Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 660: Insatiable Hunger

The soft hum of the orchestraʼs lively tune bathed the Duskfall Estate in a splendid vibe. The light of Selene and Luna filtered through the towering stained-glass windows, making the interior seem even more enchanting.

The ballroom glowed with flickering candelabras and crystal chandeliers, their light reflecting off the gilded moldings and high-arched ceilings.

A long and massive mahogany bar, lined with crystal bottles of whiskey, absinthe, wine, and champagne, stood at the heart of the room, manned by a group of impeccably dressed waiters.

Liquor glasses clinked with one another as the laughter of nobles, socialites, and secret lovers mingled with the scent of debauchery behind lace fans and gem-studded masks.

Throughout the manor, couples openly displayed thier affection for one another to the rhythm of brass horns and live piano. Groups of men and women exchanged hushed conversations over cigars and Ivory Dust—a type of drug that created a rush of pleasure and a feeling of invincibility.

Beyond the ballroom, in the ornate parlors and smoky drawing rooms, guests indulged in high-stake games of playing cards. Their winnings included but were not limited to Acadian gold, magical artifacts, and family heirlooms.

Needless to say, the air was thick with the scent of roses, expensive perfume, drugs, and fine tobacco, furthermore, mingling with the faint trace of scandal and depravity.

One had to know that the usual parties or balls hosted in the city were very regal, formal, and structured. Social etiquette and hierarchy dominated these events. Everything was controlled and deliberate.

Yet the parties hosted by Viscount Altan Duskfall were all about excess, freedom, and music-filled decadence. The goal of these events was to have fun, be seen, and break social norms.

People mingled freely, alcohol flowed endlessly, and loose morals and wild behavior lurked in every corner. People drank straight from champagne bottles, consumed drugs, jumped in fountains, and caused public spectacles.

It was out of place. It was scandalous. But… it was thrilling!

The Ravenfell nobles although shocked by the looseness, bold fashion, and wild energy, were simply unable to look away.

Such was the allure of the grand parties hosted at the Duskfall Estate.

Outside, in the sprawling gardens of the estate, couples strolled along the well-maintained paths, their silhouettes highlighted by the glow of antique lanterns. Their soft murmurs and hushed confessions of love—or betrayal—added a tantalizing mystery to the night.

While inside, above it all, standing on the grand marble staircase, the host of the evening, Altan Duskfall, watched everything with a knowing smirk. His wife, Fern, stood beside him and clasped his hand, watching him with a proud look in her eyes.

”In the world of wealth and decadence, masks are worn not just for the party but for life itself,” she murmured.

She looked at Adam and Qamara standing beside them and asked with a faint smile, ”What do you think?”

Adam glanced at her and answered in a cryptic manner, ”But sooner or later every mask cracks, revealing the monster beneath.”

Altan turned to look at him with a light frown, not quite sure what he meant by that last remark. But he quickly revealed a polite smile and stated, ”So, Adam, Iʼve introduced you to every big name in the estate tonight. Was everything to your liking?”

Adamʼs eyes narrowed and a dangerous light flashed in them but he quickly hid it. ”Lord Duskfall, Iʼve been meaning to ask. Weʼve never met before today, yet you continue to act like weʼre long-time friends. You went even so far as to introduce me to everyone as the guest of honor. I wonder why that is…”

Qamara, who was standing beside him, started paying close attention to the conversation now. Adam had mentioned to her earlier that he truly didnʼt know the Duskfalls, yet they treated him so closely. Now, the veil would be finally lifted before her eyes.

Why are they trying to frame him? What is their motive? Are the Umbra Thieves present in this manor right now as we speak?

All sorts of thoughts swirled inside her head as she waited for the Duskfall couple to answer.

Altan and Fern glanced at each other for a moment. Fern then looked at Adam and replied, ”Well, thatʼs what weʼd like to—”

However, Altan interrupted her. ”Letʼs talk somewhere else, shall we?” He then looked at his wife and asked with a smile, ”Honey, why donʼt you show them the private lounges on this floor? Iʼll inform a few guests and excuse ourselves. Our sudden disappearance would be rather unbecoming.”

”…I understand, love,” Fern spoke after a brief pause. She then glanced at Adam and Qamara and beamed. ”Allow me to show you the highlights of our grand event!”

With that said, she led the pair to the deeper parts of the second floor. Meanwhile, Adam coldly glanced at the departing back of Altan who was making his way downstairs, all the while talking to his guests and clinking glasses with them.

Fern first took Adam and Qamara to a room that was completely out of thier expectations. It was a room where over a dozen guests were present. Except, they didnʼt have any clothes on, only their masks. It was the room where they all made love to one another.

”Only a select few individuals of high-standing are allowed to party on this floor,” Fern explained with a smug smile. ”This is reserved for the VIPs, you see.”

Forget Qamara, even Adam was dumbfounded at this scene because heʼd never witnessed such a vile and debaucherous thing before. Yet, he kept an indifferent expression on his face and instructed Fern, ”This place reeks of filth. Take us to the next lounge.”

”Of course, of course~” Fern giggled coquettishly before taking the pair further down the hallway.

In the following private lounges, Adam and Qamara got to witness things that were more bizarre than the last.

There was a private room where guests were out cold after consuming some sort of psychedelic drug, a room where people fought one another in a bloody battle with swords and daggers, and an eerie room where a small group of people feasted upon something unimaginable.

After witnessing all of this, Qamara felt extremely nauseated. Noticing this, Adam glanced at Fern and said, ”My friend and I would like to chat somewhere private. How about you go and find your husband for us?”

Fern felt something amiss. She couldnʼt help but ask nervously, ”Is… something wrong? Was everything not to your liking?”

Adamʼs eyes narrowed and he thought to himself, She places quite the importance on what I think? What is she planning? What has the Cult told her?

He chose to play along. He stepped forward and gently held her chin, raising it slightly. He looked into her eyes and stated in a soft yet stern tone, ”Everythingʼs perfect, Fern. Now, go and call your husband.”

Fernʼs breathing turned ragged as she gazed into Adamʼs deep and mysterious eyes. ”Yes… yes, right away!” With that said, she turned around rushed to the first floor to find her husband.

Adam then grabbed Qamaraʼs hand and entered an empty private lounge at the end of the hallway. Adam shut the door behind him and then immediately scanned the room with his Sphere of Resonance.

A few moments later, he nodded. ”This room is safe. No one is spying on us here.”

Qamara immediately let go of her calm facade. Her breathing turned heavy and her shoulders heaved up and down. She conjured a smoking pipe from her storage artifact and, with trembling hands, started smoking the tobacco to calm her nerves.

She glanced at Adam with a look of apprehension and disbelief as she asked, ”Adam, that previous lounge… They… They were feasting on…”

”Yes.” Adam nodded with a solemn expression. ”They were feasting on the corpse of a human.”

Qamaraʼs body shuddered at the confirmation. She couldnʼt help but inhale from the pipe a few more times. ”What… Just what is this place?!”

Adam stepped forward and gently grabbed her shoulders. He tried to comfort her as much as he could. ”We are treading in the territory of the evil. What you see now is nothing compared to what you will later. I need to know that you can hold your own.”

Qamara looked at Adam and spoke through quivering lips, ”Adam, this… what have you gotten yourself into?”

Adam paused for a few moments and then answered, ”Listen well, for this is knowledge seldom spoken aloud.”

He took a deep breath and continued, ”There exist seven sins—seven types of insatiable hunger that creeps into the hearts of men, elves, and even the Magi that call themselves gods…”