Chapter 162: Legacy Arts (1)

Malrik’s gaze lingered on the front cover, his attention shifting between the two portraits.

The contrast between them was impossible to miss.

The Second Prince was depicted with a magnificent royal aura, dressed in his finest attire, like a noble savior who embodied confidence and perfection. Malrik, on the other hand, looked painfully ordinary, with tired features and a dull gaze. Even the faint shadows surrounding his portrait made him look worse than he actually did.

It wasn’t merely a difference in drawing style. Whoever had illustrated the portraits had clearly gone out of their way to emphasize the gap between them, making the Second Prince look as impressive as possible while leaving Malrik looking thoroughly unimpressive.

"I’m much better looking than this..." Malrik muttered, staring at his printed portrait with displeasure.

His gaze then shifted to the bold headline beneath the pictures, and his complaints came to an abrupt halt.

[ One Copper Coin for a Mystery, Fifty Thousand Platinum for a Gift? ]

Malrik began reading the article.

It recounted yesterday’s auction in detail, beginning with the "Seventh Son of Vesperion" purchasing a mysterious book for a single copper coin, before moving on to the Second Prince’s generosity. The prince had entered a fierce bidding war to acquire an Epic-rank skill book for fifty thousand platinum coins, only to gift it directly to his "cousin" as a gesture of affection and appreciation.

Malrik’s eyes gradually narrowed as he continued reading.

The article’s wording was far from innocent. The writer had deliberately presented the events in a way that suggested the relationship between Malrik and the Second Prince went well beyond that of two cousins who had happened to meet at an auction.

Is this why...?

Malrik recalled his sister’s angry glares and the way she’d abruptly left the private box.

Did she know something like this was going to happen? Was that why she’d left on purpose?

"Just nonsense," Malrik muttered, snapping the magazine shut with visible annoyance.

Elder Eldric smiled. "Do not let it bother you, boy. Everyone knows exactly what they are attempting to do. As long as there is no official decree issued by the Duke, it will remain nothing more than worthless ink on paper."

"You are right, Elder," Malrik replied. "But I suppose I must be far more careful about accepting gifts from now on."

Eldric let out a mocking chuckle. "True enough. Though you wouldn’t want to go around breaking the poor ladies’ hearts by rejecting their gifts, would you? That would be a tragedy—especially since your face appearing on The Golden Quill has already made you a celebrity in the Capital, long before you’ve even shown your face there."

Malrik merely looked at him without offering a reply, but inwardly, he felt a subtle sense of relief knowing there were people who actually understood his position.

With a thought, Malrik retrieved the token he’d received from the Duke from his storage ring and handed it to Eldric. "I’m looking for a Legacy Art suitable for a spear."

Eldric took the token, raising an eyebrow. "A Legacy Art for a spear, huh? I believe we have a few inside the Treasury, but I cannot recall their exact tiers. The vast majority of the arts we possess are entirely focused on the sword."

"Follow me."

Eldric turned and headed toward the massive doors deep within the treasury.

This time, however, he didn’t approach the enormous black doors Malrik had passed through during his previous visit to collect weapons. Instead, he walked right past them, leading Malrik deeper into the treasury, where the vast underground vault seemed to stretch on without end.

They walked in silence for about five minutes, guided by faint magical lighting along the path, until Eldric finally stopped.

Before them stood a massive white door, its edges slightly rounded and its surface etched with green runes that glowed faintly.

Eldric raised his index finger and drew a complex symbol in the air with astonishing speed. It seemed to consist of dozens of smaller, interwoven runes before instantly taking shape as a three-dimensional construct of mana, radiating an emerald-green light.

The symbol glided toward the white door and settled on its surface. It then sank into the door and disappeared, leaving no trace behind.

The massive door trembled slightly before sliding open without a sound, revealing what lay beyond.

"This is where we keep the Legacy Arts," Eldric said as he crossed the threshold.

Malrik followed him into a spacious hall bathed in bright, pure white light. A familiar scent reached him as he entered, a mixture of dust and old paper that seemed to carry the weight of generations of accumulated knowledge.

Simple white marble shelves lined both sides of the hall.

Resting atop each shelf was an old book bound in thick leather or a faded parchment scroll, all of which were protected by thick, transparent glass panels imbued with preservation magic.

Eldric continued walking with confident steps, passing dozens of books and scrolls without giving them a second glance.

"Let’s see..." he muttered as he moved forward.

"All the Legacy Arts here belong to the Intermediate and High Tiers, with a few from the Transcendental Tier. There are no strict restrictions, boy. You can choose a Legacy Art from any Tier, whether Intermediate or even Transcendental, as long as you have the talent and courage to master it and perhaps even add your own personal touch. The family does not stand in the way of its ambitious members."

Eldric continued deeper into the hall until they reached a quiet corner, where far fewer books and scrolls lined the shelves.

He stopped there and pointed at the shelves before them.

"Here is where we keep the spear arts."

Eldric stood before the shelves, carefully inspecting the books. Moments of silence passed before he sighed softly.

"The problem is, I don’t believe we possess a single spear art of the Transcendental Tier," Eldric said as he contemplated the faded titles.

"The highest we have here, I suppose, are arts from the High Tier. As for Transcendental spear arts, they are usually in the possession of families renowned for using the spear, which unfortunately doesn’t apply to us. The history of our family is built entirely upon the sword."

He then turned to Malrik with a serious expression.

"The gap in power and complexity between the High and Transcendental Tiers is vast, but that doesn’t matter. A High Tier art will be sufficient as a starting point. You can search for something stronger during your future travels, or even... if you’re talented enough, you can develop and refine this art yourself once you fully comprehend it, until it reaches the Transcendental Tier."

Malrik listened to the Elder’s words carefully.

It was hardly surprising that House Vesperion lacked a Transcendental Tier spear art. The family had built its reputation and flourished over generations through its mastery of the sword. In truth, it was impressive that they possessed High Tier spear arts at all.

Obtaining a Legacy Art was no easy feat. Out in the world, there were warriors who wouldn’t even dare to dream of possessing a Low Tier art, let alone a High Tier one.

His reincarnation into an ancient ducal family like House Vesperion was a tremendous, indescribable advantage. It granted him a solid foundation and privileges others couldn’t dream of obtaining, even if they dedicated their entire lives to the pursuit. Even now, Malrik was genuinely grateful for this exceptional start that had spared him decades of suffering... even if the family was a little insane.

Malrik shifted his gaze between the books and scrolls lined up before him. They all belonged to the Intermediate or High Tiers. It seemed that even keeping a Low Tier art was beneath the prestige and pride of House Vesperion.

Malrik now had the opportunity to select a Legacy Art of the Intermediate or High Tier.

He didn’t hesitate for a moment. As long as he could obtain the best, why settle for less? He had absolutely no intention of being humble when it came to an opportunity like this.

"Very well, Uncle Eldric," Malrik said in a decisive tone. "I will take a High Tier Legacy Art."

A satisfied smile spread across Eldric’s face.

"Good."

With a light flick of his finger, the protective glass panels slowly rose. Six ancient books then lifted from their places and floated into the air, lining up directly in front of Malrik as they awaited his choice.