Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1871: A Nightmare

Two days later, the expedition team set out on their journey.

By the time night fell, the party had made camp in the vicinity of the Trade Road.

While the others rested, Koby — the team’s porter and a Squire Paladin — busied himself with mundane chores. He pitched the tents, gathered firewood, fetched water, and prepared a hot meal for the team.

Esmond insisted that the team take a porter along with them, so here he was.

Meanwhile, Adam and the rest of the adventurers gathered around the crackling campfire, its warm glow pushing back the darkness of the wilderness.

"This is my first time going on a proper adventure," Genevieve said with sparkling eyes. "This feeling... it’s wonderful!"

Kara, who sat beside her, turned and asked curiously, "What do you do?"

"A student at the Sapphire Tower."

The half-elf whistled. "Fancy."

Genevieve smiled faintly in response.

Studying at the Tower was indeed very expensive. That is why she decided to participate in this mission in the first place. To earn enough money so that she wouldn’t have to worry about the foreseeable future.

And when her money ran out again? Well, she’d cross that bridge when she got there.

Thinking of the foreseeable future, her mind drifted to the veiled woman.

I still haven’t given her a definitive answer.

And she hasn’t approached me again since that day.

And that black sphere...

Genevieve hadn’t found the courage to activate the mysterious artifact that the veiled woman had left behind.

The Domina Occulta, she wondered.

Is this the path I must walk on?

She snapped out of her thoughts when Kara’s voice echoed around the campfire again.

"And the rest of you?" She asked. "What do you guys do?"

The half-elf glanced at Darren and added with a smirk, "I know the young master here is the scion of a merchant family. I’ve traveled with his family’s caravans many times in the past."

Even while sitting, the burly young man towered above everyone else. Listening to the half-elf, he tilted his chin and let out a harrumph.

"Oh?" Michael was intrigued. "What’s a wealthy man like you doing on such a dangerous mission?"

Darren turned to him and said with a disgusted look on his face, "None of your business."

Michael’s brows furrowed. "We’ll be working together on this mission. The least you could do is try to get along with us."

Darren fell silent.

The man was right.

He was no longer at his home, where he could act however he pleased and then hide behind the weight of his family name.

No. This was the wilds. He had to be prudent.

I must prove to Father that I’m worthy of leading caravans, he thought to himself, determined.

I cannot let those bastards outdo me!

He looked at Michael and let out a soft grunt. "It’s not always about the money," he said.

And that was all he said before returning his gaze to the crackling fire.

Michael scoffed, but didn’t allow the man’s actions to sour his mood anymore.

He then turned to Kara and said awkwardly, "I tried to enlist in the City Watch, but my father suggested that I get some experience first. So here I am."

He quickly added, "Money’s also a factor, of course."

"Your father in the Watch?" Kara asked, curious.

"He used to be," Micahel replied, pride slipping into his voice. "He used to be a sergeant. He’s retired now."

Then, everyone’s gaze turned to Adam and his cute familiar, Valerian.

"Mr brother and I have come to seek the thrill of adventure!" The little guy said with arms wide.

"And money," Adam added, ruffling Valerian’s head. "Money’s always good."

Geneveive once again felt her heart melt when she saw Valerian’s antics. He was truly adorable. She then shifted her gaze to Adam and noticed how doting he was toward the little cat. For a moment, she couldn’t help but stare at them.

"I didn’t get the opportunity to ask earlier," Michael began. "Which school of magic do you specialize in?"

"Summoning," Adam said softly. "I’m a Summoner."

"That is great!" Michael flashed a toothy grin.

He turned to Genevieve and asked, "And you, Miss?"

"Enchantment," she said with a reserved smile.

Somehow, Michael felt that it was only fitting. It would have been an injustice for a woman as beautiful as Genevieve not to specialize in enchantment magic.

"So we have a Summoner, an Enchantress, a Paladin who specialises in speed, a Paladin who specialises in strength, and finally me," Kara said. "A Paladin who specialises in reconnaissance."

Adam nodded in approval.

"A well-rounded team," he remarked. "Master Greene certainly knew what he was doing."

Darren snorted in ridicule. "We didn’t know we needed your approval."

"You have it nevertheless," Adam said with a smirk.

Darren chenched his jaw.

For some reason, he simply couldn’t stand the youth.

No.

He knew exactly why.

It was because Genevieve seemed unusually comfortable with him.

Earlier that day, Darren had tried to strike up a conversation with her more than once. But each time, she had politely excused herself.

Moments later, however, she would be chatting away with Adam and that ridiculous little cat of his.

It was infuriating.

All his life, women had sought his company.

But not Geneveive.

And the more she rejected him, the more determined he became to win over her.

He cursed under his breath and rose to his feet. Without another word, he walked to his tent.

"Someone’s in a bad mood," Michael said with a sneer.

"Food’s ready!" Koby arrived, carrying a black iron cauldron filled with steaming meat stew.

He looked around, puzzled.

"Huh, where’s Sir Darren?"

"He turned in for the night." Adam waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about him."

"Uh... but..." Koby hesitated.

"Don’t worry, my boy." Adam patted the ground beside him.

"Come, sit with us. Tell us about yourself. More importantly, tell us how you plan to assist in this expedition. And I don’t mean the cooking and cleaning."

"Ah, y-yes sir!"

Koby quickly ladled the stew into wooden bowls before taking a seat by the campfire. As the team ate their dinner, the conversation drifted back to the expedition ahead.

After dinner was over, Adam volunteered to stand the first watch.

And when he confirmed that everyone was fast asleep, he slipped into Darren’s tent, silent as a ghost.

The young Paladin was sleeping soundly when he suddenly felt a cold blade pressed against his throat. His eyes snapped open in terror, and the first thing he saw was Adam’s ice-cold visage.

Darren’s heart pounded as realization slowly crept in. Before he could mutter a single word, Adam whispered to him.

"I’ve seen that look many times in my life," he said.

His eyes narrowed, and his lips slowly curled into a predatory smile.

"Behave, Darren," he said softly. "Be a good lad and get along with the others, yeah?"

The dagger pressed a little deeper, and a thin line of blood slowly trickled down Darren’s neck.

"If you don’t," Adam said coldly, "I will butcher you."

He deeply looked into Darren’s trembling eyes, and there it was...

Fear.

"Are we clear?"

Darren swallowed carefully, his throat brushing against the edge of the blade.

He gave a faint nod.

Adam put away the dagger and smiled warmly. "Good lad."

Then he was gone.

Darren remained frozen inside the tent, drenched in cold sweat.

The thin trail of blood on his neck was the only proof that whatever had just happened had not been a nightmare.

He lowered his head, only to see himself lying in a puddle of his own making...