White Griffon Academy

The **White Griffon** is one of the 6 Great Academies in the Griffon Kingdom founded by Dolgus the White Griffon and specializes in Healing magic. In the Royals' attempt to rectify the classist education system that lost the kingdom 2 Magi, Queen Sylpha uses the White Griffon as a special project, allowing Headmaster Linjos to replace all its staff with commoners that had suffered from the unjust system before. It later becomes known as the "**Cradle of the Healing Arts**" due to the 5 best Healers in the Kingdom having studied and worked there (Manohar, Marth, Vastor, Lith, Quylla).

The academy tower is extremely large, with a floor for each year's students (to avoid hazing between different year students), each the size of a small city. Above the fifth floor are the staff's living quarters and their personal labs, but most of the spaces are either empty or assigned to nondescriptly named departments.

The entire tower is an artifact with a power core that can empower rings for the staff to use. The rings allow for Warp Steps to be opened with ease anywhere on the premises. Each stone of the tower is enchanted, which is what allows for the entire tower to be imbued with magic. Additionally, as long as the power core is functional, no one can die inside the academy castle due to the variety of protective arrays that are powered by mana crystals. The tower is also able to feed on the mana of its residents to recharge the crystals if necessary. An academy's power core is a priceless treasure for the Griffon Kingdom. To avoid enemies or spies from tampering it, in times of crisis only the Headmaster can access it. It is the reason why one of the qualifications for becoming a Headmaster is to also be a Forgemaster.

The White Griffon's true form under Soul Vision resembles a kneeling white knight wounded all over, its pristine armor tainted by the red of blood and the black of death.

## Curriculum

The **Entrance Exam** involves the applicant demonstrating their magic proficiency to the Headmaster and faculty heads. This includes chore magic, and spells tier 1-3 for those applying for the 4th year entry and skipping the beginner years.

Years 1-3 cover the basics of magic. They teach things like the importance of accuracy in hand signs, accents, etc. Many kids have to learn etiquette, history, geography, all kinds of topics, not just how to read and write, otherwise they would be an embarrassment for their parents. In the Royal Court life, they must also learn how to ride a horse, swordsmanship, play an instrument, everything their parents need to brag about during social events.

The school year is split up into 3 **trimesters**. After the first trimester, students can go into the forest surrounding the academy on weekends to collect herbs and materials for themselves or exchange them for points. It's an opportunity for practical experience, and there is no surveillance or safety measures aside from a panic button, and students can potentially run into 5th years, bounty hunters, unfriendly magical beasts, adventurers, etc. trying to get resources. Groups are not required, though 5-man groups are highly recommended, and the entry fee is 200 points.

**Specializations** are taught only to the 4th and 5th years, but regardless of chosen specializations 4th years have several required courses, such as Theory of Combat Magic. Most students only achieve one specialization, good and great mages would achieve two, while three or more are a sign of a polymath genius.

The secret Mage Assassin specialization's lessons take place on the hidden seventh floor of the academy.

The 4th year Forgemastering course teaches only how to make basic enchanted items and requires students to learn theory first, as the high density mana used for magic circles is highly volatile and can cause explosions if not controlled properly. Only those who pass the 4th year tests are taught to add multiple properties to an item in the 5th year. 5th years are taught how to embed mana crystals and infuse multiple enchantments into items.

At the end of the 5th year it is a custom to hold a ceremonial graduation tourney for students to demonstrate their battle prowess.

### Subjects

4th Year:

* Theory of Combat
* Crystalsmithing

5th Year:

* Code of Practice
* Magic Creation

## Resources

**Guilty Ballots** (also known as the **Coward's End**) are black pearl-lookalike spheres the size of a baseball, and once imprinted, act like a communication amulet, capable of recording every word and action happening around its owner as soon as a mana pulse is sent into them. A second pulse triggers a call for help, alerting academy staff and acting as a beacon for Warp Steps. Ballots' power source is the academy castle' power core itself, and requires a complex crafting method. The Ballot's imprint can be removed by the headmaster to give to someone else.

