"Welcome with Grace and Benedictions, Neophytes Novitiatae to the Collegium Ars Magica." The woman standing before them in elegant Magisterial garb was recognized by all, even those who hadn't yet officially met her, "My name is Sorus Rogan, however you may address me simply as Matrion, as I will be playing mother to your Novitium, my new brood of hatchlings."
"Likewise, my name is Fratus Dander, but you may address me as Patrion," her dapper male companion beamed. "As your Official Magisterial Guardians, we will be directly charged with overseeing all aspects of your Service for the foreseeable future, as well as mediating any personal...issues which may arise amongst your Novitium."
The Neophytes, waking to find themselves entwined in a single mass of sweaty, sated, naked bodies, each struggled in vain to emerge from the hazy torpor left in the wake of the previous night's celebration.
Together they had been ushered from the dais by an assembly of grinning Magisters, transported thru a thick, golden curtain and into an enclosed private banquet chamber, separated from the general feasting in which the assembled celebrants outside partook. Music emanated thruout the chamber and the air was filled with rich plumes of incense. Initially they were each allowed brief visits by any of their attendant kin who wished to congratulate them and pass on any final Benedictions before their departure. Eventually only the Neophytes and a significantly more numerous host of attendant Magisters were sequestered in the chamber and the Neophytes had been encouraged to feast heartily (with ominous humor about lean times ahead) and to drink freely of the libations provided, none of which seemed even mildly alcoholic yet rather had boasted pleasantly potent herbal and floral flavors. They were encouraged to share tales of their past lives, of their prior magical feats, and even of their more personal, erotic exploits. The mood rapidly grew increasingly euphoric and uninhibited, most likely an effect of the potions they were continuously handed and challenged to quaff.
The music gradually yet steadily increased in its tempo and fervor and before long the Neophytes found themselves dancing together with abandon, unashamedly divesting themselves of their garments until eventually they were all completely bare, entangled in a licentious grope fest, hands and mouths exploring the contours and flavors of their newly formed Novitium. Yet even with the highly charged eroticism of the events, none of the lads could remember attaining erections thruout the entire night, nor the ladies recall any penetration of their eager passages by anything other than playfully curious fingers or tongues; perhaps this was another effect of the potions they'd been given. However all could vaguely recall seemingly endless episodes of rapturous orgasmic response both personally and witnessed repeatedly in the others.
"Priorities of your Service will be dictated to you by ourselves along with the other Advisori Adepti of the Collegium," Matrion continued. "While we endeavor to encourage the cultivation of your unique, individual talents in regards to your understanding and wielding of magical energies, our Practicum will simultaneously discourage any constricting and distracting elements of your self-centered upbringing in order to enable you to engage collectively, fully and without hesitation."
"It is to this end that the Hazing Elixir is traditionally employed during the Noctus Novitial," Patrion interjected. "No doubt you have already grown closer than you may have expected to have so soon, or ever," he chuckled, "and to your eventual delight, you will find that this is only a commencement of things to come, altho the Hazing will no longer be administered to you as a regular part of your Neophyte Service."
"To jump directly to the heart of the matter, 'Sex is Magic'," Matrion took over, "or rather, more precisely, your sexual energy is a master key to unlocking your magical abilities. So regardless of your previous values or beliefs on the issue, a rigorous sexual training will be at the core of your Novitium Service."
"But this will be no idyl of mundane mating clouded by romantic notions and emotional manipulations, which inevitably sow seeds of discord," Patrion elucidated. "Henceforth, your coupling, or tripling or multipling as it may well be, will be directed and overseen by we two, primarily, and later by your individual Advisori Adepti, our most esteemed colleagues, Grace and Benedictions upon their Service, with whom you will be introduced at your earliest convenience upon your arrival in Tarsen Heights Hall. However, you are highly encouraged to indulge freely in continued erotic stimulation as you will within your Novitium so as to strengthen your group bond; however, any coital union other than those explicitly advised and directed by ourselves or your other Advisori Adepti for purposes of training is duly prohibited and will be severely reprimanded. And in case you might be considering it, I assure you there is no way to hide transgressions from us; that includes you, Liro" he smirked.
