The P.E lesson at schools was practically combat lessons, each student would spar against a training golem that would only produce light attacks but had considerably defence to let the children hone their skills.
In this class Max and Astarte were placed even the prodigies of this school were only at intermediate level with their weapon arts. They attacked in a smooth nice flow and we're all trained to protect their vitals however their strength was considerably lacking. It was known that due to the mana enhancements most placed upon themselves whislt in combat a humans strength would reach a point of being easily able to punch through walls however due to this reliance on enhancements very few trained their strength they only focused on their agility and reflexes and assumed they would be fine once they could utilise mana, they were not wrong as soon in a week they would have an affinity test and would all be taught the national breathing exercises to be able to store mana in their systems and from their they would be able to manipulate it to the level they train it was all up to them how far they could take their natural talent.
This was common for most of the kids in the room including Astarte although she had been trained she was also considered a genius who would not need to rely on brute force in her battles.
Maximillien on the other hand only wielded his sword and within 10 seconds he'd dealt 5 blows each dismembering two arms, two legs and one head. He had totally destroyed the golem and caused everyone to look at him in sheer shock, the teacher included.
What caused the class to spit blood however was the words that left his mouth "Inadequate." If that to him was inadequate then in his eyes what were they.
Max summoned another golem and then another 5 soon 10 and eventually the teacher had to make him stop lest he spent the whole years budget in one class.
The only word the class had for him was strange. He was far too strange, no one, adults included should not be so strong when they closely watched his fluid movements they saw not one wasted action and saw no resistance as his blade sliced stone. He was already at the level of an augmented human, so how strong would he be if he had his mana? What if his mana was monstrous just as the rest of him? Just who exactly was this strange boy.
Astarte saw the conflicting look in the eyes of her classmates and felt pity for Max, with his monstrous talent how would he ever make friends other then her. He would scare countless people away even now the teacher didn't want to speak to him and she had no doubts the scars on him would spread rumours of a child soldier but what was even sadder was how they wouldn't be far from the truth, She had a feeling Max had taken another life but he never spoke of such things he only ever gave her goofy smiles.
Max inside felt no different he was only doing what the teacher wanted and something he had been trained to do by his father. If he met a foe they wouldn't spare him so why would he ever hold back but deep down he had feelings he had repressed for many years and in fact a dormant blessing from a certain God was about to awaken.
The lesson ended at that point and the teacher realised he had nothing to teach Max so he suggested in future he could train but also help the others get used to fighting.
The senior class was abuzz with the rumours of Max but also about the upcoming ceremony of aptitude, the results would change their lives and see if dreams could be made reality or if they would stop before they ever started. The upper echelons of society placed large pressure on their children to be successful even though their offspring had no say in their aptitudes or their talents.
A week rolled by and the ceremony was due to begin, the school head master had come and everybody was very apprehensive about their talents.
Except for Max and Astarte they both knew their aptitudes before they left for school at the start of the year, due to Astartes psuedo-God blood and soul she was at the peak of Magus and could hold in fact 10x her lung capacity of mana and weild it even smoother then her natural blood flow she was to become someone very scary especially when combined with her royal breathing technique gifted to her by Leonidas.
Max on the other hand was forbidden to tell others of his capabilities even Astarte didn't know only him and Leonidas knew his truth.
He had the capabilities to be stronger then Leonidas.
He was to reign as Emperor... If fate allows it.