>>530591842
Bastard son of a noble Gridanian house is legitimized (along with his little brother) for conjury talent. Grows up a pampered but overstrained prodigy. War comes, both teenage boys beg their dad to let them join the Adders. Carteneau happens, little bro dies, big bro has so much suppressed resentment that the Elementals stop wanting to commune with him, loses future as a conjurer and Heater. Big bro becomes depressed NEET. War buddy working security on an archaeological project bullies him into coming along. He gets a taste for it and finds a measure of peace in the idea that history is full of tragedies and his isn't special, rejoins the Adders, becomes a respected magus and expert on dead civilization. Eventually the war ended and he (mostly) retired to write books full time.