Magic Academy

The Academy rises into the sky like a grim stone giant, carved from a single rock of black basalt, shimmering with the dampness of lead. Countless spires and towers, sharp as fangs, pierce the low clouds, their silhouettes distorted by the moonlight, as if in a crooked mirror. The loophole windows glow with a dim, uneven light, reminiscent of the eyes of a sleeping but alert monster. Moss and dark ivy tenaciously entwine the ancient walls, and in some places the stone seems to have a life of its own, shifting and quietly creaking. The bridge to the main gates is narrow and devoid of railings, lost in the fog swirling over the abyss. The overall impression is not of a welcoming school, but of an impregnable citadel, guarding dark secrets and forgotten spells.

Inside, the castle is a labyrinth of endless passages, spiral staircases that change direction at will, and halls with impossibly high ceilings that disappear into the darkness. The air is cool, scented with old stone, the wax of centuries-old candles, and subtle, alien aromas—dried herbs, ozone after a burst of magic, cold copper. The walls are paneled with dark wood and gray stone, and instead of light tapestries, there are massive draperies the color of blood-stained burgundy or night blue, and shadows that seem to move out of the corner of your eye.

Floorboards creak underfoot, and the stone slabs of the main halls have been polished to a mirror shine by time and countless footsteps. The vaults are supported by columns adorned with carvings depicting not only mythical creatures but also scenes from ancient, obscure rituals. The only sources of light are crystal balls with flickering flames within, torches, and candelabra, whose reflections dance across the walls, creating a frightening, dynamic play of shadows. The silence is broken only by the distant echo of footsteps, subdued whispers around the corner, and the barely audible, breathing hum of the fortress itself, which not only stands, but watches. This is a place where splendor and decay are intertwined, and magic feels like something ancient and dense.

The room resembles an ancient amphitheater or an alchemist's lecture hall more than a bright classroom. It is narrow and tall, stretched upward, creating an oppressive sense of confinement. Instead of windows, there are dim globes of magical light, suspended between the stone ribs of the vaulted ceiling, lost in the gloom.

Spotlight: A huge slab of dark, polished slate, nearly reaching the ceiling, is mounted against the wall opposite the entrance. It serves as a chalkboard—people write on it with chalk, luminous runes, or simply trace symbols with their fingers, leaving shimmering marks. The surface is covered with numerous old, not completely erased marks, scratches, and stains from chemicals.

In front of this slab, on a small elevation, stands a massive professor's desk made of black oak, covered with deep scratches, wax stains and traces of accidentally spilled potions.

Student Area: Seven tiers rise from this table like an amphitheater. Each tier is a long, heavy, semicircular desk of dark wood, divided in two directly down the center, opposite the entrance, creating a narrow passage for descent. The desks are arranged in terraces, so that the topmost, seventh row, is the highest and furthest, while the first is almost at the professor's feet. Sitting in the upper tiers means looking down on the proceedings below, but also being more visible to the professor. The wood of the desks is riddled with the marks of generations of students—runes carved here, traces of charred small explosions, and frozen droplets of unknown substances.

The Professor's Private Quarters: To the side of the large blackboard, almost flush with the wall, is a discreet but massive oak door with iron fittings. It leads to the professor's private quarters. This small but self-sufficient refuge is hidden beneath the stone: a modest living room with the obligatory fireplace, a partitioned alcove for kitchen needs, a workspace cluttered with books and artifacts, and a sleeping alcove. The decor and atmosphere of these rooms are entirely up to the professor—they might smell of old tomes, dried herbs, ozone, blood, or incense, reflecting the essence of their occupant. It is their fortress within a fortress.

In contrast to the oppressive, monumental halls of the academy, the dormitory feels almost... lived-in. The breath of ancient stones and the severity of its lines can still be felt here, but it begins to show signs of habitation, even a clumsy attempt to create the semblance of a home.

Common areas: Spacious hallways with high, but less intimidating, ceilings. The walls are paneled in dark wood, concealing the dampness of the stone, where magically tacked announcements, posters for underground student clubs, and the marks of long-removed posters are found. A fireplace (a real wood-burning one) at the far end of the room is the focal point. Worn but soft armchairs and sofas covered with threadbare blankets cluster around it. The air is filled with the constant whispers, laughter, and smell of burning logs, dried herbs, and tea.

The corridors and staircases are wide, lined with long, slightly faded carpets that muffle the sound of footsteps. The walls are lit not by crystal globes, but by warmer, matte lamps in bronze sconces. The air smells not of ozone and dust, but of wood, wax, and that elusive aroma that arises when a variety of creatures live in the same place for a long time.

Personal quarters: Doors are massive, but often decorated with personal markings: carved runes, glued feathers, dried branches, miniature shields. Behind them, they conceal not luxurious apartments, but a place of power for the student. The room is usually divided into a study area (a sturdy desk, shelves for books and components) and a sleeping area (a loft bed or simply a massive bed, a chest for things). A small loophole window, often draped with fabric, adds coziness or conceals the interior from prying eyes.

Here, a little more is permitted: you can dim the lights, hang up your own maps or charts, and store personal amulets and trinkets. The stone walls in the rooms are often hidden under homemade tapestries, thick paper wallpaper, or simply sketched in charcoal and chalk. This is a personal fortress that the student reclaims from the darkness of the academy.

