Even the ultra-patriotic Gaston is annoyed!

Also Felix has a family apparently. Somehow the most surprising thing on this page. I guess his grandpa and his card shop was too embarrassing to mention.

I notice the nobles now don't have bomb collars suddenly, but I went back and checked that they did on the Elite Peon introduction.

they get to do years of child soldier slavery, I wonder why the brass is worried about a rebellion

Why do I have to think of Murderbot diaries where Murderbot explains that it would be shut down if more than a few hundred meters away from a human who is in charge?
I guess their heads would pop if they fail to return from a mission, too...

Jesus. Life in exile as basically child soldiers/test subjects under constant threat of execution by exploding collars.

At least Noah gets a nice room?

I swear we (and they) already knew about this place being their new home, with some comments about not saying their families goodbye. Like we didn't know the ship is strictly leaving Justopea or them being sent on missions, but the other side of it, I think we did.

"Heh, stupid commoners didnt know they'd be boarding a prison island ship! Not us smart nobles though, we knew we'd become fighter slaves

I mean, yes they are kids.
But how is this a surprise in any possible way? The empire used to execute magic users. They should have known the school was basically a prison as well?

I also wonder just how much the 'elite' peons are setting themselves up to be picked upon now? They are massively outnumbered. And lacks the usual levers of power they enjoyed outside.

I guess this is still a major step up from the previous protocol for magic users, but ouch

Looks like the official isn't taking it well either.

Indoctrination is so much easier when your cut off from home and loved ones. Plus the Empire does have some very well justified concerns about a magic user wiping out a city. But mostly this drives home what we have all known for a while really, they're conscripts in the military only a few choose this and well surprise the only special treatment your getting is to keep your head now stand at attention maggot!.

Honestly, this really changes nothing for Noah

Is this related to the student credit she mentioned on the last page, at all?

Whoah Erin looked unhinged before but that new look is outright crazy.

Oh, shit, they're not leaving that place unless by force, are they?

They knew they were screwed before it went mainstream.

Noah's future is uncertain in a fortress full of mysteries. Luckily he's got the right powers to investigate, but will he?

Does this rule pertain to the instructors as well as the students?

@Diju Surely the emperor will want Erin back to train more Royal Guards as they age out of utility