Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1872: Mysterious Mist

In the days that followed, the band of adventurers made steady progress toward their destination.

Much to Adam’s surprise, they encountered neither bandits nor orcs nor dangerous beasts along the way. The journey was almost unnervingly peaceful.

Much to everyone else’s surprise, Darren’s attitude also underwent a noticeable change. He became far more agreeable and made a genuine effort to get along with the rest of the party.

Genevieve sensed that something was amiss.

Whenever Darren’s gaze happened to meet Adam’s, the young Paladin would instinctively stiffen before quietly looking away.

It was subtle, but Genevieve noticed it every time.

She had asked Adam about it, but he joked that she was perhaps imagining things.

Two weeks after they’d left Davos, the party of six finally arrived at their destination.

Mounted atop their horse, all of them had gathered at the edge of a small hill that overlooked a valley.

The Kinran Valley.

"There," Kara pointed at the sapphire ribbon meandering through the valley. "That’s the Delot River."

The Delot River originated in the mountains near the Wall. It flowed through the northwestern region of the West Coast, passed alongside the Free City of Davos, and ended in the Sea of Storms.

"Professor Channing said that the mists are most likely to descend on the Kinrani Valley in about another day," Genevieve said with a solemn look on her face. "I’d say we’re right on time."

"He said the gypsies appear with the advent of the mist, right?" Michael felt anxious suddenly.

"Correct." Genevieve nodded. "We have enough time to prepare."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Darren nudged his horse. "Let’s go make camp by the river and wait for those damned gypsies to invite us in."

With that said, he descended along the trail down the hill. One by one, everyone descended.

"What’s the matter?" Genevieve turned to Adam and asked when she noticed a small frown on his face.

"Nothing, I..." Adam’s eyes narrowed as he studied the valley. "I suddenly have a bad feeling about this."

Genevieve deeply looked at him. "Should we be worried?"

Adam remained silent for a long time, watching the valley, the hills beyond, the river, and the distant landscape.

He then turned to her and said with a smile, "It’s probably nothing. Still, Kara and I should scout the surroundings first. I won’t lie, that valley looks like a very convenient spot to lay an ambush."

Then he guided the destrier down the hillside. "Come on, let’s go."

Genevieve watched Adam’s retreating figure, then glanced toward the valley below.

A moment later, she followed after him.

***

It took Adam and Kara several hours to thoroughly scout the surrounding area, ensuring no bandits, beasts, or other hostiles were lurking nearby.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party helped Koby pitch the tents, gather firewood, fetch water, and prepare the evening camp.

By the time Adam and Kara returned, the camp was already set up.

The sun hung low on the horizon, bathing the valley in the warm glow of dusk. Some of the moons had already emerged, while the rest were on their way.

"Anything?" Michael asked when he saw the pair return to camp.

"Everything’s a-ok!" Kara replied confidently.

Adam silently nodded as well, but the faint feeling in his heart had grown considerably stronger since they’d arrived. Everything was going smoothly for them. Too smoothly.

Genevieve was the only one to notice his unease.

As Adam got off his horse, he instructed everyone solemnly, "Eat light tonight. Keep your weapons ready at all times. Something doesn’t feel right about this place."

Somehow, along the way, Adam had naturally assumed the role of the team’s leader.

No one objected.

On several occasions, he had proven himself resourceful and level-headed, and he possessed a natural talent for leadership.

It was no talent, of course. He had come to learn it, like any other skill, through many trials and errors.

What the other party members didn’t know was that, on his homeworld, he had once served as a military commander.

A tense feeling descended over the camp.

If Channing Oakley’s calculations were correct, the mysterious mist would blanket the valley by tomorrow night. Once it did, they would be drawn into the ancient ruin, a place where many had entered but never returned.

Needless to say, everyone was anxious.

But Channing’s calculations proved to be slightly off...

The moment the last rays of the sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, a strange mist began rolling over the hills on either side, slowly descending toward Kinran Valley.

Everything happened too fast.

One moment, the twilight sky was clear. But the next, the world was swallowed in mist.

"Val, get in!" Adam shouted in alarm.

Valerian didn’t need to be told twice. In a flash of gray light, he retreated to the raven-haired youth’s spirit sea.