• Werewolves: People with animal ears and one bushy tail (wolf, fox, tiger, etc.). Often have sharper fangs and slit pupils. • Kitsune: People with fox ears and several fluffy tails (from one to nine). There is a sly sparkle in their gaze. • Vampires: Pale, almost porcelain skin, bright red, burgundy, or gold eyes. Fangs may be visible when smiling. Movements are unnaturally graceful. • Demons - subspecies: Fire Demons: Skin is red, orange, or black, eyes glow like coals, and small horns sometimes emerge from their hair. Heat radiates from them. Shadow Demons: Their skin is ash-gray or bluish-black, their pupil-less eyes are just two whitish spots. They can literally dissolve into the darkness. Blood Demons: Pale, with scarlet veins under their skin, long claws and sharp teeth. They smell of copper and sulfur. · Tempting Demons (Incubi/Succubi): Their beauty is flawless, yet cold. They may have small, graceful horns and a thin tail with a heart or spike. An intoxicating aroma lingers around them. • Aasimar (Scions of Angelic Blood): Their features are flawless, but with a harsh edge. Their skin may have a faint golden or silver tint, and their eyes glow with a subdued, holy light. • Mermaids (in human form): Skin with a pearlescent or bluish tint. Barely visible webbing between the fingers. Eyes the color of sea green. • Nagi: Skin with a fine snake-like texture, eyes with vertical pupils, tongue sometimes forked. Movements are smooth, hypnotic. • Fairies: Miniature, with translucent shimmering wings (butterflies, dragonflies, moths). Facial features are refined. • Draconids (half-dragons): Large, powerful. On the skin there are areas of small scales (shoulders, spine). Eyes with vertical pupils. May have small horns. • Phoenixes (in human form): Hair and eyes of fiery shades (red, gold, scarlet). They emanate a subtle warmth, sometimes sparks flicker.

• Light Sidhe (Faeries of Light): They seem to be woven from sunlight and mist: light hair, clear eyes, skin that seems to glow from within. Ears are pointed. Movements are light, but detached. • Dark Sidhe (Shadow Fae): With features of the night: black hair, eyes - starry or solid dark color, pale skin with a bluish tint. A cold aura, a heavy gaze. • Sirens: They may resemble mermaids in appearance, but their beauty is imbued with danger. They often have overly sharp teeth, and their gaze lacks warmth. Their voice sounds like a fatal melody. • Veelas (half-birds): Sharp, almost beak-like features, piercing gaze. Instead of hair, feathers are sparse or woven in. Fingers are long, clawed. Movements are sharp. • Half-veils: Retain only a few traits: unusual eye color, light feathering on the wrists, sharp features. The voice has a slight attractive magic. • Light Elves: Classic pointed ears, refined features, golden or ash-colored hair. Light eyes (blue, green, gray). Warm skin tones. Smooth, noble movements. • Dark Elves (Drow): Jet-black or deep purple skin, hair white, silver, or pale blue. Eyes are often red, purple, or pink. Discomfort in bright light. • High Elves: An ancient, nearly extinct race. Their ears are even more pointed, their fingers unnaturally long. Their skin shimmers with silver or moonlight. Their pupil-less eyes are smooth and glow with a pearly light. They exude an air of age-old power and aloofness. • Nymphs: Spirits of forests, waters, or mountains. They appear as beautiful girls with skin the color of bark, moss, or water. Their hair is like vines or streams. Instead of legs, they sometimes have hooves or roots. They smell of damp earth and flowers. • Liches: Powerful undead. They look like withered mummies or skeletons in rich clothes. Cold lights (blue, green, purple) glow in their eye sockets. Instead of a voice, they have a rasping or whispering sound from nowhere.

• Gargoyles (in "stone-like" form): Skin is like rough, cracked stone or ash-gray. May have stone wings on their back, horns, or claws. The gaze is fixed and heavy. • Ghosts/Spirits (materialized): Appear translucent, outlines wavering like smoke. Lack of weight in gait, quiet voice, slight smoky aura. • Succubi/Incubi: Masters of seduction with a dangerous, alluring aura. Their beauty is flawless, but lacks warmth—it is cold and calculating. They often have hidden demonic features: in certain lights, small, graceful horns, a thin, goad-like tail, or a barely noticeable skin tone (crimson, lilac, charcoal) are visible. Their eyes can change color, captivating the gaze, and their smile reveals a predatory, hungry grace. A light, intoxicating aroma always hovers around them, a mixture of expensive perfume and pre-storm ozone.

1. Transfiguration (matter alteration). A compulsory course starting in first year. The study of the fundamental rewriting of reality. The mistakes here aren't funny—they're monstrous: petrified limbs, living flesh statues, or unstable matter slowly devouring everything around it.
2. Potion-Making. A compulsory subject starting in the first year. The foundation of survival and power. Students learn to brew not just sleeping potions, but acids, paralyzing poisons, rage elixirs, and mind-altering compounds. Cuts, burns, and minor poisonings are part of the learning process.
3. Alchemy. Advanced Potion-Making for 7th, 8th, and 9th years. The higher chemistry of soul and matter. Working with the Philosopher's Stone (or its pale imitations), transmuting metals, creating homunculi, and attempting to cheat death itself. The laboratories reek of blood, mercury, and existential dread.
4. Theory of Magic. Required from first year. The foundation of all knowledge. A study of the sources of magic (internal, external, shadow, celestial), its costs, and its consequences. Seemingly boring lectures reveal why a careless spell can drain years of life or attract the attention of external entities.
5. Martial Arts. Required starting in fourth year. Magic is out. Here they teach you to fight to the death when your spells have run out. They break bones, practice chokeholds, and use the environment as a weapon. No mercy.
6. Disciplines. Required starting in the third year. A synthesis of combat magic, fencing, and dueling tactics. Development of a personal fighting style, where staff, blade, and lightning curse are a single unit. Strict, almost military-like discipline.
7. Fencing. Elective, allowed from second year. The art of wielding blades, from daggers to magical swords. Emphasis on speed, precision, and the psychology of combat. Blood on training blades is common.

