Wind spirits made sure everyone got the food and drink they wanted. As sure as Ulf was about his choice, he was so uncertain when he considered what his parents would say about his choice. Dad said it was OK, but did he really mean it?

After everyone had finished eating, the Grand Master got up and addressed the students: "Welcome to Magus Academus. For our new contenders, I must say that the mountainous regions and Ravenberg, which lies in the middle of the mountainous regions, can only be entered from the third year onwards. In the mountainous region there are dangerous creatures, which the lower vintages are not yet able to cope with. The Lake of Torment is taboo for all but the graduates. There you are exposed to dangers that only a trained magician can handle. "

Thus, the students were released in their first evening. From each circle, a boy and a girl from the fifth year collected the candidates around to show them the school and the way to their common room.

"I hope that each of you makes an effort to finally win the Circle Order again. Aramis has been embarrassing us for ages, and they are beginning to think they are the kings of the academy, "the boy told them, leading them around.

The classrooms took Ulf only side by side, because he was getting tired and hoped that he was allowed to lie down soon. Finally they left the main house and entered the grounds of the academy. The main building was a huge manor house built in half-timbered style. "Most of the subjects take place here in the main house, except for Animalus, which will take place in the mountain region. For Venenum you have to collect your herbs in the herb garden which you need for your potions and powders. The herb garden is in the north, where you also come to Ravenberg. «

Ulf discovered four towers, one of which was just a ruin. "The bedrooms are in the towers. We have to settle for the destroyed one. They did not fix him after the Battle of Magus Academus to remind our circle that the Dark Circle came from us. "

That can be cheerful. He's not good at talking to the other circles. How can I manage to present Verenus in a better light?

"We Verenus are most comfortable underground anyway," the district spokesman continued with a nasty grin. They walked towards the collapsed tower, which seemed to have no entrance. But then Ulf saw a black snake, which seemed to snake over the stone cube. The circle spokesman raised his right hand, which was surrounded by a black fog. But unlike Ulf himself, the fifth-grader had a bronze glow. He seems to have made a choice in the direction of Irmengart on his path of knowledge.

"You can only enter our common room when you touch our heraldic animal with your magic," the district spokesman explained. The result of the touch was that the stones forming the tower seemed to have to be rearranged to expose an entrance.

They entered a circular room in which there were three fireplaces in front of which seats from armchairs and tables gave. In different niches were further sets of sofas. The upholstered furniture seemed to be made of black leather. Everywhere you could see green and purple pillows. In the same color were the candles and torches scattered around the walls. In between there were statues of magicians who came from this circle. There were no windows but it was not dark. To the right and left of the entrance was a staircase that went into the ground.

"The boys' dormitories are on the right stairs, the girls take the left."

They parted and everyone went to his section. The stairs ended in a dark-looking corridor. From the three doors to the side went off and the seventh at the end of the corridor was. "Each year has its own dormitory. At the very end are the graduates who have their own washroom. The remaining six years must share a washroom. "With a wave of his hand he pushed aside a painting of a hunchbacked gnome without touching it. So they could see a huge washroom with showers on one side and toilet cubicles on the other.

At last they entered the first room on the right, with Primus at its door. There were seven beds surrounded by green curtains with purple borders. "If you ever have problems, you can always contact me. Our circle always keeps together, because that is the only way we can become strong. «

Ulf lay awake in his bed for a long time. How could he explain to his father that he was now in Verenus? Will he believe me if I tell him about my experience? He was relieved that he had escaped his sister before she could make fun of his choices. But it also has a good one. So I can keep his promise and dispute Adriane the Circle Order.

The next morning, Ulf was quite bruised because he had slept only a few hours. When he was on his way to breakfast, he ran at the large hall into his sister Freya.

"Look. The black sheep of the family. How can you only make the choice for Verenus? I would have preferred to go home right away before I did. "

Ulf knew that would come sooner or later, but he decided not to let her annoy her any longer. When he saw Ariane coming, he had an idea. "You're jealous, aren’t you? If it bothers you like that you can team up with Ari, then she can tell you the whole Verenus era of her family. Do you really think I want to be in the same circle as a Malakin? Where is your family honor now? You forgot what her family did to ours? "

Freya turned white. For one thing, she did not know her brother so challenging and for another, Ulf had hit just the right words. "I'm proud to be in Verenus and I'll do my utmost to break the supremacy of you. This year, the Circle Order goes to our circle. "With that, Ulf left his sister. Ariana looked sadly after him, but the winner of the dispute did not notice.

Freya stopped dead in his tracks. Ariana walked past her and sat down to the Aramis. The Verenus area got Ulfs last words and received him like a hero. This encouraged the boy to make the right choice. When he was finally having breakfast, however, this confidence left him. He was surprised by himself. Such a harsh reaction was not common for him. Besides, he still did not know how to teach his father that he was in Verenus.

So in his mind he suddenly felt watched. His gaze wandered through the great hall until he saw the Aramis. His sister was sitting next to this Malakin, talking animatedly to her. And I'm supposed to be a traitor. But again and again Ariana's eyes fell on Ulf and looked away, until she noticed that she had been discovered. Ulf was sure she was watching him all the time. Can’t she still give peace? Now that she has not come to her beloved circle, I thought that would have my peace.

Ulf repressed his thoughts, because at this moment the timetables were distributed. He scanned it briefly and found with horror that they had with Aramis Venenum. "Damn!" He cursed softly.

"What's up?" His neighbor Luciano asked him, who had come a little closer to him last night.

"We have with Aramis Venenum," he answered.

"That's been the case so far every year. We'll have to go through that, "he said, and continued," I still think it's weird that a Yannik is in Verenus. But it is just as strange that a Malakin came to Aramis. "

"Do you think I'll be with Aramis?" Ulf thundered. "Only for your information. The last thing I want my sister to win the Circle Order before me, let alone this Ariana. "

"Hey, calm down. I did not want to accuse you of that. Does your father know? "

"No," Ulf said quietly. He did not feel like having a conversation. He was totally confused. On the one hand, he could not explain his current behavior and on the other hand, he still broke his head over the events at the selection ceremony.

Before going to his first hour of healing, Ulf set out to write his bat to his parents to tell them which circle he was in. Will my father understand?