As the Arcane Circle grew in strength, so too did the resentment of the kings and nobles. The ruling class, already struggling to maintain control over their people, now faced a new threat—magic, a power they could not easily control. Some kings sought to suppress the use of magic, forbidding their subjects from joining the Arcane Circle and hunting down rogue mages who refused to comply.
In Caelum, King Valerius II, the grandson of the first king, saw magic as a threat to his rule. He decreed that all mages within his kingdom must submit to the crown or face execution. His forces began to round up any mage suspected of disloyalty, and the once-peaceful city of Caelum became a battleground.
The Arcane Circle, seeing the persecution of their brethren, declared open opposition to Valerius II. Mages from across Novus Mundus rallied to the cause, and soon, the first of the Magic Wars began. The Arcane Circle, though primarily a scholarly organization, had many powerful mages in its ranks, and they were not willing to let their people be oppressed.
The Siege of Caelum marked the first major conflict of the Magic Wars. Mages clashed with Valerius II's armies in a fierce battle that left the city in ruins. Though Valerius II managed to hold his throne, the war had only just begun.
Milton, watching from the heavens, was torn. His gift of magic had empowered the people, but it had also unleashed a new wave of violence. The kings, seeing their authority threatened, sought to crush the mages, while the common people, now armed with magic, fought back with a fervor.