Flower Spirits as slaves, and two young male Magic Apprentices bought female spirits.
• Saine learned that the other outer Chain Island was reserved for experts above Rank One and went to the Azure Source Holy Tower entrance.
• A Formal Magician warned Saine that the Holy Tower was closed to unrelated outsiders, and Saine explained that he had come to study.
• A female Formal Magician told Saine recruitment would resume in two years, and Saine showed her his Holy Light Badge and mentioned Master Midiqi’s recommendation.

Saine used the Holy Light Badge from Master Midiqi to seek admission to the Azure Source Holy Tower, where a male magician tried to keep the badge while delaying his enrollment. Director Johnny arrived, recognized Saine as Midiqi’s recommended apprentice, and accepted him into his first-year management.

• Saine presented the Holy Light Badge, and a female magician went into the Holy Tower to verify his connection to Midiqi.
• While the female magician was gone, Treke inspected the badge and held onto it as he told Saine to return the next day.
• Director Johnny arrived with the female magician and questioned Saine about his relationship with Midiqi.
• Saine explained that Midiqi had given him the badge after he chose the Azure Source Holy Tower over the Dawn Holy Tower for family reasons.
• Johnny accepted Saine into his first-year management and ordered Treke to return the badge.

Saine entered the Azure Source Holy Tower and completed his New Life enrollment with help from Director Johnny and Magician Irene. He received his apprentice supplies and learned that the academy offered substantial support in exchange for courses and a binding service contract.

• Saine crossed the Green Leaf Passage with Johnny and Irene, and Johnny introduced him to the islands surrounding the Azure Source Holy Tower.
• Director Johnny left Saine in Irene's care to complete enrollment and told him to work hard and visit him on the 278th floor if he needed anything.
• Irene guided Saine through enrollment at the Teaching Hall, where he received a Crystal Ball, two sets of Magic Robes, two High-Level Energy Crystals, and an Azure Source Holy Tower Badge.
• Irene explained that apprentices received yearly Energy Crystal subsidies but had to pay for most Formal Magician courses or find a master.
• Saine signed the Azure Source Holy Tower Contract, agreeing to serve the tower for one hundred years if he became a Formal Magician or for ten years in its industries if he failed to advance.

Saine completed his enrollment at Azure Source Holy Tower Academy and received a secluded dormitory with Magician Irene’s help. He began exploring the vast Holy Tower Library and realized he would need to focus his studies because borrowing books cost Magic Coins or Academy Points.

• Saine learned that Grade Directors such as Johnny managed apprentice cohorts and that the academy prioritized the upcoming Regional Holy Tower Academy War.
• Magician Irene showed Saine his standalone dormitory and finished handling his enrollment procedures.
• Saine gave Magician Irene ten Magic Coins in thanks, and she offered to help him with minor matters.
• On his second day at the academy, Saine visited the Holy Tower Library and found an immense collection spanning many magical fields.
• Saine considered focusing on one field of study and attending useful public courses when they began the following week.

Saine sent Earl Grant a letter through the Azure Source Holy Tower’s Magic Messenger and began attending its free public courses. His studies led him to Formal Magician Lan Qi’s unpopular Alien Creature Anatomy class, where he found a small group of mostly Intermediate Apprentices and two other Advanced Apprentices.

• Saine chose the Magic Messenger to deliver a letter to Earl Grant, learning that Magic Coins and High-Level Energy Crystals exchanged at a one-to-one rate.
• Saine learned that many Holy Tower apprentices worked jobs around the academy to pay for their studies and expenses.
• Saine attended free foundational courses, including Introductory Light Magic and Basic Lectures on Alien Planes, which the Black Wizard Academy had not offered.
• Saine reflected on the dangerous training he had endured at the Black Wizard Academy while watching younger apprentices study at the Holy Tower.
• Saine attended Formal Magician Lan Qi’s sparsely attended Alien Creature Anatomy course, where Lan Qi taught using an alien humanoid’s corpse.

