After the headmaster's speech was concluded, several of the professors began to pass out class schedules to each of the students. Some of the professors also employed wind magic to float the correct schedule to each student. After receiving xeir schedule, xey took a look at the assigned classes.
In the Crystal Academy, students were allowed a flexible schedule. As long as they took the minimum amount of classes per subject each week, which was three, they were free to do as they wished. They could choose to take all of their classes in the first three days of the week, then have the rest of the week, plus the weekend, to do whatever they wanted.
In addition to the main assigned subjects, there were also optional classes such as Blacksmithing, Music, Painting, Foreign Languages, and even Enchanting and Runes. Kyōi was particularly interested in the blacksmithing classes since xey felt it would be cool to create xeir own armor and weapons.
The required subjects for all students included things like History, Mana Control, and Weapon Fighting. They were exactly what it sounded like. Mana Control was useful even for people without a decent elemental affinity. Pure mana could be used to enhance and strengthen a warrior's body even if they normally couldn't use magic. Weapon Fighting, Kyōi soon found out from one of the older students, was basically this world's version of Physical Education. It made sure the students stayed in shape and had at least some knowledge of how to fight.
Some of the required classes given to each student depended on the talents they showed proficiency with during the exam. Kyōi had sword-fighting and fire magic control as two of xeir required classes.
Since it was only the first week of school, the students were instructed to just take the week to find their classes, maybe meet the teachers, and sign up for any of the optional classes. The students who were staying at the academy dorms were also told to go find their dorms and get everything settled in.
Kyōi was one of the students who were assigned a dorm, but xey weren't sure if xey could stay in it. After all, the headmaster knew xey were an Avian, but not that xey were a phoenix. Finally, xey decided to check the dorms out later and decide then.
Kyōi held out one arm for Albert to land on as he flew down from his perch on the roof. He screeched loudly to indicate his anger and Kyōi could tell he was glaring at the elf boy from before. "Calm down, you're screeching right in my ear," Xey muttered softly as xey tilted xeir head slightly away from the white hawk. "Where should we go first?" Finally, xey decided to go sign up for the optional classes.
Asking around, xey soon got the directions to the forge, which was where the blacksmithing classes would be taking place. As xey began to make xeir way towards the forge, xey noticed a couple of other students, two second years and a third year, also heading towards the same area.
As the group of students got to the forging area, the temperature began to rise quickly. Although the two second-year students showed a sliver of discomfort, both the third-year student and Kyōi were entirely unbothered by the heat.
The third-year was used to the heat since he had taken the blacksmithing classes both of his other years before, but he was surprised to see a first-year who didn't show any signs of discomfort towards the high temperature.
Of course, as a phoenix, Kyōi was used to high temperatures. When xey had first been reincarnated into this world, xey had hatched in a volcano. While hunting in the said volcano, xey had accidentally fallen into the lava more than once, but thanks to xeir passive skill of Fireproof, xey were unharmed by the burning hot magma. To xem, the lava merely felt like a warm bath, and it was quite soothing.
As the students reached the main forge, where a burly dwarf was putting a piece of metal in the flames, the third-year student stepped forward. "Professor Strongarm, I'm here to sign back up for your classes. Sully, Andrea, and a new first-year student are here as well."
The blacksmith glanced up from his work and took the piece of metal out of the forge. He dropped it into a barrel of oil to cool the metal before turning towards the students. "Welcome back Ashe, Sully, and Andrea. Well, you know what to do already, so get to work." "Yes sir!" The third-year and two second-year students immediately began to grab pieces of metal and headed to the forge. Meanwhile, the dwarven blacksmith turned to study Kyōi. "You're a first-year, right? Well, to be able to become my apprentice, I have the students work on an item to show their potential. Do you have any experience with blacksmithing? If not, I will teach you how to properly forge an item, though I won't teach you any specific techniques or anything like that."
Xey nodded xeir head slightly. In the old world, xey had been friends with a girl who enjoyed recreating and forging ancient weapons. She had taught xem a little bit about forging, enough to create a small sword or knife if given the proper materials and tools. Of course, that was with mechanical tools that didn't seem to exist in this world.
"Alright then. Metals are over there, feel free to choose a piece. You can make whatever you want, whether it's a decorative item or a weapon." The blacksmith gestured for xem to get to work.
As Albert took off, most likely to either go hunt or explore, Kyōi chose a piece of metal and brought it over to the forge. Using xeir control of fire mana, xey could ensure the metal bar was heated quickly and evenly. As xey began to start hammering on the glowing metal, xey began to mentally sketch out a design. Xey decided to create an 8-inch single-edged dagger called a kaiken. The kaiken dagger was used mainly for self-defense, especially for indoor battles where a longer blade would hamper one's movement and were more inconvenient.
As Kyōi focused on xeir work, xey didn't notice the blacksmith watching xem work, his attention split between the three students who he already knew were fairly talented at blacksmithing, and the new first-year student who seemed to have some experience with bladesmithing.