Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

A red ribbon slashed across the horizon.

The sky was twilight. Nightfall retreated along with the moons of Myrrandor.

Rays of sunlight kissed the land. Dawn had arrived.

The aunt and niece had talked the entire night, yet there was still so much left to talk about.

Valentina had finished half a dozen bottles of that expensive wine. As the sunlight spilled through the open window, her face glowed like a rose. She stretched her hands unceremoniously and squealed in satisfaction.

”I’ll be in the city for another week before I visit a few friends across Centerra,” she said to Genevieve.

”Where are you staying?” Genevieve asked curiously.

”Lords’ Borough,” Valentina said casually. ”At Emily’s villa.”

”Emily?” Genevieve blinked. ”You don’t mean… the Witch of Davos, do you?”

”That’s exactly who I mean.”

Genevieve’s eyes widened. ”You’re friends with her?! She’s the new Known Lord of the city!”

”Why so surprised?” Valentina quirked a brow. ”She’s been secretly looking out for you all this while, you know. Do thank her if you get to meet her in the future.”

”Secretly… looking out for me?” Genevieve was in a daze.

Valentina rolled her eyes. ”You didn’t think I’d leave you here without any protection, did you? I am not that irresponsible.”

Genevieve was touched. Truly. Her eyes reddened as she silently rose to her feet. She walked toward Valentina and hugged her.

Valentina was momentarily startled. But she soon smiled warmly. ”There, there, my darling.”

When Genevieve still didn’t leave her embrace and even began to silently sob, Valentina patted her back and whispered:

”I know I haven’t been there for you for most of your life. And I probably won’t spend much time with you in the future since you’ve decided to stay here. But know that you are loved. By me. By your father. By your family back in Providentia. We all love you very, very much.”

”Mhm.” Genevieve nodded.

She truly hadn’t thought she’d feel such familial love after her grandfather passed away. Her mother died in childbirth, and she didn’t even know her father. But Valentina’s presence filled her heart with so much love and warmth.

Finally, she separated, tears and snot marking her face. But she didn’t care whether Valentina saw them. She was family. It didn’t matter. There was no embarrassment. Well, maybe a little.

”It’s late now,” Valentina said. ”Or early, rather.”

She rose to her feet and prepared to leave. ”Come, darling. Walk with me. There’s something I wish to speak to you about.”

They moved out of the room and slowly walked the corridor of the building.

Valentina had her arm around Genevieve’s. ”Be careful of who you let close to you.”

Genevieve frowned. ”I’m not sure what you mean.”

”Remember how I said we children of House Fortuna wield tremendous power?”

Genevieve nodded.

Valentina said slowly, ”Those around us are also affected by this power we wield. The closer you are to a person, the more intertwined your fates become.”

Genevieve turned to her, frown deepening. ”Are you talking about Adam?”

Valentina did not respond. Instead, she continued her explanation.

”In the future, you will meet many people who can deduce your true identity. They will try to come close to you. Form relationships with you. Use you. Leech off of you.”

Genevieve stopped in her tracks, face grim. ”Aunt Valentina, what are you talking about?”

”I’m saying, you have to be careful,” Valentina said seriously. ”Do not trust others so easily. Always listen to your heart. The worlds are unkind, my darling. And the people in it, unkinder still.”

Genevieve felt uncomfortable hearing those words. ”What power are you talking about? You still haven’t told me anything about it.”

”Oh, you know,” Valentina said casually. ”Synchronicity. Fortune. And all that.”

A storm of thoughts erupted in Genevieve’s mind. In that moment, a lot of things began to make sense to her. But before she could voice any of them, she heard her aunt speak.

”Do you like the boy?” Valentina asked thoughtfully.

Genevieve’s cheeks blushed red for a moment. She averted her aunt’s gaze and slowly nodded.

”Bloody arcana…” Valentina sighed helplessly.

”Why? What’s the matter!” Genevieve quickly asked. ”Did you notice something strange about Adam?”

”Strange?” Valentina shook her head. ”Who can tell? People are a lot better at hiding their true selves than we give them credit for. What I also worry about is another matter.”

”What?” Genevieve pressed.

Valentina smiled sadly. ”I fear that you will outlive him.”

There was so much pain and sadness in her words, in her eyes. Genevieve could tell that her aunt had endured the pain of having to outlive others. Perhaps people that she once loved and cared for.

”Adam is smart and talented,” Genevieve said softly. ”So you don’t have to worry about that. If anything, I should be the one to worry about catching up to him.”

Now that was a surprise to Valentina. Her cerulean eyes intensely searched Genevieve for the truth, for she knew exactly how talented she was. To think there was someone even more talented than her niece naturally caught her attention.

”What did you say his name was again?”

”Adam Constantine.”

”Constantine…” Valentina murmured. ”So he was the other boy with the Claudius. Emily seems to be interested in him. Hmm. Okay. I see.”

She quickly figured out how Genevieve and Adam had met, and how she must have fallen for him.

Genevieve remained quiet as her aunt contemplated.

”Oh, well.” Valentina put her arm around Genevieve’s again, and began descending the stairs.

”So…” Genevieve asked hesitantly. ”Do you approve of him?”

”Approve?” Valentina laughed. ”Darling, I don’t even know him.”

Genevieve pouted, feeling like a child again in the company of family. She then asked, ”And about what you said earlier about our powers—”

Valentina cut her off reassuringly. ”I’ll teach you how to harness your powers. But you have to keep them a secret. It will be our little secret.”

”No, I meant what you said about others taking advantage of me.” Genevieve shook her head. ”Adam did not know my true identity. Nine hells, even I did not!”

She then asked softly, ”So he should be fine… right?”

”Look at you.” Valentina teased. ”So madly in love. Oh, how adorable you are.”

”Aunt Valentina, please!” Genevieve blushed.

”Ah, fine, fine.” Valentina waved a hand. ”You know him better than I do. So you would know if he should be fine or not.”

”He is,” Genevieve said without hesitation.

”Then I suppose he is.” Valentina shrugged.

***

Valentina exited the building, walking along the marble pathway lined by exotic trees and bushes.

Soon, someone caught her eye.

On a stone bench by a fountain nearby, a raven-haired youth in a simple tunic and trousers lay lazily. Hands cupped behind his head, he was taking a nap.

But Valentina knew better. She had already felt the boy’s senses washing over her.

She scoffed in amusement, not bothering to stop by and have a chat with this boy that her sweet little niece had taken a liking to.

However, she was definitely going to vet his background.

Long after Valentina left, another figure appeared. This one walked directly toward Adam.

Genevieve bent over Adam, standing perpendicular to his body. So that her head was directly above his.

”I know you’re awake,” she whispered.

Adam smiled slowly. ”You caught me.”

Genevieve gently cupped Adam’s cheek, smiling warmly.

”Why didn’t you go back home? I feel bad for making you wait all night.”

Adam opened his eyes. Her face was so close. He could see his own reflection in her cerulean eyes.

”Well, I did say I’d wait for you outside.”

Genevieve silently looked into Adam’s eyes. She was mesmerized by them. They were so dark and deep. She could see her own reflection in his eyes just as he could see himself reflected in hers.

”Uh, there are students nearby,” Adam suddenly said awkwardly. ”They’re watching us. Are you okay with that?”

Genevieve answered with a delicate kiss.

She looked at him with a smug smile. ”What do you think?”

”I guess you are.” Adam smiled.

”Are you hungry?” she asked.

”Not really.”

”Well, too bad. I’m making you breakfast, anyway.” Genevieve took hold of his hand and pulled him to his feet.

That day Adam tried Genevieve’s home-cooked food for the first time.

It was delicious.