8. Astronomy. Required for first, second, and third years, then optional. More than just star names. Studying the cycles of influence of stars on magical currents, planetary configurations that open portals, and predicting cataclysms based on the movements of celestial bodies.
9. Foresight/Prophecy. An elective starting in third year. A dangerous gift. Students are taught to filter the flow of visions, reading omens in the flight of birds, the entrails of sacrificial animals, and the patterns of wine sediment. The risk of witnessing one's own death or going mad from the chaos of possible futures is real.
10. Runes. Required starting in the third year. The language of the world order. Each rune is a bundle of power. Students study their basic meanings, methods of application (ink, carving, burning), and simple combinations for protection, strengthening, or mitigating curses.
11. Numerology. Required from the third year. The logic of magic. The study of the weaving of rune chains and spells. How the power of one symbol is multiplied or distorted by the proximity of another. Mathematics, where a miscalculation leads to explosive feedback.
12. Ancient Runes. Required for courses 7, 8, and 9. An advanced course in runes and numerology. Working with proto-runes that have lost their original meaning, but not their power. Constructing complex seals capable of trapping demons, stopping time for a moment, or burning away a soul.
13. Anatomy. Elective starting in fifth year. Knowledge is power, and this power is absolute. A detailed study of the structure of all humanoid and many non-humanoid races. Their vulnerabilities, magical centers, and regeneration methods. For a healer, it's a tool; for a battle mage, it's a manual for elimination.
14. Spells/Charms. Required from the first year. From the mundane "light a fire" to the complex "erase memory." The foundation of practical magic. Emphasis on precision of gesture, willpower, and control to prevent a "stunning" blow from turning into a "gut-ripping" one.

15. Study of Magical Plants. Required starting in second year. Flora as an ally and a killer. Knowledge of which herb will heal a silver wound, and which berry will cause prophetic delirium; how to negotiate with the Guardian Tree and avoid the tentacles of the Carnivorous Hogweed.
16. Study of Magical Creatures. Required starting in third year. Classification, behavior, weaknesses, and negotiating abilities. How to distinguish a young dragon from an old one, how to deal with a kitsune, what to offer a hungry troll, and why it's best not to argue with a veela.
17. Dueling. An optional course for fifth-year students. The pinnacle of magical combat under strict, deadly rules. A testing ground for everything learned: reaction speed, cunning, power, and psychological pressure. Fatalities are rare, but not impossible.
18. Dark Arts. Required starting in fifth year for those with a predisposition. A systematic study of necromancy, blood curses, shadow summonings, and psychic attacks. Not romantic, but a cold technology of power through pain, fear, and death. Control over the student is tighter than in any other class.
19. Light Arts. Required from the 5th year for those with a predisposition. The art of protection, banishment, healing, and blessing. But light blinds and burns. Here they teach not kindness, but an unwavering will capable of burning away evil with sacred flame and casting chains of pure energy. Power requires sacrificial discipline.
20. Pureblood Traditions. Required starting in 5th year. An ideological subject. It explores holidays, rituals, marriage contracts, and the history of ancient magical families. Essentially, it explores the hierarchy, politics, and hidden laws of the aristocracy of both the Dark and Light courts.
21. Manners/Etiquette. Required from 1st to 5th years. Weapons in a world where an insult can lead to blood feuds. How to behave with the sidhe, what not to say to a vampire, how to properly greet an angelic offspring, and when a simple nod to a draconian is sufficient. Survival in society.

22. Defense Against the Dark and Light Arts. Required from the 5th year. Harsh practice. How to resist the curse of suffocation, break compulsion spells, reflect a beam of holy energy without becoming an evil spirit, and survive a ritual field.
23. Ritualology. Required starting in 5th year. The science of group magic. How to coordinate multiple sorcerers to summon, create a powerful shield, or change the weather over a large area. A single mistake can cripple or kill everyone.
24. Necrology. Required starting in the sixth year. Working with death as a phenomenon. Not only necromancy (which is a part of it), but also the study of the afterlife, communication with ghosts, repelling attacks by the undead, and performing funeral rites that keep the dead in their graves.
25. Healing. Required from the third year. Magical medicine in all its grim diversity. How to mend bones, burn away curses, neutralize rare poisons, exorcise parasitic spirits, and heal wounds inflicted by silver, cold iron, or sacred fire. No sentimentality.
26. Artefactorics. A specialized course for 7th, 8th, and 9th-year students. The art of creating, modifying, and "taming" magical artifacts. Students learn to read the etheric structures of existing objects, identify hidden curses and enchantments, and then painstakingly assemble their own artifacts, from simple amulets to complex systems capable of maintaining ritual chains for years. Particular attention is paid to the cost of creation: every detail, every woven symbol, or drop of blood requires calculation and sacrifice. A mistake in such work leads not to the disruption of the lesson, but to an explosion, a release of dark energy, or the creation of a dangerous, self-willed object. The instructors are master artefactors who have often lost a part of themselves in their creations, and therefore are strict and demanding.

Director: • Marvolo Melfice is an Original vampire. He is tall, unnaturally pale, with long gray hair and scarlet eyes that never blink. His clothes are immaculately black, without a speck of dust.

Deans of the Three Circles: • Harold Vargas - Dean of the Circle of Power. (He oversees everything related to combat, defense, physical and manual magic. Formidable and straightforward.) - Draconid. Huge, with bronze scales on his cheekbones and arms, yellow vertical pupils. Voice - like the rumble of a rockfall.

• Lucius Nakht - Dean of the Circle of Shadow. (Oversight of the dark arts, necromancy, alchemy, and all "ambiguous" research. Master of intrigue and subtle hints.) - Incubus. Exquisitely handsome, with a perpetual half-smile, dark curly hair, and eyes the color of old blood. He exudes a cold musk.

• Ammarou Etamin - Dean of the Circle of Mystery. (Responsible for runes, prophecies, theory, and ancient knowledge. Knows what others are afraid to ask.) - Dark Sidhe. Narrow, pale face, waist-length black hair, pupil-less eyes - two shining violet flames. Wears no shoes, steps silently.

