Yes, you can do this. You might avoid conflict, but your characters need it to be strong and compelling. Your evil wizard and Arik are two halves of one story. Each one wants something. Each will trip over each other to get to that something.

What does Arik want? He probably wants to be a successful wizard, find love, go home and have a peaceful life (or insert other goal). What does he need to do to get that?

What does the evil wizard want? World domination, absolute tyranny, just to get his hands on one magical object without getting interrupted by a slobbering lackey? Why does he leave his lair? What makes him want to get up in the morning? How does Arik get in his way?