History of the Bound Realms

In 1430, Johann Georg Faust was bored and depressed with his life as a scholar. After an attempt to take his own life, he called on the Devil for further knowledge and magic powers with which to indulge all the pleasure and knowledge of the world.

In response, the Devil's representative, Mephistopheles, appeared. He made a bargain with Faust: Mephistopheles would teach Faust magic powers, but at the end of the contract's term (aka Faust's life), the Devil would claim Faust's soul, and Faust would be eternally enslaved in Hell.

During the term of the bargain, Faust founded Faust University to pass down the knowledge so it will live on.

Mephistopheles helped Faust seduce a beautiful and innocent girl, Gretchen, whose life is ultimately destroyed when she gave birth to Faust's son, who she believed is evil because even as a toddler he had magical powers.

Believing that she had given birth to a demon, she tried to drown the child and was hung for attempted murder.

Her son, and his descendants make up most of the very powerful Mages lineage. 

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The lore says that Gretchen pleaded with an angel after she went to heaven to save Faust’s life because she was still in love with him. 

This is why his spirit does not die, but is "reborn" every generation. As long as he is reborn and is not killed by demonic or magic means, the magic on earth lives on. 

When he is first reborn, the first summon of his "reincarnation" brings Phylis back from Hellbound to challenge him.

He must defeat Phylis once a generation in order to continue the cycle and keep that magic going. 

The first generation of Faust students, taught directly by Faust himself, became so powerful that their magic infiltrated their bloodline - thus creating mages.