"After nineteen years, I concluded my research just in time! I can now transmute minerals into organs, skins and limbs. Most importantly, the base materials keep their inherent properties after the transmutation."
"I did it! I finally reunited with my parents!"
Upon reading the sentence, Adam couldn't help but shed a tear, happy to see Elena achieve her life goal. He could feel her happiness through her writing and the dried tear stains on the page. Then, he continued his lecture.
"I'll record my transmutation's research and our path's legacy in this grimoire while spending my last year in peace with my beloved family."
"My time has finally come. But before I leave this beautiful world for good, let me warn you about its dangers. If you can reach this grimoire, it means you are untainted by the pseudo-classic paths. Trust me, no matter which you decide to thread, they are all baits."
"During my travels, I witnessed how the six academies I dreamed about in my youth became nine a few centuries later. I'm now certain that Ari's crazy story was true. Someone is destroying and decomposing every path. I don't know if it is the doing of a single entity or an organisation, but you must never allow them to catch you with this grimoire."
"Also, don't, under any circumstances, awaken a talent or elemental affinities. They are dead ends. You won't be able to become an archmage if you do!"
Adam's eyes narrowed. Between Kwame's and Elena's warnings, he was now sure the academy's magic path was flawed. Worse, it was made this way purposefully. After all, the common point between the two archmages was their absence of affinity and talent!
He returned to his reading, his mind buzzing with questions as Julius frowned at his big brother's rapidly shifting emotions.
"To be honest, my talent for magic was below average. The only reason I could reach such a high level was thanks to my much longer lifespan and perseverance. I wish your talent is better than mine and hope my achievement in transmutation and Ari's legacy will help you. Always remember that in this beautiful world, anything is possible, so never lose hope and never surrender!"
Reaching the end of the page, Adam sighed with emotion. The last paragraph bore the unmistakable weight of being penned on her ultimate day.
"I wish you to rest in peace, accompanied by your family, in a place you would find as beautiful as this world." He prayed for her before turning to Julius. He had to hide the grimoire and not let anyone ever discover it. But to do that, he needed Julius' help to bring it to the dream place.
"Julius, sleep now." He said, his voice grave and his eyes narrowed into thin slits, his demeanor filling the hidden room with an unsettling silence.
"Wh-why, big bro? I'm not even tired..." Julius stuttered, avoiding Adam's gaze with a hint of panic and trembling legs.
"Don't worry about sleepiness. I can make you sleep instantly." Adam stated with a chilling smile, causing Julius to shiver involuntarily. Especially considering the last part. "Forever."
"..." Julius sighed before sitting against the wall, startling Arun. Then, he grabbed Thomas's legs, his face filled with disgust, and Elena's grimoire handed by Adam, who already closed his eyes to fall asleep.
"I'll just take a quick nap, Arun. Wake me if anything comes up," Julius reassured with a smile before shutting his eyes.
Adam snapped his eyes open and rose from his bed, pacing impatiently in his well-organised apartment room.
His emotions were a mess, as he suspected this world's magus to regulate everything from the shadows. Since Elena lived for centuries, it wasn't too unrealistic to expect he could live much longer. Especially if he was really destroying paths and plundering their knowledge.
After all, Shepard told him last time that there had only been one magus in history. He pondered, trying to draw the event's timeline. 'Elena's tale solidifies it. Kwame and the mana conjurers were obliterated long before she even learned about their existence. This magus has been at this for millennia.'
On the other hand, the Morphomancers were destroyed in a time frame ranging from half a millennium to seven hundred years before her death.
Before he could delve further into his thoughts, his eyes lit up as Elena's grimoire and Thomas' legs appeared in his hands. A notification instantly popped before his eyes.
[Material detected in Soul Sea. Soul bind available, proceed? Yes/No]
"Yes," Adam said, his eyes brightening, impatient to read its description and abilities even if he would probably be unable to use them.
[Material bound: Thomas' Swift Shadow Legs]
Simultaneously, he gently placed the grimoire on his desk next to Kwame's before focusing on the leg's properties.
Name: Thomas' Swift Shadow Legs
Rank: T4 Mythical Material
Thomas's Swift Shadow Legs, severed directly from the carcass of the mythical boss Thomas, embody his extraordinary speed and agility. These legs, infused with the essence of mana and life force, pulsate with intense magical energy, granting their wielder unmatched swiftness and dexterity.
Speed Augmentation: Thomas's Swift Shadow Legs enhance the user's speed and agility to extraordinary levels passively, mirroring the lightning-fast movements of the mythical boss Thomas, The Swift Shadow.
Stealth Mastery: These legs grant the ability to move silently and swiftly, just like Thomas himself, enabling the user to traverse environments undetected and execute stealthy manoeuvres with ease.
Acceleration Boost: The legs possess the capability to accelerate the user's movements instantaneously, replicating the rapid bursts of speed and agility displayed by Thomas in battle or evasion.
Jumping Prowess: Thomas's Swift Shadow Legs enable the user to leap great distances with remarkable precision and control, reflecting the agile movement of Thomas across obstacles and terrain.
Adam's astonishment surged as he absorbed the legs' description but soon gave way to a furrowed brow of contemplation. Specialised in speed and agility, they held potential beyond his immediate grasp, like Gaston's Sovereign Eye and the Manacore Heartgem.