Cassian?

With forbidden magic, anything is possible. Edward smiled to himself as he set the next step of the plan in motion. It was convenient that the river that flowed through the Capital just so happened to originate in the mountain nearby.

All he needed to do was poison the source. 

He couldn't wait for the Emperor to confront them and then take action. With the border situation and the plague... He doubted the Emperor could have a peaceful night.

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Adeline's return to the estate with her father was both a relief and a weight lifted. The journey to the Northern Duchy had been filled with tension. Yet, despite the success, her father seemed unusually quiet on the ride back.

The Marquess was lost in thoughts about his daughter. Almost all the mages, including him, would feel the toll it takes on the physical body when they overexert themselves.