#updated lore

“Oww! What the hell was that for, cabrón!” Catrina hissed, pulling away from her older brother “Language, mija” Her grandmother scolded her, walking in slowly to sit in front of the beaten up teenager “She got into a fight, again” Dante sighed, going back to dab at his sister’s bleeding lip “I told you, I’m fine!” she shouted, standing up quickly before leaving the room. The two left in the room sighed, watching her leave silently.

“damn it, damn it, damn it…!” Catrina growled as she paced down the hallways of her family’s villa “Why can’t she just behave for once…” “I know mi amor…” “where did we go wrong, why can’t she be like her siblings…” Catrina froze in her tracks, the hushed whispers of her parents replayed again and again in her head. She bit her lip, tasting blood as her shoulders shook. Tears of anger ran down her cheeks as she stood there, hearing every insult her parents would never say to her face.

She did this for them, let herself get beaten and bruised if only for a glance. Just one look, that’s all she wanted. No amount of beatings would compare to the pain she felt at that moment. Without a second thought she felt herself run down the hallways, tears pouring uncontrollably from her eyes ‘why… why… why…’ the question kept replaying in her head ‘I just wanted you to love me… please… you love my siblings, so why am I different?’ She looked frantically around as she pushed open the villa gates, looking for somewhere to escape.

That was when they found me. Another fight, another cruel twist of fate. I didn’t care how many bones they broke, how much of my blood soaked the streets. Their beatings felt like nothing. I didn’t fight back, why should I have?

The bloodied teenager looked above her, the sun was setting. She felt herself grow colder. Was that the night setting in or something worse? She didn’t care. Catrina chuckled a bit to herself ‘Is this how I die?’, above her vultures circled waiting for their next meal ‘heh, good to know something sees me as important, I’d make a fitting meal…’ she felt herself grow weaker, she could feel the aching of her bones ‘just how many did they break, shit…’  Catrina couldn’t move if she wanted to. She could just close her eyes and it would all be over; all her pain and suffering would finally end. Who would compare a corpse to her siblings? She felt her consciousness leave her before- “¡Catrina, ay Dios mio, mijo ven!” it was her grandmother, Catrina weakly looked at her, a soft smile crossing her lips as she saw her big brother race to her.

I was scolded, grounded for weeks. I stopped getting into big fights after that, I still did fight but I was smarter. I started to focus on my magic. I picked up books about curses and incantations and found I have a knack for ancient magic. I finally had something unique to me. I entered Night Raven when I was 16. But… when I was 19, something changed…

‘Overblot’ The word ran through Catrina’s mind as she raced through the mirror, returning to her hometown. The normally happy village was filled with the sound of screams. She frantically looked for the source, before her she saw it. The monster that was her eldest brother. She had no choice as she saw people fighting him, she had to help them. Her hand trembled as she held her wand, tears falling as she raced into battle.

Overblots are tricky… you can save the person… or they can die. My brother was 26 when he died. When his magic over took his very person. I can still hear the last cry he let out. I was already dating Emiliano at the time. He was so kind, but I should have known better. It was the perfect time to pull me away from my family. Only one person in my family cared about me and I made the world forget about her…. But Emiliano said he loved me. All I wanted was to be loved, no matter the price.

Catrina bit her lip as she walked closer to the bedroom she shared with Emiliano; strange noises filled the air. As she got closer, she could distinguish them as moans. She felt her blood run cold as she pushed a bit on the door, looking through the crack. A blonde woman was under Emiliano crying out his name, Emiliano would look up, seeing Catrina. A smirk crossed his lips as they made eye contact, and as soon as they did his attention went back to his mistress.

‘why… why…’ Catrina sobbed quietly as she ran away. As soon as she closed the dorm to their manor behind her, she fell to her knees, collapsing like a doll whose master let go of its strings ‘no… it’s my fault... she must be his type. It’s all my fault, he said he loves me.’ She tried to convince herself as she looked down at the ring on her finger ‘He loves me.’

