Guys guys, I just had a thought -which in my opinion is extremly intresting. So hear me out,
What if the skilled mage who I think is sorta the leader of the followers is the Magi that told us about our parents. What if she knew how we would respond and go to the mountains to find out the truth, maybe she was jealous or angry that the MC's parents kept the truth from her and thats why she is hunting us down. A very crazy theory. On the route where she dies, she might have faked her death to avoid any suspicion.
It's something to think about, What do you think?