Saine attended Magician Lanqi’s Alien Creature Anatomy class and impressed him with his precise dissection skills. Lanqi hired Saine to dissect a rare juvenile Sub-Dragon specimen, giving Saine an opportunity to earn rewards and seek knowledge about Alien Planes.

• Magician Lanqi taught the apprentices about Alien Creatures and shared accounts of the eleven Alien Planes he had explored.
• Saine dissected a Homeland Being specimen with exceptional precision, catching Lanqi’s attention.
• Lanqi asked Saine to help perfectly dissect an alien creature skeleton in exchange for Academy Points and rewards.
• Saine accepted Lanqi’s request, hoping to learn more about Alien Planes.
• Lanqi revealed that the specimen was a rare juvenile Sub-Dragon with an early Rank One life level.

After helping Magician Lan Qi dissect an Alien Subdragon Creature, Saine traded his coin reward for lessons on alien planes. Lan Qi’s instruction clarified how Plane Will affected travelers, and he explained that the Wizard World’s own Plane Will was especially strong.

• Magician Lan Qi rewarded Saine with a Mental Strength-enhancing drink and five Academy Points after Saine declined five Magic Coins in exchange for lessons.
• Magician Lan Qi taught Saine about alien planes over twelve lessons across two weeks.
• Lan Qi explained that a plane’s Plane Will could suppress visitors from the Wizard World, especially during a hostile plane’s war against them.
• Lan Qi told Saine that only Complete Rule Planes possessed Plane Will, while Demiplanes and Broken Planes did not.
• Lan Qi confirmed that the Wizard World had an even stronger Plane Will and said its harsh environment shortened the lifespans of many low-level Alien Creatures.

Saine spent two years at Azure Source Holy Tower Academy mastering foundational knowledge and more than ten Low-Level spells, then enrolled in a Fire Element Transformation Course. When several Advanced Apprentices entered the classroom, trouble came for him.

• Saine received Earl Grant’s brief reply confirming his arrival and mentioning that the border war between the Lisia Alliance and the Ok Empire was still ongoing.
• Saine continued his demanding routine of classes and study, avoiding the academy’s social gatherings and seldom meeting other apprentices.
• Over two years, Saine filled gaps in his foundational knowledge and mastered more than ten Low-Level spells.
• Saine entered a Fire Element Transformation Course and took the middle seat in the first row, drawing sidelong glances from the apprentices already present.
• A group of three Advanced Apprentices entered the classroom, and trouble came for Saine.

Saine refused to give up his usual seat when Flame Hand Mark confronted him, and the two apprentices briefly clashed with their magic. Mark challenged Saine to a match at the academy’s Challenge Stage, but Formal Magician Irene arrived before Saine answered.

• A red-robed apprentice demanded that Saine leave his seat, while two Advanced Apprentices stood behind him.
• Saine stayed seated, and the red-robed apprentice gathered Fire Element power as Saine remained unafraid of a confrontation.
• Saine recognized the apprentice as Flame Hand Mark, ranked seventeenth in the academy’s Combat Power Ranking, and revealed the blazing aura of his advanced spell Sun’s Eye.
• Saine told Mark he always sat in the front row and challenged him to find another seat, making Mark furious.
• Mark challenged Saine to a match at the Challenge Stage, but Formal Magician Irene entered the classroom before Saine replied.

Mage Irene taught Saine and the other apprentices how she improved Fire Element spells, demonstrating the power and efficiency of her Thousand Birds Group Burst Spell. Saine compared it with his own Sun's Eye Magic and wondered whether he could improve its coverage.

