The Circle of Morzust

Once more, Levai found himself relaunched through that jelly feeling and, as he opened his eyes, he found himself in a completely new environment. From what he saw in front of him, the area was square, and he was leaning on a wooden railing. All around him were doors, not set in any actual organised order, just scattered here and there. Before he could look up or down and see more, a cracking noise caught his attention, and he turned to see a giant, black archway door covered in intricate symbols. Levai didn’t know if he should stand and wait or walk towards it. Letting curiosity take over, he walked toward the door and knocked twice. There was no sound, and he knocked again without any response or reaction from the other side. Looking behind him to see if anyone was approaching, he opened the door slightly, and there was almost complete darkness. In the middle of the room was a bald man sitting on the stone floor. He seemed to be wearing an all-black suit and had a black robe discarded on the floor nearby where he was sitting. Levai raised an eyebrow at this but tried to make contact with the strange man nonetheless.

“Uh… hello?” No response. Levai looked around the room, and the entire area was adorned with strange symbols that glowed in a soft, purple light. They were inscribed all over the ceiling, floor, and walls, connected in one giant illustration. The man in the middle of the room sat there, twitching and seemingly scratching at the floor.

“Well… I’m just wondering where I’m supposed to go. I got dropped in here by the Black Ward?”, Levai asked again, beginning to feel slightly unsettled by this odd behaviour. Without warning, the man’s clothes ripped as his body grew exponentially. His arms and legs moulded into one with his body. His head opened up to become a giant gaping maw with nothing but razor teeth surrounding the inside, and a great, slimy tongue seeping out from the hole. With his voice paralysed by surprise and fear, his instinct kicked in, and he made haste for the door as the giant worm-leech monster charged toward him, screeching and contorting its squishy, mottled flesh. Banging on the door, Levai burst out and landed harshly on the floor, only to see the giant worm rising to strike for a split second.

“Duura ste’in!” a voice bellowed from behind. The door immediately slammed shut, and a violet pattern that looked like a crown of thorns on a clock glowed on the door.

“Damnit, I should have gotten Kennat to reinforce that damn thing”, the voice grumbled as Levai turned around to see a tall man in a black cloak closing a huge book and looking up at the door. He had auburn hair slicked back but some strands going down the right side of his face, stopping at his chin where he had an extensive but well-groomed and finely cut beard. His eyes were a bright and almost shiny silver in colour, and he had numerous small scars across his face. The largest of these went down the left side of his mouth, only slightly above his lip, before entering his moustache and then crossing over both his lips. He was rather built in terms of stature, towering over Levai and boasting enormous shoulders that made him look especially wide. The man wore an all-brown attire, sporting a light brown suit vest on top of a grey shirt and an equally grey blazer. Over all this, he wore a long brown coat with a spotted pocket square. He had a strange marking on his hand that gripped the enormous book. It was dark brown and had numerous unintelligible inscriptions on it. Going down the side was a green velvet ribbon, and the front had a circular jewel on it with some kind of blue liquid swirling around inside it.

“Sir Maleos. So good to finally have you here. My name is Emeritus Hadlov Moraxi Solatur Hurvad the Fourth. I am the High Scholar here at the Institute.” He smiled and gave a short head bow. Levai opened his mouth to speak, but he wasn’t sure if he could say what he wanted or even say anything. His throat felt far too tight to bring forth words.

“What in the Gods names was that?!” Levai yelled, panting heavily as he slowly got to his feet.

“Oh, apologies, that was Sir Kaelis Henning. He’s a Wyrm. The last one alive, in fact.” Levai went still. Wyrms. He knew what those were. His grandfather told him stories about them. An extremely old race of creatures that had an insatiable hunger for flesh.

“No, that’s impossible, Wyrms are just story creatures. They’re not… they- They’re real?”

“Yes, I understand you have a lot to learn about the people you reside with, but I assure you, he is the only living Wyrm left. You won’t find more like him anywhere else.” Levai continued to stare at the door, trying his best not to shake and keeping ready in case the door came down. The High Scholar noticed this and reassured him that he would not get out of the room, nor harm him at all. Levai continued to glare at the door, feeling the same fight or flight he felt back on the Path, but eventually calmed himself and turned his attention away.

“Wait, Maleos? My name is Magnus, Levai Magnus”, he eventually remembered. Confused, the High Scholar opened up a scroll that oddly appeared out of thin air and read it down, muttering to himself.

