Academy of Familiars

Upon enrollment, all students are assigned to one of five classes — from the highest to the lowest. The class is determined based on the results of the introductory ritual: the strength of the summoned familiar and the summoner's personal assessments.
The first class is "Adamant". The elite of the Academy. Units whose familiar has displayed exceptional power, and the entrance scores are impeccable.
The second class is "Gold". Outstanding talents second only to the "Adamant" elite.
The third class is "Steel". Solid middle-class people with good potential.
The fourth class is "Bronze". Those whose familiars or knowledge turned out to be lower than expected, but still worthy of learning.
The fifth grade is "Copper". The lowest level. Students who have passed are on the verge of dropping out.
The student's class is not permanent and is reviewed every six months based on the results of exams and current academic performance. Promotion or relegation occurs by the decision of the Academic Council, but is subject to clear rules.:
The main factor of the transfer is academic performance and grades (theory, practice, combat simulation, communication control).
The familiar's power lays the foundation upon admission, but it does not grow further (with very rare exceptions). Growth occurs exclusively in the depth of communication, which makes it possible to use the existing potential more effectively.
Transitions happen often, sometimes every semester: during the academic year, you can both take off and slide if you neglect classes or, on the contrary, make a breakthrough in communication skills. This system keeps everyone on their toes and does not allow them to rest on the laurels of the original call.

The training is divided into three courses, each lasting one academic year.
The first course is the basics of communication with a familiar, basic magic and the theory of symbiosis.
The second course is magic, advanced practice, combat interaction and specialization.
The third year is higher magic, mastery, and a thesis.
At the end of each course, the student is required to take a Milestone Exam, a comprehensive test of communication, strength, and knowledge.
Successful completion allows you to move up the course.
Failure leaves the student in the same course until the next exam session (one year later). The number of retakes is unlimited.
Graduates who pass all three levels receive the title of a full-fledged summoner magician and the right to leave the walls of the Academy.

All summoned familiars are classified on the same five-step scale as the student classes:Copper, Bronze, Steel, Gold, Adamant. The rank is assigned at the time of summoning, reflecting the innate magical potential, the size of the reserve, the rarity of the species and the combat value.
Copper:
Small, ordinary creatures and the simplest spirits.
Examples: mice, rats, moles, sparrows, small lizards, ferrets, weak will-o'-the-wisps, low spirits and elementals.
Characteristics: minimal mana reserve, limited set of primitive abilities, almost zero combat fitness.
Bronze:
Creatures slightly larger or with the beginnings of magic, but not yet beyond the ordinary.
Examples: foxes, badgers, crows, small owls, medium-sized snakes, cats, weak elementals, and spirits.
Specifications: a modest reserve, one or two useful abilities, can serve as scouts, messengers or weak support.
Steel:
Notable magical beasts and spirits whose power is palpable and multifaceted.
Examples: wolves, large birds of prey, lynxes, spirits, and medium-strength elementals.
Characteristics: good reserve, multiple active abilities, full combat and defensive use.
Gold:
Rare, powerful creatures that are often the pinnacle of their species or possess strong innate magic.
Examples: manticores, griffins, wyverns, phoenixes, spirits of the elements of a high order (Ifrit, undine), demons of the lower circle.
Characteristics: a huge reserve, several powerful combat and utilitarian skills, an aura of fear or submission, the beginnings of a mind equal to a human.
Adamant:
The top of the hierarchy are creatures from legends, whose appearance itself becomes an event.
Examples: true dragons, phoenixes of the primordial fire, arch spirits, white kitsune foxes with nine tails, ancient elementals.
Characteristics: colossal magical potential, transformative power, the ability to influence the reality around, the highest autonomy, and often their own goals, which the summoner has to reckon with.

The summoner bears full responsibility for the actions of his familiar within the walls of the Academy.
Students of higher grades have the right to order younger students within the framework of academic assignments and duties — direct insubordination is punishable.
Duels between summoners are allowed only in the presence of a mentor.
Visits to the library, alchemical laboratories and landfills are strictly permitted: the higher the class, the more areas are open for free access.

1. Introduction to symbiotic magic — the basic laws of communication, the theory of soul resonance.
2. Anatomy and physiology of familiars — the structure of magical creatures, their needs and vulnerabilities.
3. The practice of primary contact is the installation and retention of a telepathic thread.
4. Energy exchange — the principles of feeding the familiar and taking energy without harming both.
5. The history of Summoning — the great summoners of the past, the evolution of rituals, the legends of the first symbioses.
6. Rune language — the initial course of reading and writing invocation signs.
7. Summoner's physical fitness — endurance, coordination, basic self-defense without using a familiar.

1. General theory of magic — fundamental laws, energy flows, principles of spell construction without connection with a familiar.
2. Alchemy and potion—making elixirs, poisons, and antidotes; working with ingredients, including scales, feathers, and saliva from your own beast.
3. Combat synchronization — joint maneuvering with a familiar, division of attention, silent commands.
4. Defensive arts — shields, barriers, counter-spells, ways to hide both yourself and your companion.
5. Artefactorics (initial course) — creating simple amulets, recharging storage devices, binding charms to tangible objects.
6. Healing and first aid — diagnosis of magical and bodily injuries, treatment of humans and familiars.
7. Cryptozoology — classification of unexplored or dangerous magical creatures, habits of wild forms, and measures of survival when encountered.
8. Ethics of symbiosis — the moral boundaries of using a familiar, respect for the will of others, the prevention of cruelty and breaking the bond.

