Baeatrijs van Kroos, matriarch of the van Kroos family, is a master of subtle manipulation, and when it comes to her son Johan van Kroos, archmage of the Wizards of the Jeweled Skull. She knows exactly how to use Eva Mulder to her advantage, Eva running the competing arcane cabal, the Wizards of the Black Ring. Baeatrijs has maneuvered herself to be her son's rivals patron.
During one of the lavish soirées hosted by the Van Kroos family at their estate, Baeatrijs made sure to invite Eva, knowing well that her presence would unsettle Johan in just the right way. As the evening progressed, Baeatrijs cornered Eva by the wine table, a playful smile on her lips. "Eva, my dear, I couldn’t help but notice the effect you have on Johan. It’s almost... magical. He’s so consumed by his silly lichdom obsession, did I say that right? Lichdom? Sounds naughty. Anyway, I’ve always believed he just needs the right... motivation to focus on something more meaningful." She paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "You could be that motivation, you know. Imagine how powerful you two could be together, not just as rivals, but as partners."
Eva, ever perceptive, recognized Baeatrijs’s intentions but was intrigued nonetheless. The idea of manipulating Johan further, under the guise of helping him, was too delicious to ignore. Baeatrijs continued, leaning in slightly, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "And think of the influence you would have over him, darling. A powerful man at your side, devoted to you... and you could guide him away from those foolish, dangerous ambitions. Who knows, perhaps you might even find him... useful."
Baeatrijs’s words were carefully chosen, planting seeds of ambition and control in Eva’s mind while appealing to her desire to dominate Johan. All the while, Baeatrijs maintained her air of concerned mother, masking her true delight in manipulating both Johan and Eva to her own ends. As Eva smirked, toying with the idea, Baeatrijs knew she had set the stage for another round of her ongoing game, pushing her son closer to what she deemed "real immortality"—a family legacy.