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Language:
English
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Published:
2024-03-12
Updated:
2025-12-04
Words:
115,590
Chapters:
19/30
Comments:
57
Kudos:
97
Bookmarks:
16
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2,204

between the inferno and the stars

Summary:

There is nothing quite like Matthew’s joy when he – quiet, observant, and ever-overshadowed – is offered the apprenticeship of a lifetime. In his new role as Dante, Matthew dives into the most secret workings of Yale’s eight elite societies. However, discretion is difficult in a tangled social web, and when tragedy strikes the campus, the clean line Matthew draws between work and life is shattered.

[university secret society magic au, ninth house inspired, slow mystery]

Notes:

hello and welcome!

we've got lots of love for matthew + a messy ensemble cast full of intrigue and deranged ritual magic! there will be eventual prucan, and other tagged relationships will be background romances. tags will be updated as my story plans progress.

this au has been itching my brain ever since hell bent came out, so... here it is! this is an experiment and first attempt at writing mystery/intrigue, and matthew and i are on this journey together!

don't worry if you're not already familiar with the world! no prior knowledge required (i'm honestly expecting zero fandom overlap), and certain aspects of the world will be changed/extrapolated/made up to suit this story. if you're interested in the original, richer and darker world (definitely look up content warnings ahead of time), i'd highly recommend giving ninth house a try :)

without further ado...

Chapter 1: Reference

Summary:

An overview of (my take on) the world and characters, for your reference.
Feel free to read now, or skip on ahead to the prologue.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

The Houses of the Veil

OVERSIGHT

 

Lethe — 1898

We are the Shepherds.

Teachings: Responsible for monitoring the eight Houses of the Veil.

Notable Characters:

  • Matthew Williams-Jones, Freshman (Dante)
  • Arthur Kirkland, Senior (Virgil)
  • Francis Bonnefoy, Senior (Oculus)
  • Basch Zwingli, Officer (Centurion)
  • Alaric Beilschmidt, Dean (Praetor)

 

MAJOR HOUSES

 

Skull and Bones — 1832

Rich or poor, all are equal in death.

Teachings: Extispicy and splanchomancy. Divination using animal and human entrails.

Notable Characters:

  • Lars Janssens, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Emma Janssens, Junior
  • Feliciano Vargas, Junior
  • Roma Vargas, Alumnus

 

Scroll and Key — 1842

Have power on this dark land to lighten it, and power on this dead world to make it live.

Teachings: Duru dweomer, portal magic. Astral and etheric projection.

Notable Characters:

  • Lukas Bondevik, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Andrei Popescu, Junior

 

Book and Snake — 1863

Everything changes, nothing perishes.

Teachings: Nekyia or nekromanteía. Necromancy and bone conjuring.

Notable Characters:

  • Antonio Fernández Carriedo, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Sadık Adnan, Senior
  • Lovino Vargas, Junior

 

LESSER HOUSES

…in decreasing order of influence

 

Wolf’s Head — 1883

The strength of the pack is the wolf. The strength of the wolf is the pack.

Teachings: Therianthropy.

Notable Characters:

  • Heracles Karpusi, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Kiku Honda, Senior
  • Natalya Braginsky, Junior

 

Manuscript — 1952

Dream delivers us to dream, and there is no end to illusion.

Teachings: Mirror magic and glamours.

Notable Characters:

  • Yao Wang, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Elizabeta Héderváry, Senior
  • Roderich Edelstein, Senior
  • Feliks Łukasiewicz, Junior

 

Aurelian — 1910

Teachings: Logomancy. Word binding and divination through language.

Notable Characters:

  • Tino Väinämöinen, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Berwald Oxenstierna, Senior

 

St. Elmo’s — 1889

Teachings: Tempestate artium. Elemental magic, storm calling.

Notable Characters:

  • Ivan Braginsky, Senior (Delegation president)
  • Toris Laurinaitis, Junior
  • Eduard von Bock, Junior
  • Katerina Braginsky, Alumnus

 

Berzelius — 1848

Teachings: None. Adheres to the philosophy that the only true magic is science.

Notable Characters:

  • Ludwig Beilschmidt, Junior

 

Unaffiliated

SENIORS

 

Notable Characters:

  • Gilbert Beilschmidt
  • Mathias Køhler

 

FRESHMEN

 

Notable Characters:

  • Alfred Williams-Jones
  • Carlos Machado
  • Emil Steinsson
  • Raivis Galante
  • Siu Chun (Leon) Lee

 

Notes:

I've taken quite a few creative liberties with the world. The biggest ones I'd like to mention are:
(1) The real-life societies are senior societies, but I'm letting juniors in (because it's more convenient)
(2) I've slightly shifted the power balance (better drama)
(3) When it comes to magic, we'll definitely be seeing the hits from the books, but I'm expanding the lore for Grays (sadly no Wheelwalkers here, but hopefully something else interesting)