Magus Breeman had a cliche and idyllic life, training under the Archmagus Sinyei so that he can become a wizard. As this state of affairs would be rather boring were it to continue, the nearby Evil EmpireTM killed his master, destroyed his master's tower, salted the vegetable garden, enslaved the nearby villagers, and set fire to everyone in a six mile radius. At this point Magus swore an oath to destroy the Empire because that's the sort of thing you're supposed do in a fantasy novel. Having chosen his path, Magus goes on to destabilize three countries, destroy one civilization, and doom millions of people he has never met to die of starvation. Mission accomplished.