Theasin Venrover

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> Oh, and my father teaches at Ellios University, so I can show you all around there, too.”
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> “What does he teach?” Atty asked.
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> Adelgis perked up. “He has a class for every aspect of mystical creatures. He knows all about their locations, breeding habits, and magical powers, as well as the fables that bring mystical creatures to life, what properties they give magical items—everything. My father even owns the Ellios laboratory. And he has a personal lab at home. And a menagerie! Oh, did I also mention that my father has a collection of bones for his personal study room? Like a museum.”
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> Zaxis scoffed, cutting him off. “We get it. Your father invented modern medicine and can satisfy 100 women at the same time. He’s just that amazing. We don’t need to hear anymore.”
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Theasin Venrover is a brilliant researcher and a relic keeper arcanist. He is casually condescending and cold, and perfectly willing to sacrifice thousands of lives in the name of his research and potential long-term good. He carries this ruthlessness with pride, and considers what few peers he has to be timid and too conservative in their thinking. Unfortunately, he is just as brilliant as he thinks he is.

With the Second Ascension, Theasin found the ultimate patrons: rich, well-connected, and powerful; with lofty goals and a deep conviction that the ends justify any means. This willingness to sacrifice gained him a mystic bond with the Soul Forge, a god-creature, and cost him his arm, his relic keeper eldrin, and eventually his life at the hands of the Warlord of Magic, Volke Savin.

> A door opened and shut, and I craned my head back to get a better view of the balcony above us. A man walked down the long staircase, no rush in his steps.
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> He wore crisp black trousers, the crease sharp enough to cut someone. His shiny boots reflected the low lantern light, and I watched his careful steps as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Instead of a coat, the man wore a cloak, the hood brushed back and the inner pockets filled with papers. His gloves were so thin it was as if he had dipped his hands into ink.
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> “Father,” Adelgis said in a quiet tone.
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> The blood relation was undeniable. Adelgis and his father had the same dark hair and smooth, tanned skin. Adelgis, however, kept his hair long, while Theasin had his trimmed shortest on the sides. And Theasin was taller, and more athletic, sturdier. Just… more impressive, which I hated to take note of.
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> “You’re late,” Theasin said. His voice matched his expression—neutral and controlled.
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> Zelfree stepped forward before Adelgis could respond. “You have some nerve. That’s all you have to say after what you’ve done? Stealing that abyssal leech when you knew of the dangers?”
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> It took Theasin a moment, but he eventually lifted an eyebrow.
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> “You son of a whore,” Zelfree continued, his volume becoming so loud that his words bounced off the high walls and ceiling. “You infected your own family with one of your odd experiments—one that’s busy killing him. We saw what those leeches do, Theasin. Ruma told you not to take it, yet you don’t give a damn, do you? This is all about your own personal gratification.”
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> “Are you done?” Theasin asked. The question had a finality to it—like this would be the last time Theasin would entertain such comments.
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