Director: Marvolo Melfis is an ancient vampire. Tall, unnaturally pale, with long gray hair and scarlet eyes that never blink. The clothes are spotlessly black, without a single speck of dust.

Deans of the Three Circles: Harold Vargas is the Dean of the Circle of Power. (He oversees everything related to combat, defense, physical and manual magic. Formidable and straightforward.) - Draconian. Huge, with bronze scales on his cheekbones and arms, yellow vertical pupils. The voice is like a rockfall.

Lucius Nakht is the Dean of the Shadow Circle. (He oversees the dark arts, necromancy, alchemy, and all "controversial" research. A master of intrigue and subtle hints). — Incubus. Exquisitely handsome, with an eternal half-smile, dark curly hair and eyes the color of old blood. He smells like cold musk.

Ammarou Etamin is the Dean of the Circle of Mystery. (Responsible for runes, prophecies, theory, and ancient lore. Knows what others are afraid to ask.) — Dark Sidhe. Narrow pale face, waist—length black hair, pupil-less eyes—two shining purple flames. She doesn't wear shoes, and she walks noiselessly.

Professors:

1. Asterion Vex – Transfiguration Professor – Half-Veela. Sharp, almost bird-like features, sparse silver feathers instead of hair at his temples. His voice is hypnotically murmuring.

2. Severus Weaver – Potions Professor – Drow. Ash-black skin, white hair pulled back into a ponytail, red, squinting eyes. Perpetually smells of sulfur and burnt resin.

3. Aurelius Moreau – Professor of Alchemy – Ghost. A translucent figure in an old-fashioned doublet, sometimes disintegrating into smoky wisps. He speaks in a whisper that can be heard throughout the classroom.

4. Arcturus Linderman – Professor of Magic Theory – Aasimar. Glowing golden skin, short white hair, a heavy gaze from under hooded brows. An oppressive calm permeates his aura.

5. Galahad Warrington - Professor of Martial Arts - Werewolf (wolf). Stocky, with thick sideburns, yellow fangs, and a single gray tail that constantly twitches.

6. Vincent Dietrich - Professor of Discipline - Demon (cambion). Small black horns, a prehensile tail with a spike at the end, and dark red skin. Always wears gloves that hide his claws.

7. Ajax Sievers – Professor of Fencing – Phoenix. Fiery red hair, golden eyes, sparks occasionally escaping from under his sleeves. His movements are impetuous and fiery.

Professors:

1. Asterion Vex is A Half—Vale Professor of Transfiguration. Sharp, almost bird-like features, sparse silvery feathers instead of hair at the temples. The voice murmurs hypnotically.

2. Severus Weaver is a Drow Professor of Potions. Ash-black skin, white hair pulled back in a ponytail, red eyes with a squint. It always smells of sulfur and burnt tar.

3. Aurelius Moreau is A Ghost Professor Of Alchemy. A translucent figure in an old-fashioned doublet, sometimes disintegrating into smoky shreds. He speaks in a whisper that can be heard anywhere in the classroom.

4. Arcturus Linderman - Professor of The Theory Of Magic - Aasimar. Glowing golden skin, short white hair, heavy gaze from under overhanging eyebrows. There is an oppressive calmness in the aura.

5. Galahad Warrington is a Werewolf Martial Arts professor. Stocky, with bushy sideburns, yellow fangs, and one gray tail that twitches constantly.

6. Vincent Dietrich is A Professor Of Demon Discipline (Cambion). Small black horns, prehensile tail with a spike at the end, dark red skin. He always wears gloves that hide his claws.

7. Ajax Sievers - Professor of Fencing - Phoenix. Fiery red hair, golden eyes, sparks sometimes escape from under the sleeves. The movements are impetuous, hot.

8. Cassiopeia de Marcelli - Professor of Astronomy - Kitsune. A woman with two fluffy red tails and fox ears, in which small golden star earrings glitter.

9. Morrigan Erskine - Professor of Foresight - Siren. Pale, with long, dark green hair braided into tangles. Eyes like black, bottomless wells. A voice that sounds even when silent.

10. Antioch Argyle - Professor Rune - Gargoyle. Skin the color of wet cobblestone, with noticeable stone growths on his shoulders and back, wings folded behind his back. Eyes are a cloudy white.

11. Justiniana Diaz - Professor of Numerology - Angel (Fallen). A woman with ashen wings, which she hides under her cloak. Her gaze is cold, her hair is tousled, and she has a burnt symbol on her temple.

12. Ignotus Riley - Professor of Ancient Runes - Elf. Tall, with classic pointy ears and waist-length gray hair. Smooth silver discs replace his eyes.

13. Vir Arent - Professor of Anatomy - Nag. Below the waist is a powerful black snake tail, above is the torso of a man with small scales on his chest. His tongue is forked.

14. Christian Hart - Professor of Charms - Aasimar. Blond-haired, with bright blue eyes, and a ghostly halo sometimes appears behind his back. Very straightforward, almost cruelly so.

15. Ivy Heidiger - Professor of Magical Plants - Fairy. A petite woman with transparent dragonfly wings, her hair a tangled green vine. She smells of swamp mud and flowers.

16. Azura Tyler - Professor of Magical Creatures - Mermaid (in form). Pearlescent skin, webbed fingers, seafoam-colored hair with seashells woven into it.

17. Gerard Minyard – Professor of Dueling – Vampire. Young in appearance, but with an ancient gaze. Short black hair, pale skin, always in a perfect tailcoat.

18. Beelzebub Necker - Professor of the Dark Arts - A high-ranking Demon. Large, with crimson skin, massive ram-shaped horns, and glowing yellow eyes. Three-fingered claws.

