First University had not only wizarding groups, but also numerous vassal races of Magical Creatures.
These included merfolk, nymphs, Bull-headed Men, centaurs, Giants, goblins, dwarves, and so on. Unlike the Merfolk Tribe, which was hot-tempered and had a long list of dark incidents in its history, the other Magical Creature tribes did not need to live under surveillance and therefore enjoyed somewhat greater freedom.
The most obvious sign of this was that those other Magical Creature tribes could choose to live off campus.
For instance, the Giant tribe that stayed year-round in the heart of the Silent Forest was often known by name but never seen by First University's students. Many unlucky students spent all four years at First University without ever getting the chance to see a living Giant.
Then there were the Bull-headed Men. Because they were numerous, somewhat more intelligent, and not weak in combat, they could choose to live in the middle reaches of the Silent Forest, competing with the forest's bizarre Magical Creatures for living space. Usually, these tribes only briefly migrated under First University's protection when the Black Tide arrived each year.
There was also an exceptionally special class of vassal races. They lived off campus, but because of their unique habits, they had no fixed settlements, instead following water, grass, and prey. The most famous of these was the Centaur Tribe.
Every summer and autumn, when water and grass were abundant and prey plentiful, the Centaur Tribe migrated deep into the Silent Forest to avoid the covetous eyes of wizards. By late winter and early spring, when prey grew scarce, the centaurs migrated back near the school, earning food rations by working for wizards to sustain their tribe.
Outside Alpha Castle, First University had specifically marked out a small campsite for this migratory