academy - places
the imperial library is the grandiose and mysterious multi-level library utilized for studying among… other things. because the library is spelled to allow time to pass at half the speed, it’s not only the most popular spot for cramming on thursday nights and fridays prior to exams, but also as a makeout spot despite strict rules dictating against this. in addition, there is a strict no sleeping policy, which the librarian tends to enforce just as passionately. fortunately for rebellious students, the labyrinthine qualities of the dark and vast space often allow for privacy if one is willing to risk getting lost within the maze of bookshelves. it’s been rumored that the ghost of a former academy member roams this area after falling tragically to his death from the top of a ladder, which was tipped by someone as he was trying to obtain a book on the top shelf. this legend varies. sometimes it’s the ghost of a student, sometimes it’s a librarian or a former professor. either way, students sometimes try to sneak into the library or lock someone in after hours in order to catch a glimpse of this ghost. the imperial library upholds regular curfew rules for all students, closing at midnight on every day except for thursdays. because of exams on fridays, the library is open until two in the morning on thursdays, although it is typically just filled with students who desire to stay out late with their friends. once a month, the library is open all night and professors offer a series of lectures and presentations on a student-suggested topic, typically related to dark magic, supernatural legends, or something else that is eerie and interesting to the majority of the population. typically, the theme is related to a document or an item contained in the restricted section of the library, which has never been found by a student but is rumored to hold darker secrets than those covered in the presentations. in addition to these traditions which are held by the entire student body, terrance and his sister meet once a month, sometimes more, to have a secret tea party after hours. typically, terrance gives his sister help with her classes while she gives him all of the gossip she’s retained from the week.
the amp is what the students colloquially call the riding arena and stables due to the fact that they are made out of what used to be an amphitheater. the footing is sand and is frequently filled with whatever objects are necessary for the various disciplines, while the stalls are built into the arched architecture of the original build. riders are expected to tack horses up in their stalls as there is not really a formal place to tie them. with horses that kick or are otherwise difficult to handle on the ground, riders are supposed to ask a teammate to help hold them or make another arrangement.
although the amp is quite large, it is not large enough to host two practices at the same time, so there is often tension regarding the invasive practice schedules. on mondays, tuesdays, wednesdays, and thursdays, practices are held throughout the day from 0600 to 2000, sometimes interfering with students’ classes. if this is the case, they are granted academic pardon to attend practice but are required to attend tutoring with their professor(s). typically, there are various breaks scheduled in throughout each day for riders to hack their personal horses.
on fridays, due to exam day and team practices, the arena is open all day for both hacking and team meetings. as weekly teams are assigned, they are given slots in which to practice together, discuss strategy, and decide what adjustments need to be made. as long as they are not a distraction, riders may train during the same time as team meetings if they need to work their personal horses. saturdays and sundays are competition days, so the arenas are only available during odd hours such as 0400 to 0600 and after 2000.
the dormitories are nestled within the ancient stone walls of the academy grounds. they are a pair of identical, l-shaped structures that whisper tales of bygone eras. the shape of the buildings creates privacy for each of the twelve wings and molds a square-shaped courtyard which frequently houses recreational activities and group activities. the entrances, guarded by intricately wrought iron gates, lead into the cobblestone courtyard adorned with flickering torches that cast dancing shadows across the worn flagstones. each dormitory itself rises three stories high with six wings, constructed from timeworn gray stones that have weathered centuries of storms. one building is for upperclassmen while one is for lowerclassmen, with one side of each ‘L’ being for boys, and one for girls. each dorm’s windows, adorned with wooden shutters, peer out like watchful eyes overlooking the courtyard.
