Aldoursaea: A Journey Within

Chapter VIII: The Scrawny Mage Borromeo Leobn

Serriah nodded thoughtfully, her eyes reflecting a warmth that made him feel more at ease.

Borromeo swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling in. For the first time, he realized that he didn't have to hide behind his sharp tongue to be noticed. This new sense of acceptance was both unsettling yet oddly comforting.

Serriah tilted her head with curiosity. "So why be a mage? Why not just become someone who will suit you?"

Borromeo paused. He took a deep breath, recalling the shadows of his past. 

"You see, I was born weak," he began, his voice low but steady. "From my very first breath, I was marked by fragility. My mother, the Lady of our house, fell ill while pregnant with me. By the time I arrived, my body was already at a disadvantage... The creator must be kidding when he created me, He gave me a talent to boot, with frail shell, in a land where strength and power is everything."

He glanced at the flickering flames, the memories of his childhood forming in his mind. "As the firstborn heir, I was meant to command my house, but my health made it easy for the vassals to dismiss me. They saw me as weak... a noble in name, but without the strength. My sisters, Evessa and Liora, flourished around me, filling the halls with laughter, while I hid my insecurities beneath a sharp wit and sarcasm."

His gaze hardened, the pain of the past igniting a fire in his eyes. 

"After our mother's death, my father became a shadow of himself. I watched helplessly as the vassals seized their opportunity, using father's frailty to take control of the house, and eventually my own against me in a staged duel to prove my worth. They banished me, keeping my sisters hostage to solidify their hold to power."

Borromeo leaned forward, "I was thrown into a world that expected strength, with only my intelligence and rage to rely on. I realized I couldn't become the man my title demanded through brute force. Magic became my only advantage—a way to wield power that surpassed mere physicality. I sought mastery over spells, pushing myself to my limits to create the strength I lacked."

He met Serriah's gaze, the resolve in his voice unwavering. "Each spell I learned brought me closer to my dream of vengeance and reclaiming my sisters. In a land where strength defines the peak, I chose to forge my own path, to prove that I could be formidable despite my body's limitations. Beneath the sarcasm and biting remarks lies a promise to myself and to my sisters: I will return stronger and make those who betrayed us pay for their treachery."

I'm sorry to hear that," Serriah said softly, "but isn't being a Velorian a threat to the empire, especially with you being an apprentice at the College of Mages?"

Before Borromeo could respond, Briken interjected, a knowing look crossing his face.

  "Remember the Arcans who helped the first Arcanum King, Alarion, establish the empire? They were Velorian too. Their legacy is woven into the foundation of this land. Besides...", he added, side-eyeing the explorers with a hint of mischief, "they were constantly monitored."

"Yep," Lyt nodding in agreement. "Borromeo works for the College, after all. In Arcanum, anyone is welcome as long as they can provide support for the interests of the empire. If anything, his presence strengthens our ties, not threatens them."

Borromeo felt a flicker of gratitude for their support. "It's true," he said, his voice steadying as he gathered his thoughts. "Like everyone else, I went through the rigorous process of entering the College. I was chosen by Grand Mage Elara Moonshine to be her apprentice, and I was sent here as part of my training. Elara was the one who helped me survive during my banishment. She saw potential in me when no one else would..."