Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 834: An Anomaly

The group of Magi from the Tower of Daybreak, along with the delegation from Saratoga Castle, exited the skyport and boarded the several carriages waiting for them.

The moment the people gathered outside saw the Magi of the Tower, they erupted in a round of cheers and applause.

These fine young Magi were the last of the Four Pillars to arrive in Ravenfell. Only now did the residents feel that the tournament was truly about to begin.

Some of the young Magi from the group waved at them with polite smiles, while others tried to keep a straight face.

This was a surreal experience for them, after all. Back in Caleport, where their institution was located, the people were used to interacting with them on a daily basis. So they never received such a reception there.

However, it was different here in Ravenfell. Additionally, the fact that the Grand Magus Tournament was just around the corner increased their prestige even more.

After all, only the best of the best young Magi from the Four Pillars participated in this tournament.

Professor Whitaker instructed the rest of the Magi in her group to accompany the people from the Tower in various carriages.

Meanwhile, she entered the carriage at the front with Edwin Turner and his grandson and pupil, and Marcella Ridley and her pupil, Lisa.

While this group was entering the carriage, several meters away from them, a dark-haired man with pale skin directed his jealousy-filled stare at them.

Though he, too, was a student at the peak of the Mana Liquefaction Rank, he had never received the same attention from the Tower as Edward did.

ʼBe patient, Slade,ʼ A mental transmission echoed directly inside his mind.

The pale-skinned youth, Slade, turned towards the source of the spell. It was his his uncle, a Rank 3 - Mana Vortex Magus with similar facial features as his.

ʼIt is only a matter of time,ʼ the old man added, his eyes flickering with a peculiar light.

Slade couldnʼt help but smirk. Then, he turned towards the front, casting one final glance at Edward, and then at Lisa.

When he looked at the blonde young woman, his eyes flashed for a split second before he looked away.

Then, he hopped onto the carriage with his uncle, as well as a few other people from the Tower.

If Adam were here, he would instantly recognize this person.

When he had arrived at the capital of the Acadian Empire, he was given an intiation mission by the Brotherhood.

His mission was to capture the owners of a brothel named Velvet Dreams, who were involved in a large human trafickking ring.

Of course, Adam had not captured the couple that owned Velvet Dreams. Instead, he had publicly executed them.

It was because of his actions during this mission that he received the moniker of Black Vengeance.

Adam had first seen Slade during this initiation mission!

He had even overheard from the brothel owners that it was, in fact, Sladeʼs uncle who had secretly financed their operations.

Alas, Adam couldnʼt catch him at the time as the latter had used a magic scroll to teleport away.

But now… both he and his uncle had walked straight into Adamʼs own backyard.

***

The long line of carriages traversed past the towering southern gates as they journeyed towards Saratoga Castle.

They were flanked by vigilant guards, all of whom were Mana Liquefaction Magi who served as protectors of Ravenfell.

Flocks of curious onlookers waved at them. Although most did not know who they were, they were enthusiastic nonetheless.

Inside the carriage, the moment Edward found the opportunity, he couldnʼt help but eagerly ask, ”My Lady, surely you must have some clue as to where he went?”

He quickly shook his head and added, ”Never mind that. Do you know when he might return?”

Seeing the anticipation flickering in the youthʼs blue eyes, Professor Whitaker let out an amused chuckle. ”Youʼre quite eager to meet him, arenʼt you?”

”Of course!” Edward revealed a toothy grin. ”I havenʼt met him in over a decade!”

Lisa sat politely beside him, and although she didnʼt explicitly show it, she was also very eager to meet Adam.

After all, the three of them were childhood friends and had grown up together. They had fought side by side and faced death together.

So, how could the couple not be longing to meet their best friend?

”It is heartening to see Adam has such caring friends,” Professor Whitaker said with a gentle smile. ”I was afraid he might be a bit of a recluse. Hoho, he always kept to himself at Saratoga and seldom mingled with others.”

She paused for a moment before adding, ”To answer your question, dear boy… yes, I do have a general idea about his whereabouts. After the great battle at Blackshore, he boarded a merchant vessel and set sail for the Southern Federation.”

”Southern Federation!” Edward exclaimed.

”Then, he might have gone there to meet Lord Berger,” Lisa chimed in from the side.

”Yes, that is what I believe, too.” Professor Whitaker nodded. ”But rest assured, he will return to Ravenfell before the tournament begins. It is too important an event for him to miss.”

Edwardʼs eyes flashed with disappointment momentarily. He was really hoping to meet his best friend at Saratoga.

But the next moment, he nodded with a bright smile. ”Yeah, no worries. Heʼll be here on time.”

He paused for a moment, chuckling abashedly. ”Although I did hope to fight him in the tournament. But I donʼt think that would be possible anymore.”

”Adam truly wanted to participate in the tournament,” said the elderly professor with a faint, nostalgic smile.

”He was so determined that he even stopped practicing mindfulness just to delay his advancement and remain in the Mana Liquefaction Rank until after the tournament.”

She paused, letting out a quiet, helpless sigh, ”But fate had other plans. He had left for Blackshore as a Mana Liquefaction Magus. I can only assume that something urgent, something unavoidable, forced him to breakthrough.”

”Adam had… stopped practicing mindfulness?!” Edwin was stunned.

He was aware of his grandsonʼs secret. A gift that let him interact with mana as if he were born for it.

It was this hidden truth that elevated his talent far beyond even Grade A, enabling him to advance through the ranks with remarkable speed and ease.

His grandson had reached the peak of the Mana Liquefaction Rank only a few months ago.

Yet, he was now learning from Mathilda Whitaker that Adam had already reached that stage even before the latter fought in the Blackshore Incident!

Just what kind of an anomaly was that?!

Edward, hearring that piece of information, remained silent. His fists involuntarily clenched, and his eyes flickered with an eager light.

In the end, he couldnʼt stop his lips from forming an excited smile.

Adam, just how high will you climb?

Should I also…

”Yes. I believe it was a couple of months before he left for Blackshore that I learned from Headmaster Blackwood that he had sealed his mana channels.”

Professor Whitakerʼs words snapped him out of his thoughts.

While everyone was reeling from the shock, the blue-eyed youth asked eagerly, ”Lady Whitaker, just how was Adam able to grow so powerful so quickly?”

The old woman could see fire blazing in the youthʼs eyes. She spoke with a light smile, ”Do you really wish to know?”

Not just him, but everyone in the carriage was very curious.

Professor Whitakerʼs smile deepened, a flicker of pride in her eyes.

”Adam was never the smartest student in Saratoga, but he was the wisest. What set him apart wasnʼt intellect, but his instinctive grasp of the Way.

”He didnʼt just study magic. He lived it.”