“Ah… right, yes. Well, erm…It appears that you’ve landed on the wrong side of the Institute somehow, you were supposed to be taken straight to the Chamber. But, no matter. Walk with me and I’ll explain as much as I can.” The two turned and walked away from the door, heading around the edge of the walls and towards some elevators. The High Scholar pressed a hand on the metal plate next to the door to summon the elevator as he began his explanations. It turned out that some Warlock families that were especially prominent or well known, would change their last names once they had a child. This was to ensure that the child didn’t accidentally come across their family in any textbooks or newspapers and the secrecy remained intact. 

“So you see, while you lived as Levai Magnus, your real family name is in fact Maleos, as it says right here!” The High Scholar brought out a sheet of paper from thin air and Levai looked closely, seeing the last name Maleos but with his actual first name next to it. It was a relief to know that was still true.

“Not to worry, once you complete your new name, it will be immediately added to the registry”, he explained. 

“The what?”

“Warlock Name Registry, it’s a big book held in the Citadel with all new Warlock names… you’ll learn more about it and your own culture throughout the year, don’t worry!” Levai certainly did have a lot more questions. Almost enough to keep him distracted from the circumstances as he was brought here.

“You seem a bit quiet, Maleos. Something on your mind?” he asked as he continued walking and occasionally looked into some doors. Levai didn’t know exactly what to say. He had so many questions, some of which he felt he didn’t want to know the answer to.

“My friends… they died back there… I just wonder if all of this is worth it.” he finally managed to choke the words out. The High Scholar remained completely silent as the two went down the elevator, slowly passing each floor of this building that felt like a tower with all its floors. Soon enough, he let out a sigh and spoke.

“That, my friend, is up to you. I must warn you, Maleos, the world is a dark place indeed. Life may have been rough for you in the confines of your Walled City, but the real world is a far more dangerous place. There are many more races than just Warlocks that we share the world with. Many continents, many countries, many seas and many mysteries. Even in this Institute, you will face dangers unlike that which you have never seen before. It is up to you to decide how you face it. Mourning for those that are a part of your past, or looking ahead and embracing the possibilities of the future?” Levai continued to be silent as the elevator stopped and opened. Unconsciously, he walked out and his mind whirled. It was so difficult remaining stoic about everything, and he wished for nothing more than to have the surprise of Ania’s hand grab his one more time as they started a new and exciting life as Warlocks. But that wasn’t going to happen now. His hand would remain alone forever, and he had to bear that for as long as he was here. All he could do now was stick to the promise he made and see this through. Nodding towards the High Scholar, Levai took a deep breath and shoved all of the doubts away, just in time to be distracted once more by a great rumbling from under his feet.

“What was that??!!” Levai yelled as he tried to find his balance again.

“Oh, that will likely be someone playing the Gamble. Sounds like someone wants to have a go at the champion again”, he replied as he continued walking. Levai followed, regaining his posture and followed the High Scholar. They stopped at a large atrium where there were various tables, and on the walls going up were also tables. Levai could see some people walking up to the tables on the walls and pointing items in their hands upwards before floating off the floor and up to the bench-like chairs around the tables. By far this wasn’t the craziest thing he’d seen today, but seeing just how much magic he’d been missing out on was almost wondrous. Everyone appeared to have different objects, but all were relatively the same: a giant book, a staff like Levai’s, and weird orb-looking things or weapons. Some had daggers, axes or some kind of blade on their backs, but the populace mainly had swords held in leather scabbards. The High Scholar took Levai outside and the strangest thing was made obvious about this place. The Institute, the grounds, everything was all seemingly underground. Levai looked up and could see a giant stone cavern ceiling covered entirely in Inlītas crystals, all lighting up the area. At the moment, they mimicked the dim light emitted from the night, which had Levai believing it was night time at first, though it could have been any time by now.

“Are we underground?”, Levai asked as he continued staring at the ceiling.

“Hm? Oh, yes, different institutes are built in different ways. Though, the Gholgrad Institute had some minor… let’s say, complications with its construction. Hence, it was completed underground, and is the only underground institute of its kind! Still, there is no safer place you could be. From outside threats at least…” That last word had Levai staring at the High Scholar for further explanation, but he simply continued down the short stairs and walked merrily towards the giant forest ahead. Levai had a bit of reservation going in there, but with the High Scholar, anything that might go wrong would probably be easily fixed.

“This is the Kȏskȍry Woods. You’ll get to know it well, especially if you become a Kherza like me.”

“A what?”

