Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Somewhere in the Acadian Empire.

A small wooden caravan rattled down the dirt road, its wheels groaning with each stone and pebble on the path.

A middle-aged man sat at the driver's seat, reins tightly clutched in his hands, urging the tired horses forward with a tense urgency. Behind him, inside the cramped space, a woman clutched her newborn son close, whispering soft words to calm his frightened whimpers.

A little girl with black hair streaked with orange and bright orange eyes leaned against the woman, who wrapped an arm protectively around her. This little girl gently cradled a small bird in her hands, seemingly listening to its soft chirping.

The air inside the caravan was heavy with fear, though no words were spoken of it. The family's belongings were hastily piled in sacks and crates, some half-open, as if they'd been thrown in without a care.

Every so often, the father glanced over his shoulder at the darkening treeline behind them, as though expecting shadows to spill out on the road and chase them at any moment.

The family of four had been on the run for months now, fleeing their hometown that had been overrun by marauding orcs. Their journey was a desperate attempt at survival, each day bringing in new dangers.

Thieves and bandits hidden along the main travel roads preyed on travelers, forcing them to hide in forests, ford rivers, and sleep under the open sky.

The family was marked by hunger and exhaustion, and their clothes were worn and ragged, yet somehow they had survived every ambush, every near-miss.

A sudden fog might hide them from pursuers, a fallen tree would block the bandits' path, or a misstep by an enemy might save them from death.

Against all odds, these small, improbable twists of fortune had kept them alive.

It was a fragile miracle shaped by the magic of coincidences.

The girl who was seemingly listening to the little bird chirp suddenly raised her head and turned to the man driving the cart.

"Daddy, there's a town not far from here. It's to our north," she said excitedly.

The man turned around, looking at his daughter with a conflicted look in his eyes. He had always known that his little girl was someone special, so much so that a powerful Magus from Saratoga Castle had once approached them, offering to take her in as a student.

He knew that his daughter had always shown a strange affinity towards birds, animals, and nature ever since she was a child. Sometimes he even felt that she could talk to them.

"Autumn, did the little bird tell you that?" Asked the man.

"Mm-hmm!" the little girl, who was none other than Autumn Godsaint, nodded energetically. "The birdie said there's a town not far away where many birds and animals gather. And the people there live happily! They are well protected, and there's delicious food there as well."

The middle-aged man deeply looked at his beloved daughter. Then, he turned his attention to his wife, who was cradling their newborn son in her arms. The mother's lips quivered, then she nodded ever so slightly.

"…Alright," said the man. "We'll head there now. Do you… know the way?"

"The birdie will guide us!" Autumn displayed a bright smile.

She extended her hands forward and allowed the little bird to take flight. The bird joyfully circled around her head first, then flew out of the caravan, guiding them to the town nearby.

"Daddy, follow the birdie!" Autumun beamed in joy.

"O-okay." The father nodded, tugging the reins sharply to urge the horses forward, pushing them to move faster.

A long time later, as the caravan crested the final hill, a town appeared in the distance, bathed in the warm, fading light of the setting sun.

Smoke spiraled lazily from the chimneys, and the cobblestone streets glimmered faintly with a gentle glow. At the heart of the town, a giant ash tree rose above every building, its massive trunk and sprawling branches outlined against the sky that was dyed in shades of red and orange.

When Autumn and her family laid eyes upon this town, they were so happy that they shed tears of joy. After months of gruel and arduous traveling, fleeing their homes, surviving one fatal encounter after another, they had finally reached what felt like a safe haven.

The giant ash tree in the center of the town seemed almost alive, like a silent guardian watching over the settlement, its leaves catching the last rays of the beautiful sunset. Birds of every color flitted around its branches, their chirps filling the air with a lively symphony.

Small animals such as squirrels, rabbits, and even a few deer moved gracefully around the base of the tree, playing with little children. The scene was so serene and vibrant that it filled the family with a mix of awe and hope.

Finally, the caravan arrived before the town gates, which were surprisingly guarded by vigilant Magi. Autumun's father hadn't expected Magi to settle down in such a town, much less take the role of its protectors.

The man hopped down from the carriage and approached the guards, explaining their dire situation to them. One of the Magi stepped forward to inspect the caravan, offering gentle words of consolation to Autumn and her mother.

After a few more minutes of careful scrutiny, the caravan was finally allowed to pass through the gates, and the family was welcomed to settle inside the town.

As the caravan passed through the town gates, Autumn and her family immediately sensed a shift in the air. It was warmer, lighter, and carried a quiet vibrancy that felt almost tangible.

The cobbled streets were bustling with townsfolk who looked healthy, happy, and full of life. Children ran laughing between stalls, elders conversed in a cheerful mood, and the aroma of fresh bread and herbs mingled with a warm and earthy scent of the ash tree at the heart of the town.

For the first time in months, the family of four felt a glimmer of safety and normalcy, as if the weight of their arduous journey had finally begun to lift off their shoulders.

Autumn hugged her father from behind and asked with a happy smile, "Daddy, are we going to live here now?"

"Yes, my love," the man replied warmly.

Autumn giggled, feeling an unfamiliar warmth and welcome from the town. Her orange eyes drifted to the ash tree in the distance, and she felt a mysterious pull towards it.

Suddenly thoughtful, she tilted her head and asked, "Daddy, what is the name of this town?"

Her father's lips curled into a gentle smile, and he replied:

"Constantine."