Tale of a Hedonistic wizard

Even though he was busy, he had to come because of Gawter, and seeing the young man and his memory magic intrigued him. He can't help but think that Jaegar might be innocent.

After the nod from Arthur, judges had to comply with Jaegar's request.

The court wizard, an elderly man with a long white beard, stepped forward. He muttered an incantation and a soft blue light enveloped Jaegar. Gasps echoed through the chamber as a complex pattern of shimmering lines appeared on Jaegar's skin, concentrated around his wrists.

The old wizard's eyes widened. "It's true," he said, his voice filled with wonder. "I've never seen this pattern before, but it's unmistakably the result of a powerful anti-magic artifact. And based on the decay rate of the residue..." He paused, performing some quick calculations. "The bracelets were removed approximately several days ago."

A hush fell over the room. The head judge leaned forward, her stern expression wrinkled. The situation now had escalated out of her hands, and there were people, especially two who were now closely watching the trial. And taking in all the proofs presented before them, it was proved that Jaegar was an innocent.

Ewen could no longer run his mouth as he saw judges were clearly shaken by the turn of events. So he had to shut his mouth and could only watch now.

The gas lamps flickered in the dimly lit chamber, casting long shadows across the intricately carved wooden panels that lined the walls. The room, with its high vaulted ceiling and imposing stone columns, exuded an air of ancient power and authority. It was a place where the fate of wizards had been decided for centuries, and today was no exception.

Jaegar stood at the center of the room, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, waiting for the judgement.

The young apprentice wizard, found himself facing the full might of the Ministry of Magical Affairs.

Gawter leaned back in his ornate chair, his piercing blue eyes fixed on the Minister of Magic, Arthur Sherrington. The tension in the room was palpable, a thick fog of anticipation that seemed to dampen even the warm glow of the crystal chandeliers overhead.

"What do you think, Minister?" Gawter's voice broke the silence, a hint of amusement dancing in his tone. His silver-streaked beard twitched with the ghost of a smile, as if he were privy to some private joke.

Arthur Sherrington, a man whose once-black hair had long since given way to distinguished silver, let out a weary sigh. His fingers, adorned with rings bearing the seals of his office, drummed a restless rhythm on the polished mahogany wood before him. "It seems like everybody is thinking of us, the ministry, as a joke nowadays."

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of recent events. The destruction of the Great Barrier, a magical construct that had protected the empire's wizarding community for centuries, had shaken the very foundations of their world. And now, all eyes were on the Ministry to find those responsible and restore order.

Gawter's chuckle, a sound like cracking ice, echoed through the chamber. "Why do you think so? From the beginning, your ministry had been misled by someone, and that someone is..." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, taking in the stern faces of the assembled judges and council members. "You know who that is."

Jaegar, who had been hearing their talk, felt a chill run down his spine. His senses, unlike everyone else, had become more sharp and acute to his surroundings. The political maneuvering and veiled accusations were far beyond his experience as an apprentice, but he could sense the undercurrents of power at play.

He stood straighter, willing himself to appear calm and collected despite the storm raging within.

Gawter's expression turned serious, his jovial demeanor evaporating like morning mist. "Minister Sherrington, I don't know why the ministry had issued a warrant for that boy just based on such simple evidence. You should have known clearly, that the boy wouldn't be capable enough alone to break such a formidable barrier. Not to mention, he is just an apprentice wizard."

Arthur's eyes narrowed, a flash of irritation crossing his face. "Are you questioning the competence of our investigation, now?"

"I'm merely pointing out the obvious, Arthur," Gawter replied, using the Minister's first name with a familiarity that spoke of long acquaintance. "Sure, that kid seems powerful, but I can assure you that he isn't the one who broke the barrier."

Jaegar's heart raced at these words. He had proclaimed his innocence from the moment of his arrest, but to hear it affirmed by someone of Gawter's standing was a relief he hadn't dared hope for.

"You speak as if you know the one who did this."

Arthur leaned forward, his elbows resting on the wood frame as he fixed Gawter with an intense stare. "Then who do you think is responsible?" There was a note of desperation in his voice, barely perceptible but unmistakable to those who knew him well.

He was aware that Gawter was speaking the truth, but he found himself unable to disregard the opportunity in front of him. It was a chance to shift the public's focus and alleviate the pressure from the imperial family.

Though he knew the evidence obtained from unknown sources, he didn't want to deny the possibility of Jaegar's involvement. And the fact that the Imperial family had removed Jaegar from the crown prince system made it more reasonable.

And there were lot of variables in between. But he didn't care about them.

Gawter's reply came swift and stern, his voice dropping to a near whisper that nonetheless carried to every corner of the chamber. "Bande de Serpents."

Even Jaegar, with his limited knowledge of wizarding history, felt a chill at the mention of that name. The Bande de Serpents, a clandestine organization of dark wizards, were thought to have been wiped out decades ago.

Arthur's brow furrowed deeply, lines of worry etching themselves across his forehead. "Aren't they long gone?"

"No, they are active again." Gawter's voice was grim. "Arthur, you are becoming rusty, do you know that?"