“Oh, yes, I probably should tell you. Remember how I said that the Institute was constructed? Well, the construction was done by the four makers of the Institute; Morzust, Gol’gardah, Kherzen, and Dresti. Every Institute then creates ‘circles’ named for the four makers and all students are assigned to a circle, it’s a way to honour the creators of the Institute. When you are inaugurated, which you will be in the morning, you’ll be… what’s the best word? Scanned I suppose. And depending on which of the makers you align the most with from your own personal beliefs, you’ll be placed in that circle!”

This was a lot to take in. Levai was still back at the Wardstone in terms of information intake, and the fact that everyone had to give blood when they arrived.

“So, why did you call yourself Kherza?”

“Well, that’s the collective term for the circle. People in the Circle of Kherzen are called Kherza, Drust students are Dresti, Gol’gardah students are simply Gardah, and Morzust circle students are Morzesti.” Levai nodded, taking a few seconds to make mental notes, before he was stopped in his tracks by the High Scholar. In front of them were a collection of small huts, all seeming very run down and old, as if they hadn’t been used in many years.

“This is where you’ll stay for tonight. I apologise for the messy aspect, but since you have no circle, you can’t enter any of the student lodgings just yet. I’d take the middle one if I were you, likely less dirty.” Levai frowned and sighed as he walked towards the middle hut and forced the door open. It was difficult to push at first and needed quite some force to get inside. Looking around, there was dust absolutely everywhere, and some furniture that was broken and bent. Levai turned around to see the High Scholar perusing the giant book he had and then tapping happily on one of the pages.

“Asir’in woud ra’ir.” He placed his hand on the jewel on the book and the liquid inside swirled excitedly. As his hand extended, Levai watched as the entire room suddenly started moving around, the dust slowly began to fade away, but as if it was gathering in reverse. The broken furniture fixed itself, the shelves moved and rearranged, and some of the furniture even flew out of the door, prompting both Levai and the High Scholar to duck. Once the work was done, Levai looked at the hut in wonder, as it had such a comfy and warm atmosphere now. At the back was a little fire going inside the fireplace that was previously broken down and caved in, and the shelves even had readable books on them. The bed, while small, looked very inviting with a crocheted cover on it and two well fluffed pillows.

“Yes, magic truly is a wondrous thing. And this is what you’ll learn to do. In due time. For now, get some rest and when you awake, head into the Institute and there will be a student there waiting to help you get to Inauguration and see you off on the rest of your journey.” The High Scholar gave him a node as he departed, leaving Levai alone in the hut with his thoughts. It had been a long, difficult, and terrifying journey, and for the first time, he began to feel it. Putting his staff down, Levai collapsed into the bed and felt the grip of sleep catch him immediately. He was tempted to fight it, to continue on with his thoughts, but rest was clearly needed. The sound of the screams pierced Levai’s ears as he saw Ania’s bloodied face cry out to him. Levai yelled out, forcing his eyes open and bolting upright in the bed. Looking around frantically, he’d almost forgotten where he was, and took a few seconds to make sense of his location. It was just a nightmare, a terrible nightmare. Of course it was too much to hope for a nicer dream after the events of yesterday. As much as he hid it well, the events of the Path were still with him today. Shaking it off as best he could, Levai grabbed his staff and made his way to the Institute, fixing his hair in the process. As he made his way to the entrance, he noticed someone standing there. A boy looking around his age wearing a blue shirt, white coat and white pants with shoes to match. As Levai approached, the boy gave a warm smile and extended his hand, which had a weird golden tattoo depicting a long sceptre with wings that appeared to glow slightly. Similar in some ways to the High Scholar's mark on his hand. This guy also looked rather odd but looked more Fél features than everyone else. His eyes were a bright sea blue, and he had flawless dark skin and short cut black hair. Around his neck was a giant golden orb with a circlet around the centre of it, which had tiny golden wings on the back. It looked similar to the orbs that other people had with them and were using for their magic.

“Nice to meet you! My name is Clive!” he greeted warmly in a very oddly calming voice. Levai shook his hand and looked at him suspiciously. In a very morbid-looking place with a macabre feel and the atmosphere of a waking nightmare, this person was surprisingly chipper and radiated a strangely welcoming presence.

“You’re not a Warlock… your eyes are wrong…” Levai said, narrowing his eyes even more suspiciously. Clive’s eyes widened for a split second, looking extremely confused before smiling and giggling.

“Oh my goodness, no! No, no, I am an Angel”, he replied. Levai was back to himself for the first time, and he blew a snort of derision as he frowned.

“Right… Angel, yeah. I can’t help wondering what other fantastic creatures I might meet from the made up stories” he said mockingly. Clive laughed a bit alongside Levai, seeming to understand his apprehension.