"Everyone, Formation C!"

The team reacted to Adam’s instruction immediately.

Adam, Darren, Michael, and Kara formed the outer perimeter, while Genevieve and Koby took position at the center of the formation.

They didn’t even have time to gather their supplies in time, as everything had happened so abruptly.

And then, it came...

The ominous sound.

Ding! Ding!

Ding! Ding!

The sound of bells ringing echoed from all around them.

Dong! Dong!

Dong! Dong!

"Steady," Adam’s calm words washed over the team. "Geneveive, prepare your components. Paladins, ready your weapons."

Ding! Ding!

Ding! Ding!

The team did as told. The ominous sound grew louder and louder.

Dong! Dong!

Dong! Dong!

Suddenly, the sound of bells ceased abruptly. The mist still remained, however. Denser than ever, if anything.

Adam cursed silently when he realized his Sphere of Resonance couldn’t penetrate the fog.

The expedition team’s breathing grew heavy, and they were drenched in cold sweat. Not being able to see beyond the fog made them feel greatly anxious. Some of them had even begun questioning their decisions of coming on this mission.

And then they appeared...

Without warning, figures emerged from the mist!

A dozen travelers slowly came into view, dressed in strange, old-fashioned garments unlike anything the party had seen before. There were men, women, children, and the elderly. Behind them rolled several weathered caravans, drawn by horses whose hooves made almost no sound upon the ground.

The adventurers noticed them immediately. And they immediately knew something was wrong.

These had to be the so-called gypsies Channing and Esmond told them about.

Their skin bore a faint gray tinge, as though the color had slowly drained from their flesh. Their eyes were dull and distant, and every movement carried an eerie stillness.

It was as if life itself had faded around them, and even the colors of the world were afraid to come too close.

The gray mist... the loss of color on these newcomers’ skin... Adam suddenly felt something strangely familiar about it all.

He didn’t have time to dwell on it, however.

The very next moment, the leader of the gypsies stepped out of the mist.

She was the oldest of them all, an elderly hunched-back woman who leaned heavily on a gnarled wooden staff as she slowly approached the group.

The young adventurers felt the hair on the back of their necks stand on end for no apparent reason.

At last, the old woman stopped before them.

She had a gentle smile on her ashen, weathered face as she asked, "Would you like to hear a tale?"

The adventurers exchanged uncertain, fearful glances but remained silent.

Then, finally, Adam spoke up:

"Sure. Go ahead."

The smile on the elderly woman’s face deepened. She then began her tale:

"Long ago strode a warrior bold, with a heart of fire and soul of gold.

"No blade could match his noble might; he crowned each weary field with light.

"Then love appeared with gentle grace, a smile that wars could not erase.

"He sheathed the sword, forsook the fray, to greet the dawn instead of slay.

"A jealous king could not abide to lose the strength once at his side.

"He slew the bride with hidden guile, then blamed a foe with practiced smile.

"The warrior wept, the warrior bled, he piled the living with the dead.

"He slew and slew through grief untold, while the greedy king grew fat with gold.

"At last, he fell, his body torn; by us, forgotten, he was borne.

"We healed his wounds and revealed the lie that doomed his love and made her die.

"We named the hand that dealt the knife, the king who stole his dearest life.

"Then throne and bloodline, root and vine, were washed away by his design.

"The crown was won, the debt was paid; one final vow the new king made.

"’When strangers wander through my mist, bring them to where my realm exists.’

"So seven souls have crossed our way."

By now, the expedition team had already been knocked out cold by the enchanting words of the elderly woman. The more she spoke, the heavier their minds felt. By the end of her tale, they all succumbed to sleep.

Except one.

Adam was the last man standing, desperately struggling to remember everything the old woman had said.

But something about her final words made him puzzled and greatly uneasy.

Seven... how?

He wondered as he collapsed to his knees.

There’s only... six... of us...

Just as slumber almost claimed him, he faintly heard the old woman’s departing words.

"Welcome to the land of King Jacob de Vile.

"May you fulfill his deepest desire."

The mysterious mist swallowed the band of young adventurers.

And one more.

A vampire.