Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1957 Unfortunate Situations

Adam dead?

Don't kid me!

He won't die!

He can't...

Those thoughts swirled in Genevieve's mind as she climbed the flight of stairs to head toward the upper levels of the City Hall.

Her face was a mask of fury and denial, and her red-rimmed eyes were full of sorrow.

How can they be so sure that Adam was tortured by the high priest?

How can they possibly know that?

Sacrificed to the sun god? I don't believe it!

She climbed the stairs with a sense of urgency, taking them two at a time. She didn't know where Leah had gotten that information from. But that didn't matter. She was going to find it out herself.

A flurry of footsteps hastily approached her from behind. Genevieve turned ever so slightly and saw Michael, his mouth stuffed with food, trying to catch up to her.

He finally arrived beside her, glaring at her. After he'd finished chewing and swallowing the food in his mouth, he hissed:

"Are you crazy!"

Genevieve did not reply. She looked ahead and continued climbing the stairs.

"You know how these people practically worship the council members," Michael said, keeping pace with her.

"To say those things was foolish of you! What is wrong with you? Aren't you supposed to be smart?"

Genevieve hesitated for a moment before replying, "Michael, do you really think Adam is dead?"

Michael opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. In the end, he lowered his head and murmured, "I… I don't know."

He paused for a moment, then turned to her. "But if he was really captured by the werewolf… I don't see how he could have made it out alive."

They climbed past the second and third floors, which housed the dormitories and communal bathrooms.

"Do you know what Valerian once said to me?" Genevieve's lips curled into a wry smile.

Michael shook his head, silent.

"He said that all his life, Adam has fought people stronger than himself," she replied. "If there's something Adam is good at, it's getting himself into unfortunate situations. And if there's something he's even better at… then it's getting himself out of them."

Michael suddenly felt a little weird. He couldn't believe that smart Genevieve that he had come to know was actually taking the word of a cat at face value. If one looked at it from the lens of logic, Adam being captured by the Antlered High Priest could mean only one thing.

Yet Genevieve was certain that Adam was alive.

Michael did not know how to even respond to that. In the time he had spent with Adam, he had come to greatly respect and admire him. The man was a little scary, but he was still someone Michael could call a friend.

Genevieve's reaction was more than a little strange to Michael, and he feared she was about to do something that she might come to regret. That was why he had followed her, for he knew she wasn't going to the dormitory to rest.

They passed the fourth floor and were now on the way to the fifth, a floor reserved for the leadership. It housed the armory, a meeting chamber, and the private quarters of the council members.

Damn it, I knew it! Michael cursed inwardly.

He greeted his teeth and said in a hushed voice, "Hey, Genevieve, let's go back, yeah? Let's not do something that will screw us both. I quite like staying alive within these walls. Why don't you calm yourself a little, take a night's rest, and do this, uh… whatever you're trying to do tomorrow morning, eh?"

Genevieve wiped her tears away. She turned to Michael and said with a polite smile.

"I'm not an idiot, Michael," she said.

You sure are acting like one! Michael screamed inwardly. But he didn't say it as he recalled what she'd done to the wolf earlier.

Before he could try to persuade her another time, they had arrived at the fifth floor. Two guards stood at the entrance of the floor, spears in hand.

"State your purpose," one of them said in a flat voice.

Genevieve turned to the man and offered a faint smile. She said politely, "Genevieve Saint Laurent for Lady Kesha."

The man grunted in response before he signalled one of the attendants behind to rush to Lady Kesha's quarters.

Genevieve knew that Lady Kesha had wanted something from her. That much was evident from the elf's actions.

If there was anyone in the council whom Genevieve could learn the truth from, then it had to be Lady Kesha. The City Hall's council consisted of two humans, one elf, and one dwarf. The elf was the only one she knew.

Meanwhile, Michael, who was unaware of the barely present relationship between Genevieve and Lady Kesha was growing increasingly nervous.

Damn it! He cursed to himself.

Not only is she going to get thrown out of this place, but she's going to take me with her.

Fuck! Why did I come follow her? I should have eaten my dinner quietly and headed to the dorms.

Damn it all! Is it too late to turn away?

Yes.

It was too late.

The attendant hurried back to the entrance and whispered in the guard's ear. The man turned to Genevieve and offered a light nod.

"You may come."

The guard turned to Michael and continued, "But not you."

Michael heaved a sigh of relief.

Genevieve first turned to Michael and smiled. "Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

Michael's lips opened and closed several times. Then he nodded. "Fine. Just… don't say anything stupid. Or do, for that matter. Uh… yeah, okay."

With that, he turned and descended the stairs.

The attendant led Genevieve through the fifth floor. It was wide and spacious, and there were barely any people there. Most were Apprentices and Squires, and their jobs was to attend to the councilors' every need.

After several more minutes, the attendant arrived before a pair of mahogany doors with exquisitely crafted brass door handles. He knocked gently and announced:

"Magus Saint Laurent here to see you, my lady."

"Come in." A melodious voice drifted from beyond the doors.

The attendant opened the doors, then stepped aside, gesturing to Genevieve to enter.

Genevieve glanced at him, thinking: An Apprentice who should have buried himself in books and research, reduced to little more than a servant.

She hated how this place stripped a person of their dreams.

And their freedom.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Genevieve stepped into the room.

And there she was.

A tall, beautiful elf with a slender figure stood by the arched window. Crimson light spilled through the panes, outlining her lithe silhouette. Her blonde hair, kissed red by the moonlight, cascaded over her shoulders. Clad in a loose silk gown, she looked almost ethereal.

A long, smoking pipe rested in her hand as she finally turned around.

Her green eyes held traces of… pity and resignation.

She smiled gently.

"Genevieve Saint Laurent, how may I help you?"