Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1921 Another Name

Adam woke up to the stench of rotten wood and mold.

His eyes fluttered open, his vision still filled with darkness. For a brief moment, disorientation covered his mind. Then his eyes narrowed.

[Illuminate]

The small cellar finally came into view.

Adam was already on his feet, circulating mana from his core. When he looked around and saw no immediate danger, he slowly lowered his hands.

How long was I out? He wondered.

ʼHey, Val. How long was I asleep?ʼ

He sent a mental transmission. But he received no response. Then he looked inward toward his spirit sea, and found that the little guy was sprawled comfortably among the pristine petals of the Lotus, snoring contentedly.

Adam subconsciously smiled.

At least, someoneʼs not miserable, he thought in amusement.

He examined his wounds. The internal injury to his lung had healed. As for the fractured ribs, he didnʼt bother regenerating them proactively. He figured it was best to let that injury heal naturally.

Active regeneration consumed a considerable amount of mana, far more than he was willing to spend. Especially considering his current situation where every last drop of mana mattered.

Adam slowly, cautiously spread his senses outward. The building was still empty and dilapidated. There were no monsters inside.

I wonder if the monsters have deemed this house a forbidden zone because of Isabella.

He unsealed the entrance to the cellar, put away the talisman, and headed upstairs. The Sphere of Resonance was still active as he looked for any sudden threats.

As he arrived before the portrait of the woman in black, he noticed that the woman wasnʼt there in the painting!

Adamʼs eyes slowly widened in surprise, and he involuntarily took a few steps toward the portrait. Inside the painting world — or rather, ink world, as Isabella liked to call it — he could still see the furnished bedroom, the wooden floor, the crimson curtains, the antique furniture.

He even saw the seating area where he and Isabella had spoken for an entire night. The silver tea set still rested on the small table between the two chairs. The only thing missing was the subject of the painting.

Where is—

His thoughts came to a halt, and he rapidly retreated a few steps.

The door to the bedroom soundlessly opened. Isabella, looking prim and proper as ever, entered the room with a polite smile on her face. When she saw Adam, her eyes lit up, and she quickly drew closer.

”Ah, there you are!” Her voice echoed through the canvas.

Adamʼs attention wasnʼt even on her. Instead, he stared intently at the slowly narrowing gap as the door closed. Beyond, he caught a glimpse of a world of shifting, abstract colors that reminded him of the spirit world.

”I thought you wouldnʼt return,” Isabella continued. ”It really does get lonely here. The guests I receive from time to time have absolutely no manners! Theyʼre not fun.”

Of course, theyʼre not fun when youʼre trying to trap them for eternity!

Adam cursed inwardly.

He wove a few hand seals and created a faint, soundless barrier around the portrait and himself. Then he asked in a hushed voice, ”Can you travel to other portraits?”

”I can,” Isabella replied gently. ”Though Iʼd rather not travel far away. One time I got lost in the passage between paintings, and it was very scary.”

”How did you find your way back then?”

”A school of fish guided me back to my little world,” Isabella said matter-of-factly, as though her words were supposed to make all the sense in the world. Both worlds.

The corner of Adamʼs lips twitched. He didnʼt try to make sense of the womanʼs words. If what heʼd experienced inside the painting was any indication, then the ink world was very similar to the spirit world.

The more one tried to make sense of it, the more their senses seemed to abandon them.

Hell, he wasnʼt even in a position to judge. He himself had been once guided by a pod of dolphins to a floating island, where he had first found Valerian.

To say he was immensely curious about the ink world would be a severe understatement. Curiosity was the hallmark of a Magus, and Adam was more curious than most.

But no, this was not the time to learn about the mysteries of the ink world.

”What can you tell me about this city?” he asked solemnly.

”Hmm.” Isabella tapped her chin, her eyes glowing with mischief. ”I can tell you a lot, but… why should I?”

Adam suddenly had the urge to destroy the painting.

”What do you want in return then?” he hissed. ”And, no! I am not coming over to have tea again!”

”Thatʼs rude.” Isabella pouted. ”Who would ever miss an opportunity to have tea with such a lovely lady like myself?”

”Fine, suit yourself.” Adam snorted.

Then he turned to leave.

”Wait!” Isabella reached out with her hand, almost panicking. ”Iʼll tell you what you want to know! And in return…”

”In return what?” Adam turned back to her, his eyes gleaming with skepticism.

Isabella fidgeted with her fingers, trying to act all cute and innocent. Adam didnʼt buy that at all. If anything, he thought she was quite the mummer.

”In return, all I ask is that you talk to me,” she said with a coy smile. ”Talk to me more about yourself, about the world you live in, about your hobbies, and other things.”

Adamʼs lips twitched again.

So sheʼs just a chatterbox?

It made sense to him given that one of the rules to get out of her little world was to spend the entire night talking to her.

He sighed before saying, ”I canʼt talk to you every day. You may not have noticed, but this place is teeming with all kinds of monsters that would love nothing more than to sink their teeth into my flesh.”

”Then take me with you!” Isabella said, her eyes round and innocent.

Adam snorted.

”You must think Iʼm crazy!” he blurted out. ”After what you tried to pull? Thereʼs no way Iʼd trust you!”

Isabella pouted.

”Well… it was worth a shot.”

Adam looked at her deeply and sighed again.

”How about this?” he began. ”Iʼll bring you ”guests” from time to time. And in return, you will tell me what you know about this place. Sound good?”

”Splendid!” Isabella clapped her hands.

It would appear she really liked the idea, as only a moment later, she chose to divulge a little bit of information about this place.

”Well then, Cillian,” she began. ”Iʼll be generous and tell you first about this city.”

Adam didnʼt bother correcting her. He listened with rapt attention.

Isabellaʼs lips turned into a conspiratorial smile, and she said:

”This city these people call Adventurers City once had another name. Many, many years ago, this was the royal capital of Valcourrone, seat of the Kingdom of Valouis, ruled by a voracious monarch, His Majesty King Louis of the House dʼAubigny.”