8. Cassiopeia de Marseli - Professor of Astronomy - Kitsune. A woman with two fluffy red tails and fox ears, in which small gold star earrings sparkle.

9. Morrigan Erskine is a Siren Professor of Precognition. Pale, with long dark green hair, braided into coils. His eyes are black bottomless wells. The voice sounds even when it is silent.

10. Antioch Argyle - Professor of Rune - Gargulets. His skin is the color of wet cobblestones, stone growths are visible on his shoulders and back, and his wings are folded behind his back. The eyes are cloudy white.

11. Justiniana Diaz – Professor of Numerology – Angel (fallen). A woman with ashen wings that she hides under her cloak. His eyes were cold, his hair was matted, and there was a burned—out symbol on his temple.

12. Ignotus Riley is an Elf Professor of Ancient Runes. Tall, with classic pointed ears and waist-length gray hair. Instead of eyes, there are smooth silver discs.

13. Vir Arent – ​​Professor Of Anatomy – Naked. Below the waist is a powerful black snake's tail, above is the torso of a man with small scales on his chest. The tongue is forked.

14. Christian Hart - Professor of Spells - Aasimar. Blond-haired, with bright blue eyes, sometimes a ghostly halo appears behind his back. Very direct, almost to the point of cruelty.

15. Ivy Heidiger is a Fairy Professor of Magical Plants. A petite woman with transparent dragonfly wings, her hair a tangle of green vines. It smells of swamp mud and flowers.

16. Azura Tyler is a Mermaid Professor of Magical Creatures. Her skin is pearly, webbed between her fingers, and her hair is the color of sea foam with intertwined shells.

17. Gerard Mignard is A Vampire Dueling Professor. Young in appearance, but with an ancient look. Short black hair, pale skin, always in a perfect tailcoat.

18. Beelzebub Necker is a Professor of the Dark Arts, a demon of the highest rank. He was big, with purple skin, massive ram-shaped horns, and glowing yellow eyes. Three-finger claws.

19. Cassiel Skywalker - Professor of Light Arts - Angel. White wings that he doesn't fold, golden armor under his robe. Eyes of molten gold, a voice like a trumpet.

20. Lucius Visconti - The Process of Pureblood Traditions - Incubus. Elegant, with a perfect hairstyle and a velvety voice. His eyes are violet, and he smells of expensive whiskey and blood.

21. Trisha Lane - Professor Manners/Etiquette - Half-Veila. A woman with bird-like features, sparse feathers in her dark hair, and incredibly fluid movements. She never raises her voice.

22. Raven Hopper - The Process of Defense Against Dark and Light - Draconid. A large woman with black scales on her face and hands, amber eyes, and two swords on her belt.

23. Merkael Attar - Professor of Ritualology - The ghost of an ancient priest. Translucent, with a hole in his chest through which flames are visible. Speaks several dead languages.

24. Charon Winters - Professor of Necrology - Lich (an especially powerful undead). A skeleton in a black robe, with two cold blue flames in his eye sockets. Instead of a voice, he has the sound of gnashing bones.

25. Anubis Oswald - Professor of Healing - Succubus. A woman of dangerous beauty, with barely noticeable horns and a thin tail. She heals by touch, but does not tolerate being touched.

26. Mithril Lewis - Professor of Artefactorics - Drow. A man with jet-black skin, silver hair, and runic scars on his face. His fingers are covered in rings with stones.

19. Cassiel Skywalker is an Angel Professor of Light Arts. White wings that he doesn't fold, golden armor under his mantle. His eyes are molten gold, and his voice is like a trumpet.

20. Lucius Visconti — The process of Purebred traditions — Incubus. Elegant, with a perfect hairstyle and a velvety voice. His eyes are purple, and he smells of expensive whiskey and blood.

21. Tricia Lane - Professor of Manners/Etiquette Is Half a Vail. A woman with bird-like features, sparse feathers in her dark hair, and incredibly smooth movements. He never raises his voice.

22. Raven Hopper — The process of Protecting against Dark and Light Draconians. A large woman with black scales on her face and arms, amber eyes, and two swords on her belt.

23. Merkael Attar— A professor of Rituology, is the Ghost of an ancient priest. Translucent, with a hole in his chest through which flames can be seen. He speaks several dead languages.

24. Charon Winters - Professor of Necrology - Lich (especially strong undead). A skeleton in a black robe, with two cold blue lights in its eye sockets. Instead of a voice, there is a gnashing of bones.

25. Anubis Oswald is a Succubus Professor of Medicine. A woman of dangerous beauty, with barely noticeable horns and a thin tail. Heals with touch, but she does not tolerate touching.

26. Mithril Lewis is A Drow Professor of Artefactorics. A man with blue-black skin, silver hair, and runic scars on his face. The fingers are studded with rings with stones.

Adepts (assistant professors)

Distribution by professors (to whom assigned):

1. Ivor Krohn (male, werebear) – assists Galahad Warrington (Professor of Martial Arts). Large, with brown ears and a short tail, he's always sleepy, but deadly.

2. Daniel Lane (male, kitsune, one tail) – assigned to Asterion Vex (Professor of Transfiguration). Red-haired, freckled, with constantly twitching fox ears.

3. Emilio Saleen (male, vampire) – assistant to Severus Weaver (Potions Professor). Pale, with perpetually red eyes, he hates garlic (of which there is plenty in the lab).

4. Nigel Foster (male, Aasimar) – worn by Cassiel Skywalker (Professor of the Light Arts). Blond hair, gray eyes, a faint hint of wings on his back. Too perfect.

5. Clyde Willis (male, drow) – assistant to Charon Winters (Professor of Necrology). Dark skin, white dreadlocks, bone rings on his fingers. Silent and intimidating.

6. Reiner Volt (male, demon (cambion)) - assigned to Beelzebub Nakht (Professor of the Dark Arts). Red skin, small horns, prehensile tail. A zealous careerist.

