Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe-Chapter 1634: Manifestation

Princess Venia walked calmly through the vast compound, heading toward the colossal palace that rose in the distance.

She remained in her humanoid form. Her back was straight, and her steps were steady and unhurried as she moved along the wide stone paths of the clan’s ancestral grounds.

Other members of the Somnia Clan passed by her in silence, some in humanoid forms, others descending from the skies as gray dragons before landing nearby.

Yet, none of them were able to sense her presence. This was a form of mental invisibility that came naturally to mind dragons. Instead of concealing their bodies, they simply erased themselves from the awareness of those around them.

Despite the quiet activity around her, Venia paid little attention to it.

From the outside, she looked calm, almost indifferent. Her expression remained composed, and nothing in her posture revealed what was happening inside her fortress of a mind.

Yet her thoughts were far from still...

The memory she had just witnessed replayed in her mind again and again. The image of her youngest brother lingered in her mind, along with the human boy who fought with such stubborn resolve.

Her poor little brother, the one the human had named Valerian, had been separated from them due to an anomalous circumstance. For centuries, his whereabouts were unknown. Yet they never stopped looking for him.

Endi had done a splendid job of finding him after so many years. Yet, the happiness that Venia had expected to feel upon learning of her youngest brother was overshadowed by the disdain that rose within her.

A mere human had formed a familiar bond with him...

Dragons were proud creatures who stood at the apex of the proverbial arcane food chain. They were rulers by nature who bowed to none and acknowledged few as equals.

To them, humans were fragile and short-lived creatures. Hardly worthy of standing beside a dragon, much less forming a familiar bond with one of royal blood from their clan.

That was why the thought displeased her.

Very much so.

And yet...

Something about the human she had seen in Endi’s memory did not sit right with the way she wished to dismiss him.

There had been something unusual about him, something stubborn, something... difficult to define.

For the first time, Venia found herself uncertain about how to feel about the familiar bond her brother shared with that human.

Something about the human unsettled the simple judgment she wanted to make.

The way he spoke of magic, the way he dreamed of reaching its highest peak, the stubborn resolve he showed even while standing before overwhelming power.

How could such a brilliant and unyielding flame have ignited in the darkest, farthest corner of the universe? Especially in someone from the lower realms, no less.

And then there was the way he cared for Valerian.

The memory had shown it clearly. The human did not treat the young prince as a tool or curiosity, or even a pet. He had raised him with patience and protection, with a sincere love that was difficult to fake. Like a friend, a little brother, a son, even.

Even more troubling was the way the young prince responded to the human boy.

The young dragon trusted him. Respected him. Cared for him. And... loved him. Truly loved him.

All of these things made the matter far more complicated than Enia had expected. What should have been a simple retrieval of their clan’s lost prince had now turned into something far more delicate.

Amidst her thoughts, the Princess had already entered the colossal palace and reached its inner depths... where her mother, the Elder of the Somnia Clan, resided.

Deep within the palace, a massive stone pillar rose from the ground, towering high into the vast chamber.

Atop the pillar rested a giant gray dragon, her immense body coiled in stillness. She was far larger than even Venia’s draconic form. Her scales were dull and ancient, reflecting the sunlight filtering through the chamber.

Her eyes were closed, and her slow, steady breathing echoed softly through the hall as she rested atop the towering pillar.

Venia raised her head and calmly glanced at the giant dragon. She then took a step forward and... disappeared.

When she reappeared, she was already standing on the titanic pillar.

Even in her humanoid form, her height — which was taller than an average human or elf — looked insignificant here. She barely reached the length of one of the giant dragon’s claws.

It made one wonder just how enormous the Elder truly was...

"Mother," Venia’s calm voice echoed in the giant dragon’s ears as she rested her palm against one of her gray scales.

She wasted no time and spoke plainly.

"I bring good news. Our youngest has been found."

The giant dragon’s eyes snapped open. Two massive topaz orbs flared to life, their vertical pupils narrowing sharply as they locked onto Venia with a questioning glare.

Others might have breathed their last from a mere glance of a mighty dragon who had transcended the Emperor Rank.

But Venia remained calm and composed as ever.

"He is in good health, Mother," the princess continued. "He... is loved and cared for. I have seen it for myself."

The Elder continued to stare at her.

"However, it will take some time to bring him back to the clan. He has found himself in the lower realms, after all."

The giant dragon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Rest assured, Mother," Venia said, meeting her mother’s sun-like topaz eyes without flinching. "I shall personally descend and bring him back."

The vertical pupils in those giant eyes expanded ever so slightly.

Sensing her mother’s eased emotions, Venia felt a quiet sense of relief.

After a brief pause, she added, "I have deemed this a sensitive matter. Therefore, I request your permission to retrieve an artifact from the vault."

This time, Venia remained silent for a few long moments, the Elder’s questioning gaze still lingering on her.

At last, the princess said in a solemn voice:

"The Pen of Manifestation."

The giant dragon’s topaz eyes remained fixed on Venia.

For a moment, the massive pupils narrowed slightly, as if the Elder were silently questioning her request.

For the Pen of Manifestation was no ordinary relic.

Why would the princess require such an artifact?

The enormous gaze studied Venia carefully, searching for the reason behind her request.

Then the pupils slowly relaxed. The matter concerned her youngest son, after all. That alone was reason enough.

Without a word, the Elder gave her silent approval and slowly closed her eyes.

"Rest assured, Mother," Venia said in a soft voice.

"I will bring him home..."