Ulf leaned against the wall of the portal room. Today is the day. I have to go to Magus Academus and I will finally find out for which circle I am suitable. Should I be suitable for Verenus everything is over. After all, we are all descended from Ammar Aramis, and so far none of my ancestors have been in any other circle than Aramis.

"Are you looking forward to Verenus?" Came the spiteful question from his sister Freya. She went to the academy for two years and ended up in Aramis, of course. "

"Let your brother alone," she scolded her father, who entered the portal shortly after the 15-year-old young mage. "It does not matter which circle Ulf chooses. He still remains part of our family. "

Ulf gratefully looked at his father, whom he was very close to. Often even too close, because he is very often compared to him, how similar the two would be. Ulf did not feel like talking and so he let his eyes wander around the room. The trophy room had only one entrance and no windows. He was relatively Spartan. Armor and weapons alternated on the walls, but they had not contained magic for a long time.

In the center was the portal of his family, an egg-shaped structure that seemed to consist of blue and red fog.

"I want to go, too," Lars whined as he stomped after his mother, who came to say goodbye to her two older children for school.

"Lars, it’s enough now," she slowed him again. "You're only 11 years old and you know that your magic will not awaken before you’re 12."

"Do not let your sister always annoy you," his father's comforting words suddenly came and Ulf winced.

"Maybe she's right," Ulf said with glazed eyes, "and I'm really coming to Verenus."

"Ulf Elmar Yannik," his father said almost sternly. "What's wrong with Verenus?" He smiled pleasantly at the 13-year-old and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Malakin!" Ulf answered in just one word. "I do not want to end up in a circle full of traitors and dark magicians." Ulf's tone was so full of pain and disgust that was not common to the boy.

"What have the Malakins got to do with it?" Sven asked. "Maybe I have some problems with Daedalus in the inner circle, but you know he's a friend of mine."

"He and his entire family were in Verenus and his parents are responsible for making sure Grandma and Grandpa are dead and you came to Sinma who did not treat you well when they found out you were a magician."

"How did you know about that," his father said in a painful voice.

In a guilty voice, Ulf replied, "That night, when my magic showed and I knocked Freya out with it, I could not sleep and wanted to join you. You talked about it. "

"Bertram and Miriam Malakin may have made a mistake," his father admitted, "but they saved my life ten years later and paid for it with their own lives. If they had not freed me from the dark circle, it would not have been possible for me and my friends to defeat these magicians. "

"I did not know that," Ulf said almost in a whisper, looking down at the floor.

"That's because you probably only heard part of the conversation," Sven explained, smiling. "You are often too good for a child. His expression became serious as he continued, "Never forget that you can never judge a person unless you have all the necessary facts."

Ulf tried to smile but could not quite hide his doubtful look. "If you really do not want to go to Verenus, you can still choose Aramis."

"But then I lose my magic," the boy countered.

"Each circle represents a path of magic, and so it is always necessary for you to face the path that is anchored in you," Sven said. "Aramis stands for daring, Irmengard for unity, Tamika for knowledge, and Verenus for friendship. Now, if you are fit for another circle and you decide with all your heart for Aramis, you are showing the daring that Ammar Aramis valued so much among his disciples. "Sven looked deep into his son's eyes and warned," But then you can not doubt your choice. I'm coming to Aramis with a tendency to reach Verenus. "

Ulf looked at his father in surprise and felt calmed down a bit. I'm not sure if I could unambiguously make my choice for Aramis if I'm really fit for another circle.

He hugged his parents tightly and stopped short of his little brother, during which his father pushed one of his suitcases and Freya and his cage with his bat through the portal. "Do not be too sad," he tried to comfort him. "In two years' time you will also come to the Academy. See it off the wall, you've got your rest of Freya by Christmas, and I have to see her every day. "

Ulf ignored the evil eye of his sister as she stepped through the portal and hugged his brother. I will miss you too.

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After a last look at his family, he finally entered the portal and was in complete darkness. In places he could see flames that did not emit any real light. The darkness seemed to stifle any brightness in the bud. Suddenly Ulf felt dizzy as he was pulled in a particular direction at a tremendous speed. A small spark of warmth began to grow in his chest and spread all over his body. Shortly before the end saw 13 different colored stiffeners that seemed to form into a round tunnel. Seeing it for only a few seconds, he thought he had been wrong.

He landed in a large room that seemed underground, because like the portal room of his home, he had no windows. Furthermore, the walls seemed to be made of massive rocks. He looked briefly at the portal, which he stepped out of and saw that it had an identical shape, as he knew from home, however, consisted of white, reddish brown, silver and black nebulosity. The room was already well filled. All wore orange cloaks and seemed to be the same age as Ulf. Dad told me that you only land here as a beginner.

Before the boy could crawl back into his thoughts a girl with brown hair stormed towards him. "Ulf! Nice that you're here."