Affair after affair, I stayed with him through it all. The wounds he gave me, black eyes, cuts from glass or bruises. He tried to push them all away by saying how he loved me. How if I just listened, he wouldn’t have to hurt me. That it was the alcohol. I didn’t mind how much he hurt me, he said he loved me. This sick, twisted, and toxic love. It was all I had. He was all I had. After every woman he slept with he would buy me something. New pearls, gold, diamonds anything I could have ever wanted, but love.

‘Just play the perfect wife, smile for the cameras and make us seem like a happy couple’ She though as she pressed herself against Emiliano, kissing his cheek as she covered the scars, he gave her. ‘Just give in, it will all be over soon…’ She felt her back against the bed, closing her eyes as she gave into his desires ‘This will make him happy..’ she convinced herself ‘he loves me… he loves me… he loves me’ When they were done Catrina covered her body with a sheet, getting out of the bed as her husband slept. Slowly she walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror ‘new marks… bruises and blood…’ she bit her lip as her fingers brushed over a bite mark on her neck. She sighed as she looked at her sorry self in the mirror before stepping into the shower. She let out a silent prayer, hoping the hot water would wash away more than just the blood and sweat.

That was how it normally went; he had his desires and I surrendered to him. It wasn’t long until I found out I was pregnant. I was terrified. How could I bring an innocent life into this situation? How could I be a mother? Did I even deserve to be one? I knew I had to find somewhere to escape. Never would I have thought that my old headmaster would ask me to become a professor at my old college.

Catrina gulped a bit as she looked around the campus. It was so familiar and yet so different. She hugged Celi close to her, the baby swaddled in her mother’s arms.  “A second chance… will this really work?” she spoke softly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear “I suppose I should go and make my introduction…” she kissed Celi’s head as she walked.

Background

It has been stated that the Association, or a precursor of its modern-day incarnation has been around since before the start of the AD calendar. During this time, it was made up of Magicians who were of the Noble class in society with the goal of managing Magic, with its founder allegedly being a Magic God who specialized in Phase related Magic. It operated in secret for centuries, avoiding the watchful eyes of the English Puritan Church, The Roman Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and other affiliated organizations. At some point however, the original founder of the organization vanished from the world, leaving the Clock Tower Magicians to strive for power, turning the cabal into an environment of elitism and betrayal.

In some unknown point in its history, a Sorcerer from another world by the name of Zelretch Kischur Von Schwarz appeared and took over as the new head of the Clock Tower, and had continued to maintain this position even despite being gone for extremely long periods of time. In the current year of the timeline,  a secret meeting was held by Queen Regnant Elizard and other world leaders who were affiliated with the Magic Side, there were discussions held on how disasters like the ones caused by the Roman Catholic Church, GREMLIN, and the Holy Grail War can be prevented. It was then proposed that there be an independent organization created to manage international affairs on the Magic Side on behalf of the United Nations, many of whom within it are either unaware of the existence of magic, or knows very little about it to make practical decisions regarding it. Following this proposal, while there were some who were skeptical of this, a majority of them were onboard with the decision to establish the Magic Association. Zelretch was one who proposed such an organization and decided to use the Clock Tower as the foundation for the Association.

While Necessarius did enforce the Magic Side to a degree, they were ultimately an organization operating on outdated methods that may no longer be as effective in the current climate. As such, the U.N wanted a new force, one consisting of many Cabals and denominations, incorporating a degree of diversity in the progress as to how Magic is dealt with. One of the first cabals to be recommended was the Dawn-Colored-Sunlight, one of the largest and most leading Magic Cabals in not only the UK, but the world as well, as they had many resources at their disposal along with a global personnel network. When Leivina Birdway was approached, she and her cabal initially contested this, but then upon much deliberation, the cabal joined, with Birdway believing she could influence such an organization to her own benefit, especially when she was chosen to be appointed to become one of the Association's 12 Lords.

Other cabals such as New Light and more were approached and joined in, despite some of the tension and bad blood that existed between some of them. Soon enough, around 72 magic cabals joined the new Association as of the present. Following the Grail war, the English Puritan Church decided to join the Association, thus further expanding their facility and numbers.

