Magus Breeman has a cliché and idyllic life, training under the Archmagus Sinyeĭ so that he can become a wizard. As this state of affairs would be rather boring were it to continue, the nearby Evil Empire™ kills his master, destroys his master's tower, salts the vegetable garden, enslaves the nearby villagers, and sets fire to everyone in a six mile radius. At this point Magus swears 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.