Asd looked at the entrance of professor Hogrin's theory of magic class and took a deep breath. It wouldn't be too farfetched to say that he was severely shaken as it is, after all with happened the night before, Asd didn't think he would be getting back to his normal frame of mind any time soon. He was seething with rage, anger and guilt, it shook him in more ways than one as hatred unprecedented was fostered within his very being. If he disliked vampires previously, now he absolutely abhorred and hated those vile creatures, they were filled with deceit and cared about no one else but themselves.
He should have known better, there were signs everywhere, hints that the person in front of him was not Rhea, even though the way she spoke was similar, and the way she carried herself was also the same. Her body was curvier than ever, though he had envisioned that he hadn't ever seen Rhea naked, so her body shape couldn't be accurately judged, especially through the extravagant noble dresses she was always wearing. An allure was used, a visual and hypnotic ability that could be used only vampires. They would deceive your eyes and mind and make you do things…. Unspeakable things.
Asd was worried, initially he had planned to go see Rhea after class today, but now how would he be able to have the courage to face her, not after what he had done. Not after he has invariably tied himself to someone other than her. When you mate with someone it was for life, and while Weres were promiscuous and had a veritable harem both male and female, you can only ever be mated to one person for all of your life. It was a union that was very important as you would not only share power, you would share a lifeline, a bond that can never be broken. His heart was broken, and even more so for Rhea's sake, he couldn't help but ask out loud.
"What do I do?"
"You can move the fuck out of my way that's what!"
Asd turned around, bringing the full brunt of his conflicted gaze upon the smaller form of the girl he had set on fire. And the moment he noticed it was her, that gaze rapidly changed until it became one of open hostility, Asd's dark golden eyes bled away to a blood chilling piercing red as deep rumble echoed within his chest. She stepped back with short gasp, her knees weak as she looked upon. Asd took a step forwards and she took three steps backwards, for a moment he considered just stretching his claws and ripping her throat out, damning the consequences and making sure she paid for her slight against him. He really considered it, and his lion wasn't helping matters as the beast seem all too willing to let him do so, egging him on as his bloodlust bled out. But rationality won out in the end and Asd took a step back, he could feel his lion mocking him, not too keen on his inability to end the life of an enemy that wholeheartedly deserved what's coming her way.
He turned around and walked into the class room, leaving her behind…. It's funny though. He really didn't have any positive feelings for that girl, straight out hatred if he had to put a name to the emotion he was feeling, however he didn't know her name, and he did not have any intention of finding out anytime soon. For now, all she would be to him is the bitch who hurt Rhea to get to him after she tried to kill him during class. Which brings up another question, where the hell was professor Hogrin when that was happening, sure the old dwarf tends to leave his students to their own devices after he's given his lecture, but he appeared pretty quickly when that bitch was on fire. Asd shook his head, he really couldn't count on the teachers, they were all the same here; to them he was nothing more than slave and an animal.
He took a seat at the back of the classroom, ignoring the looms he received as he brought his full gaze to Hogrin. There were more students in the class than normal, but it didn't matter, he still stood out like a bright red pimple in the middle of a fair maiden's forehead. But he ignored it, as annoyed as he was Asd has found that he quite enjoyed his classes, the feeling of studying and learning, especially about magic was extremely invigorating, as a Werelion there was a disposition to physicality in him, he couldn't help it, it was in his blood. But magic; magic was amazing, he felt he could do anything with it, and felt a lot stronger when practicing and utilizing. Like he had an effect on the world and not the other way around…. Magic made him feel powerful.
"Alright I see that everyone is here, so we can get right to the lessons for the day. But before that, a little announcement. By the end of the week there will be an assessment. By order of the emperor a lot of changes has been implemented in the way the academy runs. There will be combat assessments every week, and the allocation of a class would be happening a lot earlier. After the assessment you all would be sent to a magical discipline that the academy feels are suitable for you. After allocation you're free to change if you feel it's not suitable for you, but every week assessments will be carried out, specifically catered to the classes you have chosen. If you fail two out of three assessments you will be reassigned to a class by the academy, and you will not be allowed to change it till you graduate. And after reassignment you fail three assessments, you will be expelled."
Hogrin kept silent, willing to let the knowledge sink in as Asd considered why all the sudden changes. But before he could think too deeply about it, Hogrin continued.
"the top three of every class will receive very lucrative rewards that would speed up the rate of advancement for any mage. And after three months; the overall top three of every class would have a tournament where the winner would receive the noble title of Knight. Also soon after that competition all students would be shipped out for a mandatory six months' military service and you could be deployed anywhere after that six months you will return to the academy for six months of advanced study, and then it's back to the battlefield for you all for another six months. This cannot be protested, it is the order of the Emperor and it is our honor to comply. So as for all of you who think the study of magic is a joke and that it will lead you to cushy lives, reputation and prestige, think again! Cause now you are soldiers, and you will all serve."
Something was wrong, Asd felt that there was a greater conspiracy or perhaps a bigger problem that would warrant all of this change. The way he saw it, they weren't just being taught magic anymore, they were being groomed for war, and this time it's not just the Weres, but everybody. But it left him feeling quite worried, because if the normal people; the nobles and the rich were being trained and prepared for conflict. Obviously they would be a priority to be preserved and protected on the battlefield, but then what happens to the Weres. The way he saw it; things were going to be getting really ugly soon, and everyone would look out for their own but…. who would look out for himself and his people, who?