“Yeah, it’s a surprise for all the Warlocks when they arrive. Not knowing any other species. I really don’t understand why you all live like that, but I can assure you I’m very real. Let me show you…” Levai opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, there was a burning white light from Clive’s back, and Levai squinted to see. The resultant shape came out looking like a pair of broad wings coming from his back. After the wings dimmed, Clive smiled as if it were nothing, and Levai was left gobsmacked by what he saw.

“Gods… I’ve seen some things recently but, clearly I’m just getting started…”, he murmured as he looked deeply at Clive’s face. It was strange looking at Clive. At first, he would see his happy, smiling face, but sometimes it seemed like another face was on there. Like a rippling mirror image, he looked more like an insect than anything else, having six eyes, three on each side of his face and no nose or mouth. 

“Well, time to get you started. First things first, we need to get you inaugurated to your circle and then get your uniform from your communal room, wherever you end up”, Clive explained, turning around to open the doors and leading Levai back over to the elevators he took before, pressing the metal plate to go up.

“Ah yes, I was told about this Inauguration thing. Anything else useful you can tell me about it? Or this place?” Levai demanded, finally feeling confident enough to seek answers.

“Oh! Um, well, at Gholgrad Institute, you’ll learn how to control your powers. Every species has an inherent power of their own. Mine is, obviously, Anglas celestial magic. I guess you were already told about the Chamber and the circles… So when you go into the Inauguration Chamber, the Staff of Morzust will decide where you go by burning the circle mark into your hand. You’ll then get your uniform and timetable on the way out!”

“Okay… so- Wait, the Staff of Morzust? As in Morzust’s actual staff?” Levai asked, just doing his best to continue the conversation and get as much information as he could.

“Yes! Apparently it was left here when she gave her heart to finish the Institute! It’s the first relic to ever be held in the Institute and is so powerful that it is almost semi-sentient!”, Clive excitedly explained as they continued on the elevator.

“These ones are really slow. Not like the elevators back at my old school…”, Levai commented with a bit of annoyance in his tone. Clive chuckled next to him as they reached the fourth floor. Levai followed him down the right hallway until they reached its very end and faced a black door.

“Alright, just go in there and place your hand on top of the staff”, Clive said as he pushed Levai into the room.

“Wait a minute! I have a few more questi-” The door slammed as Levai was in the dark, empty room. He sighed and turned around to see an open space similar to the room he saw before with the bald man in it. In the middle of this room was an old, crooked, wooden staff sticking out of the ground. Levai slowly walked up to the staff and remembered the instructions, placing his hand on it. He put his staff down and placed his hand on the top end of the staff and waited for something to happen. He felt like he was there for a good five minutes, standing and keeping his hand on the staff. Eventually, he sighed and took his hand off, deciding to talk around.

“This is so dumb…” he muttered as he returned to the door and tried to leave. Unfortunately, there was no handle on the door on the inside. 

“You have to be joking…” he groaned as he tried to think of a way to get out. Remembering the staff in his hand, he felt no harm in trying a spell. Taking off his bag and standing before the door, he tried simply tapping the door with the staff. No effect.

“Alright, erm… open? Uh, open please? Ugh… I don’t know”, he said frustratedly as he tried to think of anything that might work.

“Hold the staff”, a raspy voice said. Levai spun around and tried to see where it came from, but he was alone in this room.

“Erm… what?” he said quietly to the air.

“Hold. The staff”, it said again, a little louder and a little more annoyed. Levai took his staff with him and, while gripping it in one hand, placed his right hand on the Staff of Morzust. Suddenly, a giant circle shot up in flames, and the fire moved around to create a big circle with loads of small circles with runes in them.

“Welcome to the Inauguration Ritual. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you desire before you are designated to your circle”, the now booming voice said as its sound filled the room. Levai stood and thought about what to ask, his hand getting a vice grip on the staff now. He needed a tester question, something to see if this staff was the real deal.

“What am I?” he asked.

“You are a Warlock. An Ūndon born from a Warlock lineage, made through the mixture of blood from a Félleás and D�"mon”, the voice replied. Well, it looked like the staff was for real. Levai felt a small swell of pride inside, hearing those words. Being told that he was a Warlock. Then, the reality of how he gained this hit him. The loss he suffered to get here. He hated it, but he needed to lock it away. This new beginning marked the end of who he used to be and what he used to know. Goodbye to Oxilian, goodbye to his family name, goodbye to Ania.

