Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 406: Artistic

Days turned into weeks as Adamʼs life at Saratoga gradually settled into a comfortable routine.

Most days of the week, he would stay within castle grounds. He would attend classes during the daytime, trying his best not to be late for them.

Then, he would spend most of his time at the grand library, studying whatever arcane textbooks he could find on conjuring and teleportation.

He also didnʼt stop his research on gravity magic. This was something that he had been introduced to back inside the secret plane in the Southern Federation. He planned to further his research in this field.

In the evenings, he would dedicate all his time toward brewing potions and advancing his studies on herbalism.

Over the last few weeks, he had summoned Yavia a handful of times and learned that she was truly the perfect helper when it came to the preparation of herbs and ingredients for the subsequent potion concoctions.

Although he knew that wood spirits were exceptional at dealing with plant life, it still came as a great surprise to him. Her presence shortened the time it would take for him to brew a potion, greatly increasing his productivity.

He did not forget his end of the bargain, however. After she helped him with brewing potions, he would provide her with resources that would accelerate her advancement.

Moreover, he would also guide her with mindfulness, teaching her the most systematic and efficient way of extracting mana from the surroundings.

On the weekends, when there were no classes held at Saratoga, he would visit Ravenfell and explore this wonderful city.

Although he struggled to adjust to the new culture, he was gradually getting used to it.

Apart from Daneli, he had also managed to make a few friends. These people didnʼt care about his background and were amiable with him, unlike the vast majority of the graduate students at Saratoga.

On this day, Adam walked through the cobblestoned streets of the Downtown Quarter. As he sipped the wine from his gourd, he heard the gentle rustling of the leaves of trees planted on the sidewalk and the endless cawing of ravens.

Even now, after having been close to a month since heʼd arrived here, he still hadnʼt gotten used to the ravens in the city.

However, he was no longer as annoyed by these birds as he used to be.

The youth strolled past grand mansions, each one a masterpiece of architecture. One thing Adam noticed about the buildings here was that they were constructed from dark, weathered stones, giving them a somber yet imposing presence.

Pointed arches dominated the common design of all the buildings in the city. Multiple spires and towers rose from the mansions with sharp and vertical lines.

Many of the homes in this quarter had spacious front lawns that were meticulously maintained. These gardens were filled with plants and flowers of vibrant colors.

Despite the dark and gloomy appearance of the buildings, the existence of verdant flora brought about a perfect balance.

It was strangely harmonious.

Finding this slightly confusing, Adam glanced at his friend who was walking beside him, and asked, ”John, whatʼs with the gothic vibe of this city?”

John Rodriguez was an interesting fellow who Adam had gotten acquainted with in Saratoga Castle. Unlike him, however, John majored in the School of Illusions.

The black-haired youth with striking brown eyes glanced at Adam and chuckled, ”The cityʼs architecture is quite majestic, isnʼt it?”

Adam rolled his eyes. ”Just spit it out already.”

John spread his arms wide and spoke passionately, ”The tall spires, the intricate carvings, and the detailed architecture contribute to Ravenfellʼs stunning cityscape. It is a marvelous form of artistic expression!”

Hearing him say such words, Adamʼs eyebrows twitched. This guy… heʼs way too into theatrics. I guess, as expected from someone studying illusion magic.

”You know, Adam,” John continued. ”When my ancestors migrated from the Nahua Continent, they were drawn to the beautiful city of Ravenfell. Do you know why?”

”Why?” Adam asked out of curiosity.

”At the time, Ravenfell was going through a period of economic boom. It was considered the place to be, a city that welcomed people of all professions, even artists.”

Adam nodded his head in understanding. John had mentioned to him that his ancestors were performers—troupers and bards.

”Anyway, back to your question,” said John. ”The city fosters the growth of artists, something that wouldnʼt be seen in other cities. The architecture of Ravenfell is a result of that.

”It fosters a sense of identity and community amongst the cityʼs inhabitants. Our cityʼs distinct and recognizable architecture is what differentiates us from other cities.”

”But why is everything so… dark?” Adam asked awkwardly.

John glanced at him and smirked, ”Have you heard of the legend behind the cityʼs founding?”

Adam nodded. Daneli had mentioned to him about this. ”Wasnʼt it something about a magical raven guiding the founder toward the site of the future city?”

”Indeed,” John replied. ”Ravens are said to be creatures of darkness. However, that doesnʼt necessarily imply that they are evil beings.

”Here, ravens are considered as sacred creatures. Over the centuries, the design of the city has been catered to accommodate the habitat of these beautiful birds.”

Adam stoked his chin, thinking to himself, The founder of Ravenfell and Saratoga Castle had a strange connection with ravens. Hmm, in many cultures these birds are associated with wisdom and mystery.

But more importantly, these creatures are said to have an intimate connection with the Spirit World. How fascinating!

John patted Adamʼs shoulder and smiled, ”Donʼt think too much. Itʼs not as scary as it looks.”

He waved his hand and pointed at the countless ravens perched upon the buildings, ”If anything, the residents of this city view these creatures as emissaries, watching over the city, protecting it from impending dangers.”

”Emissaries?” Adam raised his eyebrow. ”Who do you think theyʼre sent here by?”

”Who knows? John shrugged. ”Probably the raven spirit who guided the founder to this location.”

”Hmm, interesting…” Adam muttered under his breath.

”Anyway, letʼs hurry to the Viva Opera House. I donʼt want to miss the play,” said John as he rushed toward the grand building in the near distance.

Although Adam was not a fan of plays and musicals, he had promised John to go to this opera house with him this weekend.

Hence, he could only reluctantly follow along. It wasnʼt like he had anything better to do. Studying and researching arcane texts all the time made life quite monotonous.

So Adam decided to visit this opera house and try something knew.

If it got too boring inside, he would just drink himself to sleep.