The most UNPOPULAR faction in Heroes 5.

and mages simply prioritize their own goals above everything else) and they also put themselves above others, but they are not evil) ... and I like that)

Well, let's not forget that necromancy is one of the schools of magic;) essentially: Necropolis and Academy have only slightly different ideologies, like for example, Orthodox and Catholic, but in essence, they are two of the closest races to each other.
The only evil race in HoMM is Inferno. Because the demons' goal is to destroy the world, but the goal of all other races is not.