Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 631: Feeling of Déjà Vu

Ambermind Manor, Uptown Quarter.

Three individuals could be seen in Daneliʼs study through the arched windows of the second floor. The elf was naturally there, and along with him were the two Agents of the Brotherhood, Liriel and Kael.

The silver-haired elf gazed at the snow falling over the city with a detached look in her eyes. ”Itʼs almost been a year and a half,” she said.

She then turned around and gazed at the blond elf brewing tea at the table. ”Has he always been like this? Disappearing for so long without any news?”

”This is a first.” Daneli shook his head as he poured fresh tea into three ceramic cups. ”Usually heʼd let me know if heʼd be away for some work. At the very least, he would let his assistant, Rowan, know for sure.”

”Yes, but even he is clueless about his whereabouts,” said Liriel as she picked up two cups of tea, thanking Daneli for making them.

She then gave a cup to Kael who was standing by a tall bookshelf and reading a book about about Ravenfellʼs history. The burly man gave the elf a warm smile as he received the teacup.

Liriel took a sip from her cup and couldnʼt help but praise, ”Tea from Baja is unlike anything humans can ever grow.” She then deeply looked at Daneli and stated, ”You must give me another bag of fresh tea leaves. The last one is already over.”

Daneliʼs lips twitched ever so slightly. ”Sure…”

”Anyway,” Liriel changed the topic. ”Do you think Adam left Ravenfell?”

”Who knows?” Daneli shrugged. ”Even his cat refuses to say anything. Iʼm sure that little fellow knows something. He always does.”

Liriel couldnʼt help but sigh. She took a seat at the table, sitting right across from the blond elf. She asked in a solemn tone, ”You donʼt think something might have happened to him… right?”

Daneli spoke with great confidence. ”Donʼt worry about him. Heʼs strong.”

Liriel was reminded of the first time she met Adam. At the time, she had been unknowingly pulled inside his illusion. She, who considered herself an expert at illusion, was greatly outmatched by him without her even knowing.

That experience still sent shivers down her spine to this day. But at the same time, she also came to greatly admire Adam. The level of finesse required to weave such an elaborate illusion was highly respectable.

She would like to believe that for a Magus with such a deep understanding of the school of illusion, it would be very easy for him to deceive others and go in and out of places.

But the fact that it had been so long since Adam had gone missing that Liriel couldnʼt help but begin to waver, wondering from time to time if something really did happen to him.

”How are things on your end?” Daneli asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Liriel glanced at the tea in her cup. Her reflection on the surface was hazy. It seemed distant.

”The situation in Corvid is worse than Iʼd imagined,” she began. ”Thousands of people have died every year directly from the pandemic. This is not taking into account the murders that take place every day or the number of people that go missing.”

She turned her head and glanced at the snow falling outside through the window. The atmosphere outside was cold, inside it felt colder despite the warmth of the fireplace.

”So many children have gone missing,” she continued. ”Thousands of women have been murdered. Families have been ruined, yet the city doesnʼt bat an eyelid.”

Daneli didnʼt know how to reply. He knew that the people of Ravenfell, not just its nobility, were greatly biased against the people living in the Corvid Quarter. He was one of them too.

So despite there being so much pain and misery festering in those back alleys, no one bothered to do anything about it. Even the guards from the city watch who were known to maintain strict security in every nook and cranny of Ravenfell refrained from going to Corvid.

A deep sigh escaped Lisaʼs lips and she added, ”Iʼm almost certain that the Red Fists have a connection to the Cult of Bones.”

Daneliʼs expression turned serious and he asked, ”Is it because of the missing children and the deaths of so many women?”

”To be precise, virgin women,” Liriel corrected him, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. ”This matches the Cultʼs method of operations. The members of the cults are not only experts at dark magic but also bloody rituals and living sacrifices.”

Daneli didnʼt bother masking the look of hatred and disgust on his face. ”Theyʼre not even sparing the children? Despicable scum!”

Liriel nodded. ”Now, Kaelʼs informants havenʼt found out yet what theyʼre doing with the missing women and children. However, one thing Iʼm certain is that Red Fists are secretly transporting them somewhere. At least, some of them.”

”Any clues as to where they might be smuggling those people?” Daneli asked, rage bubbling inside of him.

Liriel looked at Kael, who was still engrossed in reading the book, and asked, ”What was the name of that family again?”

”Duskfall,” said the man without looking away from the book.

”The Duskfall Family?” Daneliʼs eyes narrowed. ”If I remember correctly, their patriarch holds the title of Viscount.

In the city of Ravenfell, there were five aristocratic titles inferred to the noble families. They were Duke, Marquess, Count, Viscount, and finally Baron. The Council of Seven were all Dukes.

”Indeed.” Liriel nodded with a serious expression. ”Kael was able to find several shipping manifestos that tied a shell company to several stores in the Corvid Quarter controlled by the Red Fists.

”After a thorough research, he was able to find a connection between the shell company and the Duskfall Family.”

Daneli glanced at the stoic, brown-haired man and couldnʼt help but be impressed. ”Great job, Kael. This is a solid lead!”

Kael glanced at him and gave him a thumbs up. Then, he returned to reading the book.

Daneli suddenly recalled something, his eyes lighting up. He glanced at the elf in front of him and said, ”Not too long ago I received an invitation to a masquerade ball being hosted at the Duskfall Estate.”

”Yes.” Lirielʼs lips curled up into a cold and calculating smile. ”Itʼs going to take place two weeks from now, and I hear many people from Ravenfellʼs upper class are going to attend that event.”

”Iʼm not surprised,” said Daneli as he stroked his chin, deep in thought. ”Viscount Duskfall is a very outgoing person, a social butterfly, if you will. He has a wide network and frequently does business with the other nobles of the city.”

”It appears we already know where we need to be two weeks from now,” Liriel spoke in a theatrical manner.

…

Constantine Manor, Uptown Quarter.

”Hey! How dare you loiter around here?!” The watchman screamed, glancing at the newcomer who seemed no different from a hobo with his long black hair and thick, untamed beard.

But the strange thing was, although the man appeared to be a vagabond, the clothes he was wearing were quite decent.

Still, the guard didnʼt dare take any risks. He had just gotten this job, after all. ”Quickly leave before I call the patrolling guards! Hey, Iʼm warning you! Are you listening to me?!”

”Haaa…” Adam heaved a long and deep sigh. ”Iʼm getting that feeling of déjà vu again.”