“How long will I be here?”

“All students of the Gholgrad Institute study for six years, until final examinations where you must prove your capabilities.” Six years to study magic… somehow it didn’t feel like quite enough time, but Levai had already made his mind up to make the very best of it as he could. As he thought of all the questions he had, there was one subject matter that suddenly entered his head. Something that he hated wanting to know, but just had to find out.

“Did my father attend this school?”

“I cannot answer this question”, the voice boomed. Levai started to get annoyed. It felt less like the Staff didn’t know, but rather did not want to tell him. Then, another question came to his mind. One that allowed him one last chance to linger on the old life he once had. Plus, it gave him a chance to test this Staff’s knowledge.

“On the Path, all the others that died when I came here… did their bodies get found? Is Ania back home?” There was silence in the room for a moment, but eventually the Staff spoke.

“I’m afraid I do not know this. However, as previous owner to a Warlock and familiar with Warlock culture and custom, it is safe to assume that the dead have been retrieved and buried according to tradition.” Levai felt a sudden breath leave his chest. It may not have been a solid yes, but hearing this did, admittedly, give him some slight peace of mind. This didn’t discount the anger he felt for being forced upon this path and not having his friends by his side to get here. Even having Drower with him would have been something. Still, this gave him a bit of peace, and a good clue, knowing now that the Staff could refuse to tell him things. He still wanted to know more, and in due time he would have the answers he wanted one way or another. For now, the only way was forward.

“Okay, I'm ready to be inaugurated”, Levai said confidently. The staff began to shake slightly, and the flames of the circle roared. They began to go into multiple colours, rotating between four different colours until they settled on a maroon red. Levai looked down at his hand and saw that the flames were on his hand as well. He winced but realised the flames didn't burn as they drew a symbol on his skin, looking like a horned animal inside a circle of a serpent eating its own tail.

“Welcome to the Circle of Morzust.” Levai couldn't help smiling a bit after hearing this. It felt like a strange but good kind of accomplishment for him. Taking his hand off the staff, the flames died, and he walked to the door now opened. Levai picked his staff up again, and as the door closed, Clive stood immediately after it, smiling brightly.

“So?! Show me!! Where are you?!!” Levai showed the mark on his hand, and Clive's expression dropped somewhat.

“Oh, you're a Morzestus. That's… good!”, he smiled, though it was so clearly forced, even Levai without looking at his face could detect it.

“Why? What's the problem?” Levai asked. Clive shook his head and dismissed the question with a smile, meaning it was a conversation meant for another time. Clive took Levai to the sixth-floor Vault to pick up his uniform and timetable .Getting the uniform, it was fairly standard for clothing, nice fashionable black leather boots, neatly formed black pants with a belt supplied as well, and a simple black shirt. The interesting part was the further accessory, a dark red waistcoat with a strange crest on the front pocket, a winged creature that he’d never seen before emblazoned across a book with a singular flower blooming above the book, all seemed to be sewn in gold to contrast the red. Levai looked over at Clive’s uniform, noticing he had the same waistcoat with the same crest, except his colour was a pale yellow.

“So mine’s red, and yours is yellow…” Levai began and Clive nodded.

“We wear coats based on our circles. So the pale yellow is for mine, the Drust. Gardah wears blue and Kherza wears green.” Well that would make it easier to identify people’s circles without searching their hands for whatever mark they had.

“Oh, by the way, I never asked your name”, Clive said as he looked at Levai expectantly. The very last thing he wanted was to start getting familiar with people. He never liked making friends in the past anyway, and especially now, having people to be comfortable around was a luxury he did not want to spend any time or effort on. Then again, there was nothing wrong with giving a name.

“Levai. Levai Maleos”, he replied, accepting a short handshake.

“Levai… not much of a Warlock name if you ask me”, Clive responded, placing a hand on his chin. ‘Yeah, well, nobody asked you’, Levai thought. Actually, no. This time he would try to be civilised and sensible. At least a little bit. This was a new time and a new life.

“Okay, well, what do you suggest?” Levai asked.

“Hmmm, well, from what I’ve learned so far most Warlocks just make up a name. Or they take their parents' names and combine them or use the name of the D�"mon they got their blood from.” Well, Levai had no intention of using his father's name, and both his parents' names just sounded odd no matter how they were combined. He wasn't creative enough to think of his own and didn't know what D�"mon gave him the D�"mon blood. Then, he had an idea. It may not have been his parents, but it was surely someone that was a parent enough to him.

“How about... Mortius Maleos.”