Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 965: First Trial

The following day, in the early hours before dawn, dozens of participants had gathered by Marian Lake.

A thin veil of fog clung to the waterʼs surface, obscuring the far shore from view. In the distance, the ancient Saratoga Castle loomed atop a cliff, overlooking the lake and the dozens of contestants who would soon plunge into its depths.

There werenʼt many spectators present. All of them were almost entirely made up of the Magi from the Four Pillars and Baja, along with the participantsʼ friends and family members.

In fact, the majority of the onlookers eagerly wanting to witness the tournament firsthand wouldnʼt get the chance until the Third Trial.

The first two trials were going to be held within the secured grounds of Saratoga Castle, making them off-limits to the general public.

The final trial, however, would unfold in the Northern Quarter of Ravenfell. It would be the main event of the Grand Magus Tournament and was expected to draw a crowd of nearly one hundred thousand spectators!

For now, only the Magi from each of the factions had gathered along the edges of Marian Lake. Some sat in the bleachers, watching in anticipation as events began to unfold, while others stood beside the contestants, offering last-minute guidance and support.

In the periphery, countless armored Magi patrolled the area, their eyes sharp with unwavering vigilance. Most of them were Mana Liquefaction Magi, commanded by dozens of Mana Vortex Magi.

They were prepared to act at a momentʼs notice should anything unexpected occur.

Though enemy interference was anticipated, especially in light of recent events leading up to the tournament, they knew that only fools would dare to make a move now.

After all, Saratoga Castle stood not far away, and somewhere deep within its ancient halls, its powerful master, the formidable Mana Core Magus, Headmaster Marcus Blackwood, was watching everything unfold in silence.

Six diving platforms, each towering over thirty meters, stood at the banks of Marian Lake. Their boards extended far out over the water, allowing the participants to plunge in at a safe distance from the shore.

Each diving platform was designated to a different faction participating in the tournament. They were Saratoga Castle, Tower of Daybreak, Greenfield Ridge, Coral Cove, Baja High Forest, and finally, the faction consisting of only the rogue Magi.

Colorful banners fluttered atop each platform, bearing the sigils of their respective factions. The only exception was the platform for the rogue Magi. Its banner hung blank and silent, a quiet testament to their independence… or isolation.

The Magi in the bleachers displayed expressions of excitement, anticipation, and tension as they watched the participants atop each platform get ready for the First Trial to begin.

On the first diving platform, the students of Saratoga Castle, clad in attire suitable for underwater traversal, stood attentively, listening closely to the Professorʼs final instructions.

The bald old man, a faculty staff member from the Department of the School of Alteration, gazed at the dozen or so participants with a solemn expression.

”All of you must pass this First Trial, do you understand?” His gray eyes flickered with grim seriousness.

”The honor of Saratoga is at stake,” he continued, his voice brimming with passion. ”As the host institution, itʼs only natural that each of you overcomes this first hurdle, and every trial that follows, with flying colors!”

While some students had animated expressions on their faces, others, such as Qamara Feno, looked calm and indifferent.

”Your first objective is to locate the maze hidden at the depths of the lake…” the Professor continued.

Meanwhile, Eleiney, Arthur, and Aiden stood at the back of the group, not entirely focused on the old manʼs words of encouragement—if they could even be called that.

Instead, they looked towards the bleachers, their eyes scanning the crowd, trying to look for someone.

”…Where is he?” Aiden muttered under his breath.

Arthur scanned the crowd repeatedly, his eyes flashing with hints of dejection. ”Didnʼt Mentor say heʼd be keeping a close eye on us? I donʼt see him anywhere.”

Eleiney remained silent as she, too, looked for her Mentor. In the end, she sighed helplessly, ”Perhaps… he got busy with some other work.”

Aiden and Arthur were also part of the Brotherhood, so they knew what kind of ʼworkʼ she was referring to.

Still, they couldnʼt help but feel a little sad knowing that their Mentor wasnʼt here to witness their participation in this grand event.

”…Yeah, whatever.” Arthur pursed his lips and turned back around.

Aiden sighed softly and turned towards the lake. ”Letʼs get this over with.”

Eleiney glanced at the crowd one more time, hoping to see a raven-haired young man looking back at them with expectation and enthusiasm.

But alas, she didnʼt find the person she was looking for. She silently turned around, then glanced at the participants on the other diving platform.

The students from the Tower of Daybreak were being instructed by Edwin Turner, while those from Coral Ridge listened attentively to the old man with the scholarly appearance, Pell Morgan.

At the Greenfirled Ridge platform, the grumpy-faced elderly woman, Soner Pitt, gave stern directions to her students. Whereas, Elrod Firvele spoke to the elves with warm and gentle words of encouragement.

As for the rogue Magi gathered on the fifth platform, they had no Mana Vortex Magi to guide them. Without an instructor of their own, the group looked visibly nervous and uncertain.

It was no surprise that they had the least information about the upcoming trials compared to the other factions, and the anxiety showed on their faces.

Seeing them like that, Eleiney couldnʼt help but feel a pang of sympathy. From the very beginning, the odds had been stacked against them. The dozen or so rogue Magi who had managed to reach the diving platform had paid a steep price to get there.

They stood apart, not just in formation, but also in spirit.

There was no unifying banner, no emblem to rally behind, just a silent understanding between them that they didnʼt belong…

And yet, they had come, ready to dive into the unknown.

Eleiney glanced at her own group, surrounded by classmates and institutional pride. Then, she shifted her attention back to the rogues.

They may be alone, she thought.

But they are definitely not weak.

Huh?

Suddenly, her brows creased into a slight frown when her gaze landed on a figure standing on the fifth platform among the rogue Magi.

It was a lean, young man with pale skin and coppery-red hair. Light freckles dotted his face, lending him a boyish charm.

He wore a skin-tight black outfit suited for underwater movement. He stood out among the others because, unlike others who were nervous, he had an unshakeable grin on his face.

At the moment, he was enthusiastically waving at Eleniey, his eyes gleaming with expectation.

Eleiney frowned even more, thinking to herself, Why is he acting like he knows me?

She turned away from him with an awkward look on her face.

What a weirdo…