7. Sheiran Tissi (male, naga) – assistant to Vir Arent (Professor of Anatomy). His lower body is snake-like, black with a silver pattern. He always wears thick glasses.

8. Iris Wilson (female, fairy) – assists Ivy Heidiger (Professor of Magical Plants). Tiny, with translucent wings and dandelion-like hair. Very sarcastic.

9. Lois Adam (female, half-veela) - assigned to Trisha Lane (Professor of Manners/Etiquette). Dark feathers in her hair, long clawed fingers, impeccable manners, and a killer smile.

Adepts (assistant professors)

Distribution by professors (assigned to whom):

1. Ivor Krohn (male, werewolf bear) - helps Galahad Warrington (Professor of Martial Arts). Big, with brown ears and a short tail, always sleepy, but deadly.

2. Daniel Lane (male, kitsune, one tail) - assigned to Asterion Vex (Professor of Transfiguration). Red-haired, freckled, with constantly twitching fox ears.

3. Emilio Salin (male, vampire) - assistant to Severus Weaver (Professor of Potions). Pale, with perpetually red eyes, can't stand garlic (of which there are many in the laboratory).

4. Nigel Foster (male, aasimar) - Cassiel Skywalker (Professor of Light Arts). Blonde hair, gray eyes, a faint hint of wings behind her back. Too correct.

5. Clyde Willis (male, Drow) - assistant to Charon Winters (Professor of Obituary). Dark skin, white dreadlocks, and bone rings on her fingers. Silent and intimate

6. Rainer Volt (man, demon (canyon)) — assigned to Beelzebub Nakht (Professor of the Dark Arts). Red skin, small horns, prehensile tail. A zealous careerist.

7. Sheiran Tissi (male, naked) - assistant to Vir Arent (Professor of Anatomy). The lower part of the body is snake-like, black with a silver pattern. Always wearing thick glasses.

8. Iris Wilson (female, fairy) - helps Ivy Heidiger (Professor of Magical Plants). Tiny, with translucent wings, hair like a dandelion. Very sarcastic.

9. Lois Eden (female, half-veiled) - assigned to Trisha Lane (Professor of Manners/Etiquette). Dark feathers in his hair, long clawed fingers, impeccable manners and a killer smile.

· Course 0 (preparatory): 6 months. Age ~10 years. Adaptation, survival, and basic spells. · Core courses (1-9): One year each. · Final period: 6 months for final exams and dissertations.

Thus, the complete cycle from admission to graduation takes exactly 10 years.

Course description:

• Year 0 (Approximately 10 years). "Test." Six months of rigorous adaptation. Recruits are taught not magic, but survival within the academy's walls: reading wall signs that change, avoiding "capricious" staircases, understanding the basics of magical hierarchy, and practicing absolute control over their innate abilities (so that their tail doesn't get in the way and their wings don't catch). A filter for those who can't handle it.

• 1st year (10-11 years old). "Foundation." The first real year. Fear gives way to wary curiosity. The foundation is laid: the first, most simple, but vital spells, the theory of magic, the beginnings of potion-making. Students begin to understand the power at their fingertips, and how easy it is to lose it due to a mistake.

• 2nd year (11-12 years old). "Awakening." The intensity increases. New, more complex subjects appear. Students discover their first inclinations toward certain types of magic (light, darkness, elements), the first minor conflicts begin, and the first strong alliances are formed. The world of the academy becomes larger and more dangerous.

• 3rd year (12-13 years old). "Determination." A critical year. A sharp increase in workload and responsibility. Key disciplines appear (Runes, Numerology, Study of Creatures). The student must determine their path, as further education will be built around their predispositions. The first serious successes and the first equally serious failures.

• 4th year (13-14 years old). "Hardening." A year of physical and mental conditioning. Martial arts and complex spells begin. Theory gives way to intensive practice, where the price of error is pain, shame, or injury. The hierarchy among students finally crystallizes. Students cease to be children, becoming adepts.

• 5th year (14-15 years old). "Division." A turning point. A division into specializations occurs ( {{user}} Dark/Light Arts, Pureblood Traditions). Personality and magical profile are honed. Electives for in-depth study appear. Students are expected not just to complete assignments, but to demonstrate personal initiative and strength.

• 6th year (15-16 years old). "Deepening." Immersion into the darkest and most complex aspects of magic (Necrology). The student becomes a highly specialized expert, their authority among the younger students is unquestionable. The workload is maximum, with most of the time spent in independent research and practice under the supervision of masters.

• 7th year (16-17 years old). "Mastery." Beginning of the advanced level (Alchemy, Ancient Runes). Students work on complex projects that can become the basis for a future career. They no longer study so much as create under the guidance of mentors. They gain weight in the academic community.

• 8th year (17-18 years old). "The Pinnacle." The peak of academic learning. Students act as assistants for younger students in their specializations. Their magic is honed, their knowledge is profound. Active preparation for final assignments is underway. This is a year of confidence and a blossoming of strength before the final test.

• 9th year (18-19 years old). "The Threshold." A year that straddles the line between studies and the real world. The main task is preparing and writing a magical dissertation, a complex and risky project demonstrating all the acquired skills. Students spend more time in archives, laboratories, and fieldwork than in the classroom. This is the time for final advice from mentors and the realization of the full weight of the upcoming independent life.

• Graduation period (19-20 years). "Trial of the Shadow." The final six months are devoted to passing exhaustive, multi-day final exams, often conducted in the form of real quests or duels with summoned entities. Upon successful completion, the student officially becomes a graduate of the Academy, receiving a title and a brand (metaphorical or real), which will open the doors to high magical society or dark guilds.

At the Academy, grades aren't just marks in a gradebook. They're a reflection of your strength, accuracy, and usefulness, determining your place in the hierarchy, your access to resources, and the degree of interest—both patronizing and negative—from professors.

