Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1419: Nilrem and Adam

After befriending the Duke of Ignisra, Tostig Quinn, needless to say, Adam no longer had to stay in inns anymore.

He was now treated not as a guest, but as a prospective honored ally. After all, once it was confirmed that Adam was not aligned with Haynam, the upper echelons of Amberfall realized something important: this was a rare opportunity to bring him over to their side.

A proper residence was arranged for him within the Palace District. It was spacious, secure, and warded against intrusion. The quarters were fully furnished, supplied with fine clothing, books, and anything else he might require.

Slaves were placed at his disposal, assigned to his daily needs, ensuring that nothing inconvenienced him. Their presence was handled as a matter of routine, as though this level of accommodation was only natural for someone of his standing.

From logistics to security, everything was taken care of. Not like he needed anyone to protect him, to begin with. Still, it was a gesture that he appreciated.

Adam was free to move about the city without obstruction, unburdened by mundane concerns, leaving him ample space to observe, plan, and subsequently write about the many wonders of Amberfall.

On this day, he stood before a large mirror in his washroom, staring at it in a daze.

The person standing before the mirror was an elderly man, slightly under six feet tall. He had a lean frame, and his skin bore the clear marks of age. Long, wavy hair fell to the base of his neck, while his beard was long and neatly trimmed, and his mustache curled with meticulous care.

Fine lines creased his forehead and gathered beneath his eyes, hinting at centuries of lived experience. Yet despite his aged, seemingly fragile appearance, his pale blue eyes shone with a startling brilliance.

Yet the man staring back at him from the reflection was different...

It was of a young man with a lean build, his skin pale and flawless. Raven-black hair dropped over his shoulders, thick and glossy. His facial features were sharp and deliberate. And his eyes were darker than black, carrying an unsettling depth.

The two figures looked nothing alike — one aged, one young — yet they were the same person.

The Faceless Mask did more than just disguise him. It did not merely alter features and mimic mannerisms, it rewrote presence. When he wore it, he didn’t pretend to be someone else, he became them.

His posture shifted, his voice settled into a new cadence, and even the way the world responded to him changed. Mana, perception, and intent all aligned with the identity he assumed.

The face Adam wore now was not taken from a single person. It was a composite, features drawn from people he had known over the years, blending together into something familiar yet untraceable.

A brow from one memory, a smile from another, eyes shaped by experiences long past. No one could recognize it, yet it carried the echoes of many lives.

As for the persona of the character known as Nilrem, it required little effort to maintain. The personality was not an invention, but a slight exaggeration.

He was playful where Adam was reserved, and flamboyant where he was restrained. Beneath the humor and theatrics, the core remained the same. That was why the role fit so naturally.

Nilrem was not a lie he had to remember.

He was simply another facet of himself, brought to the surface.

Adam stroked his white beard with his fingers, deep in thought.

The Faceless Mask does not impose form. It obeys intent.

It allows me to mold appearances in any way I desire, shaping flesh, features, and presence with precision.

I can imitate another person down to their smallest detail. Or I could create an entirely new identity from nothing, one that has never existed before.

Its effects go far deeper than appearance.

The Mask lets me adjust my mana fluctuations at will, aligning myself with the identity I wear. I can decrease my mana signature, appearing weaker than my actual arcane rank.

To magical senses, I am the person I appear to be. As for divination, all attempts will be obstructed because of the Lotus anyway.

This really is the perfect shapeshifting artifact!

With it, I can become anyone.

Or, just as easily, become no one at all...

Knock! Knock!

The sound of door knocks echoed in Adam’s ears, drawing him out of his thoughts.

”Master, your clothes are ready. May I come in?” Came the voice of a female slave.

Adam’s lips twitched, and he thought to himself awkwardly, I’m standing completely naked, and you want to come in? Are the boundaries of privacy really this blurred in Amberfall?

He softly cleared his throat and spoke in Nilrem’s voice, ”Lay them on the bed. I’ll be out in a minute.”

”Understood, master,” said the slave subserviently. ”I will take my leave then. Also, I must inform you that Magus Cliffton is waiting for you downstairs in the reception room.”

”Okay.” Adam looked at the door through the reflection in the mirror.

He thought to himself as he stroked his long, white beard, I wonder why Quinn has sent this guy here today.

Am I finally going to meet Anna’s family?

Hmm, I should also summon that serpent I left with Quinn. The little guy should have eavesdropped enough. Hopefully, it has mapped out the security of the palace by now, so I can move forward with my plans.

He turned his attention back to his reflection in the mirror.

The Lotus is firmly suppressing the ravings of the Faceless Mask. As long as my soul isn’t grievously injured in the future, what happened to me before shouldn’t happen again.

Spending my days in the throes of madness was not a good experience!

He shook his head, sighing to himself as he recalled the dark days. He then weaved a simple hand seal and summoned the tiny serpent.

The little guy slithered up his hand, then coiled around his ear and relayed everything it had observed.

As Adam listened to the serpent’s report, his lips slowly curled into a smile.

Anna... you truly have a loving and caring family.