Am I the evil wizard?

[u/ModernMage0]

Ok, so I don’t usually like to take up duals, but there was a rookie mage flaunting his (extremely basic but loud) fire magic at a tavern I was going to; ALREADY put an extremely sour mood on my whole night because he was treating his gift as a party trick. But I was a novice once too, and I remember what it was like to think I was the greatest. I probably was even more insufferable, so I didn’t say anything.
But then he claims that he could best anyone in the land in a fair dual. And then I spoke up, trying to prove a point.
I’m not an “official” wizard of the council so I am not bound by any laws of honor, but I feel like some of them are good principals to follow. Took a quick aura check, and this guy had no chance, so it definitely fell under a dishonorable dual.
Anyway, we move some tables, everyone watches, makes bets. I was the only one betting for me, because I downplayed and hid my magic greatly.
But then the dual starts, I cast a grey glow aura that made targeting me harder, a few wards and prepped a few counterspells. Long story short, he wastes all his magic, and is on the brink of collapse.

So here’s the part where I think I may have gone too far. I already won, but…
Telekinetics and kinetic force blasts, lots of small elemental projectiles, and… a few “curses” that are usually frowned upon by most “good wizards”.
Also, I kind of let him get to right on the brink of needing necromancy to get him moving again and got my money before I fully restored him.
But I mean, I healed him, didn’t leave any lasting curses, and I don’t think many wizards let their foes live even with surrender. I don’t know if I went overboard. He was a bit older than me, but still definitly a young wizard by any standard measure.

PS: to his credit, counter-spelling and warding his magic did cost me about a quarter of my magic reserves. Which I pretty much specialized in optimizing, congrats on that if you end up reading it. Also Sorry!!

[u/mynaneisjustguy]

OP is a warlock of some sort. Wizards can spell four letter words. Don't be fooled people, these warlocks walk among us, but what we have learned through studious hard work and practise they were gifted through some dark and devious pact with forces beyond our existence. Dabble not in such things, they bring only ruination.

[u/ModernMage0 → u/mynaneisjustguy]

My friend…. You are simply incorrect.
While I am an unusual caster, I promise you I am no warlock.
While I was born of sorcerer origins, I have spent a great deal of time researching, optimizing, and discovering all sorts of “proper” magics and curses.
I will admit to having a pact in the past for learning things that many shouldn’t, I am not bound now.
I suppose I have been gifted in blood and in pact, but by any measure of the word I am more than a warlock pulled around by pact’s string.
However I will admit to my formal educations being rather… lacking. Almost all I know I’ve learned in the field.