1. "Excellent" (E - Exceptional). Performance bordering on art or embracing an innovative, risky, yet brilliant approach. This grade is a sign that the student has surpassed the master in the assignment. It leads to personal attention from the professor and access to restricted archives or materials. However, it also makes the student a target for envy and intrigue.
2. "Outstanding" (O). Flawless fulfillment of all requirements, demonstrating a deep understanding and meticulous execution. The student demonstrates perfect control. This is the mark of a reliable and strong student who can count on recommendations and trusted assignments.
3. "Exceeds Expectations" (E). High-quality work that includes elements that exceed standard requirements. The student demonstrated initiative and broad-mindedness. This standard is for ambitious students who strive to excel. It confirms good potential.
4. "Acceptable" (A). The work meets the basic criteria. Nothing excessive, nothing critically bad. The student has done the bare minimum. This grade indicates a lack of interest in the subject or a lack of ability. It leaves the student "invisible" to the system, which in some cases is safe, but in others, it can be career-defeating.
5. "Poor" (P). The work is completed, but with serious flaws, a lack of understanding of key principles, or dangerously shoddy work. The student barely crossed the acceptable threshold. This raises red flags and requires mandatory follow-up and further review. Frequent assessments of this type are a recipe for forced training with an Adept.

6. "Dreadful" (D - Dreadful). A poor performance, demonstrating gross errors, ignorance of fundamentals, or gross negligence, resulting in damage to property or disruption of the experiment. The student was shown to be incompetent. Almost guarantees severe punishment, additional exams, and the label of an unreliable element. May result in a restriction in practice.
7. "Troll" (T - Troll). A catastrophic failure involving the creation of a dangerous situation, a threat to oneself or others, or a blasphemous distortion of magic. The student demonstrated the blatant danger of their stupidity or uncontrollability. This is not just a grade, but a sentence. Consequences include immediate isolation, a hearing before the Dean, possible expulsion with the magical label "Irresponsible," or, in the worst case, the use of corrective procedures that erase the student's memory of the subject or block access to a specific type of magic.

Important: Grades below "Satisfactory" are often accompanied by automatic sanctions—from extra work to calling in parents (or guardians) for a "teach-in." In a world where failure leads to death, a bad grade is a warning that a student is teetering on the edge of the abyss.

Life at the academy is governed by a strict rhythm, measured by the strikes of the ancient bell in the main tower.

7:00 AM – Rise. The dull strike of a gong awakens the residents. In the dim morning light filtering through the narrow windows, the dorm comes alive: some rise at the first sound, others desperately try to prolong their sleep for another minute. Vampires and nocturnal creatures are especially grim at this hour. 7:30 AM – Breakfast in the Great Hall. Attendance is optional, but many attend – not so much for the food, but to wake up to the buzz of conversation and enjoy a strong tea or coffee. Those who sleep later risk being late for their first class. · 8:00–9:30 – First lecture. The Academy falls silent in a work-like silence, broken only by the professors' voices and the scratching of pens. Minds are still fresh, and the magic in the classrooms is at its most stable. · 9:30–9:50 – Short break. Twenty minutes of bustle in the corridors, quick runs between classrooms located in different wings of the castle, and final preparations. · 9:50 – 11:20 – Second lecture. · 11:30–13:00 — Third lecture. By midday, concentration wanes, especially on complex subjects like Theory of Magic or Runes. The air in the classrooms becomes heavy with tension and hidden magic. · 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch and personal time. This is a time to unwind. You can eat, prepare for afternoon classes, or simply relax by the fireplace in the common room. · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Fourth lecture. Typically practical: Potion-Making, Creature Study, Martial Arts. Requires concentration despite fatigue. · 3:40 PM – 5:10 PM – Fifth (optional) lecture. Not for everyone, but only for those whose schedules or ambitions require the extra workload. · From 5:30 PM – Electives, club activities, and independent work. The Academy never sleeps. Students head to libraries, labs, training areas, or secluded corners for personal research. It's during these hours that real, unregulated life unfolds—secret meetings, research, and intrigue.

These aren't just positions—they're levels of access to power, information, and the right to punish. Every step up brings not only privileges but also great personal danger.

(1. Supreme Magister/Director. → 2. Deans of the Three Circles (Forces, Shadows, Secrets). → 3. Professors. Not teachers, but Archmages. → 4. Assistant Professors (Adepts). → 5. Senior Students (7th-9th years).)

1. Supreme Magister/Director. Absolute power. Not just an administrator, but the living core of the academy's magical defenses. His will is literally felt within the walls. Anyone who violates this highest order disappears without a trace, and is no longer spoken of. His word is law, not subject to discussion.

2. The Decans of the Three Circles (Force, Shadow, Mystery). The right hand of the Master, each is responsible for a sphere: • Dean of the Circle of Power: For everything related to combat, defense, physical and manual magic. Formidable and straightforward. • Dean of the Circle of Shadow: Oversees the dark arts, necromancy, alchemy, and all "controversial" research. Master of intrigue and subtle hints. • Dean of the Circle of Mystery: Responsible for runes, prophecies, theory and ancient knowledge. Knows what others are afraid to ask. Their power: They can instantly revoke a student's access to key sections of the library, laboratories, or ritual chambers. They can also sanction "private lessons" with the offending student, after which they return broken or never return at all.

3. Professors. Not teachers, but Archmages. Each is a master of their discipline and, as a rule, a bearer of unique, dangerous power or knowledge (for example, the Professor of Necrology is a half-ghost, the Professor of Transfiguration can permanently distort a soul). Their authority is based not on their position, but on their demonstrated power and their willingness to use it. Insulting a professor is tantamount to challenging a being who has spent decades studying how to break others.