Principles

As mentioned above, the goal of the Association of Magic is to enforce order in the Magic Side of the world. It is to become an international organization that transcends nationality and genre of magic with the intent of creating an environment where Magic can be practiced and developed by the many denominations and cabals. Cabals and individuals are allowed to pursue the goals they have carved into their souls under the Association, so long as it does not interfere with the Association's goal of order in the world of magic. This led to some heavy debates and conflicts within the organization at times, but there can be consolidation between groups. How the Association intends to enforce the Magic Side is through varying tactics, some similar to Necessarius in some degree, but with different measures. One of the first things brought up was the enforcement of the secrecy of magic, meaning that Magic must be maintained by a select few. This was a controversial decision at first, since Magic, while it was a secret, such was never enforced.  

With the enforcement of secrecy in mind, should Magic be witnessed by the general public, various steps must be taken in order to ensure that the existence of Magic is not known. In regards to certain events, cover stories are to be put out as a means to explain what is happening. This is relatively easy to since the Association of Magic is created by the U.N, which also has Illuminati influence and members, so the distortion of information was an easier thing to achieve. Other methods delve into more questionable methods such as using Magic to change or erase memories, and even inhumane methods like murder. Issues involving the enforcement of Magic Concealment is left to a branch called the Enforcer Branch. Similar to  Necessarius, the Enforcer Branch deals with international affairs regarding the Magic Side in battle, such as opposing radical cabals and suppression of Magic. Enforcers are given free reign to either arrest Magicians or kill them depending on the kind of threat they pose.

Institutions

The Magic Association has not only decided to become an enforcement organization, but an organization that teaches and trains Magicians who are willing to improve their magic or become part of the association, providing a place to learn Magic without the restrictions of the Roman Catholic Church. The Clock Tower divides the city of London based on faculty and department, divided into 12 domains of mysticism. The architecture varies depending on the district, the city reflecting the specialties of each faculty. The main school is in London, consisting of Mystile, the Faculty of Fundamentals, and five Major Classrooms and seventy or so Minor Classrooms.

The Twelve Faculties are ruled by the Twelve Lords. The majority of the magicians begin their studies at General Fundamentals for four or five years, and then move on to other Faculties, usually entering the Faculty associated with their lineage. However, particularly talented students can take on multiple course loads, or switch faculties repeatedly as soon as possible. Magicians might also enroll in other Faculties as associates to help further their studies in their own Faculty. Professors can also give guest lectures to other departments outside their own.

The twelve departments of mysticism include:

1. General Fundamentals - Involves the basics of Magic. This is where most Magicians go to study magic for five years, which includes the common ground between denominations of magic, leyline and Mana studies, Spiritual Item development and so forth.

2. Department of Individual Fundamentals

3. Department of Spiritual Evocation

4. Department of Mineralogy

5. Department of Demonology

6. Department of Lore

7. Department of Magical Life Form Study

8. Department of Astromancy

9. Department of Curses

10. Department of Creation

11. Department of Archaeology

12. Department of Unified Magic-Science Theory

13th. Policies - A Department that solely focuses on the politics and social studies of the Clock Tower.

Leadership

The Association of Magic is overseen by a central figure called The Headmaster. The identity of the original Headmaster is unknown, but it was believed that they were a Magic God who specialized in Phase-Related Magic. Following their disappearance, Zelretch became the Headmaster, however has very little involvement in actual policies made.

Below him, there are the three most powerful families in the Clock Tower, known as The Three Great Families, the Blanchimont, Rihavein, and Erostatel. Of the three the Blanchimont are at the top, the most powerful and influential family in the entire Clock Tower. The heads of the Three Great Families are all among the Lords of the Clock Tower, and the Blanchimont lead the Aristocratic faction while the Rihavein and Erostatel lead the Democratic faction.

The Clock Tower has three major factions, with many magician families being part of one. The factions are named after which family is the head of their respective faction:

Blanchimont - Aristocratic faction. They believe the management of the Clock Tower should be handed to those nobility who had proven to have excellent bloodlines.

