It was not uncommon for the academy to admit students that were like Ivan and Mel who got in through scholarships offered by either higher ups of the Order or nobles who would hire them soon after they graduated. So long as you had promise and potential, and you'd proved yourself soon to be useful, someone rich enough could sponsor your studies.
In Ivan's case, he'd caught the attention of a well-renowned officer from the ranks of the Order, as his skills as a wind-wielder were above many. For Mel, he had taken an exam where they would choose scholars that wanted to follow the path of being a Keeper. I heard he'd set his eyes on being an Archivist.