• Advanced Apprentice Mark glared at Saine before sitting with his companions, and Mage Irene began the lesson without commenting on their earlier dispute.
• Mage Irene explained how she modified the Fireball Spell into more efficient Firebird and Group Burst Spells with greater power.
• Saine considered how his Sun's Eye Magic compared with Mage Irene's Group Burst Spell and wondered if he could improve its coverage.
• Mage Irene showed a projection of her Thousand Birds Group Burst Spell destroying dozens of targets across a training ground.
• Mage Irene declared that the Holy Tower's Arcane Light recognized her Thousand Birds Group Burst Spell as a formal spell and praised its strength among spells of its level.

Saine finished Magician Irene’s Fire Element Transformation class and declined to buy the advanced Group Burst Spell model, having already set his research priorities. After Mark mocked him in the classroom, Saine agreed to meet him at the Challenge Stage.

• Magician Irene offered to sell the Spell Models for the improved Firebird Spell and Group Burst Spell, but warned the apprentices that modifying magic was dangerous and best left to Formal-Ranked Magicians.
• Saine decided not to spend Magic Coins or time learning the Group Burst Spell, and he looked forward to the remaining classes in Irene’s course.
• After Irene left, Mark challenged Saine to practice on the Challenge Stage and mocked him when Saine initially refused.
• Saine suppressed his anger, then accepted Mark’s challenge, unsettling Mark with his cold expression.

Saine faced the Advanced Apprentice Mark on the Holy Tower Academy's Challenge Stage, where Mark opened with powerful fire magic and enchanted equipment. Saine blocked Mark's attack and began casting Sun's Eye, leaving the battle poised as Magician Irene and the watching Formal Magician observed.

• Saine and Mark arrived at the Challenge Stage, where their arrival ended a pair of Low-Level Apprentices' sparring match.
• Mark and Saine exchanged threats before beginning their duel with killing blows.
• Mark activated his protective necklace, Sky Soaring Boots, and Elemental Ring, then attacked Saine with his advanced Flame Hand.
• Saine blocked Mark's Flame Hand with a concealed yellow barrier and began forming Sun's Eye.
• Magician Irene arrived and watched Mark's fight while the Yellow-Robed Formal Magician wondered who Saine was.

Saine and Mark fought on the Challenge Stage, where Saine’s improved Sun’s Eye magic damaged Mark’s shield bracer before Mark answered with Group Burst Spell. As Mark’s firebirds overwhelmed Saine’s shield, Saine’s golden beam forced Mark to dodge, and an Azure Flame Blade suddenly appeared behind him.

• Saine’s Sun’s Eye beam pierced Mark’s Fire Wall and damaged his water-vapor shield bracer, so Mark used his Sky Soaring Boots to take to the air.
• Irene explained that Saine’s Sun’s Eye was an improved advanced magic capable of two attacks, though its Array Diagram was beginning to collapse.
• Mark completed Group Burst Spell and sent dozens of firebirds crashing into Saine’s Earth Elemental Shield, shattering it.
• Saine fired the remaining golden beam, and Mark dodged it but suffered a burn on his arm.
• An Azure Flame Blade appeared behind Mark, making his expression turn pale.

Saine defeated Mark in the Challenge Stage after exploiting a gap in Mark’s Group Burst Spell, earning seventeenth place on the academy ranking and the Yellow-Robed Magician’s praise. The chapter ended with Saine leaving to treat his burns while Irene rebuked Mark for failing to grasp how close he had come to defeat.

• The Yellow-Robed Magician declared Saine the winner after blocking Saine’s Flame Blade and praised his dangerous charge through Mark’s Group Burst Spell.
• Saine explained that he had judged the spell’s brief blind spot and chosen the route with the lowest risk, leaving Mark dismayed by his defeat in both tactics and courage.
• Irene teased Mark about his loss reaching their duchy, and Saine realized that she was Mark’s grandmother and that they came from the same Duchy Family.
• Saine thanked Irene for saving him, declined her offer to treat his burns, and left the Challenge Stage with his own healing supplies.
• Mark complained that Irene’s intervention had spared Saine, but Irene scolded him for underestimating the danger of the battle.