"Hello Navina," he greeted her with a shy smile. "You've been pretty rare in the last few weeks. "

"My mother wanted me to prepare well for the academy," she apologized. "You know her, and if you're not good enough then she will not let you go."

Yes I know her. Dad told me a lot about her. She was with him in the same year and has mostly buried in the library at the beginning. His best friend managed to get her out of there in the 4th year. Both married after their education and became the parents of Navina and her brother Lukas.

"Then you can follow your mother's example here," Ulf replied cheekily, grinning.

Navina scowled at him, because even if she was very intelligent, she could not stand the extreme zeal her mother demanded of her. "You should do that," she countered. "Not that you rattle through every test, or are you supposed to go on like this in the Sinmaschule?"

Ulf blushed as he thought of his bad grades he had shown so far. Who cares about the crap that the Sinmas want to teach us?

Together, they strolled through the room, Ulf with no one talked big. He left this to Navina until he saw a boy standing alone. He had turbid black hair and just stared at the floor all the time. He seems just as insecure as me.

Ulf approached him and did not hear Navina continue in the opposite direction. He stood next to him without saying anything and watched out of the corner of his eye as he gave him shy glances. "Why are you leaving me alone all of a sudden," came suddenly from Navina who came storming and made Ulf jump startled.

"You'll never have anything to do with your talk," she teased Ulf with an innocence that made her laugh.

She punched him amiably on the shoulder and struggled: "I'm not that bad." Then her eyes fell on the boy standing next to Ulf. "Hi, I'm Navina Lorana, and this lout here is Ulf Yannik.

"When Navina uttered Ulf's surname, the boy leaned back and frowned. "Yannik?" He asked. "Are you related to Sven Yannik?"

"Yes, he is my father. Why? "Ulf asked coldly. The boy's reaction irritated him, not knowing why.

"My grandparents took a boy by the name," he said, startled. "My name is Martin Beowulf.

Now Ulf trembled. "Are you Brian Beowulf's son?" He asked him.

"Yes," he said with a shy smile. "My dad told me yours once saved his life."

"Yes, I have already heard of that. He expelled 4 vampires back then. "With a mischievous smile, he asked his friend," How did your grandparents react when they learned you were a magician? They were not that enthusiastic about my dad. "

"Not with me in the beginning, but my father always got everything he wanted from his parents, and that's how he came out on top of me. Actually, like my father and my grandfather, I was supposed to be in Großenstein when my magic showed. My two older siblings had not shown any skills in this regard, so my father was also surprised at first, but he accepted it from the beginning. Do you have any siblings? "

»Yes 2. My brother will probably come to Magus Academus in 2 years and my sister is already in 3rd grade. She is a real know-it-all and has only nonsense in her head. She prefers to annoy me, "Ulf said crookedly.

Rose said, "I've got another little brother who'll be in the academy in two years, if his magic shows up in a year." Albus grinned as he thought of what his father would say that the son of his foster-brother also did Mage is.

Navina looked questioningly at her cousin and asked, "Why are you smiling so mischievously?"

"I only thought of my father's reaction when he finds out about it."

"I know my dad was not always very friendly to you when both of them were little, but now he's very sorry and now he regrets it, too," said Martin, blushing. "I hope we do not have to start like our fathers and can be friends." He then shook hands with Ulf. He took it and grinned at him.

"Sure, we can," he said. Ulf did not feel as queasy as at the beginning, the ride. He was glad that he found a new friend so quickly.

Suddenly a girl with red, long hair stood in front of him. "You're the boy of that Yannik right?" She asked snappily to Ulf.

"What's that to you?" He asked.

"Do not be so uptight. Just like your father. "

"Before you make my father ill you should first introduce yourself," Ulf replied defiantly.

"I'm Ariane Malakin," she introduced herself in a smug tone.

"Did not my father rescue your father? "Wanted to know Ulf, who did not know why this girl attacked him so much.

"As you say, but do not think that's why I'm going to lie to you. I'll probably come to Verenus anyway, like my father and grandpa before. "

Grinning, Ulf replied: "I hope, then, with Aramis, I'll be able to beat your circle at the Circle Order."

"Dream on," she said, and left the trio.

"What was that?" Asked Martin.

"Oh, her father and mine work together in the inner circle," Ulf explained. "I thought they got on well, but apparently I was wrong.

"Inner circle?" Martin asked.

"Your parents are Sinma," Ulf nodded. At the questioning look from Martin he explained more precisely: "People without magical abilities are called Sinma."

Martin looked anxious and Navina said reassuringly, "Do not worry! You are not alone with it. So the inner circle cares about all matters of us magicians. My mum takes care of all the magical creatures, and my dad works with Ulfs and Ariane's dad. "

This confrontation worried Ulf. It seems I have to deal with that now. I do not like it, because I'm sure I have enough to do to get on with learning, and now that too. What is she up to?