“Ouroboros…”
“The Ouroboros organisation…”
The boys grasped the name on their own, viewing the magical mark with fresh understanding.
That’s right.
Ouroboros!
Examined closely, the ring-shaped mark was indeed a snake, jaws wide open, devouring its own tail to form an unbroken ring.
What a mysterious, striking emblem.
The whole thing felt instantly cooler.
Nineties British boys, mostly secondary school age, were right in the thick of their gang-culture phase.
Not one of them thought a tattoo on the arm was anything but brilliant.
Seeing the same mark on every arm around them stirred something deeper: belonging.
A sense that they had backup now.
And the leader of their organisation, the grea…
white wizard Soren, was the source of that security.
From this moment on, they were no longer ordinary orphans without ties.
They were members of a mysterious organisation, led and shielded by a powerful wizard.
“Ouroboros…
Ouroboros…”
The boys chanted the name, giddy with excitement.
A beat later, some bright spark had a flash of inspiration and came up with a slogan that felt appropriately grand: “All for the Ouroboros!”
The others blinked.
Then it hit them.
Perfect.
Bold.
Exactly right.
Within seconds they embraced it, and certain eager little arse-kissers led the charge, shouting in unison at their glorious leader:
“All for the Ouroboros!”
“All for the Ouroboros!!”
Across from them, Soren kept his smile fixed in place, though it took genuine effort.
For Merlin’s sake…
Which genius thought that up, and why is it the worst idea anyone’s ever had?
Thank god nobody had raised their right arm at a forty-five-degree angle with fingers pressed together.
If Dumbledore or anyone else ever caught wind of something like that, his life would be well and truly over.
No.
These little brats were far too unreliable.
They needed strict discipline, now.
After a moment’s thought, he cleared his throat and raised his wand to signal he was about to speak.
The boys fell silent instantly, gazing at him with eyes practically overflowing with “loyalty.”
Soren’s composure nearly cracked.
He steadied himself with effort.
“Everyone, settle down.
I’m about to announce three important prohibitions.
I expect every one of you to follow them without exception.”
The boys held their breath.
Even Ayla pricked up her ears.
We face outward as one.”
Soren swept his wand down, pointing it at the ground for emphasis.
“‘No infighting’ doesn’t only apply to branded members.
It extends to all peripheral and prospective members.
The other children at the orphanage, for instance.
I said earlier that it’s your shared background and circumstances that made me willing to trust you, because to me, you’re our own people.”
“The same goes for the other children.
They’re our people too.
Sean…”
Caught off guard by the sudden summons, Sean snapped to attention.
“Here!”
“You’re the best organiser among the older kids at the orphanage.”
Soren rephrased “running a gang” in slightly more flattering terms.
“I have high hopes for you, and that means I hold you to a higher standard.
I’m tasking you with uniting every child at Brent Orphanage.
Whether they’re at the orphanage, at school, or anywhere else, you and the other members will protect them.”
“These children are all prospective members of the organisation.
They’re the recruits you’ll bring in one day.
I need each of you to step up and take responsibility, so I can trust you as core members later, capable of operating on your own.
Understood?”
“Understood!” Sean shouted, fired up.
“We’ll protect the kids at the orphanage.
Outward as one!”
“Good.
Moving on.”
“Second prohibition: keep studying.
No drugs, no gambling.”
Soren swept his gaze across the group, his tone sharp.
“In the future, our enterprise won’t stop at peddling small goods.
With magical artefacts, we’ll build a commercial empire spanning the globe.
By then we’ll need senior engineers, product managers, chief executives, and those key positions go to our own people.
You.”
“But can you imagine our senior engineer unable to read a manual, our product manager failing at maths, or our chief executive incapable of drafting a basic strategic plan?”
A few children who matched those descriptions ducked their heads, privately concluding that Soren was scarier than any head of discipline.
“So I expect you to keep learning.
You don’t need top marks across the board like me, but you will not fail your subjects.
This empty classroom will do nicely.
From now on, any member who fails a subject reports here every day for self-study.
Persistent failure may result in revocation of full membership.”
The weaker students trembled under his glare, mourning the free time and fun that were about to vanish from their lives.
“No drugs and no gambling.
That should go without saying.
You’ve all seen what people caught up in either of those look like.
I’m telling you now: anyone with those habits isn’t a person in my eyes.
Not only will they be expelled from the organisation, they’ll be punished severely.”
Silence.
They nodded obediently.
Soren let out a breath and continued.
“Third prohibition: keep secrets.
Act in the shadows.”
“Our Ouroboros organisation has only just been founded.
I’m still a wizarding apprentice, and you’re all raw recruits with zero experience.
There are far more powerful people and organisations in this world than us.”
“I have every confidence I can lead us past them, but it will take time.
I need to learn.
The organisation needs to grow.
You need to sharpen yourselves and stay ready for whatever comes.”
“Until we’re strong enough to protect ourselves, everyone maintains secrecy and operates in the shadows.
This is for our shared safety and mutual interest.”
The children nodded again, genuinely persuaded.
“Those are the three prohibitions for now.
While I’m away at school, Sean is in charge of organising people and protecting members and children.
Ayla…”
He paused, searching for the right title.
“…Ayla will serve as my herald.
I’ll correspond with her by letter every week or two.
If I have new orders, she’ll relay them to the rest of you.”
“Given that Ayla is smarter than the lot of you, she’ll also be supervising the self-study sessions for anyone who’s failed a subject.
Don’t even think about slacking off.”
Silence again.
“Speak up!
Nobody plays mute on my watch!
If you can’t handle this much, how do you expect to make something of yourselves?”
“Yes…
understood.”
“Anything you say, Soren…”
“Ouroboros…
forever…”
The boys who’d been shouting with full-throated energy moments ago now drooped like wilted flowers.
Even so, not a single one entertained the thought of leaving.
This was a mysterious organisation backed by a real wizard.
Stay in it long enough and their lives would change beyond recognition.
A few hardships?
They’d grit their teeth and push through.
“Good.”
A hint of approval crossed Soren’s face.
He clapped softly and slipped his wand back into his sleeve.
“I look forward to seeing what you accomplish.
And I make you this solemn promise: by next winter holiday at the earliest, and no later than next summer, I’ll bring back results that will change the circumstances of everyone here.”
“Now…
the first provisional assembly of the Ouroboros organisation is adjourned!”