Rihavein - Democratic faction. They believe bloodline should be disregarded and those with the talent should be in charge.

Erostatel - Neutral faction. They don't care one way or the other, and just want to do their research in peace.

Below the Three Great Families are the Twelve Lords who rule over twelve departments of mysticism.

Headquarters

The main HQ of the Association is the Parliament Building in central London, where Big Ben is located. Many refer to it as the Clock Tower and the Association uses it as both a place of learning and where policies are made. This is not the only HQ that the Association uses for its operations. Other places like the Museum of London are used to store Spiritual Items and Magical artifacts.

The Clock Tower was originally only its headquarters in London, but in the hundreds of years since its establishment, and as it expanded, more facilities were added. It is the largest magical fortress in the Magic Side, protected by hundreds of defensive contraptions, and wouldn't be destroyed even if the Earth itself was. At the deepest part, there is a special area called the "Bottom of the Bridge" where the Association confines many sealing designated magicians deemed to be "dangerous because their talents were too outstanding."

The Clock Tower is built atop the Spiritual Tomb of Albion (霊墓アルビオン, Rei haka Arubion?), the corpse of a mountain-sized Elder Dragon that did not venture to the Phase of the Underworld with the coming of the Age of Man, and later died trying to dig down to the Underworld. There are only four entrances to the Spiritual Tomb of Albion throughout London, one of which is located in London's Chinatown in Soho. Built like a labyrinth, it is the source of many mystical resources for the magicians of the Clock Tower, and also home to Magical Life Forms. The deeper you go the stranger things get, as you grow closer to the Underworld. At the bottom of the Spiritual Tomb of Albion is the Carillon Observatory (天文台カリオン, Tenmondai Karion?), the oldest room of the Clock Tower and where Sealing Designations are decided, so called because of the giant bell hanging in the Observatory that rings whenever a Sealing Designation is dealt. The other function of the Carillon Observatory is to ensure the royalties from patented magical formulas are properly charged, by way of the Observatory being able to detect traces of magic Clock Tower magicians cast on the World. However, the Carillon can't observe the entire world, which is why the Clock Tower has other branches, each with their own observatory, allowing magic to be enforced in about 70-80% of the globe.

Comprising the rest of the Association are eleven of the departments which reconfigured themselves as their own college towns in the districts and suburbs surrounding London (Slur, Rocks Road, etc). The twelfth one, Mystile, the Faculty of General Fundamentals and the First Department, serves as the main academic building located in the suburbs of London and has a similar appearance to Big Ben. It looks like a normal old university on the outside, due to Boundary Fields mystically and psychologically protecting against people (from physical methods like inspection zones on highways and cartographic erasure to bounded fields obscuring vision), preventing passers-by from carelessly walking in. The cityscape is a juxtaposition of contemporary and medieval architecture, with some of the buildings dating back as far as the 12th Century but still being well-preserved. The town consists of over 40 student dormitories and over a hundred research buildings and school structures of various purposes, as well as the business districts that supply the residents. At the center of this area, the first school built among the city buildings is what is referred to with reverence by magi everywhere as the Clock Tower proper.

From the outside, the Clock Tower appears to be an appealing and welcoming place, but the truth is not so bright. Actually, the inner workings of the place are ruled by the power struggles between several factions of Magicians. Oriana Thompson described her trial in London as being more a parade than anything else: although it had over 300 participants, the majority of them were Magicians who wanted to gain favor with the higher ranks.

The Clock Tower is currently under the control of a pseudo-aristocratic elite called the Lords. Each Lord holds great political power within the Association just by himself, and there is also those who associate themselves to other talented Magicians or an important lineage in a sponsor-sponsored relationship so to increase their influence.

Perhaps due this elitist background, preconceived and discriminatory behavior is somewhat widespread inside the Clock Tower. Rune Magic is not very popular in the main branch, the latter not being taught as an academia at all. The Enforcers such as Nessicarius and other groups are looked down upon by the upper ranks. Discrimination against Asians is common, which might be a factor on why so few of them are members of the Association.