Darren, Lycan, and Tal'gore were currently in a luxurious carriage heading towards the academy grounds.

"You have the portal ring I gave you correct." (Tal'gore)

Darren reached inside his lab-coat pocket and pulled out the ring. After showing it to Tal'gore he then returned it to his pocket.

"Also are you sure you don't want a robe or another type of mage's garb?" (Tal'gore)

"Please my lab coat has way more uses than your frilly robes." (Darren)

"Don't let Gernam here you call them frilly. He would probably fail you." (Lycan)

"Why is that?" (Tal'gore)

Darren raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

"That robe was given to him by his wife. The late archdruid of the fang." (Lycan)

"Archdruid of the fang, what's that supposed to be?" (Darren)

"Each of the four hunters has a druid order that worships them. Mine is the fang. Ursa's is the maw, Vixen's is the shadow, and Chimeron has no order. He is too unpredictable and dangerous. Those that tried to form his order were butchered by him. The archdruid of the fang was the most powerful." (Lycan)

"Oh what's the story behind that?" (Darren)

"A few thousand years ago she fell in love with a mortal man. Brilliant beyond reckoning he was hated by society. He studied what society deemed evil. He believed no magic was inherently evil. One day he came to study the druids. The two met and fell in love. A bunch of stuff happened in between but it's not my information to give. If you want to know more ask German" (Lycan)

"Mortal man? Are druids immortal?" (Darren)

"Ageless." (Lycan)

Darren nodded but didn't prod any further. Instead he turned to Tal'gore.

"So anything I should know for my first day?" (Darren)

"Ahh well most incoming students would be listing off what supplies they wanted to buy from the school. But considering I effectively run most the Consortium in this country, I'll take care of that." (Tal'gore)

"Anything else?" (Darren)

"A thank you would be nice." (Tal'gore)

Darren rolled his eyes.

"A thank you only comes when there are no ulterior motives." (Darren)

Tal'gore shrugged and gave Darren a grin. Before a look of realization came to his face.

"Ahh actually there is something else. The first thing they do is test unsponsered incoming students on their magical prowess. I can give you a recommendation letter if you would like to just skip it." (Tal'gore)

Darren scratched his head in thought before deciding.

"Thank you, but I'd rather get by on my own merit. If things get bad I'll just get Lycan to help." (Darren)

Lycan smiled at him mischievously. Tal'gore shook his head.

"When you two have your moments I worry for my safety." (Tal'gore)

The three friends shared a laugh. 

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The ride was over after another fifteen minutes. Darren and Lycan parted ways with Tal'gore. Outside of the carriage Lycan morphed back into her wolf form. The academy grounds were quite large and neither Darren nor Lycan knew there way around. Darren regretted not asking Tal'gore for directions but got over it soon enough. He decided to ask for directions. The central plaza was easy enough to find so Darren figured it was as good of a place to start as any. All around the court yard were people from all walks of life. High elves, humans, nagas, dark elves, dwarves, harpies, and even a few things Darren had no clue about.

The first group Darren approached was a group of elves.

"Excuse me, can one of you help me?" (Darren)

The elves gave him a condescending glance than proceded to ignore him. Not one to let things go Darren made a mental note and moved on. 

The next group was a group of four dwarves.

"Excuse me, but can one of you help me out with some directions?" (Darren)

Fortunately the dwarves were actually very polite. 

"Oh sure what are you looking for, mate?" (Dwarf mage 1)

"I'm trying to find the proving grounds. I just enrolled and have no idea where to it is." (Darren)

"Ahh, I've seen alot of people asking about that around the plaza. They really should just get someone to help the new arrivals. Anyway, you see that path over there?" (Dwarf mage 1)

"Yea." (Darren)

"Well you wanna take that down and skip the first two paths...."  (Dwarf mage 1)

The directions were fairly simple. After thanking the dwarves he set off. After about three minutes he reached a large gym coliseum hybrid. Entering he could see atleast 5 dozen people waiting. Ahead of these people were 6 platforms on each one stood a mage. Seeing as the place was also built to act as a coliseum of sorts spots to sit and stand lined the edge of the colossal room. 

Darren could hardly here himself think over the noise. Soon enough an elf climbed onto the middle platform. 

