Our classes each day would be lessons on plants where the teacher would bring in a herb from outside for each of us. We would have to draw the herb multiple times. Look the herb or plant up in our textbook and list out what uses the plant has and where it is commonly found if it is edible or poisonous. How to prepare it for use and all sorts of other different questions.
At the end of the week we would be given a paper with pictures of the plants and have to write out what they do as a test.
The same went for monsters. draw the monster. List it's weaknesses like for a slime it was the core in the center. Usable and sellable parts of a monster. Location they are found commonly and how best to get rid of them and be tested on it in at the end of the week.
Mages would be given tests on magic each week as well. The test would include listing a basic spell what it's uses were how to cast it and when best to use it. They would be tested on spell accuracy and speed of casting the spell on targets.
Fighters had weapon maintenance. Which I passed with flying colors. An obstacle course. Then basic fitness tests from running to lifting weights.
Magic swordsmen had to do both.
Next up was camp preparation tests. Each child was given an army standard kit containing the basics for setting up a camp.
1single person tent. 1 backpack. 1 knife. 1 flint striker. 1 small metal pot. 1 canteen. 1 emergency medical pouch filled with 1 vial of antidote, 1 vial of stomach relief potion, 1 emergency health potion which worked by pouring it onto a wound, and some basic bandages. A small roll of wire for setting traps and some fishing hooks.
Not gunna lie I have fears like every other person and my greatest fears are, Needles, Heights, and Fish. I know it sounds ridiculous but being near any type of fish larger than a goldfish send me into fight or flight panic mode. I don't eat fish I don't touch fish I don't go near fish. (A/N This is 100% True in real life and the novel.)
The academy has a wooded area and we are tasked with setting up a proper campsite. Starting a fire and locating water. Water is always a first on the list as even here they have the 3s of survival. 3 minutes no air. 3 days no water. 3 weeks no food. This of course is subject to change as if you are in a desert area you may need much more water much quicker than that.
We could of course modify our army kits as we are required to now carry the backpack everywhere with us to get used to having it on hand. Some kids would add metal axes, blankets, a shovel or things they saw fit.
I just added a blanket I had the multi-tool which could turn into any tool I needed.
We got lots of practice setting up tents, starting fires, and making soups using plants placed in the area by the teacher. Of course there were some idiots who ended up with stomach aches from not looking at plants properly it was a good lesson. They would then have to do an essay on the plant they used and why not to use it.
We would get practice setting up traps in marked locations and the teacher would go around examining the traps then placing a rabbit in correct traps we would have to kill, clean and cook.
Good experiences man. After we had gotten down setting up camp. We would be given challenges such as make a camp without a tent. So we learned how to make camp from branches, leaves, and other plants. We would be graded on how fast it was made, the sturdiness and if it was waterproof. Bonus points were added if it was hidden from sight.
So for the first two years of school we learned how to live in any situation.
We learned how to quietly move and hide in forests to evade being spotted by monsters or people. we were 8 year old professional campers.
For the next two years after that we did loads of body strengthening exercises. Loads of hand to hand sparring and weapon training. Proper magical combat and fighter body strengthening usage. Most of the mages had a very bad habit since they didn't think they were fighters they did what most new mages do. They stand in one spot and just throw spells. This is not good. You need to be constantly moving and throwing spells so your opponent doesn't get to your position. So we had to run laps on an obstacle course and cast spells at targets while we moved.
Fighters where made to constantly have their body enhancement on so we could activate it at a moments notice.
Most of the mage children had learned the spells they needed to upgrade their ranks I had learned wind magic as a disguise so people didn't know I could use other magics as a surprise move. Wind blade, Air Blast, Air platform, Air breath, and Propulsion. Basic air moves for used by everyone.
The fighters would soon be heading to the beginner dungeon for their status upgrades accompanied by the teacher or a staff member.
Most of the kids were extremely excited to go into the dungeon for the first time. Remember to get a title upgraded it was 5 floors of slimes 5 floors of goblins and then a boss ogre.
If you passed them all you would be able to graduate or stay on and learn new skills. I of course would be staying on.