Many years ago, the wizards of Nethereal were at the pinnacle of their power. They had created a creature known as the Wingless Curious Egg, initially for mere amusement.
However, as time progressed, Nethereal fell into ruin. The Wingless Curious Egg survived but underwent a transformation of its own. Some drow, captivated by these intriguing little beings, conducted meticulous studies and discovered a multitude of new applications.
They found that the Wingless Curious Egg possessed innate chaotic properties; these creatures could not be detected by magical spells nor influenced by mental abilities. Consequently, transforming into a Wingless Curious Egg became a straightforward method for evading detection, holding significant value for malevolent sorcerers.
While this magic is largely unknown on the surface, De Shulte is one of the few who is well-versed in it. As a renowned spellcaster, he possesses knowledge of spells far beyond what most could imagine.
Years ago, De Shulte was already a celebrated legendary mage in Faerun. He was obsessed with spells, aspiring to collect every obscure incantation. He believed his pursuit was noble, albeit his methods were often extreme: he would assault other mages, seize their grimoires searching for desired spells, and then dispose of the pages he deemed useless.
The corpses of mages he had slain were often surrounded by scattered grimoires, earning him the moniker of the Spellcaster.
His actions incited widespread outrage, attracting the wrath of the righteous faction led by the Bard. Outnumbered, he was forced to flee, compelled to adopt various forms to elude his pursuers.
This relentless evasion lasted over a century, during which the Curious Egg became his most frequently employed guise.
After more than a hundred years of hiding, he had resigned himself to a life overshadowed by the Bard's Alliance. Until one day, a sorceress who had once been his enemy sent him a scroll.
To be precise, it was a message from Elarashtar from the future. The spell seemed to have faltered, delivering only a shattered scroll, yet the very occurrence astonished him: to what desperate state had Elarashtar been reduced to send a message to her old adversary?
After perusing the information, he could no longer remain idle.
'In Dragonstone Town, the emperor has established the Library of the Lady of Silence. He has initially placed over one hundred spells he created within, calling upon all wizards of the empire to contribute their spells to collectively compile the Book of All Spells…'
The Book of All Spells!
Over one hundred new spells!
These two phrases struck De Shulte with profound impact. The former evoked memories of his youthful dreams, while the latter reignited a long-dormant desire within him.
Just as a mind flayer is drawn to intelligence, the mention of new spells stirred the heart of the Spellcaster.
Thus, he set his course for Santir Fortress: the very script had indicated the scroll's origin; simultaneously, he quickly focused on the Reani family.
The Library of the Lady of Silence—a name commonly associated with Ocas's subordinate, the seductive demon queen Sonyong. This infamous succubus had long ago engaged in the research and dissemination of a new virus in Imputu, with several generations of Imputu's kings being both her offspring and lovers. It was through her influence that Ocas garnered many followers in Imputu.
Her name was a clue, prompting De Shulte to investigate the Reani family. He adeptly bewitched a Bane mage, presenting himself as a gift to the Reani clan.
Such undertakings had become commonplace for him over the past century, to the point where he felt no humiliation.
His primary objective was to find the emperor who had created a plethora of spells: although De Shulte was uncertain whether the future emperor hailed from nobility, it was undoubtedly easier for one of noble birth to ascend to the throne than for a commoner. He had little interest in politics or the rise and fall of nations, but spells—only spells ensnared him utterly.
If that emperor could create over one hundred spells while managing political affairs, surely extracting three hundred spells from him wouldn't be too demanding?
However, reality diverged from his expectations: the unfortunate news was that the Reani family was weak, lacking any noteworthy stronghold. The good news, however, was that he had overheard some highly valuable information.
Not about power or politics—such concerns were mere babble to legendary mages. He was intrigued by Lynn's mention of the Clincinipon and the Shard of Magic.
Unlike the noblewomen who trivialized it as mere tale-spinning, De Shulte had the fortune of visiting the city of Mosobla during his lengthy life. Though his memories of that city were somewhat hazy, he distinctly recalled a mage from the Banry family possessing considerable strength, as well as the martial prowess of Zaknavan from the Duhaden family, making him aware of that lesser-known lineage.
It was not surprising to know of drow cities, but encountering such families raised suspicions.
If the stories were true, then the Clincinipon must exist. Few could claim indifference toward artifacts, especially since the Shard of Magic stood among the most remarkable of them, particularly for mages, rendering it a fascinating object.
Perhaps he should consider abducting this young man to guide him in the search for the artifact.
The moment he heard the Shard of Magic, that notion sparked in his mind: he had always acted candidly. However, after witnessing Lynn's Bone Fang spell and demon fire, he reconsidered.
The Bone Fang spell was rather unremarkable and hardly worth attention. Yet the creativity it exhibited sparked his imagination, especially considering Lynn's apparent fascination with mundane politics, threading the clues together.
However, was it plausible for such an insignificant individual to rise to the throne, forcing Elarashtar into a corner? That seemed a jest.
Yet, not entirely implausible—his demon fire was peculiar, suggesting that he might possess hidden powers.
While Lynn was unable to comprehend it, De Shulte understood it well. The demon fire from the Curious Egg differed from that of the arcane; it was a supernatural ability unique to the Curious Egg: it could render the user immune to mental influences as well as flames.
It provided no offensive capabilities and would extinguish if separated from its host. After all, it was merely a supernatural ability derived from a magical creature, incapable of rivaling a true formidable magical flame.
But how did Lynn acquire it? De Shulte was unclear on that point. There were certainly issues at play, and coupled with his associations, they sparked his interest.
With insufficient information, he sought to learn more. Since he was already evading pursuers, remaining here made little difference, so he decided to stay temporarily.
As for how to remain close to Lynn without him noticing…
De Shulte deftly cast a spell, and in an instant, he transformed into a Death Beetle, blending seamlessly into Lynn's magical creature entourage.
After evading pursuit for over a century, he no longer cared about the indignity of infiltrating a swarm of magical companions. What truly captivated him now was whether Lynn was indeed the emperor spoken of in the message and how many fresh spells he might obtain from him in the future.
Beyond spells, everything else paled in significance.