Tale of a Hedonistic wizard

"My mind is not at its best today, and it seems to be functioning quite slowly. Forgive this old man, boy," added Eradarin. The title of Imperial Prince, particularly when associated with the esteemed House of Gadfraye, carried immense weight and significance throughout the magical plane.

It was a name held in the highest regard, and those who bore it were accorded the utmost respect and reverence by all who knew of its significance.

It was a moment of revelation and reflection for the three companions as they came to understand the complexities of Jaegar's identity and the worlds he inhabited.

Angelina, after a moment of contemplation, decided to speak with Jaegar in private. She beckoned him to follow her, and the three observers in the house watched as they left.

Jaegar trailed her to the backyard, where they reached the serene tea house. They took their seats, facing each other.

With a solemn expression, Angelina began, "Jaegar, I wanted to tell you something." She held his gaze and continued, "Those three individuals you saw inside sought my assistance because they were exploring a set of ancient ruins."

Jaegar's brow furrowed, but he allowed her to continue without interruption.

Angelina went on, "In those ruins, I came across something that struck me. Traces of the Chaos Art."

She studied Jaegar intently as she spoke. "At first, I was skeptical, wondering who could have left such powerful imprints. I considered the possibility of other practitioners with similar abilities. But as I delved deeper, I realized the level of control displayed within the ruins could only be attributed to one person—the one individual I had sensed before, on numerous occasions."

Jaegar's frown deepened as he listened to Angelina's words, his mind racing to comprehend the implications.

She continued, "Your mother, Augusta, was the only person I've ever encountered who possessed such unparalleled mastery over the Chaos Art. My senses and intuition never deceived me in recognizing the unique signature of that power. The ruins bore the unmistakable marks of her presence, as the Chaos Art had ruptured the very fabric of space there, causing severe spatial rifts."

Jaegar's mind whirled with the implications, and he couldn't help but ask, "Are you suggesting that she might...?"

Angelina turned her gaze towards the distant horizon, her expression a mix of uncertainty and contemplation. She replied, "Jaegar, I cannot say for certain. But considering the state of the ruins, it appears that these events occurred not too long ago."

The revelation hung heavily in the air, leaving both Jaegar and Angelina with a profound sense of uncertainty and the weight of a truth that was still shrouded in mystery.

A sombre expression settled over Angelina's face as she recounted the events. "At that time, after I received the news, I rushed back as fast as I could. But by the time I arrived, she was no longer there.

The man said he had buried her. I asked him what had transpired, and he told me that assassins had targeted you and your mother. Augusta lost her life while protecting you." Angelina's voice trembled with emotion as she continued, "I distinctly remember that he did not appear as a grieving husband. I knew he would never dare lie to me. But I couldn't believe that she was no more.

I later met with Vivianne, and we verified that the attackers were indeed assassins.

I suspected the reason they were able to overpower her was the state of her body at that time.

After giving birth to you, Augusta had grown frail. Her condition was not as it had been before."

She paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting. "I will continue to investigate those ruins," she promised.

Jaegar, his curiosity piqued, asked, "Could you take me there?"

The possibility of his mother being alive made him feel anxious. What if she was really alive and out there somewhere? After hearing from Vivianne and Angelina, he could tell that the only one who could confirm his mother's death was that man. And all of them seemed suspicious of him, but no one seemed like they really questioned him properly and just went with what he said.

He had to come to the conclusion that only that man could ultimately answer his questions about his mother.

He may not have reached the expert level of his mother over the chaos art, but he had enough understanding of the power that was part of him. And if there were traces of such art, he wanted to see for himself.

Angelina shook her head, her expression grave. "Not at this moment. The situation there has grown complicated, and I do not wish to expose you to it. There are people involved now, and I would rather they not see you there."

Jaegar probed further, "Who are they?"

Angelina sighed and replied, "Jaegar, the world outside is not as you may imagine it. There are dangers far more sinister than you can imagine. For now, focus on honing your abilities. Now, tell me how you have been progressing with your Immemorial Arts."

Understanding Angelina's firm resolve on the matter, Jaegar chose not to press further. The weight of their shared knowledge lingered, but they redirected their focus to the present, discussing Jaegar's magical development and his exploration of more intricate aspects of his powers. It was a respite from the heavy revelations that had unfolded.

"I actually came here for the Tome of Runarlore," Jaegar finally confessed.

The Tome of Runarlore was the ancient book Angelina had bestowed upon him during his time in the Sinner's Domain, a repository of magic from eras long past. The tome had been safeguarded by a witch coven for generations, and Angelina, as the Mother Witch, had entrusted it to Jaegar for his training.

Angelina explained, "The tome is now located within the Witch Spire."

Jaegar, unfamiliar with the concept of the Witch Spire, inquired, "Where is that?"

While he may not have been aware of its existence, he did recall Jeanine mentioning Angelina's status as the Mother Witch.

Angelina turned to Jaegar and offered, "If you wish, you can visit the Witch Spire."

Jaegar contemplated the offer, weighing the potential advantages and risks. Eventually, Angelina's words swayed his decision, and he nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll go."

*

In the opulent grandeur of the imperial capital, within one of the most lavish mansions, two young men occupied a luxuriously adorned room. The mansion was present in the noble district of the upper class of the society.

There were several mansions lined along the street on either side, belonging to the various prestigious houses.

One of them inquired, "He came to the palace?" His companion simply nodded, his expression brimming with anger.

"Lorcan, that bastard is remarkably fortunate. Even those hunters couldn't handle him. After going to such great lengths, he managed to subdue that creature with ease," the one who spoke was Ethan; it was his family's mansion.

The other man present was Lorcan.

Baxter House was one of the most influential houses in the imperial capital, and Ethan belonged to that house. Using his family's resources, he had been going after Jaegar, conspiring with Lorcan.

Ethan's mansion was resplendent, and he had arranged an extravagant setting for Lorcan. They were comfortably seated on sumptuous sofas, surrounded by an array of alcoholic beverages. Exquisitely dressed ladies, wearing diaphanous attire, attended to their needs, serving them drinks and ensuring their pleasure.

Amidst this ostentatious setting, Lorcan was lost in deep contemplation, pondering the enigma that was Jaegar.

He had been trying to get rid of him since the academy days, but it never succeeded.

Not only him, but all the siblings of the imperial house hated Jaegar and despised him except for Jacqueline. But Lorcan was getting more of it. Jaegar joined the academy, and it made him feel extremely frustrated, on top of his appearance and his abilities.

The rumours about Jaegar had spread far and wide, even though he had never resided in the imperial palace. Whispers echoed through the capital, speaking of a boy born with the blessings of the gods.

The House Gadfraye had always been known for their deep connection to the divine, and this event only solidified their reputation.

They said that when Jaegar had come into this world, he had brought with him a thunderous roar, as though the very heavens had recognized his arrival. The people of the capital had different interpretations of this phenomenon; some regarded it as an omen of doom, while others saw it as a divine sign, leading them to offer fervent prayers to the gods in response to this remarkable event.

Most of them had already forgotten about the event that day, as the imperial house neither confirmed it nor denied it. So it had remained a rumour.

And the child had never appeared since that day, and the people had forgotten about him.

But not the House Gadfraye; everyone could still remember the phenomenon that day, and after he was born, Vivianne showed care like she never did before.