Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 2105: Citadel of Knowledge

The Citadel of Knowledge was an ancient fortress and the greatest center of learning across all of Centerra.

Built atop a small peninsula overlooking the Sea of Storms, its massive walls protected countless towers, halls, and libraries filled with books, scrolls, and magical knowledge.

Adam and Genevieve rode on horseback as they climbed the winding road toward the Citadel. Ahead, the fortress rose above the cliffs, its immense walls cutting across the sky. Towers and battlements stood behind them, while the sea stretched endlessly beyond the rocky coast. It was a sight to behold.

"Beautiful," Adam murmured in awe. "You grew up here?"

"Yes, I did." Genevieve lifted her chin, cerulean eyes gleaming with pride.

It was a six-month journey from the Free City of Davos to the Citadel. Another couple of months of journey down south and they would arrive at the borders governed by the Free City Alliance.

"This is..." Adam was truly enamored. "Amazing. Truly amazing."

"Wait till I show you around the libraries inside," Genevieve said.

The two slowed as they approached the outer gate. Several guards stood beneath the stone archway, watching them carefully. The guards weren’t hostile, just curious. No one would dare to attack a center of learning such as the Citadel.

One of the guards stepped forward and raised a hand. "Halt, traveler."

The other joined him. "Your business?"

Genevieve retrieved a medallion from her satchel and handed it over to the guard. She turned to the towering gates, a reminiscent smile on her face.

The guard glanced at the medallion, surprised. "Ah, welcome back!"

"Thank you." Genevieve offered a charming smile.

"And what about your fellow traveler, young miss?" The guard’s attitude was now much warmer and friendlier, as though he were talking to kin. "Book or coin?"

The Citadel of Knowledge charged newcomers either an entry fee in coins or any rare book that it did not already possess.

Adam guided his horse forward. A book shot out of his sleeve, and he caught it in his hand. He had written it on his half-a-year journey here.

It was titled: Nilrem’s Guide to Tron.

"One moment please," said the guard as he accepted the book with both hands. He walked to a small outpost by the entry gates.

A minute later he emerged, nodding. "Unique."

The other guard knocked on the giant gates in a sequence, after which they slowly opened.

"Welcome to the Citadel! Please dismount and lead the horses inside."

Adam and Genevieve climbed down and walked their horses through the gate. The heavy doors loomed above them as they entered the Citadel.

Beyond the gate lay a vast courtyard. Scholars, young and old, crossed between buildings carrying books and scrolls, while scribes hurried beneath the shadow of the towers.

"It’s good to be back." Genevieve looked at the fortress with a smile.

She always spoke about this place where she grew up, surrounded by books and the smell of ink. Adam could see how truly happy she was. Her happiness was contagious. He found himself looking at her twinkling eyes and smiling too.

But when he thought about what was going to happen after their short trip to the Citadel was concluded, he felt the familiar pinch in his heart.

He sighed to himself, thinking, What is wrong with me...

One of the many doors at the far side of the courtyard opened, and a group of old scholars, men and women, emerged. They looked around the sprawling green space before their gaze landed on a familiar auburn-haired girl.

"Genevieve, my child!"

"Look how tall you’ve grown!"

"Welcome home!"

Adam stepped aside, a smile on his face as he watched Genevieve hug and greet the people who raised her. These were her grandfather’s friends. They were the ones who taught her how to read and write.

Genevieve’s eyes had teared up as she greeted everyone. She called them by their names, making them feel important and heard. Adam admired this quality about her. She was great at socializing, but hers wasn’t superficial like his. She truly did care for and treat them like dear friends. Perhaps that was why people liked her so much.

She introduced Adam to everyone. Some of them teased her; others gave her knowing smiles. Suffice to say, they were impressed with Adam after they tested—not so subtly—him in the matters of arcana and academia.

These old men and women of the Citadel cared not that Adam was the student of the great adventurer Hannibal, or that he could slay monsters and men stronger than him. They cared only if he was erudite. Nothing less could be worthy of being Genevieve’s partner in their eyes. Adam quite liked these fellows.

Adam and Genevieve were shown their rooms. And while she left to meet and catch up with old friends, he wandered the citadel in silence, hardly knowing where to look.

Everywhere he went, he found another library, another reading hall, or another tower filled with books. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed with ancient books, handwritten manuscripts, maps, and scrolls. Scholars sat at long tables, quietly reading or copying texts beneath the light of lamps.

He passed rooms devoted to history, magic, geography, and countless other subjects. Some libraries were small and quiet, while others seemed large enough to contain an entire world. He had never seen so many books gathered in one place before. The deeper he ventured into the Citadel, the more his amazement grew.

Adam found a vast chamber dedicated to history books in one of the many towers in the fortress. A magical lamp hovered above him as he sat on the cold, stone floor, his back leaning against a wooden bookshelf. Beside him sprawled books about the history of Myrrandor.

He heard the sound of footsteps. Judging by its cadence, he already knew who it was. He set the book in his hand aside and looked up with a smile. "How did it go?"

Genevieve shoved the books away so she could sit beside him. She wrapped her hands around Adam’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Great," she said. "I was so happy to see them. It was wonderful."

She paused for a moment and retrieved a newly minted medallion from her satchel. "For you."

Adam quirked a brow, and she explained, "You are now an honorary guest of the Citadel. You can come here and browse any books you like—except the ones in the forbidden tower, of course."

"Really?" Adam’s eyes twinkled. "I appreciate it."

He gently kissed her on the head. Noticing that she was silent, he realized that the time had almost come to say their goodbyes. Just one more night. His heart ached, but he still smiled nevertheless. As he always did.

Genevieve looked up at him, eyes moist.

"Adam," she whispered. "Come along with me. I want to show you something."