Chapter Summaries

Saine left the Earl's Castle with his mother's portrait and encountered his father, Earl Grant, on the stone bridge. Earl Grant had rushed back from the pre-war conference after learning that Saine had returned, and asked where Saine was going.

• Saine departed the Earl's Castle, and Old John and Graina let him go after seeing his resolve.
• Saine crossed the castle grounds and reached the stone bridge, where Earl Grant and twenty mounted guards confronted him.
• Saine recognized Earl Grant as his father, noting their close resemblance and comparing their strength and ages.
• Saine reflected on the secrets behind the wars among the Lisia Alliance, the Sifa Kingdom, and the Ok Empire, which powerful noble families knew.
• Earl Grant revealed by his arrival that he had hurried back from the pre-war conference after hearing Saine was in the family territory, then asked where Saine was going.

Saine rejected Earl Grant’s offer to return to the Grant family, saying he considered another place his home and wanted to pursue what mattered to him. Earl Grant ordered him bound as he continued toward the castle exit, while the chapter revealed that the wars between human kingdoms served a larger plan to train knights for the Knights’ Hall and Wizard Civilization’s wars against other planes.

• Saine told Earl Grant that the Grant Castle was not his home because Lady Diya made trouble for him and Solon was hostile toward him.
• Earl Grant promised that Tiya and Solon would apologize and that Solon would acknowledge Saine as his brother.
• Saine refused the offer, saying he would not lose himself in hollow noble family ties and would pursue what mattered to him.
• The narration explained that powerful knights had left the Wizard World for Plane Wars and that the kingdoms’ conflicts trained knights for the Knights’ Hall.
• Earl Grant ordered his men to bind Saine as he walked toward the castle exit.

Saine fought off Earl Grant’s guards when they tried to bind and take him to the Earl’s Castle. Impressed by Saine’s ability, Earl Grant ordered his wounded knights aside and prepared to test his son himself.

• Earl Grant’s guards approached Saine with steel cables, intending to restrain him and bring him back to the castle.
• Saine used his Strong Acid Scepter and Flame Blade to drive back three Advanced Squires, injuring them without causing fatal wounds.
• Earl Grant recognized Saine as an Advanced Magic Apprentice and wondered whether he had inherited his mother’s bloodline.
• Earl Grant ordered the three knights to withdraw, then faced Saine from horseback with a whip glowing with purple flames.

Saine fought Earl Grant on the bridge outside Grant Castle, where his father overwhelmed him with battle experience and offered him wealth and support to return to the Grant Family. Though the offer promised major benefits, Saine still wanted to leave and used Moxidu’s black magic staff as the fight continued.

• Earl Grant used his battle qi and horse whip to suppress Saine while pointing out weaknesses in his spells and combat technique.
• Earl Grant offered Saine advanced spell models, fifty thousand Gold Coin a year, and access to the Grant Family’s resources if Saine stayed.
• Saine judged that his own assets and inherited Energy Crystals made the offer less compelling, and he remained intent on leaving.
• Saine took Moxidu’s black magic staff from his Space Bracelet and prepared to use its Song of the Great Wind spell.

Saine used Song of the Great Wind and Qi to escape Earl Grant, but an unknown magician knocked them out of the sky. That evening, Saine and Qi were at Earl’s Castle, where Earl Grant introduced the powerful Quasi-Magician Domvol, who had stopped their flight.

• Saine cast Song of the Great Wind and rose into the air, astonishing Earl Grant with his formal magic and Magic Staff.
• Saine summoned Qi, and the owl carried him hundreds of meters away as Earl Grant pursued them on horseback.
• An aged voice questioned why a Quasi-Level Magical Beast and formal magic were in the human activity zone, then struck Qi with an Oxygen Deprivation Bullet and sent Saine and Qi falling.
• Earl Grant chased after Saine and Qi as they fell from the sky.
• At a banquet in Earl’s Castle, Earl Grant apologized to Elder Domvol, a Quasi-Magician of the Fire Crest Chapter who had used air-element magic to stop them.

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.