The bells rang before the rumor.
Then the rumor became a shout.
“The prince is coming!”
The market stalls remained open but abandoned. Baskets rolled across the cobblestones. A dog darted between the legs of the crowd.
Yafa slipped beside a pillar, the cold stone against his back, and found a narrow space between two cloaks.
The procession cut through the street like a blade.
Blue banners. Polished hooves. The smell of leather and dry rain.
The prince raised a hand in greeting. The crowd erupted immediately.
But Yafa did not look at the crown.
His gaze followed the man walking to the left of the horse — a plain cloak, a calm face. At the exact moment the prince hesitated, the man raised his hand, palm open, and whispered two words.
The prince inclined his head by a single millimeter.
The decision changed.
No one seemed to notice.
To the prince’s right walked a mage. The rings on his fingers trembled slightly as the crowd pressed against the guards.
These men wore no crown.
Yet the world moved when they spoke.
The men beside the throne.
They spoke little.
They made things move.
Yafa felt his fingers tighten against the stone. A quiet warmth climbed along his forearm.
“There.
That’s where I will stand.”
He did not smile.
But the weight left his shoulders.
Several years later, at the academy of military magic, Yafa understood that power did not come from strength alone.
But from how it was used.
The training field lay under a bright, flawless sky.
Three against three.
Two fighters in the front line.
One mage behind.
The rule was simple: mages could not attack the opposing mage directly.
“Begin!”
Both teams rushed forward.
To Yafa’s left, a student already raised his hands to prepare a protective spell.
To his right, another whispered the first words of an offensive incantation.
But Yafa was not watching the fighters.
He was watching the opposing mage.
The boy had a flaw.
He hated getting dirty.
Yafa lowered his staff toward the ground.
A brief incantation.
The earth liquefied.
The opposing mage suddenly slipped into the mud.
“What—”
His concentration broke.
The shield he had been forming never appeared.
In front of him, the two fighters hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Just one.
Yafa immediately followed with another incantation, raising a wall between the fighters and their mage.
It was enough.
“Now.”
Yafa’s protections flared around his two allies.
The clash of weapons echoed.
Three movements later, the exercise was over.
An instructor observed the scene in silence.
Then he crossed his arms.
“Interesting.”
He looked directly at Yafa.
“You did not attack.”
Yafa inclined his head slightly.
“It was not necessary.”
The silence lingered for a moment.
Then the instructor allowed himself a faint smile.
“Strategic.”
It was the first time anyone had used that word to describe him.
Over the years, he came to understand a simple truth.
Skill opens doors.
But recommendations keep them open.
So he did what few young mages understood so early.
He made himself useful.
Without arrogance. Without visible impatience. He offered solutions, solved problems. And above all… he listened.
A counselor noticed his efficiency.
Then an officer.
Then an administrator.
And one day, his name was spoken before the right people.
One recommendation.
Then another.
That was how his entry into the circles of power began.
At the court of Eldoris, Yafa discovered a world very different from the one he had imagined as a child.
Decisions there were not always rational.
Ambitions collided. Interests clashed. And behind every smile there was often a calculation.
He adapted quickly.
Observe. Understand. Wait.
He gradually climbed the ranks until he reached the position of chief mage of the principality.
A respected office.
But also a dangerous one.
When Kausli Morgan ascended the throne, the court changed.
The new prince was unpredictable.
Impulsive.
Dangerous.
Yafa understood this within the first weeks.
A man like Morgan could not truly be advised.
He had to be managed.
Guided subtly… when possible.
And above all, one had to know when to remain silent.
More than once, Yafa saw the prince’s fury fall upon those who had spoken too frankly.
From this he drew a simple rule.
In an unstable court, survival depends on rhythm.
Speak.
Remain silent.
Act.
Wait.
While serving the principality of Eldoris, Yafa harbored no illusions.
Kingdoms change.
Rulers fall.
Balances shift.
And in the shadow of thrones, those who observe learn.
Yafa gathers knowledge, influence, and resources, pursuing his magical research with the patience of a strategist.
For in his mind, one thought remains.
Eldoris may be a place of power.
But it may only be a step.
And one day, if the opportunity presents itself, he might place his talents in the service of a ruler more stable.
And a power… greater still.
Profile
Role : Chief Magician of the Principality of Eldoris
MBTI : ENTJ
Race : Human
Il a un niveau de langage soutenu, direct, persuasif, ambitieux et confiant
- Creative
- Efficient
- Intelligent
- Leader
- Strategic
- Arrogant
- Impatient
- Ruthless
- Intolerant
- Manipulative
Yafa is the Chief Mage of the Principality of Eldoris, a man known as much for his strategic intelligence as for his cold opportunism. At the court of Prince Kausli Morgan—where brutality and arbitrariness reign—he has established himself as one of the few advisers capable of surviving in such an unstable environment.
By nature calculating, Yafa observes far more than he speaks. When he intervenes, it is usually to steer decisions toward outcomes he considers strategically advantageous. His reasoning prioritizes efficiency and political interest, even when this requires moral compromise. Within the princely council, he is one of the few who approaches conflicts through the lens of control and balance of power rather than simple intimidation or violence.
Faced with the unpredictable outbursts of Prince Morgan, he adopts a cautious and pragmatic attitude. He knows how to show humility when circumstances demand it, readily bowing or apologizing to preserve his position and avoid provoking the sovereign’s pride. This adaptability allows him to remain where many other advisers disappear or fall from favor.
Yet this prudence should not be mistaken for loyalty. Yafa acts primarily according to his own calculations. When he helps someone, it is rarely out of altruism, but rather because he anticipates a future advantage.
Despite his manipulative nature, Yafa is not entirely indifferent to certain forms of integrity. In an environment dominated by corruption and brutality, he occasionally recognizes the value of those who act according to their convictions. Among the few people he truly respected within the principality was Nikolai, adviser to the prince. Their relationship seemed to rest on a form of intellectual and moral respect rarely seen at the court of Eldoris.
An accomplished mage, Yafa also possesses great mastery over magical phenomena. In critical situations, he is capable of quickly analyzing hostile magical structures and intervening with precision to limit damage or neutralize threats. This ability reinforces his position at court: beyond his political talents, he remains a remarkably effective practitioner of magic.
Ambitious and clear-sighted, Yafa moves through the circles of power with constant caution. He understands that in the principality of Eldoris, survival depends less on loyalty than on the ability to anticipate downfall and prepare the alliances of tomorrow.