Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

The line of carriages finally arrived before the grand entrance of Saratoga Castle.

The Magi from the Tower had glimpsed it from a distance, but now, when they were finally standing before it, they found it absolutely breathtaking.

It’s exterior was a mixture of medieval architecture and magical enchantments. The castle’s stone walls exuded an ancient and weathered aura.

They were thick and formidable, giving the titanic castle a fortress-like appearance.

”It’s… big,” Biden marveled.

Although the Tower of Daybreak was tall, Saratoga Castle was big and expansive. It was bigger than most settlements in the Empire.

Once could even argue that the castle was like a small city of its own, complete with its own classrooms, dining halls, libraries, dormitories, courtyards, towers, secret passages, and even dungeons.

It had everything a student or a professor might need, from greenhouses and smithies to an infirmary and a large kitchen.

Saratoga Castle functioned as a self-contained magical community tucked within the embrace of nature, surrounded by lakes, forests, and verdant valleys.

This was the first time Edward, Lisa, and Biden were visiting Saratoga Castle. As for Edwin and Marcella, they had come here on several ocassions.

Countless students wearing the gray cloaks of Saratoga entered and exited the towering main gates of the castle.

Although classes for the time being had been postponed, they still appeared to be in hurry. They had been helpling with the arrangement and management of the Grand Magus Tournament, after all.

For this event, the Magi employed to work in it were strictly restricted to the students and staff of Saratoga Castle. No outsiders were allowed to work.

This was a highly confidential arrangement. Moreover, only a select few students and staff were chosen to work on this after several rounds of interviews.

There were a few reasons for this, but two stood out the most.

Security was the first and foremost concern. Especially considering the dark undercurrents in Ravenfell, Mathilda Whitaker thought it best to only employ Magi from Saratoga.

Secondly, whatever these Magi worked on could not be leaked out. After all, the Magi who would participate in the tournament were not to be made privy to its trials until right before they started.

So that is why when Lisa turned her head towards the expansive lake beside the hill the castle was on, she couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.

Even from this distance, she could see hundreds of people gathered there, setting up bleachers. Moreover, she could even see several Magi diving in and out of the lake.

”Lady Whitaker,” she called out, he voice uncertain. ”Is the first trial related to that lake there?”

Mathilda, who was leading this group up the grand marble stairs towards the entrance, suddenly stopped and turned towards Marian Lake.

Then, she turned towards Lisa and flashed a mysterious smile. ”I wonder.”

She then gazed at the group of Magi from the Tower and clapped twice to get their attention.

”Students,” she began. ”While I take your Professors to meet the Headmaster, you are free to explore the Castle and its surrounding areas as you wish. Should you require any guidance, my children will be more than glad to offer help.”

She paused, her expression turning solemn. ”However, you are not allowed to visit the restricted areas within the Castle.”

Professor Whitaker pointed towards the expansive body of water and added, ”Marian Lake is out of bounds.”

Then, she pointed in the other direction. Far off in the distance, something dark and ominous loomed. ”Umbral Woods are also out of bounds.”

She scanned the faces of all the Mana Liquefaction Magi and spoke sternly, ”Understood?”

”Understood!” Under her solemn gaze, the students couldn’t help but straighten their backs.

”Splendid.” Professor Whitaker smiled warmly. ”Now off you go. Chop, chop!”

With that said, she turned around and led the group of Mana Vortex Magi through the grand entrance. Suddenly, she stopped when her gaze landed on a group of three students—two young men and a woman.

Her eyes lit up, and she called out to them, ”You three.”

”Yes, Professor.” The young woman with brown hair and pale blue eyes stepped forward and asked politely, ”Is there anything I can do for you?”

Professor Whitaker gently patted the young woman’s shoulder and then pointed at Edward and Lisa, who were standing at the foot of the marble staircase.

”Those two are your mentor’s childhood friends. Go, give them a tour around the castle.”

Eleiney’s eyes lit up in amazement. ”Mentor’s friends? They’re participating in the tournament?”

”Yes.” The elderly professor let out an amused chuckle. ”Go on, now. Take the boys with you and get acquainted with them.”

”Yes, Professor!” Eleiney beamed.

She then walked towards Arthur and Aiden, who were leaning against the stone walls and chatting with one another with bored expressions, and told them what Professor Whitaker had just told her.

The moment the two young men learned that Adam’s friends were here, their eyes lit up in surprise, and they quickly went to greet them.

Professor Whitaker witnessed all of this happen with a warm smile on her face.

”Those three are Adam’s students?” Edwin asked, his gaze directed at the three young Magi who were approaching his grandson.

”Indeed.” Professor Whitaker nodded. She then turned around and led the group of Mana Vortex Magi into the castle.

Edwin Turner gazed at Adam’s students for a moment longer before nodding ever so slightly. ”Not bad.”

***

”Excuse me.” Eleiney stepped forward, feeling a little shy, and approached the group of three people who were discussing how to spend their time here.

As for Arthur and Aiden, they were standing in the near distance. They felt even more shy to strike up a conversation with their mentor’s friends.

Thus, they gave the duty to Eleiney, who was more social and outgoing compared to them.

”Yes?” Lisa asked with a faint smile.

”Are you… Magus Constantine’s childhood friends?” Before Lisa even had the chance to answer, Edward and already arrived before her and nodded enthusiastically.

”Yes!” He grinned. ”Yes, we are! How did you know? Do you also know him? Wait, no, that’s a silly question. Who here doesn’t know him? Anyways, how do you know him?”

Eleiney was a little taken aback by how this tall and burly, blue-eyed young man acted like a little child. In the end, she did manage to answer him, ”Yes, I do know him…”

Her eyes flickered with pride, and she involuntarily straightened her back.

”I am the student of the Dark King!”