Unfolding drama

Jaegar nodded, understanding the unspoken warning in her words. "Thank you, Veronica."

With that, she hurried away, her mind racing with questions and possibilities. She made her way back to her office.

***

The next day,

In the opulent hall of the Autillius estate, the morning light filtered through ornate stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the polished marble floors. The grandeur of the room stood in stark contrast to the troubled atmosphere that now permeated it.

Jacqueline, a young woman with features that hinted at her relation to Jaegar, sat in a high-backed chair, her posture rigid with tension. In her hands, she clutched the latest edition of the Dawning Record, its front page dominated by a startling image of her half-brother. The photograph showed Jaegar in a state she could scarcely believe – disheveled, haggard, a far cry from the polished young wizard she remembered.