Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

551  The Journal

The figure lifted his hood, revealing himself.

He was a mature man who seemed to be in his early forties. He had honey-brown eyes, short locks of crimson hair, and a sun-kissed tan physique.

It was none other than the Handler of the Brotherhood, Elrick Spence.

Adam walked toward him with a wide smile and gave him a warm hug. "Brother Elrick, thank you for your assistance throughout my mission."

"Hahaha!" Elrick patted the youth's back. "Don't mention it. It's my job!"

He grabbed Adam's shoulders and grinned. "Look at you! Who would have thought, a cheeky bastard like you would be able to deal with that Rank 3 werewolf? Haha, you have truly given me a great surprise!"

Adam didn't know how to react to such praise. Although he felt greatly smug inside, he didn't show it.

"Anyways," said Elrick as he guided the youth inside the cave entrance. "Do you know what they're calling you?"

Adam shook his head. "What?"

"The Tyrant!" Elrick grinned.

Adam was taken aback, thinking to himself, What a coincidence! Is this what they call providence?

He nodded his head with with a smirk. "I like the ring of that!"

As the pair walked through the twisting tunnels, towards the heart of the cliff, Adam found that there were no other people around.

"Where's everyone?" He asked curiously.

"I'm taking you through a secret route that's why you can't see them," Elrick replied.

"Oh? Where are we headed to?"

"To the vault!" Elrick grinned.

He paused for a moment before adding, "Your accomplishments in the Stratford Incident have attracted a lot of attention in the organization, not just in the Uleir Headquarters but even in the headquarters of Europa, Indus, and Yen-Lu!"

Adam was astonished. "Even the Magi from the other side of the world?!"

"Heh, what did you expect?" Elrick chuckled. "The number of people in this world who have managed to become Rank 2 Magi by the age of twenty could be counted on one hand."

He paused for a moment before continuing with a slightly trembling voice, "And the number of people who have battled a Rank 3 Magus and emerged victorious as a Rank 2 Magus is only one…"

Elrick stopped in his footsteps, deeply looking at Adam. "You know what that means, don't you, Brother Adam?"

Adam thought for a moment before replying like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "That I'm a genius."

Elrick's lips twitched. "Yeah… that is true. But what I meant was, the powerful factions within the Brotherhood will be looking to recruit you, and these factions are led by Councillors!"

The pair resumed walking toward the vault. Adam asked in a solemn tone, "The Councillors are Mana Core Magi, yes?"

"Indeed." Elrick nodded.

"Do I have no other option but to choose a faction? I really don't wish to get involved in the organization's politics," Adam grumbled.

Elrick shrugged. "You don't really have a choice."

Adam fell into silence. Elrick noticed this and patted his shoulder, assuring him. "But you won't have to worry about that for now."

"What do you mean?" Asked the youth.

"None of the Councillors will make a move yet," said Elrick.

"Why not?"

"They won't make a move until your mentor comes out of close-door seclusion!" Elrick smiled knowingly.

Adam's eyes lit up in understanding. "So my trajectory inside the Brotherhood depends on whether the old man can advance to Rank 4!"

"Precisely! If Warden Glynhorn becomes a Mana Core Magus, he will surely build a new faction around him. When that happens, you will naturally join that faction and none of the other Councillors will approach you," Elrick patiently explained. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Adam went into deep thought, then asked, "But what's all this about the factions and whatnot? Is it because of the resources in the organization and how they are distributed?"

Before Elrick could reply, the pair had already arrived at an intersection. He glanced at Adam and smiled. "This is as far as I go. I'll explain everything to you after you return from the vault."

Adam nodded. "Okay."

In front of him was a dimly lit narrow path that led underground. With great anticipation, Adam began walking.

Finally, I can get my hands on the textbooks related to rune magic. Then there's also the Founder's journal that I was promised as a reward.

Elrick said that the Founder, who was a Runesmith, had written his insights about rune magic in this journal, he thought gleefully.

Finally, after several twists and turns, he arrived at the foot of a large, steel gate. Ancient runes radiating great magical power were carved on the gate.

Adam was instantly mesmerized by these runes. He walked toward it and reached out with his hand when suddenly a booming voice echoed in the dark chamber.

"Do not touch!"

The youth trembled and instantly withdrew his hand. He then bowed apologetically. "Please forgive me."

From just the voice alone, he could tell that it belonged to a powerful Magus, possibly a Mana Vortex Magus!

"Based on the result of the mission, your rewards have been carefully selected by a panel of Wardens. Once you enter the vault, you will find the items placed on a stone pedastal.

"You are not allowed to touch any other items within the vault. Only take away the seven arcane textbooks on rune magic, as well as one journal left behind by the Founder."

The voice paused for a moment before adding, "Although I doubt you will be able to glean anything conclusive from the Founder's journal."

With that said, the runes on the towering steel door lit up with a blinding light. Then, the door slowly opened.

Seven textbooks on rune magic! And a journal left behind by the Founder!

Adam was beyond excited as he hurriedly made his way inside the vault. He felt that all the setbacks that he'd faced during the mission were worth it.

He was only expecting a book or two, but the Brotherhood had rewarded him with eight!

As he entered the vault, he found that the place was expansive, to say the least. It was filled with towering shelves that contained magical artifacts, ancient textbooks, rare and precious herbs, and even precious ores and minerals.

Adam couldn't even begin to fathom the total value of all the items inside this vault.

As expected of the Brotherhood, he thought.

They are wealthy beyond comparison!

He soon arrived before the stone pedastal where eight books were kept. All of them looked extremely old. They were leather-bound and their pages had yellowed with the passage of time.

"Runes of Power, The Rune Weaver's Codex, The Runesmith's Grimoire, The Language of Runes," the youth read aloud the titles of the textbooks with bated breaths.

"Runic Mysteries: Unlocking the Hidden Powers, The Rune Scholar's Handbook, and Rune Magic: From Theory to Practice!"

After reading through the titles of all seven textbooks, he put them inside his earring. Finally, his gaze fell on the journal left behind by the Founder!

With exhilaration coursing through his veins, he picked up the leather-bound journal. There was no title written on the cover so he flipped it open and read the words written on the first page.

Then it happened…

The sheer shock that raced through his whole being caused his mind to stop working. His hands involuntarily trembled and he dropped the journal on the floor.

It can't be! No, this… this is impossible!

The Founder… he…

Adam's mind was a mess and tumultuous waves rose in his heart.

Elrick had mentioned to him that the Founder had written his journals in a mysterious language that he himself had invented and that no one was able to decipher it.

However, the language used in the journal wasn't something that the Founder had invented.

Adam was certain of it…

Because he knew this language!

"Ethor…" Adam whispered in a shaky voice.

It was a very well-known language as well as the one that was most commonly used among the many races…

Of the Greater Universe!!!

(End of Volume 3—Secrets and Shadows)

BONUS CHAPTER!!!

Esenel

Creator's Thought