* It was looked down upon and considered the "Coward's End", with very few students picking the Ballot, and even those that did would return it after several weeks due to isolation and ostracism. However, after Lith's use of the Ballot to get 3 of his bullies expelled on the first day, as well as due to the brewing civil war as a result of Linjos' radical policies, Ballots became frequent use.

Students, professors, and the Headmaster have special robes. The **student uniform** consists of a white shirt, blazer, pants, and robe with black embroidery (color depends on the academy - i.e. lightning griffon has blue uniforms), and black shoes. The uniforms are enchanted so they are able to perfectly fit the wearer, and will expand as the wearer grows. Its cuffs hold a small, hidden dimensional storage reserved for Ballots. The uniforms are also capable of self-cleaning, slight protection from physical and magic attacks, and self-repairing to an extent. Its protection extends to the head and hands despite them being uncovered. Students may keep their uniforms upon graduating as a sign of their success and reputation. However, the student uniform's weak point is that it offers no protection against blunt impacts. The **Headmaster** uniform offers great protection from physical and magical damage, and also constantly boosts the wearer like potions would, making them immune to Spirit Magic.

The **Prize Hall** resembles an ATM, and grants access to a catalogue of magic items, including dimensional rings/amulets, magic storing rings, enhancement potions, weapons, books, and uniforms.

**Student** **rooms** are spacious, similar to a one-bedroom apartment around 55 meters2 with a double bed and chest, wooden wardrobe, desk/chair, and bookshelves. The bathroom occupies over a third of the room and has running water and a toilet with plumbing as well as a large bathtub. The 5th years' rooms are much bigger than the 4th years' and are customized for the individual needs of the students, such as a Healer's office, Forgemastering lab, sword training room with dummy golems, etc.

The **academy** **canteen** is designed like a panoramic restaurant, surrounded by windows and filled with rectangular dinner tables for 6 each. The chairs auto-adjust height and size to fit its users, and the food is worthy of a 5-star restaurant.

The **academy hospital** has self-cleaning floors and beds capable of moving and massaging the patients' bodies to avoid bedsores, as well as constantly monitor their vitals. The air is fresh, free of the disinfectant smell that usually sits in that kind of environment on Earth.

## Staff

**Headmasters**

* Headmaster Linjos (formerly)
* Headmaster Duke Marth - current, former Light Magic Assistant Head

**Faculty**

* Professor Jian Trasque - Theory of Combat Magic
* Professor Valesa Nalear - Principles of Advanced Magic, Magic Creation
* Professor Zogar Vastor - Light Magic Master Healer
* Professor Krishna Manohar - Light Magic Department Head
* Professor Lyca Wanemyre - Forgemaster
* Professor Khavos Rudd - Dimensional Magic
* Professor Peln Reflaar - Alchemy
* Professor Ryner - Alchemy, Reflaar's replacement
* Professor Calyn Zeneff (Guest lecturer)- Necromancy
* Professor Rugan Thorman - Mage Knight
* Professor Wil Ironhelm - Battle Mage (5th year)
* Professor Phesta - Alchemy, Mage Knight
* Professor Binlow - Battle Mage
* Professor Tinnam - Warden Magic
* Professor Juong - Warden Magic
* Professor Amyla Farg - Crystalsmithing and Principles of Advanced Magic

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 915
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 60
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chapter 57
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 65
5. ↑ Chapter 95
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chapter 184
7. ↑ Chapter 291
8. ↑ Chapter 315
9. ↑ Chapter 50
10. ↑ Chapter 43
11. ↑ Chapter 80
12. ↑ Chapter 98
13. ↑ Chapter 52
14. ↑ Chapter 1489
15. ↑ Chapter 320
16. ↑ Chapter 266
17. ↑ Chapter 267
18. ↑ Chapter 96
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Chapter 197
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Chapter 51
21. ↑ Chapter 131
22. ↑ Chapter 303
23. ↑ Chapter 264
24. ↑ Chapter 55
25. ↑ Chapter 226
26. ↑ Chapter 67
27. ↑ Chapter 92