Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Edward deeply looked at Adam. He was able to see his own reflection in the latter's dark eyes.

But other than that, he also noticed something else…

A clear conscience.

The blue-eyed youth couldn't help but sigh. "I thought you'd know more about the Magi participating in the tournament."

"Yeah? And why is that?" Adam rolled his eyes as he poured himself some wine and leisurely took a sip from the flat cup.

"I don't know." Edward shrugged. "Aren't you the Dark King? Shouldn't you… know things?"

"Oh, I do know some things. Many things, if I'm being honest," said the raven-haired youth with a smirk. "But nothing as useless as information about a rogue Magus."

Edward's eyes squinted. "How do you know Merlin is a rogue Magus?"

Ah, shit!

Adam cursed inwardly. But he immediately came up with a believable excuse. He looked at Edward like he was an idiot, and said:

"Isn't it obvious that he's a rogue Magus? If he weren't, then you would have surely known about him. The fact that you don't tells me that this Merlin Mathias doesn't belong to any of the great factions."

"Ah…" Edward's eyes flashed with understanding. "You're right."

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Then, he turned silent as he gazed at his own reflection on the surface of the wine in his cup.

Adam felt bad for lying to his friend.

But he also wasn't going to disclose that he was Merlin Mathias.

"What's bothering you, Fattie?"

Edward lingered for a long time, then repeated the words Merlin said to him, "For a Magus, nothing should be more important than magic. The moment you place anything above magic is the moment you cease to become a Magus… is what Merlin told me."

"Huh." Adam raised his eyebrows, clearly impressed. "Such profound words! I can tell this Merlin Mathias is a very wise man."

Edward absentmindedly nodded.

"Why did he say that to you, though?" Adam asked 'curiously'.

Edward's mouth opened, and then closed again. He wanted to say a lot of things, but couldn't help but drown in hesitation.

"Just say it." Adam patted his back.

The blue-eyed youth hesitated for a moment longer, then finally recounted everything that happened underneath Marian Lake—from overcoming the mind hex of the sirens to getting one-sidedly beaten by the mysterious Merlin Mathias.

After hearing him out, Adam didn't reply. He did not even react. Instead, he poured some more wine into his cup and continued to sip from time to time, remaining silent.

Edward gulped. "Well... say something."

Adam did not even turn to look at him. "What else is there to say? Everything Merlin said to you was the truth."

Edward involuntarily clenched his hands, lowering his head in shame.

A long moment of silence permeated the air before Adam turned to him. His expression softened a little when he saw his friend going through a series of conflicting emotions.

He couldn't help but heave a long, heavy sigh. "Why did you do it, Fattie?" he asked.

Edward remained silent.

The raven-haired youth pressed, "Why did you make finding Lisa your priority? Are you so madly in love with her that you couldn't stand being apart from her for even a moment?"

Adam paused, his tone turning stern. "Is it insecurity that drove you? Worried about how she'd react if you didn't rush to her rescue? Or do you just not trust in her ability to protect herself?"

"I…" Edward's mouth opened and closed several times. In the end, he simply said, "I don't know."

Adam deeply looked at his friend, then said, "Love can cloud your judgment, create hesitation, and shift your focus from purpose to emotion. In critical moments, it becomes a vulnerability."

He had absorbed the memories of several experts from the Greater Universe. He had also caught glimpses of their love lives. He had seen how most of their relationships had ended… in sorrow.

Either the Magus outlived their partner, or they loved them more than they loved magic, losing sight of their Way.

Very rarely did partners place magic above their own romantic feelings. But in the rarest of cases that they did, they walked the path of arcana together, side by side… until the very end.

That was precisely why Adam had always avoided romantic entanglements.

He was a young man—and undeniably attractive, thanks to all the physique enhancements he had undergone—and had naturally come across several such opportunities.

Especially now that he carried the title of Dark King, countless beautiful women were eager to offer themselves to him, some out of admiration, while others for status and power.

Many times, he had been swayed by their beauty. Many times, lust had clouded his reason.

But each time he reminded himself… it wasn't worth it!

The fleeting pleasure wasn't worth the eventual pain. One day, he would leave Tron behind and journey into the heart of the Greater Universe. He would almost certainly outlive any partner he took.

And then what?

Would he drown in regret, cursing himself for ever opening that door?

Or live out the rest of his life haunted by heartbreak he could never quite move past?

That is why, ever since he embarked on the path of a Magus, he devoted himself entirely to his craft.

To him, magic was his one true love.

The thrill of creating a new spell brought him more satisfaction than a thousand women ever could… even in a single night.

Looking at his friend, who was making the same mistake as countless other Magi had, Adam couldn't help but shake his head.

"Pathetic bastard," he cursed, utterly disappointed. "You really did put Lisa above magic, didn't you? And look where that brought you… whimpering by my side. Hmph! You really should be ashamed of yourself!"

Hearing his words, Edward hung his head even lower. His lips quivered involuntarily. He would have never reacted this way if someone else had said the same thing to him, even if it was his own grandfather.

But when Adam said those words… it really hurt.

However, Adam wasn't going to feel bad about what he had just said. He considered Edward his brother, and that meant holding him accountable.

He covertly raised a formless mana barrier around them, and then…

Ruthlessly shattered Edward's worldview with his following words.

"My foolish brother, what are you going to do when the time comes to leave this world and journey to higher worlds? Will you leave Lisa behind? Or will you throw everything away just to stay by her side?"