Catch Up

 His master had drilled into him the idea that worldly attachments were weaknesses, that they would only hold him back. And worse, he had threatened to destroy anything Dimitri held dear if he disobeyed.

For years, Dimitri had lived under that shadow, keeping his distance from Adeline and everything he cared about to protect them.

When he finally became the Arch Mage, it wasn't the end of his torment. To claim the title, he had to take his master's life. It had been necessary for the safety of the world. 

His Master was not a good man. He was flawed. No, he was the worst. He was a mad man who was hell-bent on learning the way of destruction. He was the reason why the monster threat became worse. 

His experiments on those monsters did not stop at him sampling their blood and learning the way they enhanced their abilities... He tried creating even more powerful beings. He tried to... Dimitri's fists clenched. He couldn't even think of such a thing.