The Cathedral ran nothing like the Citadel. It was all underground, secret, locked away and hidden from the world underneath some rotting church. They had two guys running the show, and a bunch of misfits for a team.

  And here I was, just another misfit.

  Being transferred here wasn't all bad. Some of the others were tolerable. Hector was pretty bright and makes for good conversation. We could talk for hours about legends and lore. He was greatly interested in my tutelage under Merlin. I had tried to teach him the basics of Magic, but I didn't think it would stick.

  Andrea was decent to train against. She made for an adequate opponent, both agile and strong. She was clever and used stealth to her advantage. I admired her prowess and fighting edge, even if she chatted too much.

  And there was Serena...

  Probably the most gorgeous woman I'd ever met. Her tanned skin and raven colored hair, were an amazing contrast. She had the most beautiful emerald eyes with a tiny beauty mark under the left one. She carried herself with confidence, but gave off an aura of warmth, like a mother's love. It was probably innate magical energy, but it made for a poetic description.

  "Are you ready Chase?" Gideon placed a firm hand on my shoulder and I looked up at the large man. He was built like a onyx sculpture. His eyes were hard, but I felt his kindness.

  "I was born ready Sir, I won't disappoint you." I told him. He nodded and we went into the Vault, with his assistant, Rook, locking the door and guarding it from the outside.

  Rook was a strange man. Fairly average and plain. No Artifact that I'd seen since being here, and he usually just did the chores that the other guys slacked off on. Aside from training the others, he was just kinda, here. But Gideon adored the man. And he did make a mean omelette.

  I moved to the Bonding Circle, etched into the stone of the floor. Not many people knew this, but the Vault existed in all Order branches. Each place had access to the exact same space. It was forged from a magic well beyond anything anyone alive now could begin to comprehend. The Vault existed outside of time and space, in multiple places, all at once. When something left this room here and attached to me, it was unique, and would cease being available all across the world. It would be wholly mine.

  Gideon moved about the circle lighting candles and began chanting under his breath. I tried to focus myself with deep breaths. Finally, I would become a warrior of the Order of Vigilance and not just some scholar from the Citadel. My inherited magical energies swirled about me as I connected to the circle, magically. Gideon finished with his preparations and blew out his match for the candles.

  "Very good. You arrived here on high recommendations, and I see you have learned much in the few months you have been with us." He commended.

  "I've been in the Order since I was a child. My Magic is powerful, and I will become even greater once I bond with my Artifact." I told him, excitedly. I stretched my neck and arms, like I was gearing up for a sporting event.

  He smiled and it was an unfamiliar sight from the often stoic man. He pulled a large knife from his belt, and cut his palms, raising them to the ceiling, chanting quickly in Latin.

  Brilliant runes jumped to life and began to glow on the floor. He placed his hands on the edge of the circle and I did the same, taking my switch blade from my back pocket and cutting my own palms.

  I had practised for this moment for a long time. I knew all the words, how the magic worked and what to prepare. I would not need to be led through this like some novitiate.

  Together, the circle bonded student and Master, and our blood powered the circle. Blue lights flickered to red and an eerie glow reached out to the items in the room.

  "By the blood of Morgana Le Fay, and the Magic in my veins, I call to the Artifacts that are to bond to me. I, Chase Morgan, call upon the Circle of Merlin to read my soul and select my destiny." I bellowed, as the magic barrier went up and seperated Gideon and I.

  "Wait, what?" Gideon looked up at me, and I smiled, but his grim expression was frightening.

  "My magic comes from my bloodline Gideon." I explained. "My power comes from my great ancestors."

  "The spirits are testing me." He groaned. "Chase, you can never tell anyone about this, do you understand You can't..." He was cut off.

  A rumbling filled the chamber and I closed my eyes, calling out to the Artifacts that would be mine. My destiny was at hand, and whatever was worrying Gideon could wait. This was my moment.

  I felt armor materialize around me and a weapon formed in my hand. When the surge of power wore off, I opened my eyes to discover my prize.

  I was clad in black plate armor, head to toe. A long sword rested in my hands with a black blade and silver hilt. I took a deep, satisfied breath.

  "It is as I thought." Gideon sighed. My triumph was crushed by the disappointment on his face. I stood before him, as powerful as ever I could be, and he just shook his head.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "This will not do." He told me, scratching his salt and pepper beard.

  "Why not? This is everything I've ever wanted." I told him, maybe more forcefully than intended.

  "You are the blood of Morgana Le Fay. Your Artifacts are that of her traitorous son, Mordred. That is his armor. That sword you wield is Clarent, the blade that slew King Arthur." He said with disdain. I shrugged, as this was exactly what I had hoped for.

  "Why does that matter? My bloodline has been nothing but a source of pride for me." I told him. He took a deep breath, crossing his arms.

  "It was brought to my attention during Anders' Bonding Ceremony, that he is the last true Pendragon heir. He Bonded with each and every one of King Arthur's Artifacts." Gideon explained.

  My eyes narrowed as I started to see what was happening. Anders, Gideon's precious street child was actually the only living descendant of Arthur Pendragon, and I was the only living heir to Morgana. What were the chances that we would end up together. I would need to return to London.

  "You're grooming Anders to run this branch of the Order when you pass. You think that I will be a threat to him; compelled to crush him as Mordred did Arthur." I snarled. "I've waited my whole life for this, and you want me to be ashamed for what I am?"

