Asd took a deep breath as he walked into the grounds of the Monroe academy. There wasn't much about this place he didn't know as he had made sure to study up and learn about it extensively ever since it was said that he would be set free in front of it. The school was massive, he had never seen a building more elaborate, not even the Viscount's massive estate could match to the ambience and eloquence of what was now in front of him.
There were lawns that were well taken care of, rows upon rows of flowered hedges lined a path that led to a massive statue of a mage holding a staff and a grimoire. There were no servants or slaves on the grounds to be seen, but Asd could feel them. All Were-Men had a connection, like a hidden frequency only they could connect with, they could use it to locate themselves and in some cases where the connection is really strong, they could communicate.
The other students made sure to give him a wide berth, preferring to avoid any sort of contact with him. But that much was understandable, there were a lot of things wrong with his presence here. But Rhea on the other hand couldn't take her eyes of him, and it pissed her brother to no end as the young man who was the same age as Asd kept glaring at him. Asd on the other didn't pay attention to anybody else but the environment he now found himself in.
Monroe Mage academy was 632 years old, it was founded by the man who's statue stood in front of him. Nicholas Derain Ambrose of the 7th house of Merlin. A descendant of the legendary mage of an ancient Era; Merlin. The academy was located on the western edge of the Beast-Men continent, it faced the Corus sea to the south, the Meridian plains to the east, ancestral home of the fox weres and north lays the Dune Sea of Ahmet; the first of the Scorpion Kings.
The Direchester county was actually neighboring the Barony that the academy was built in. The academy itself had noble status as it was responsible for overseeing the Barony. And it was the most illustrious in the entirety of the Beast-Men continent. And it was because of it's reputation, it's gate are only open to new students once every 7 years. And due to that, the ages of it's students were all-over the place.
The youngest that can be admitted is 8, and the oldest is 40. No older and no younger, as long as you feel that you have a connection to Mana the doors were open for you to take the exams and try and achieve mage status and possibly live forever. This was Asd's path to power, there was no standing rule that a slave or rather former slave couldn't study magic, and there was no need to differentiate what kind of slave cause in this world, only beastmen were slaves.
Normal humans, elves and dwarves could only be indentured servants, their treatment was far from what the Beast-Men were subjected to. All of the would be students of magic finally came to a stop in front of a massive administrative building where an elf stood tall waiting for them. Asd noticed the elf raising it's eyebrow once he noticed him, there was an obvious look of surprise on his face, but the elf opted not to say anything, much to the annoyance of quite a few potential students there.
"I bid you all a warm welcome to Monroe Academy's 777th entrance examinations. It is an Auspicious number as I'm sure some of you with a mage backgrounds know. So a lot is expected from all of you and the exams this time would be a lot more strict than the previous ones.
In this exam you would be tested in magical aptitude, that is to say we would see just how powerful your Mana is and how strong a connection you have to Mana, then your control would be tested in the magical control test, along with the elements you are attributed to in the Mana attribute test.
The dividing line for failing are as follows, so if there's anyone of you who meets the criteria, please vacate the premises. If you have only a single element you fail, if your Mana strength is below weak level 5 you fail, if your control is below weak level 5 you fail, and if your connection is below weak level 5 you also fail.
And note that this is the measuring line for someone who has never used magic before or come in contact with it. Anything lesser than that, and it means you have no talent and would not be able to progress past the apprentice stage, mastering only zero circle spells.
Also a new class would be implemented this semester, and while there have been many other schools specialized in this, it would be the first time Monroe academy forays away from the pure traditional path of training pure magic users. Now there's an elective for those who are willing to walk the path of a battle mage, though I advice you all to be careful with your choice, such training would be tasking to both the body and the mind. Now I will not be taking any questions so don't ask me anything, just follow me to the exam hall where you would all be tested."
Asd blinked his eyes as the elf turned around, it was weird but isn't the elf supposed to introduce himself or something. This wasn't turning out to be the kind of welcome he expected from a school for mages. But then again until just a few moments ago he was a slave bound to the house of viscount Ramses. There was still much about the world that he didn't know.
He fought the urge to turn around and take a look at Rhea, he could feel her stare and that of her brother and probably the rest of the potential students behind him trying to bore a hole through his back. He was dressed shabbily, he was a former beastman slave and yet he was right at the forefront. But he didn't care, he had waited years for a chance to be able to walk forward with his head held high, now it was their turn to look at his wiggling ass while he walked with a pompous flair.