The Devil Is The Villainess (✔)

Chapter XXVIII: A Miserable Being

It was a long time ago, and the memories had faded like old photographs. Caelus Valentine had been born into one of the prestigious families of Genovia. However, the façade of nobility masked a more complicated reality. As the illegitimate child of his father and a magician mother from the Obsidian Tower who had died shortly after his birth, Caelus's childhood was marked by loneliness. He wasn't entirely neglected, but he was often overlooked and considered less significant than his legitimate siblings due to the scandal of his parents' forbidden affair.

His earliest memories of his powers were hazy. He had heard stories of how his magic had manifested around the time he learned to walk. By the age of ten, his life took a dramatic turn when a man in a black robe approached him. "Do you want to come with me?" the man asked. Without hesitation, Caelus took his hand. This man was none other than the head of the Obsidian Tower, a magician who looked surprisingly youthful despite his centuries-long life.

Under the tutelage of this enigmatic figure, Caelus began to harness his magical abilities. The days were filled with rigorous training and the discovery of his extraordinary potential. Though he was young by the standards of the ancient magicians around him, many of whom had lived for hundreds of years, he excelled rapidly. 

His mentor often reminded him of the burden of immortality: "You will witness countless deaths, Caelus, for the rest of your life."

One day, news came from his mentor that left him bewildered. "You're getting married?" Caelus echoed, his tone filled with incredulity. Marriage? What in the world? He clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. "Have you finally gone insane? Because this doesn't make any sense."

Caelus knew well the implications of a magician forming emotional attachments. Magicians could live far longer than ordinary humans, and emotions could cloud judgment and lead to moral compromises. He was aware of the dangers of letting one's heart bloom for someone who would age and die long before him. So, his mentor's announcement seemed absurd.

To Caelus's surprise, his mentor responded with a serene smile, one that Caelus had never seen before in all their years together. Caelus's skepticism deepened, and he questioned his master seriously, not expecting a calm and composed reply.

"Caelus, living alone for a long time isn't as easy as you think," his master began, pausing thoughtfully. "So, when you find someone you want to be with, hold onto it and never let go."

The words made Caelus cynical. In his mind, his master had lost his rationality. Emotions, he believed, were a dangerous distraction. He couldn't fathom why someone as wise and powerful as his mentor would embrace something as unpredictable and fragile as love.

"You speak as if you've forgotten the pain of loss," Caelus retorted. "Emotions are a weakness. They cloud judgment and lead to ruin."

His master's smile remained, undeterred by Caelus's harsh words. "Perhaps, one day, you will understand," he said softly. "When you have lived as long as I have, you will see that the heart's desires are not so easily dismissed."

Caelus shook his head, unwilling to accept his master's wisdom. "I will never let my heart rule me," he declared. "I am a magician, not a fool."

His master sighed, a sound filled with the resignation of one who had seen too much. "Time will tell, Caelus. Time will tell."

As the years passed, Caelus grew into a fine man, but the passage of time brought with it many sorrows, one of which touched him more deeply than he expected. His real family also passed but their bloodlines remain. 

The death of his master's wife marked a significant moment. One evening, he found his master sitting on the edge of a brick-made window at the top of the Obsidian Tower, gazing wistfully at the night sky. The sight irritated Caelus, who had little patience for such displays of emotion. Despite his irritation, he approached, trying to offer some form of consolation.