  The magic of the circle faded and the barrier came down. I stepped toward Gideon, still clad in my Artifacts, Clarent pulsing with dark energy in my hand.

  "Chase, you a more powerful than him. Dangerous even, if left unchecked." He said as I approached. I stopped, stunned. Suddenly, I was the enemy and not the praised prodigy. It had been a mistake coming here. I would have to apologize to the Queen on my return.

  "Then I'll go back to the Citadel. I don't need to stay here." I started to panic. My hand clenched tightly around my blade, but I knew I would not win in a fight with this man.

  "It's not that simple. If I didn't need you, you wouldn't be here." He tried to be disarming, but it wasn't not working. I dismissed my Artifacts, from some subconscious fear of them being stripped from me.

  "I promise, I won't kill Anders. I don't like the guy, but I would never turn on a fellow Chosen." I promised.

  "Can you see the future, boy?" Gideon grunted. "Does your Le Fay bloodline magic show you what is to be?"

  "No." I practically spat the word, staring hard at the man.

  "Then I have no choice. You must hide who you are, and never let them see your Artifacts, for fear of Anders finding out. I cannot have you two fighting to the death." He commanded.

  "But then what am I supposed to use? I'm supposed to have an Artifact. This is unfair." I didn't want to sound whiny, but everything I had waited my whole life for was crumbling in front of me. This man, my supposed Master, was telling me to hide who I was. To never use the Artifacts that I was just bonded to.

  "Life is full of unfairness. But I have an idea." He said, no hint of emotion on his face. "Master Rook, can you come in here please?" He called. Rook unlocked the doors and entered, closing them behind him.

  "How can I be of service Master Gideon?" He bowed respectfully, but Rook was probably many years Gideon's senior.

  "I need you to perform another Bonding Ceremony with Chase. Ours did not succeed." He lied. My eyes flashed to the man, and he shot me a warning glance. Rook simply nodded and motioned for me to reenter the circle.

  Once more, candles were lit, incantations muttered, and blood shed. Rook and I kneeled, sharing our souls with the circle. I offered no words, or proclamation of my lineage this time. I stared at Gideon, feeling vacant and hollow. Rook constantly reassured me and instructed me through it, while off to the side, Gideon watched with his arms crossed.

  The blue runes flicker to red, but then they flicker once more to a sickening green. Every other rune turns black. Rook stood, backing away from the circle, looking to Gideon for an answer.

  Something was wrong. This magic wasn't meant to be used like this, so close together. Some Chosen had gone through more than one Bonding Ceremony, but never back to back. And probably not under false pretenses.

  I could feel the circle pulling at me; it tugged at my magic. It yanked even harder on my soul. I couldn't stand and collapsed to my knees.

  "This isn't supposed to happen, something is wrong." Rook told Gideon. He moved to step into the circle, to help me, but Gideon held him back.

  I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was being pulled apart in a vaccum.

  I heard them talking nervously as a single Artifact way across the room lit up and floated omniously towards the circle. A mighty broad sword with a gold hilt and a cross-guard shaped like dragons wings. The blade is blood red and had three equally blood red gems in the hilt.

  I heard the name "Tyrfing" over and over, like chanting. Inside my head, I heard the screams of a thousand souls. I felt the torment of the millions slain through out the sword's existence. Pain washed over me, unlike anything I'd ever felt.

  "Set me free."

  Tyrfing beckoned to me, its voice a soothing hiss. I was tempted to draw the sword as it floated in front of me but I couldn't muster the strength.

  "I will make you strong, child of Mordred."

  I reached out for it, but Rook stepped into the circle. He casting a simple barrier spell to try and ward off the swirling mass of black energy and dark magic pinning me to the ritual pentagram. I had been so enthralled by the sword, I hadn't noticed what was happening to me.

  "Grab my hand!" He shouted, but it seem almost distant. I could see the glow of Gideon's sword. The red beacon that told him evil was near. Horror etched his face.

  I reached out, desperately trying to break free. I needed out. I needed air. I needed freedom.

  My hand found the hilt of the sword instead.

  I pulled it free.

  The magic of the circle erupted into a force of red and black energy and I felt part of my soul sink into the blade as it sung free of its sheath, with a metallic screech.

  "I AM FREE!" It screamed.

  I felt its hunger take over. Not for food, but a lust for battle, for blood. My eyes bolted to the closest thing to me. Tyrfing took control and led me forward. I couldn't say no to it. I felt like a passenger in my own body.

  Gideon's blade met mine, and we danced.

  Tyrfing taught me the steps as we went. Parry, jab, thrust. Suddenly, I was overpowering this great man and his glowing red sword. A sword that told him of the presence of evil.

  "I must feed. You must slay one of them child. This is the cost. This is what must be done." The sword, Tyrfing, told me.

  I tried to fight against it, but it offered warmth and soothing energies, as it dragged my body through combat with my Master.

  "You are safe with me, child. I will protect you. I will never let you fall. You are safe. I will appreciate your power and strength." It told me.

  I was suddenly overcome with the tranquil peace the sword forced upon me, as it controlled my body. I closed my eyes and gave into the comfort. I was so tired and so disappointed. I would just close my eyes for a moment.

  When I opened my eyes again, Gideon was on his knees, holding the remains of his companion. Poor Rook had been hacked to pieces, trying to intervene. Tyrfing had bit deep, into so many different places, leaving his body almost unrecognizable. He was just...meat.

  The sword had fed.

  My secret was safe, like Gideon wanted. But in it's place he had created a whole different kind of monster.