There was three ranks to the classes.
Iron
Silver
Gold
Iron wad filled with commoners.
Common students
Common teachers
Common facilities
Common funding
Iron rank classes was primarily for sponsorships by noble houses to educate employees and sometimes even slaves.
Silver rank consisted of a mix. Some poorer less influential families had their kids in Silver. On the flip side, some rich merchants managed to get their kids in. Commoners who awakened a rare path got automatic sponsorship by the kingdom.
Gold rank was obviously for nobles. It provided the best resources for the students to strive. Due to pressures from houses these students usually outperformed most silver rankers.
It was no surprise then that the Hero was put in gold.
And Kael in iron.
Prior to Elion's first class he was introduced to three students.
Lorin Regaris
Elizabeth Steel had lushous white hair, grey eyes and a muscular yet plump figure.
Shiro Spire was a graceful figure who upon meeting Elion greeted him by name.
"Elion Aurelion the Hero!!! Glad to put a face to the name. My name is Shiro Spire. But just Shiro is perfectly fine." He greeted. His body language to his tonality from his smile to the look in his eye. He spoke as if greeting an old friend he hadn't seen for years.
His aura was pleasant, calm. His attention was seductive. But his hair was purple.
"N-Nice to m-meet you" Elion stuttered staring at his hair.
"Haha, don't be nervous. I might be a royal but I'm only the 3rd. I'm also your upper classman so if you have any troubles feel free to come with me."
"Th-thank you, I will do"
Naturally the other two nobles talked much the same, networking with Elion just as much the royal. Royals were rarely seen. Even at parties they usally just sent representatives in their place.
They were as elusive as the pope. A figurehead that Elion would get the pleasure of meeting one of these days.
After a bit more chatting, Elion was escorted by his new friends to his first class magic.
...
"What are paths?" The teacher asked as he wrote path on the board. Most of the students raised their hands. Even Elion.
"A path is destiny" one plain looking students replied.
"Interesting... anyone else" the teacher went on.
"A path is one's purpose given by the goddess"
"Very good... anyone else" everyone else's hand slowly fell in hesitation.
The teacher struck fear into the hearts of students.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of failure.
They failed to get the approval of the teacher on the obviously correct answer.
"How about you... Hero Elion?"
"A path.. is" Elion thought back to what his father told him on the day of awakening.
"A path is like a waystone. It tells you the direction but it doesn't mean you should go in that direction. Sometimes going around the mountain is easier. But rarely the destination isn't where you want to go."
The entire room gasped at his words. Unthinkable. To go against your path.
"Perfect." The entire class wide-eyed the teacher but he ignored them. "So Hero. Will you go against your path?"
Elion didn't even have to think. "Absolutely not I will protect the people and save this kingdom."
The class roared in cheers but also confusion. What did this have to do with magic?
"Now what does this have to do with magic? You can learn any type of magic regardless of magic regardless of path. It is like swimming upstream to buy a boat"
...
Kael was late. He couldn't find his lecture room. When he finally found someone to ask they laughed and told him that iron rank classes where always in basements or outside.
Kael found the staircase rushed down and around before finally finding his numbers.
Upon entering all the students looked at him.
Being in iron rank signified the opportunity for a better life. Wasting it was not an option no matter how tedious room finding was.
That's why all the stares were hostile.
They judged him to be spoiled at first.
And second they judged him as the shadow.
The only forbidden path.
Kael took a seat at the back and the teacher continued.
"So because of the goddess' help we can learn magic. But only magic aligning to our path. Now with that out of the way let's get onto sensing." The teacher was matter of fact. The words he said were right. He was an Academy Professor after all.
The professor went on to explained how to sense mana.
After his explanation he tested the kids by channeling his energy into an amplifier.
The room lit up with vibrant energy spread throughout the room.
"Magic is invisable to the naked eye. But it can be seen with a skill called {mana sight}. Some are born with it others develop it. But that is only because it is on their path. I will not remind you again. Do not waste your time learning a skill you can't achieve"
In response to channelling all students could vaguely feel a tingling sensation in the room.
All except Kael.
Weeks past. Everyone got better at sensing even working towards channeling.
All except Kael.
No one dared to even talk to him. No one in combat or magic.
And then the crafting class started up.
It usally started up late due to the minimal teaching required but the long times to set up the workshops.
Very few students did both magic and crafting.
In this way, Kael made his first friend.
A muscular brunette with a lavish moustache sat next to him.
"Hello, what's your name black hair," he gruffed. Kael flinched at the question but quickly answered. More excited than afraid to talk to someone.
"Ka-Kyle. And your name?"
"Some call me Greg"
"Some? What do the others call you"
"Smith." Greg smiled jokingly. Kael laughed.
The kind of laugh where you can't seem to stop.
"Haha, Kyle it's not funny" he said as his smile got wider.
"It's just ridiculous. So ridiculous"
With their laughter came more people joining in on the conversation.
Soon a scruffy dwarf by the name of Guymar strolled into the room and everyone quieted down for the best lesson of their lives.
Guymar taught more about channeling and sensing than Kael's magic teacher. The theory wad also completely different with channeling being way easier than sensing.
Akin to how swinging a sword is easier than knowing where the tip is.
With this Kael started channeling into a stone.
Testing what the process did to the stone can easily determine what kind of enchanting comes easier.
For example if the stone was warm to the touch that craftsman was probably better at making fire swords. It didn't mean that they couldn't make an ice sword. Just means it'll be extremely harder to craft.
In this way, Kael started looking forward to his crafting classes.
Especially because of Guymar
And then he remembered Elion.
His brother had not reached out once during the two weeks. He hated to admit it but he preferred it that way. He was more like a master than a brother now. The goddess 'blessed' him with his path.
"Fuck the goddess. It's all her fault"