4. Professors' Assistants (Adepts). Often former academy graduates, they are ambitious and ruthless. They strive to prove their worth and are merciless to violations. They have the right to impose detentions, confiscate personal belongings, and report to the Dean. Students sometimes fear them more than the professors themselves, due to their unpredictability and zeal.
5. Senior students (years 7-9). Not just students. They are tools of the system. They are delegated authority over the juniors: the right to ensure compliance with rules, organize "initiations," and act as arbitrators in minor disputes. In exchange, they receive preferential treatment, access to restricted resources, and immunity from the juniors. Their strength lies in their numbers, experience, and the support of the professors they essentially serve.

Why it works:

A student versus a professor is suicide. Even a strong ninth-year student is an amateur versus a specialist with centuries of experience. · Whistle-blowing is encouraged. The system is set up so that it's more profitable to report a violation than to cover for a classmate. · Mutual responsibility. The misdeed of one person can be punished for the entire group or course, instantly turning the group against the offender. · Oath Magic. Upon admission, everyone takes the Oath of Obedience, magically binding them to adhere to the rules and the will of their superiors. Breaking it causes physical pain and a temporary loss of magical powers.

Thus, disrespect is not a rebellion, but a slow social and magical suicide against which the entire designed system of oppression works

Discipline within the citadel walls is maintained by an iron will and harsh but pragmatic measures. Punishment always corresponds to the offense and is aimed at "correcting the flaw," be it laziness, stupidity, or disrespect.

Minor offenses (being late, being rude, disrupting a class):

· Practice. One or more evenings under the supervision of a strict teacher or senior student. This could involve sorting library scrolls written in forgotten languages ​​or cleaning glass flasks with stubborn magical residue. · A dull pen. Hours of rewriting Academy rules, theoretical postulates, or particularly complex runic sequences. The ink may become pale and slowly fade, forcing the work to be rewritten. Physical labor. Most popular among teachers of practical disciplines: · Alchemy/Potion-Making: Cleaning baked-on cauldrons, grinding slippery or foul-smelling ingredients (like mandrigon roots, which make a quiet squeal), catching leeches in a black pond. · Creature Care: Cleaning enclosures, combing out tangles from grumbling creatures, cleaning dragon scales. · General Work: Hand polishing long stone corridors, clearing cobwebs from abandoned wings (where spiders can be fist-sized).

Moderate offenses (damage to property, fights without serious consequences, trespassing):

Isolation. "Reflecting on one's behavior" in a cell-like chamber, devoid of magic, with minimal light and food. Sometimes, with imposed silence, preventing even whispering. · Community service with risk. Patrolling dark areas with a gargoyle guard, assisting in the care of the most capricious and dangerous plants or creatures. · Forced servitude. The offender becomes the "personal assistant" of an aggrieved professor or even a disgruntled classmate from high society for a specified period of time, carrying out any reasonable (and not so reasonable) assignments.

Serious violations (threat to life, black magic against fellow students, disobedience):

Corporal punishment. This is only used starting in the third year, when the student is considered strong enough and aware. For younger students (first and second years), this measure is replaced by hard labor and double isolation. · Whipping. Performed by an experienced spellcaster using a magically enhanced instrument (rod, vine). The pain is not only sharp but also "cleansing"—it deprives the user of magical energy for several days, leaving a feeling of emptiness and burning shame. · Branding. In exceptional cases, a magical brand (temporary or permanent) is applied, marking the offender as a violator of the rules. The brand may cause pain when using certain types of magic or in the presence of teachers.

An important principle: Any punishment is also a lesson. He who cleans cauldrons learns the durability of alchemical compounds, and he who cuts vile roots learns their properties. Fear of consequences is the best teacher for those who cannot be taught by words.

Autumnal Equinox (September 22-23). ​​"Time of Balance and Payment." The ritual takes place in the Main Hall, illuminated by cool, bluish lights. All students and faculty members recite stabilization formulas together, channeling their personal magic into the crystalline cores of the academy's protective domes. This is "payment" for safety during the coming winter. Anyone whose power proves too weak or unstable experiences a painful backlash.

Yarilin's Day (early June). "A Time of Rage and Blossom." The ritual is held at dawn in an ancient stone circle in the forbidden forest. The emphasis is on awakening inner strength, aggression, and will. Graduating students demonstrate "rage" in a controlled duel—be it the battle fury of a werewolf, the cold wrath of a vampire, or the sacred fervor of an aasimar. This is a test of readiness to emerge into the outside world.

Samhain (early November). "The Time of the Thinning of the Veil." The most somber and personal holiday. On the night when the boundary between worlds becomes thin, thousands of memorial candles are lit in the academy's underground crypt. Upper-year students (5th and above), under the strict supervision of necromancers, are permitted to perform a short, strictly regulated ritual to contact a deceased relative or mentor. The goal is not conversation, but rather a single sign, advice, or warning. Violating the procedure can lead to dire consequences.

Yule (December 21-22). "A Time of Deep Darkness and Rebirth of Light." The winter solstice celebration is celebrated in complete silence. With the onset of the longest night, all inhabitants extinguish their artificial fires. In absolute darkness and silence, lasting several hours, everyone meditates, seeking within themselves the "spark"—the personal source of magic. With the first ray of dawn, the Grand Master lights a single bonfire in the center of the hall, from which everyone lights their candles. This is a ritual of renewal of vows and personal power.

Spring Equinox (March 20-21). "Time of Sowing and Contract." A ritual reversed from the autumnal one. Power is directed not toward protection, but toward fertility and alliances. Students plant magical seeds in the greenhouse, charged with their intentions for the year. A ceremony is held to establish or confirm "magical contracts"—from simple alliances of friendship to serious patronage agreements between seniors and juniors, or between students and professors. To break such a contract, sealed on this day, is the greatest shame.