A Newcomer’s Guide to Cerellea

For the curious, the bold, and the soon-to-be-assimilated.

You’ve arrived in Cerellea—where sunlight kisses the sea, and secrets lurk in the shadows, waiting for the sun to go down. Whether you’re a student, a tourist, or a schemer, one truth remains: The Myriad Syndicate sees you.

This guide will help you get your bearings and slip inside the Syndicate—a world where loyalty is currency, ambition is venom, and silence is survival.

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What is Vicious Circles?

Vicious Circles is a spicy, urban dark fantasy by Sabrina K. Mercury, set in the luxurious and dangerous island nation of Cerellea. Here, the Myriad Syndicate rules like a hive mind—complex, disciplined, and unforgiving.
If you like dark academia, criminal intrigue, and seductive power struggles, you’re already one of us.

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Where to Start

Cerellea → The Nation: A resort paradise wrapped in gold and lined with knives.
Azalea City → The Epicenter: Corporate towers, luxury nightclubs, and the Syndicate whispers after dark..
Vikan Academy → The Crucible: Students fight to ascend—or survive.
The Myriad Syndicate → The Hive Itself: A living machine of power, secrecy, and control.

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Choose Your Cell

Every member of the Myria has a place. Find yours.
Craving corruption and criminal brilliance? → Start with the Syndicate.
Drawn to power plays in high society? → Explore Azalea City and meet the elite.
Want dark academia with danger baked in? → Enroll at Vikan Academy.
Love character drama and survival tension? → Read Vicious Circles (Coming Soon).

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Key Terms

Myria – Magical beings often mistaken for witches; both feared and exploited.
The Sovereign – The unseen ruler of the Myriad Syndicate. Identity: unknown. Reach: absolute.
The Gilded – Syndicate survivors with influence, scars, and no need for mercy. Forged through ruthless trials, they are a circle of elite former and current students—beautiful, brutal, and untouchable. Their loyalty is golden and razor-sharp, defining power at Vikan Academy and throughout the Major Arcana.
EVE – A covert student society within Vikan Academy. Officially a student host club. Unofficially: a Syndicate-backed proving ground.

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A Note from the Author

Welcome to Cerellea—your indulgent escape, your final mistake.

Cerellea welcomes tourists with open arms and closed records.
But residence? That’s rarely offered, and even more rarely survived.

From the glittering balconies of Azalea City to the restricted halls of Vikan Academy, every experience is curated for power, prestige, and personal ruin.

As a guest of Cerellean Airways, you’ll enjoy elite access to temptation, tailored surveillance, and five-star manipulation—courtesy of the Myriad Syndicate.

Please keep your passport stamped, your secrets locked, and your loyalties flexible.

We hope your stay is unforgettable.

All exits are decorative.

— Sabrina K. Mercury