Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

The doors to the Rabbit Hole remained open as patrons came and went.

Night had just fallen, and as usual, the tavern was brimming with energy and a celebratory atmosphere.

Adventurers entered to enjoy themselves or descend into the dungeons of the Mountain Down Under. Others emerged from the tavern bruised or drunk or both.

Amidst a stream of people coming and going, Adam emerged. With a faint grimace on his face, he walked out with a limp.

Along the way, many adventurers noticed him and greeted him. Most knew him by now. In a way, he had become somewhat famous with the people who frequented the Rabbit Hole.

When the great adventurer Hannibal took in a student, it was hard to keep it under wraps.

It had been seven years since Adam began taking lessons from Hannibal.

A few days after returning to Davos from the Blood Moon Secret Plane, the enigmatic Paladin had noticed the Morning Star whip fastened to Adam’s waist.

Intrigued by it, he offered to teach Adam the way of the whip and blade. The fact that he already had a good impression of Adam, and had even seen the youth practice combat during the time when Adam worked at the tavern, was instrumental in his decision to offer him tutelage.

Adam accepted and formally became Hannibal’s student.

He was not the only student, however. There were many before him.

But Hannibal claimed that Adam was his greatest student.

Not the strongest. But the greatest.

That had much to do with Adam already knowing profound battle arts such as the Hand of Doom and those of the Celestial Bodhi Temple. It was one of the main reasons Hannibal had taken an interest in him.

Over the last seven years, Hannibal had taught Adam everything about his own fight style.

Adam absorbed everything like a sponge. But the training never stopped. And every month, the intensity increased.

Life had slipped into a steady routine in the past seven years.

Early mornings were for studying magic and practicing spells. Then, he would head to the Rabbit Hole and help out with the chores as he had once done when he arrived in Davos almost a decade ago. Hannibal had said that those tasks were meant to keep him grounded and practice humility.

At midday, Hannibal would take some time out from his schedule and train Adam in a secret basement beneath the tavern. Only a couple of hours of the Paladin’s guidance. Then, Adam would continue practicing by himself until sunset.

Although there were fresh bruises and scars on his body and his muscles screamed in protest, there was a smile on Adam’s face.

Knowing that Genevieve waited for him at home, it warmed Adam’s heart. It was the thing he most looked forward to every day.

It almost felt like a dream. The last seven years felt so warm and full of love. Of course, that was not taking Hannibal’s brutal training regimen into account.

In the beginning, Adam had feared that as time passed by, the two would begin losing interest in one another. He would be lying to himself if he claimed he wasn’t a little insecure. A part of him believed Genevieve was too good for him.

But it had been the exact opposite. He and Genevieve were closer than ever before. After the first couple of years, she had even moved in with him.

It was a wonderful experience. To share your life with someone so close to your heart. Her face was the last thing he saw before he drifted to sleep. It was the first thing he saw when he woke up. She was his heart, his soul, his sky, and land.

Adam had never thought he could feel such genuine happiness.

Amidst his thoughts, he arrived at 30 Faber Street. This was his mansion in Blue Borough. He walked straight through the barrier formation. The defenses of the house recognized only him and Genevieve. For anyone else to enter, the barrier had to be cancelled.

He climbed the stairs, then opened the wooden doors to his house. Immediately, the smell of flavourful food entered his nostrils, making his smile even wider. He walked toward the kitchen and noticed Genevieve in an apron, preparing food.

Adam cleared his throat, startling her.

She turned and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was him.

”You need to stop doing that!” She gave him a light glare.

When she noticed the state of his body underneath the tunic, she couldn’t help but grimace slightly. ”Does he intend to kill you?”

”Let pain be your reminder in the training yard. Its memory will keep you alive on the battlefield.” Adam said with a shrug. ”Hannibal’s words.”

”And it’s not that bad,” he quickly added, lying to assure her.

”Really?” Genevieve asked innocently as she stepped toward him.

”Of course!” Adam nodded. ”Why would I—”

He flinched after Genevieve gave him a light poke in the ribs.

Although his pain tolerance was very high, Hannibal took advantage of it and trained him accordingly. Hence why he was always in pain after training—which was pretty much every day.

”You made your point.” Adam forced a smile.

Genevieve sighed in exasperation. She turned back to the kitchen. ”Go freshen up and join me, will you?”

”I’ll be right there.”

He went upstairs, cleaned himself, put on a fresh pair of clothes, and returned to the kitchen to help Genevieve with dinner. They spoke about their day as they cooked food.

While Adam went to train with Hannibal, Genevieve would study diligently at the Tower. That was her routine. She only came an hour before Adam arrived, and then she would prepare food for dinner. It turned out cooking was a hobby of hers.

Neither of them wanted servants in the house. They liked their privacy. Besides, both had grown up living independent lives, so it wasn’t like not having maids and butlers was that big of a deal for them. They preferred the simple way of life.

They sat at the table and enjoyed their dinner. A bottle of wine was placed at the dining table, but there was only one glass. And it was Genevieve’s.

Adam had quit alcohol. Since the day after his little brother left.

While they were chatting and laughing, a tiny head emerged from Genevieve’s shadow. It looked around with its large blinking eyes, taking in the scene.

”Vesper,” Genevieve called out with a smile.

The tiny thing climbed out of Genevieve’s shadow, then cutely climbed atop her shoulder. He watched the colorful food on the table with curious eyes.

But when he saw the person sitting across from Genevieve, he shuddered and quickly covered his eyes.

”Poor thing.” Genevieve patted her Shadow’s tiny head.

She then turned to Adam. ”You’re scaring him. Again.”

”I didn’t even do anything.” Adam chuckled.

He looked at the tiny creature perched atop Genevieve’s shoulder and mischievously called out. ”Vesper, won’t you play with me?”

The Shadow’s body trembled and, in the blink of an eye, he returned to Genevieve’s shadow. She sighed helplessly, watching them. Adam always liked to tease her Shadow.

For some baffling reason, Vesper was terrified of him.

”So...” Genevieve smiled expectantly as she swirled the wine in her glass. ”I’ve been granted a long leave of absence, at last!”

Adam felt his heart pinch a little, but he still gave an encouraging smile. ”When do you wish to leave?”

”In two days?” Genevieve asked. ”Will Hannibal let you skip training?”

Adam laughed. ”He’s the one always telling me to get out of the city and go on adventures and whatnot.”

”Then it’s decided.” Genevieve beamed as she reached out for Adam’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

”We will leave for the Citadel of Knowledge the day after tomorrow!”