Tale of a Hedonistic wizard

The magical recording continued its relentless narrative. The sky erupted with red lightning, forking across the thick clouds in a terrifying display of elemental fury. Jaegar recognized this phenomenon – it was eerily similar to events he had witnessed before, it was very similar to his lightning ability and the one always he had attracted when he had undergone a major change.

In a final, cataclysmic moment, the barrier shattered. The magical world trembled, the very foundations of reality seeming to shake as the protective veil between worlds was torn asunder.

The image faded, leaving the courtroom in stunned silence.

Jaegar stared at the image of the man who seemed like him, but Jaegar could tell that it wasn't him. While everyone was observing the phenomenon, Jaegar was observing himself or the one disguised as himself. The magic aura of the man who seemed like him gave it away.

He was with that old man and Lorcan the entire time when the barrier collapsed and he could bring up the name of Lorcan, and something in him told him that he would never work out. The judge and Ewen must be involved in this matter, and no matter what he argued, they would never listen. But Jaegar wouldn't leave it at that.

As murmurs of shock and accusation began to ripple through the courtroom, he caught sight of Gawter Mersius. The Blade Sovereign's expression remained unreadable, but his piercing gaze was fixed squarely on Jaegar, as if trying to peer into the very depths of his soul.

The courtroom was plunged into a state of shock as the magical recording reached its climax.

The barrier's destruction was not a mere breaking—it was an earth-shattering explosion that seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of reality. The assembled witches and wizards could almost feel the tremors, so vivid was the projection.

Ewen, seizing upon the stunned silence, quickly transitioned to additional evidence. He manipulated the orb with practiced ease, conjuring forth a series of images depicting similar phenomena. Each scene showed a figure—unmistakably resembling Jaegar—wielding lightning magic with extraordinary proficiency.

Brilliant forks of electricity danced across the projected sky, their patterns intricate and mesmerizing. The raw power on display was awe-inspiring, and more than a little terrifying.

Murmurs of recognition rippled through the courtroom; Jaegar's reputation as a prodigy in lightning magic was well-known.

His father's name was brought up by a few individuals. After all, he was the son of Lightning Prince, and some who knew about Angus could tell that Jaegar had reached proficiency the same as his father.

As the final image faded, Ewen's voice cut through the hushed whispers. "As you can see, the magical signature in these incidents matches precisely with the barrier breach. Jaegar Ambrose's unique affinity for lightning magic, combined with the visual evidence, leaves little room for doubt."

The weight of the accusation hung heavy in the air. Jaegar, however, surprised everyone with a softchuckle. His composure, in the face of such damning evidence, was remarkable.

"How can you prove that it's me shown in the picture and not someone disguised as me?"

Jaegar's voice was calm, almost amusing. "And let's not forget, anyone could mimic my spells. It wasn't that big of a deal."

Ewen's face flushed with indignation. He was quick to counter, his words tumbling out in a rush.

"That's why we showed the similar incidents where you pulled the same type of spell casting, attracting a natural phenomenon just like with the barrier incident. We strongly believe it's your magic that broke the barrier." Discover stories at empire

Throughout this exchange, Gawter Mersius remained seated at the back of the courtroom, his penetrating gaze fixed on Jaegar. His expression was inscrutable, revealing nothing of his thoughts on the unfolding drama.

Jaegar's expression hardened, a flicker of frustration breaking through his composed exterior.

"So you believe the images shown by some device?" The skepticism in his voice was palpable.

Ewen, sensing an opening, pressed his advantage. "Not only that, we also have traces of your magic on the place of incident." His tone was triumphant, as if he had delivered an irrefutable piece of evidence.

But Jaegar was far from defeated. His next words sent a ripple of surprise through the courtroom.

"What if I show that, on the very same day, I had been in some other place, restricted?"

The effect was immediate. Hushed conversations broke out among the assembled witches and wizards, speculating on what Jaegar could mean. The implications of his statement were profound—if true, it could unravel the entire case against him.

The lead judge, her composure regained, tapped her gavel sharply. The sound rang out, commanding silence. As the murmurs died down, she fixed Jaegar with a penetrating stare.

"How will you show us?" Her voice was measured, betraying neither belief nor disbelief. The question hung in the air, charged with potential.

They didn't understand when he said that he would show them. How would he show them? From the beginning, the judge had been looking for a direct trial and thought of passing a verdict after the evidence was shown. That's why they hadn't allowed any outsiders or audience for the trial.

The barrier incident had been a major incident, and it had become a headache for the ministry for the last couple of months. They weren't able to find the main people, which led to the fall of the barrier. That's when they were sent the orb containing the evidence, though it seemed vague. They thought it was enough to close up the case.

They needed a scapegoat to cover up the entire issue.

Even Jaegar was strong enough, it wasn't that easy to break the barrier as it was created by the strongest beings in all of the human lands. To claim that a single person had broken the barrier, not to mention he was just an apprentice wizard. But the ministry didn't bother with all the ridicule, they were prepared to pass Jaegar as the main culprit. And the motivation behind it, remained unknown.

Gawter, who was sitting behind, had the exact same thoughts, but he seemed to be waiting.

In that moment, all eyes were on Jaegar. The young wizard stood tall, his demeanor radiating confidence despite the gravity of his situation. Even Gawter Mersius leaned forward slightly, his interest visibly piqued by this unexpected turn of events.

The courtroom waited with bated breath for Jaegar's response, sensing that whatever came next could dramatically alter the course of this trial—and perhaps the future of the magical world itself.