Dragon Age:

Origins

(Book 1 of 7)

Magic exists to serve man and never to rule over him:

-Canticle of Transfigurations 1:2

The circle tower stood proud over lake Calenhad, it dominated the skyline and no matter from which way you came you could see it from miles off. For hundreds of years the mages of Ferelden had called it home, willingly or not. It protected the outside world from them and it protected them from the outside world.

But living here was not without it's share of dangers, magic was practiced within these walls and while the senior enchanters did everything in their power to make sure that these studies were as safe as possible it wasn't possible to remove all danger, a nervous apprentice who missed timed his spell could cause great damage.

There were also the Templars, placed in every Circle all over Thedas in order to make sure that not only that mages were safe but that they were controlled as well. If a Templar suspected that a mage was practicing blood magic or that they were dealing with a demon then they only needed to raise their concerns with the knight commander and an investigation would be launched.

The mage could then only pray that the investigation found them innocent because if it did not then their life was over, a blade would be run through them as soon as the guilty verdict would be declared.

But only one danger in the tower was entirely unavoidable, the Harrowing. Any mage that resided in the tower had to take the Harrowing, that or be made tranquil, a fate that most agreed would be worse than death. The Harrowing sent the mage's mind into the Fade, the realm were all but dwarfs went when they dreamed and where demons and sprits resided.

Of course, this was only known to those who had passed their harrowing, for apprentices the Harrowing was only spoken off in hushed whispers and they spoke of what they thought the dreaded test actually included.

Right now, one apprentice Mage was being taken for her harrowing...

Neria Surana had always been told that she was pretty, plenty of humans had felt the need to add "For an elf", with long dark hair and green eyes she had plenty of people express an interest in her. She had also used her good looks to get her out of a few tight spots, but right now at this exact moment she knew that her looks would be of no help to her, she would have to rely on her skills and knowledge.

The group of Templars that were escorting her up the tower had gotten her out of her bed a few moments ago, for a heart stopping moment she had been terrified that someone had falsely accused her of practicing blood magic but they had simply told her that she needed to come with them.

They left the ground floor where the apprentice quarters were located and began to ascend the tower, she didn't think that she had ever been up this high in her entire left and she had spent most of that in the tower. She didn't remember anything of her life before the tower and she didn't care enough to ask.

It didn't take them all that long to reach the top of the tower, it was a large domed chamber with a bowl on a stand in the middle of it. Standing in the room were the two most important people in the entire circle First Enchanter Irving, an old man with grey hair and a brushy beard and grey eyes, and Knight Commander Greagoir, an man in his mid-fifties wearing Templar armour and wielding a sword.

"Magic exists to serve man and never to rule over him." Greagoir spoke, his voice echoing in the chamber. "So spoke our prophet Andraste as she cast down the Tevinter Imperium. Ruled by mages who brought the world to the edge of ruin."

"Great, have I been brought here to listen to chantry propaganda?" Neria thought darkly but she kept her attention on what Greagoir was saying, not out of any real interest but it wouldn't do to irritate the Knight Commander and she didn't want the First Enchanter to think of her as disrespectful.

"Your magic is a gift, but it is also a curse. Like fire, it can help others but if control is lost than it can also destroy." Greagoir spoke before Irving took over.

"Thus there is the Harrowing, a way for us to see to see if you are not only in control but if you can also resist temptation." Irving spoke, far more gently than Greagoir, like a wise old sage. "As such, your mind will be sent into the fade where you will seek out a demon and kill it."

Neria gasped but quickly straightened her back, she had always figure that it would be something like this. "I am ready." She hoped that her voice sounded stronger than she actually felt.

Greagoir seemed to have noticed her hesitation. "If you do not feel you are ready then there is another option, the rite of tranquillity."

"I would rather die." Neria said as soon the words came out of his mouth. "I said that I am ready and I meant it."

Greagoir nodded and stepped away. "Very well, but know that if you fail then we Templars will do our sacred duty and strike you down if need be."

"There's no need to scare her any more than she already is Greagoir." Irving gently scolded the Knight Commander before he gently took Neria's hand and lead her over to the raised bowl. "Place your hand in the bowl child, and good luck."

Neria looked down in the bowl that was fully of a shiny blue liquid, it was Lyrium, it was a liquid created from a mineral that when ingested could boost a mage's natural power. She had never touch Lyrium before, it was always held in glass vials and the instructors always told them to take care in not to spill it...

She placed her hand in the liquid and suddenly the rest of the world seemed very far, it seemed to shake and shudder and she fell to the floor as the world began to turn black.

And through out it all, she could here someone singing.

End of Chapter One