"Your bodies will henceforth be fortified as advanced instruments to absorb, store, generate, and dispel magical energies, your minds disciplined to the awareness of these energies, their patterns, and their subtle manipulations," Matrion concluded. "Your hearts will be cleansed and purified by Grace and Benedictions that you might become Worthy Vessels for the indwelling Light and Song of the Presence of Assumption."
"You have until coming midday to rest here and recover from the aftereffects of the Hazing; thru the archway is a bath hall which you are hereby officially advised and directed to attend at your earliest ability," Patrion directed them. "Robes of Neophyte Status will be provided for you at noon along with a light luncheon to be served directly before we all embark for the Campus Collegium in Tarsen Heights, your new home. Enjoy these few remaining hours, they will be the most leisure you may experience for a considerable while."
"Grace and Benedictions upon your Service, Neophytes Novitiatæ!" the pair intoned together, then they turned as one and passed thru the thick, dark curtain on the far wall thru which they had all entered.
***
"Well who would ever guess that the Magisterium is a sex cult?" Liro laughed weakly. "They keep it all so well covered up behind their proper Magisterial robes and cryptic speech."
"Well I'm not at all surprised by it," offered Xosana, a voluptuous young woman with a warm, tan skin tone approximating the ubiquitous sandstone of the city and its surroundings and long curly rich chestnut locks cascading beyond her outstandingly plump breasts. "I suppose being raised by a fertility priestess might account for that tho," she chuckled.
Eriad lifted his head and cocked his eye in her direction, recalling images of her vivacious interactions the previous night, both with him and...well pretty much everyone in the Novitium as he remembered, including the other ladies; he had high hopes that he would be advised and directed to pair with her in their upcoming training, tho truthfully all three of the ladies were stunning in their own right and he had certainly enjoyed the attentions that each of them had given him the previous night, even without achieving full coital union. Recalling Fratus Danders' warning jogged his memory back to a particular detail that had strongly caught his curiosity. "Liro, what did Dander mean by singling you out in his warning about extra-curricular unions?"
The pale youth flushed a deep ruddy color from the roots of his raggedy coal black mane down almost to the level of his nipples. "Oh, it's nothing really..." he muttered while silently supplicating for divine intervention.
"No, not nothing!" insisted the fierce Pitarao woman, suddenly bolting upright and placing a strong hand against Liro's chest, over his heart. "You no tell lies to us; you speak just truly!" Her dark smoldering eyes bored mercilessly into his, her teeth bared in a savage grin that inspired fear more than a sense of friendly ease.
"Might as well spit it mate," Eriad joined in. "Dander called you out for some reason and he did it conspicuously in front of us all. As tight as those two run their show, I'm sure it was no accident, so he must have intended for us to dig about it; if you clam up I'll bet he just finds a way to display it to us anyway. It's probably some kind of trust building exercise, to strengthen our bond."
"Yeah, out with it Liro," chided Xosana, "like they advised us, we have to open up and get past any repressions so we can succeed with our training as a team, so you owe it to us to confess."
"Oh fuck!" Liro spouted out in exasperation. "Alright...so once I hit puberty...well my latent talent showed up of course..." He was obviously stalling as everyone was well aware that puberty was the most common time for magical powers to first manifest; the rest of them silently urged him to continue. "...and so it turned out I'm a pretty good natural Summoner...and soooo..." he trailed off into another silence, swallowing hard.
Eriad suddenly burst out laughing, surprising the others and causing Liro to squirm uncomfortably. "Oh Liro..." he gasped, "oh mate, this is rich...hahahahaha..."
"What are you on about?" Xosana demanded with a giggle.
"Oh Liro please...don't make me be the one...to out your dirty little...not-so-secret!" Eriad fell back in a fit of shaking rolling laughter.
"I not track it, what he's say, what of you are Summoner..." Chenasi glared, then her eyes widened along with her smile and she looked to Eriad. "Oh I track now, Summoning...how you say them...?"
Eriad wheezed and squeezed out, barely audible "Succubi..." then shook again hysterically.
