Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

”Wait, really?” Adam was having difficulty processing that information. He recalled all the times he had spent with Berger and couldn’t believe that someone like him was part of this faction.

”Hoho, you don’t believe me?” Krummor chuckled in amusement.

”My Lord, can you tell me exactly what the Preservationists do?” Adam asked.

”Hmm, where should I begin?” The dwarf emptied the ashes in the fireplace. As he put fresh tobacco leaves in the pipe, he continued, ”The members of our faction focus on safeguarding the cultural, historical, and magical heritage of Tron.

”We believe that preserving ancient lore, artifacts, and sacred sites is crucial for maintaining balance and protecting the lands from both ignorance and misuse.

”While we do share the Brotherhood’s overreaching goals of promoting freedom and justice, our methods and priorities are often more scholarly than those of other factions.”

Adam fell into deep thought, habitually stroking his chin. The old man did seem to know a great deal about the arcane history of this world. But I figured he’d be more of a Free Agent than a Preservationist…

As for Krummor, Adam didn’t guess as to which faction he really was from. He barely knew the man, after all. But he didn’t think he was lying about being in the Preservationist faction.

His interest was greatly piqued as he looked at the dwarf and asked, ”What did you mean by making it easier for me to get those journals? How exactly are you going to do that?”

Krummor took a deep puff from his pipe and explained, ”Well, you’d still have to accumulate contributions to get your hands on them. But if you were to officially join our faction, you wouldn’t need as many merits.”

”How so?” Adam pressed.

”You see, we collect, catalog, and safeguard ancient texts, spells, and historical records. This includes artifacts of significant cultural or magical value,” the dwarf answered.

”You mean to say the journals left behind by the founder are in the hands of the Preservationists,” Adam asked, dumbfounded.

He couldn’t understand how something with such immense value could be in the possession of one single faction in the Brotherhood. However, upon second thought, he realized that the factions of this organization didn’t know the true value of those journals.

If they did, all of them would have probably started a war over it!

”It is our faction’s responsibility to maintain the secret vaults, libraries, and sanctuaries where dangerous or valuable items are hidden away. Access to these repositories is strictly limited, and even other members may not know their locations,” said Krummor.

Suddenly, Daneli chimed in, ”My Lord, aren’t the other factions against letting the Preservationists have so much power that they’d be left in charge of such valuable items?”

Krummor turned to the elf and explained, ”Compared to the other warmongering and power-hungry factions, we’re simply scholars in pursuit of the arcane arts. We focus more on magical research.”

He paused for a moment before adding, ”Although, I must say, because of our responsibilities in safeguarding these precious artifacts and knowledge, some of the Magi from the other factions have grown to distrust us over the years.”

Daneli thought of the right words to say before asking, ”So then what does your faction do to prevent suspicion?”

”We have ethical guidelines for artifact handling and knowledge sharing,” said the dwarf. ”Our mission is one of guardianship, not control. Our work protects everyone—the members of the Brotherhood, the people of Tron, and future generations—from the consequences of lost or misused knowledge.”

That’s not really a solid way to maintain trust… Daneli thought to himself, but on the outside, he displayed an enlightened look.

”But more importantly, there is an oversight committee comprised of Councillors,” Krummor added.

Now, that’s more like it, Daneli mused, nodding in response.

Adam, on the other hand, couldn’t help but ask, ”My Lord, if I join your faction and you, in your own words, make it easier for me to access the founder’s journal, wouldn’t that be a… misuse of your powers?”

”Hmph, how naive!” Krummor snorted. ”By ’making it easier’, I never meant that you wouldn’t have to work towards it. You’d have to work for the rewards as hard as any other member of the Brotherhood, but you being Berger’s student would naturally have some leeway.”

Adam went into deep thought again. If the old man really belongs to this faction, then I don’t have to think twice before joining it. I’ll also have access to more knowledge than before.

Who knows, I might just be able to get my hands on the items other than the journals left behind by the founder.

Speaking of, was the laboratory I used in the Grayscale Mountains run by the Preservationists? From Lord Krummor’s descriptions, that seems to be the case.

He looked at the dwarf and asked something that had been bothering him for a little while now, ”If the old man belongs to the Preservationist faction, then how come he was living out his days in the Southern Federation?”

This was the reason why he had thought that Berger was from the Free Agents faction. After all, the gnome was living a very carefree life in the capital of Nightingale Kingdom, Moon City, running a herbs and potion store.

Krummor deeply looked at Adam, his facial expression gradually turning solemn, ”He… didn’t tell you the reason?”

”No?” Adam felt that something was wrong and couldn’t help but ask, ”Did something happen?”

Krummor remained silent for a few moments as he looked at the fireplace, not even bothering to smoke from his pipe. Finally, he looked at Adam and answered, ”It’s not my place to tell you, but…”

”But what?” Adam’s heart was gripped by apprehension. ”Did… did something happen to the old man before he came to the Southern Federation?”

Krummor’s hand involuntarily touched the scar over his left eye. ”There was a great battle in the Europa Continent.”

He paused for a moment, recalling the dreadful scenes of the past. He heaved a deep sigh and he continued, ”Berger lost a lot in that battle. He was never the same again. After that fateful night, he left everything behind and traveled to the Ulier Continent.”

The dwarf then looked at Adam and smiled, ”I was sure that he would stay in retirement for the rest of his life. But that was until I heard that he was attacking the next great rank - Mana Core!”

Adam’s mind was swirling with tempestuous waves as he wondered to himself, Old man lost everything in that battle? What battle? Why did he never tell me? What happened to him in Europa?

He wanted to ask Krummor about Berger’s past, but he knew that the dwarf wouldn’t divulge a thing. Moreover, he felt that this was something that he had to hear from Berger directly.

”Don’t worry, lad,” Krummor comforted Adam, seeing his troubled expression. ”If Berger has decided to advance to the next rank, it means that he’s overcome the shackles that were tying him down. It means that he’s ready to start a new chapter in his life.”

Adam nodded with a faint smile. Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, ”My Lord, you mentioned the old man being part of a great battle in the Europa Continent. Did he perhaps suffer grievous injuries?”

”Yes.” Krummor nodded with a solemn look on his face. ”His injuries were life-threatening, to say the least. If it wasn’t for the timely medical help he received from the Herbalists of the Brotherhood, he might have died.”

Well, that explains why the old man is taking so long to break through to the Mana Core Rank. Severe injuries to the physical body can become great obstacles during advancements, Adam thought to himself in slight worry.

”So what do you say?” Krummor’s words snapped him out of his thoughts. ”Are you willing to join the Preservationists?”

Adam looked at him and smiled apologetically. ”My Lord, it’s not that I don’t trust your words, but I would really like to wait until the old man’s succeeded in his advancement.”

Krummor smiled approvingly, ”The advancement to the Mana Core Rank is fraught with dangers, yet you still think Berger can make it, eh?”

”Heh,” Adam smirked, his face displaying utmost faith and confidence in the gnome. ”That goes without saying!”