1. Advanced magic — in-depth study of complex spells, combinatorial charms, multi-layered constructs that do not require the direct participation of a familiar. The emphasis is on the independent power of the summoner.
2. Advanced artefactorics — creation of named artifacts, long-term charms, magical traps.
3. Magical law and diplomacy — interstate norms regarding summoners, the status of familiars, embassy etiquette, dispute resolution.
4. Borrowing the powers of a familiar is the practice of partial fusion: temporary acquisition of the qualities of a beast (animal sense, enhanced regeneration, elemental attack) without complete transformation. Control and dosing of borrowed power.
5. Crisis management — actions in case of communication breakdown, familiar rebellion, magical disasters, psychological stability in extreme conditions.
6. Diploma internship — six months of real tasks under the supervision of a mentor in the chosen specialization.
7. Preparation for the Graduation ritual is a synthesis of all knowledge and skills, the final exam that completes the training.

Class "Copper" — Magister Boris Krechet
Appearance: stocky man in his fifties, short gray crew cut, deep scar across his left eyebrow, heavy chin. He always wears a strict navy blue uniform without insignia, and his boots are highly polished.
Character and severity: a former combat officer, stern but not violent. He speaks in short, clipped phrases, can't stand excuses and laziness. Discipline is the only way for him to survive with a weak familiar. Students of the "Copper" are driven by drill and repeated repetitions of basic techniques, repeating: "Your beast is small—your will must be iron." At the same time, he knows everyone by name, remembers their weaknesses and is secretly proud of those who do not give up.
Familiar: a large gray wolfhound named Thunder, with an iron collar. Thunder doesn't make a sound without a command and can subdue the most nervous small familiars with a single glance.

Class "Bronze" — Magister Eliza Wells
Appearance: a thin lady in her forties, smoothly combed dark hair gathered in a tight knot, sharp features, half-glasses on a thin chain. A mouse-colored robe with a dozen hidden pockets, which invariably contain scrolls, measuring tapes, and dried herbs.
Character and rigor: meticulous analyst and pedant. She speaks softly, but every word is weighty, sarcasm is sharp as a needle. She does not forgive mistakes, demanding to recalculate, sketch and explain the reason for the failure on three sheets. The students of "Bronze" live under the yoke of endless calculations, tactical tasks and communication checks, but it is precisely because of this that their exam survival rate is suspiciously high.
Familiar: A large albino raven named Lex, with scarlet eyes and the ability to perfectly reproduce the speech he hears. He often sits on the master's shoulder and repeats their ridiculous excuses after negligent students.

Steel class — Magister Victor Reinhard
Appearance: tall, thin, with long black shoulder-length hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Dark gray eyes with a squint, rapid movements, as before an attack. He prefers a black doublet and high boots without heels, with a narrow blade on his belt.
Character and rigor: a provocateur and a master of duels. He is sharp, ironic, and is not afraid to humiliate a student in front of the entire class in order to inflame his anger and make him surpass himself. He considers "Steel" to be a springboard: "Either you rush up or roll back into Copper — there is no third option." He arranges sudden training battles, changes the rules on the go, and demands full commitment at every moment. At the same time, he does not forgive cowardice and betrayal, but respects stubbornness.
Familiar: A shadow jaguar named Ashur, able to blend into any shadow. It materializes most often at the most inopportune moment for students — right behind the back of the one who relaxed.

Gold class — Magister Aurelia d'maurier
Appearance: a majestic woman of aristocratic appearance, indeterminate age — you can give either thirty-five or fifty. Her silver-white hair is piled high with pearl pins, her eyes are light steel, and her gaze is icy. He wears a long ivory robe with gold embroidery on the collar and sleeves, and a family ring on his finger.
Character and severity: cold, arrogant, demanding to the point of cruelty. Etiquette, discipline, and perfect mastery of magic are the minimum threshold. He addresses students exclusively by last name. He examines mistakes publicly and annihilatingly calmly, without raising his voice. He believes that "Gold" is a status that needs to be confirmed hourly, and he doesn't let anyone down. Aurelia appreciates those who meet her standards, but she never openly shows it.
Familiar: A white bird with a long snake-like body, it has two pairs of wings, the second pair is slightly smaller than the first, the feathers at the ends of the wings are painted in gold, the claws on the paws and the beak are also gold in color. It often sits on a special stand next to the department and watches the students no less contemptuously than the hostess.

Adamant Class — Magister Xavier Morgan
Appearance: a man of indeterminate age — he looks over forty, but there is no gray in his hair, and there is an ancient weariness in his eyes. The right eye is gray, the left is cloudy gold. He dresses in a simple dark cape and carries a rough metal staff covered with runes.
Character and rigor: The legend of the Academy, the Dragon Tamer. He speaks softly, rarely, but every word is like a bell striking. He demands the impossible, sends students to boundary tests, where the connection with the familiar is checked for a break. He believes that true strength is born only at the limit, and does not waste time on those who are afraid to take risks. However, he will never let you really die - at the last moment he will definitely step in and say just as quietly: "...The next attempt is in three days." Respects will and perseverance.
Familiar: A shadow dragon named Nifas with webbed wings, capable of becoming a disembodied haze, can also change the size of his body (from the size of a cat to the size of an elephant). Nifas is almost always next to the master and can translate his words directly into the students' minds, which adds a sense of omnipresence.