"Students today you have come to test yourself. To see if you are worthy to enter this prestigious academy." (Man on the platform)

His voice was extremely loud almost as if he used a megaphone. Darren figured this was most likely due to some sort of magic.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"As most of you know I am Dean Malgarren head of the advanced curriculum. One of the most powerful mages in the country." (Malgarren)

"Talk about an ego hand-job." (Darren)

Lycan chuckled at the comment, but both continued to listen.

"Those of you who prove powerful enough will have the privilege of studying under me and the advanced faculty. Fortuneatly those who do not will still be able to enroll and study under the basics under our other professors. Fear not they are all experts in magic. After a year or two under the basic professors you are invited to test yourself once more to see if you are capable of the advanced classes." (Malgarren)

"Pfft a year or two." (Lycan)

"Yea I have better things to do." (Darren)

The dean immediately shot Darren a look. Darren widened his eyes in surprise but showed no signs of nervousness or fear.

"You there I believe I heard you say you had better things to do. And what might that be?" (Malgarren)

"Well I could invent a flushable toilet, the lightbulb, or some medical drugs. However if you want an honest answer as for what I was thinking of when I said that, self education." (Darren)

The room went quiet for a moment. Then it burst into a cascade of laughter. 

Lycan looked at her husband curious to see his response. Darren however paid no mind to the roaring crowd. He held a smug smile on his face. Pride welled up in the wolf goddess's chest. 

There aside from Darren one person noticeably wasn't laughing. The dean. 

"You think you can teach yourself better than the professors here can?" (Malgarren)

"Do you want the answer you want to hear or my honest opinion?" (Darren)

"If you're so confident than why don't you take the test first?" (Malgarren)

Darren's smug smile grew bigger. Lycan couldn't help but enjoy her mate's 

"Of course." (Darren)

He walked forward with a brisk pace. An elf who looked to be around twenty put his foot out to trip Darren. Darren of course saw this but acted as if he didn't see. The moment he tried to step over the foot the elf brought it up. Darren moved faster than most gave him credit for. He quickly reached down and grabbed the elf by the ankle. He then brought it up and pushed it outward. Knocking the elf right off his feet. Those around the elf gasped but Darren paid no mind. Even in the act he never even looked at the elf. He simply continued walking towards the platform. After climbing up he lifted the head to look the dean in the face but was greeted with a staff to the face. He half expected the culprit to be the dean but instead it was another elf. He wore blue robes that were similar (but less flamboyant than) to Tal'gore's.

The dean was in the same spot he was previously facing the crowd. 

"This first test will be conducted by the advanced professor for water magic. Maelstrom." (Malgarren)

Darren glared at the water mage. Reaching into his lab coat he pulled out the p250.

"Elbow, or kneecap?" (Darren)

THe water mage hmphed  and started channeling magic into a spell.

"Kneecap then."  (Darren)

Bang the sound was followed by the screaming of hte water mage who was rolling on the ground grasping his knee. However blood wasn't flowing. At the point of impact ice started to spread over the water professors knee. Stopping only when it fully encased his knee.

The crowd was dumbfounded. They looked at the advanced water instructor moaning on the ground. Another mage dressed in white robes came rushing. He easily lept onto the platform and started healing the water instructor. 

"You make the best first impressions." (Lycan)

"I know right." (Darren)

Darren turned to the dean.

"Do I pass?" (Darren)

"What was that?" (Malgarren)

A sarcastic look spread across Darren's face.

"MAGIC." (Darren)

He emphasized the word in an over-dramatic way. The dean wore a defeated look.

"You can pick up your admission paper work in the main office after the rest of the students finish the test." (Malgarren)

The professor wore a defeated look. He knew he couldn't just tell the student no. They had to accept all exceptional talent. To be able to cast a spell that even he couldn't follow was exceptional indeed. Even if he did despise the human.

Darren walked out the way he came. Before reaching the exit he turned around and yelled.

"Can anyone tell me where the main office is." (Darren)

None volunteered an answer.

"I changed my mind maybe a year or two wouldn't be so bad." (Lycan)

"You know it would." (Darren)

The students all wondered who he was talking to but none of them dare mocked or asked. Half assumed he was crazy.

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Damn, that might be the longest yet.

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Also be sure to check out the new pole: Tal'gor or Tal'gore.

Also no chapter tomorrow. I'll be compiling all of arc 1 into one big post.