Bus driver: Alright everyone, last stop, Ares City, everyone off!
As the bus driver announced the final stop, passengers began shuffling about and opened the curtains on the bus which woke Ed up from the overnight ride.
Ed: I sure have been dreaming about the past a lot these days.
Ed quickly got up and followed directions on his phone to Ares College. As he got closer he could notice that there were more and more people. There were more street stalls and people were happy. Being next to a college of hunters must be great for security. You couldn’t notice the usual sense of alertness in the smaller towns.
As Ed approached the gate of Ares College he was greeted by a sea of youths who undoubtedly were there to try their luck to get in like him. After all, it was one of the best schools in the area. If one can graduate from Ares College, they would have a much easier time in the military or life in general.
By the time Ed finally got to the front of line he was greeted by a courteous woman who was registering applicants.
Assistant: Good morning, do you have the required paperwork for consideration? You will need proof of your physical, mental, will, and combat effectiveness.
Ed: I do not have certifications for the first three since I didn’t attend a Battle Academy but I have my mercenary license that would prove my combat effectiveness.
Assistant: Very well, for every category you do not have, you have to do the corresponding tests on site.
While not having certifications was a bit unusual, the Assistant explained the other options pretty fast since most people would opt to take the tests regardless of their certifications. There were 3 months between the end of Battle Academy and the entrance exam for Ares College. Most people would improve in 3 months so they would want to prove their new worth in hopes of scoring higher and getting more resources from the school.
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Assistant: Please hand me your mercenary license.
Ed quickly handed his licenses which noted him at a combat level of C-Class. This surprised the assistant as much as it surprised the Wolves during the party. Ed was only 16 years old but he was already at C-Class.
Ed: Is there an issue?
Assistant: Yes, sorry for the delay, but I do not have the capability to register someone with this high of a ranking.
This has never been an issue since a 16 year old with C-Class ability was very rare and everyone knew about them already so there was never a proper procedure for this situation.
Assistant: Please let me bring the supervisor to handle this.
The assistant immediately got up and got the supervisor who was already close by monitoring all the other assistants. The assistant immediately notified the supervisor about the situation and returned with the assistant.
Supervisor: So let me get this straight… you are claiming to be a C-Class hunter at the age of 16? Do you think I was born yesterday? Every person with that capability has been in the papers for months. Don’t you think your falsified license is a bit too ambitious? It would still be explainable to be at D4 or D5 but C? You gotta be really dumb! We get too many people like you these days, trying to cheat your way in. Don’t you realize that you’ll die if you enter the battlefields on false credentials?
Ed: That is an official license. Please check it.
Supervisor: Ha! I don’t have time for that. Void his license registration and have him also take the combat test.
The supervisor immediately left and the assistant finished Ed’s registration. Ed was registered as just Ed since he can waive personal information with a recommendation letter from the Dire Wolves, he could continue to hide his true identity. He just couldn’t go back to his parents after what he had done. Edward no longer existed. Ed didn’t protest the argument any further as he could just prove himself in the test. It would’ve just saved some time if he could use his license.
Assistant: Sorry about the confusion but you are now registered, here is the information and map for the tests for each of the categories. Please proceed to the gym area for further directions. You will also have to go through an additional test to prove that you are 16 or younger since you did not provide information about yourself. You will need an average score of 72 between the three tests to pass and enter the first year general admissions. An average score of 85 will allow you to enter the first year elite course. For the combat test, you can enter general admission if you defeat a D1 manifestation, and elite course if you defeat a D3.
Ed: Thanks, what if I defeat a stronger manifestation?
Assistant: You can then be eligible to skip the first year and enter the second year elite class if you defeat a D5 and have an aggregate score of 90.
Ed: What if I defeat something stronger than a D5?
Assistant: Defeating a C1 and having an aggregate score of 95 would allow you to skip to the third year elite course.
Ed: Thanks, have a good day.