The Legendary Mage novel Chapter 75

The following morning, after completing his deliveries, Alavin returned to the warehouse, carrying a stone urn, only to see Celesse standing beneath the ancient tree in the courtyard, gazing silently at the lone grave marked by an unlettered tombstone.

Celesse was the picture of grace and beauty, standing tall and fair. From any angle, her presence was enchanting, as if she were a fairy who stepped right out of a painting.

Her hair fell like a cascade, softly draped over her purple gown that hugged her flawless figure just so.

"Who lies buried in this grave?" Celesse remembered the old man's lonely and desolate figure, who sat by the grave day and night, in fair weather and foul, keeping vigil for the departed and tending to the magnolia flowers by the tombstone. His expression of solitude and weary sadness stirred a deep pang of compassion in those who saw him.

She had once asked her mentor about the old man, who he was, where he came from. To her surprise, her mentor did not even know of the old man's existence and had even gone as far as to investigate from afar, later stating that he was just an ordinary man, devoid of any magical aura, not a Mage at all.

An old man, alone and unheeded by the denizens of Cobalt Strike, yet Celesse knew in her heart that this man was no ordinary individual.

"The old man never spoke of the person in the grave," Alavin said as he walked into the warehouse, setting down the stone urn, and drawing water from the well to wash away the sweat of labor.

"Did he leave nothing behind when he departed?"

"He left behind an Arcanum, an ancient sword, and a note with a single word on it—'Fate,'" Alavin revealed, scooping water to wash without concealing it from Celesse.

"Fate," Celesse murmured to herself, staring at the lone grave. "Does it speak of you, of him, or perhaps of destiny itself?"

"I have a premonition that one day we will see the old man again," Alavin said, dousing himself with the cool water, shaking his head to refresh himself, and smiling. "When that day comes, I'll make sure he sees a different version of me."

"I believe in you," Celesse replied, her beauty shining even behind the veil of her purple dress, and her smile brightening the whole courtyard. "I have some good news to share."

Alavin grinned. "I always love good news."