Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Edward kept receiving one shocking news after another, each more astonishing than the last.

He didn't even have time to properly wrap his head around the fact that there were countless other magical civilizations in the universe when Adam suddenly dropped another informational Potion of Explosion.

The blue-eyed youth stared with a dazed look on his face, and asked, "A what-grade talent?"

Adam didn't even look at him. He calmly sipped wine and explained, "There is another grade for measuring aptitude for spell-casting that very few people are privy to."

He paused, allowing the silence to create a sense of anticipation. "It is a grade higher than even an A-grade. The chances of a person being born with such talent are so minuscule that it is regarded as a legend. The S-grade talent."

Adam turned to Edward, his eyes flickering with helplessness and dissatisfaction. "You know, Fatty, when such a person is discovered, they would immediately be scouted by the top factions in the Greater Universe. Do you know the reason?"

Edward shook his head in silence, the weight of information far too heavy for his young mind to comprehend.

"Because…" Adam answered with a wry smile, his eyes flickering with envy. "A person born with talent far surpassing A-grade was a person loved by mana."

Edward shuddered. He recalled how his mana reserves had increased steadily over the years, and how, after some point, they had surpassed the reserves that even a regular Magus with an A-grade talent had.

"Don't tell me…" Edward's words were barely a whisper. "Am I…"

Adam ignored him and continued to explain. "When a being with an S-grade talent begins to grow inside a fetus, they require a tremendous amount of mana and nutrients. When these requirements aren't met, the baby subconsciously starts to absorb them from his mother."

Edward's pupils dilated. He recalled the severe illness his mother was afflicted with after he was born.

"C-could it be…"

Adam interrupted him once again. "More often than not, the baby's requirements are never met, and this results in the death of both the mother and the child. This is one of the primary reasons why people with S-grade talents are so few and far between in this entire universe."

The more Edward heard Adam speak, the more shocked he became. Unbeknownst to him, his eyes had started to tear up.

"What happened to my mother… it was all my fault?" he murmured.

Adam ignored him.

"But in extremely rare cases, the baby's requirements are met. This results in the baby being born, but the mother dying in the process. And in even rarer cases, the baby's requirements are met, and both the mother and child are safe," Adam said evenly.

He turned to Edward, then said flatly, "Cases such as the last one are so rare that it would be apt to call them… a miracle."

Tears streamed down Edward's bloodshot eyes as he asked in a soft voice, "Are you saying… the reason why my mother was reduced to such a state is because of… me?"

After Adam had succeeded in curing Edward's mother, she had regressed back to a mortal with no mana coursing through her veins.

Although she had once again embarked on the path of a Magus, it would be extremely difficult for her to progress through the ranks like she had in the past.

Adam's expression softened. "No, Fattie. What I'm saying is… the reason why you are where you are today is because of your mother."

Edward's breathing turned ragged as more and more drops of tears streamed down his face.

Adam continued, "Despite the extremely high risk of death, Aunt Elia managed to endure through sheer will to give birth to you. And not only that, she even managed to survive fifteen more years after that."

He lingered for a few moments, then said, "If it wasn't for her, you would never have seen the light of day. It is because of her that you draw breath, and it is because of her that you stand here today as a Magus loved by mana."

Edward remained silent. The sheer storm of emotions brewing within his heart left him incapable of forming words.

Every time Adam spoke, his words cut mercilessly into his heart—his very being—forcing him to confront the harsh reality.

But Adam believed this was something his friend needed to hear. Edward had become far too complacent.

First, choosing to always remain within the Tower of Daybreak and practice mindfulness simply because that was convenient.

And now this… having the audacity to abandon the pursuit of magic despite being born with such immense talent for it.

Truth be told, Adam was genuinely angry at him. He had endured immense pain and suffering just to catch a glimpse of hope in his journey to the Greater Universe.

And then there was Edward… a man born with everything except the desire for magic that burned so deeply in Adam.

"That is why…" Adam muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. "What a waste of S-grade talent."

Edward was silent. He didn't have anything to say.

Adam turned to him and dropped the final nail into the coffin.

"Your mother chose to willingly abandon magic so that you could one day pursue it. She was prepared to die so you could live in her place. And yet here you are, wrestling with hesitation over a question that should have had a simple answer, especially after everything you've lived through."

The sun finally set, dyeing the sky in myriad shades of red and orange. Edward lowered his head, a shadow falling over his face, concealing his expression.

Adam deeply looked at him, then leapt off the boulder. Then, he turned and slowly walked back to his cottage, leaving behind his parting words:

"You have the whole night to reflect on your past experiences and the choices that lie ahead. I shall ask you the same question again in the morning."

With that said, he entered his cottage, shutting the door behind him.

After ensuring that Adam had left, Edward finally broke down. His shoulders trembled, rising and falling with each ragged breath, and his face contorted in anguish.

Tears trickled down endlessly as he managed to choke out a few words:

"I'm so pathetic…"