Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

A month after returning from the Blood Moon Secret Plane, Luca finally received the report he had requested through official channels on Carina.

He sat at his table in his study. The villa was a property of House Claudius. Of course, the neighbors were not aware of the fact. If they did, they would either come flocking for favors or run from fright.

Only a handful at the upper echelons of the city’s administration were aware of the secret properties that the Great Noble Houses owned in Davos.

”Hmm.” The young Claudius hummed in understanding as he read the document in his hand.

Before him stood a couple of attendants, ones he had entrusted to dig through Adam’s past.

Luca was grateful to Adam for saving him from the spirit world. He admired and respected him. The Paladin even called him a brother, and he meant it.

However, Adam’s arrival in Myrrandor was suspicious.

As a descendant of the God Emperor, how could Luca ignore such a matter? This was Myrrandor, after all. The birthplace of the Human Emperor. The cradle of man.

The smallest of suspicions, no matter how harmless, warranted a thorough investigation. Especially from someone with an ancestry like Luca Claudius.

”Tron,” he murmured.

He looked at his attendants and asked, ”Have you verified it from the other travelers?”

”There are only two more from Tron, my lord,” one of them respectfully said. ”One resides south of the Shattered Sea. The other has joined a local faction in Eastern Centerra.”

”The facts are consistent,” another said with a nod.

”They both claim Adam Constantine had been instrumental in protecting their home world from the invasion of devils.”

Luca nodded thoughtfully. ”What about his sister? Any news on her yet?”

He knew how much Adam was concerned for his sister’s safety. Part of investigating his background was so that Luca could glean information on his sister. So he could put Adam’s mind at ease.

”No, my lord.” The first attendant shook his head.

”There were records of her arriving on Carina,” the second added. ”However, she was recruited by another faction, then taken off-world. It is unknown which faction it was or where she was taken.”

”Must have been an influential one,” Luca murmured, ”if they’ve managed to classify that information.”

He couldn’t help but wonder if there was something special about Adam’s sister.

”No matter.” He shook his head.

He looked at his attendants and spoke solemnly, ”What’s the final verdict on Adam?”

”We believe it was an anomaly,” the first attendant said with a nod.

”Yes, my lord,” echoed the second. ”There’s no other way for a Mana Core Magus to be able to bypass Myrrandor’s strong defenses.”

”Not unless he’s had help from a high-ranking Magus,” the first one continued.

The second attendant agreed, ”And that is unlikely. If Adam Constantine did have the support of a powerful figure, then it doesn’t make sense he would spend the first hundred and thirty years of his life on a backwater planet.”

Luca remained silent for a long moment. Then he nodded toward his attendants.

”I see,” he said. ”Very well. Thank you for your work.”

The attendants were somewhat flustered. To hear such words from a scion of a Great Noble House overwhelmed them. They quickly bowed and thanked Luca, telling him it was their duty.

”Would you require anything else of us, my lord?” The first attendant humbly asked.

Luca thought for a moment, then shook his head. ”No, that will be all.”

He retrieved two pouches from his desk and handed them to them. ”Your compensation.”

The pouches looked small, but they were, in fact, low-grade storage artifacts. They contained gold coins. A lot of them.

The two attendants bowed deferentially. After taking their remuneration, they took their leave.

Luca leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling blankly.

Was I paranoid over nothing, after all?

Tap! Tap!

Luca frowned.

The sound of tapping echoed in his study. He turned toward the source and saw a bird pecking at the windowpane with its beak.

Luca frowned. But when he noticed that it was a red-crowned crane, his eyes widened. He shot to his feet and opened the window.

There was a tiny rolled paper fastened to the crane’s leg.

Luca retrieved the paper, and the crane flew away.

What in the nine hells are they doing here?! Luca thought, stunned.

He quickly unrolled the paper and read its contents. He finally saw who the letter was from.

And his eyes widened even further.

***

The same night, Luca headed to a renowned restaurant in Lords’ Borough.

The restaurant was prestigious. Many influential and powerful men and women of the city dined here. The Known Lord herself was said to frequent the restaurant.

After asking around, he was led to a private booth on the top floor of the establishment — the one reserved for VVIPs.

Luca had never felt so nervous since he arrived on Myrrandor. He was, after all, meeting a legend. She was a warrior feared by the enemies of the Imperium. She had a fierce reputation.

He inhaled deeply and knocked on the door.

”Come in,” Valentina’s voice echoed from inside the spacious booth.

Luca gulped nervously. He opened the door and stepped in. Without even glancing at the auburn-haired woman, he pressed one fist to his chest, placed his other hand behind his back, and saluted.

”It is an honor to meet you, Lady Fortuna.”

Valentina hummed in acknowledgment. As she finished another glass of wine, she gestured to the seat across from her.

”Sit.”

Luca did as told, his back straight as a sword, and his manners noble and impeccable.

”Wine?” Valentina asked as she studied the young Claudius.

”No, my lady.” Luca shook his head respectfully. ”Thank you for the offer.”

Valentina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She found the men and women of House Claudius quite austere. It was as if they did not know the meaning of the word ’fun’. So rigid. So boring.

”It’s an order,” Valentina said.

”Yes, my lady!” Only then did Luca take a sip from the wine that Valentina had poured for him.

Valentina smiled, watching him finally relax a little. It was amusing to mess with her juniors.

”Now, little wolf,” she said. ”I hear you have been investigating Adam Constantine.”

Luca’s hand froze. He set the glass down on the table and solemnly looked at her.

”That is correct,” he said. ”May I ask why you are so curious about him?”

”My niece seems to have fallen head over heels for that boy,” Valentina said casually.

”Your niece?” Luca murmured, brows furrowing.

Suddenly, he recalled something and his eyes widened slightly.

Hair like autumn, eyes like summer;

Luck like spring, misfortune like winter!

”Genevieve Saint Laurent,” he murmured in astonishment.

”She’s a Fortuna…”