Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Sapphite Tower, Lords’ Borough.

Of the many student residences scattered across the sprawling campus, there were private studio apartments reserved for honor students. It was the Tower’s way of fostering competition and incentivizing students.

Naturally, Genevieve, as a stellar student, lived in one such apartment on campus. She walked through the corridor on the top floor of the building, holding Adam’s hand as he trailed behind.

She looked at him with a strange look in her eyes. ”So you never buy groceries?”

Adam, holding a bag of groceries for Genevieve, shrugged. ”Not really, no. I eat outside.”

”But that’s so unhealthy,” Genevieve murmured.

”I suppose it is,” Adam admitted frankly.

Though he didn’t care all that much. A Paladin’s body was strong and healthy enough. Especially his.

”I’ll make you dinner tomorrow night.” Genevieve smiled. ”How about it?”

”You can cook?” Adam asked dubiously.

”Of course I can cook!” Genevieve pinched his cheek. ”And what’s with that look? You doubting my culinary skills?”

”Nothing. Nothing.” Adam sighed helplessly.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and he stopped Genevieve in her tracks. He squeezed her hand gently and whispered, ”Were you expecting someone?”

Genevieve frowned. ”What do you mean?”

Adam’s Sphere of Resonance flooded toward Genevieve’s studio apartment. Inside, he sensed a figure waiting.

”There’s someone in your apartment,” he said.

”Impossible!” Genevieve blurted out. ”No one else has the key.”

Adam pulled Genevieve behind him. He handed her the grocery bag and took the key from her. He could not sense any hostility from the stranger inside her apartment. So he decided to investigate. Also, they were in the heart of Sapphire Tower’s campus. He doubted anyone could just break in and cause trouble.

He inserted the key and opened the door. It creaked open, light from the corridor spilling inside.

And then, Adam’s eyes slowly widened.

Inside, he saw a middle-aged woman sitting on a chair by the window. There was a bottle of open wine on the table before her. In her hand, she swirled a goblet of wine as her piercing cerulean eyes scrutinized Adam.

For a moment, Adam thought he was looking at a more mature Genevieve. This stranger looked so much like her! Except the woman was older and had scars on her face.

Adam suddenly found himself in an awkward situation. He could clearly tell that this woman was Genevieve’s family member. But here he was, holding Genevieve’s hand and opening the door to her private studio. To say he was embarrassed would be an understatement.

”Adam?” Genevieve’s voice echoed from behind him. ”What’s wrong? Who’s inside?”

”You should probably see for yourself,” he said and awkwardly shifted to the side, making space for Genevieve to enter.

Genevieve was even more shocked than Adam to see the stranger. She stared at her with wide eyes and mouth slightly agape.

When Valentina’s gaze landed on Genevieve, the corner of her lips curled into a smirk.

”You’ve grown up splendidly, my darling,” she said.

Genevieve froze, unable to speak a word. Who was this woman? Why was she acting so familiar with her? And why did they look so similar?

Valentina ignored her niece’s gaze and turned to Adam, her smile fading.

”Leave us, boy.”

She had an air of authority around her, and her words struck Adam’s heart directly, making him tremble ever so slightly. If it were any other man, they would have collapsed to their knees, gasping for air.

But Adam wasn’t like other men.

He took a steady breath, then pulled Genevieve behind her. He was afraid, very much so. But he had to wear a mask of bravery for Genevieve. For himself.

”Not unless you identify yourself, my lady,” he said firmly and politely. He had clearly noticed how even Genevieve hadn’t recognized this woman.

To Valentina, the slight tremble of his voice was obvious. But that wasn’t what she focused on. Her cerulean eyes flickered with faint interest.

”So you have a spine in you.”

Valentina’s words and her overbearing aura pressing on Adam were simply her making things difficult for him. It was clear as day to her that this young man and her niece were together. But she couldn’t bear to see Genevieve with a random nobody.

Turned out... he might not be a nobody, after all.

Still, she didn’t deign to answer Adam’s question just because he asked. Instead, she turned to Genevieve, who still stood frozen, and said:

”I’m Madeline’s sister-in-law.”

Adam felt Genevieve’s hand tremble. He looked toward her and noticed how she stood there frozen in increasing shock.

In the next moment, she quickly regulated her emotions and took a deep breath. She turned to Adam and smiled, ”It’s okay, Adam. I’ll be fine.”

Adam’s lips parted and closed several times. In the end, he nodded. ”Alright, I’ll wait outside.”

Genevieve silently mouthed the words ’thank you’.

Adam turned to look at the stranger again, but she wasn’t even looking at him. He sighed softly and closed the door behind him.

Long after he was gone, Genevieve still remained standing by the door. She stared at Valentina, noticing how similar the two of them looked. It gave further credibility to the words she said.

Madeline Saint Laurent was Genevieve’s mother.

So that meant…

”You’re my father’s sister?”

”Elder sister,” Valentina replied with a smirk. ”Do sit, my dear. We have loads to discuss.”

Genevieve hesitated for a few moments before sitting across from Valentina. ”Why are you here?” she asked.

”I received word that my sweet niece was trapped inside a secret plane, so I arrived on this world as quickly as I could,” Valentina said, taking a sip of wine.

Her eyes narrowed and she continued, ”I also heard that some real nasty women were trying to recruit you into their barbaric cult. So I’m here to prevent that.”

”What right do you have to decide my choices?” Genevieve’s words were sharp, her eyes glistening with tears. ”Where were you when I needed you? Where was my father? Is he… Is he even alive?”

Valentina felt the sadness in her niece’s voice. She sighed and placed the goblet back on the table.

”I will be frank with you,” she began.

”My baby brother is a coward. And yes, he’s alive. He was beside himself when Madeline died. You may not remember it because you were an infant, but he and I did spend your early childhood years with you.

”But then he left because you reminded him of your mother. I suppose his fragile heart could not take it, so he dove headfirst into the wars of the Imperium, trying to find meaning in his life, I suppose.”

Valentina sighed.

”Men… so damned stupid.”