Inside, the common rooms exude a warm, inviting atmosphere. A massive stone hearth dominates one wall, its flames crackling and providing a comforting glow to the wooden tables and benches scattered around. Tapestries depicting mythical creatures and grand adventures adorn the walls, creating a tapestry of visual tales.
ascending the narrow stone staircase, students find themselves on the dormitory floors. wooden doors, studded with iron and bearing individual crests, lead to the bedrooms which each resident shares with a roommate. here they can retreat for study and rest. the rooms are modest, with wooden bed frames and richly colored curtains for a touch of privacy. illumination is provided by flickering candlelight, casting a warm ambiance that contrasts with the cool stone walls.
each wing of each building has a specific name and identity despite the open areas that students have to commingle. while each wing is a specific gender and age, they are each considered separate when it comes to the various competitions that occur between them. for example, the cleanest dorm or the dorm with the highest grade average on exam day are eligible for certain privileges, some of them being tangible while others are a simple rite of passage. for example, the upper students have a tradition where the wing with the highest grade average on friday is responsible for throwing that evening’s party in a forbidden area. whichever element has the best rating after magic performance exams is responsible for pranking the faculty in a big way. in the lower dorms, the cleanest wing has extended curfew for a week.
in addition, sometimes required teambuilding activities or dorm-wide magic practice sessions are required by the academy. sometimes they are competitions against the opposite wing, and sometimes they are building-wide. curfew for all students is midnight, while the upperclassmen are allowed to stay out in the common area and study until two if they keep to themselves. before graduation, upperclassmen also have a tradition where they carve their names into the stones in the courtyard. the dormitories are spelled to eliminate magic, meaning that no one can destroy them--or anything else--accidentally.
the academic classrooms are chambers of knowledge, steeped in an atmosphere that inspires curiosity and scholarly pursuit. as students step through the arched wooden doorways, they find themselves enveloped in an environment that seamlessly blends the mystique of magic with the solidity of tradition. the walls are adorned with aged tapestries depicting ancient runes, constellations, powerful spells. tall, narrow windows allow the soft glow of daylight to filter through, allowing for a gentle illumination of the polished wooden desks that fill the room.
at the front of the room, a raised platform holds the instructor's lectern, flanked by towering bookshelves that house collections of arcane wisdom and historical lore. a massive chalkboard dominates one wall, covered in neatly inscribed runes and diagrams that seem to come alive with magical energy when the instructor imparts their knowledge. the indoor classrooms are in what used to be the armory and the throne room, while course conflicts may cause certain classes to be taught outside in the main courtyard, which is filled with chairs and the other furniture typically utilized in the inside rooms. class sizes are quite large, so it’s typical that one upper class and one lower class are taught at the same time, while one additional class is taught outside. simultaneously, three to four magic classes take place in the outdoor classrooms. there are not many traditions or legends associated with this location.
the outdoor classrooms are small, circular structures that are in similar likeness to in-ground amphitheaters. benches are carved into the earth, while the circular stage at the bottom works as both a lecture point and a stage for individuals to demonstrate their abilities in a safe space. each one has an invisible dome around it to protect it from harm, so when the student is done practicing, anything that occurs fades away within fifteen minutes. therefore, they each look perfectly new and unused all of the time.
when school is not in session, students take advantage of the spelled classrooms as one of the prime party locations. they are far enough away from the main campus that most faculty cannot hear or see what is happening, and the woods provide a great cover for the students’ activities. in addition, it is extremely common for the water elements to fill up at least one of the classrooms with water like a swimming pool, taking the water from the river that flows directly next to where these classrooms are. each classroom holds about thirty to fifty students, with massive rocks marking the outside perimeter of each one.
the dungeons are supposed to be an off-limits location for students, but that only makes them desire to go down there more. located in the main building, the castle itself, students often break in after hours in order to throw parties in the dungeon while no staff are around. the darkness and eeriness of the location itself create excitement within the students, and the long maze of tunnels create great echoes and vibrations with the loud music that they play. in addition, there are plenty of dark and isolated areas to branch off from the crowd if you’re willing to risk getting lost. it is said that many students over the years have disappeared in the tunnels below the castle and never returned. in addition, there have been many rumors that the tunnels once served as something much more malevolent than simply a place to keep prisoners, although no one can keep the story straight on what exactly they were used for.
once a year, the staff willingly allow students to go into the dungeon for the shadow ball, a late-october formal where students wear masks that glow in the dark and they party with only minimal light such as that from synthetic starlight that students with the light expression of the fire element create. sometimes, groups of friends go down to tell ghost stories and drink, although not as often due to a genuine fear of the space. it is also the subject of many dares between students, especially in the lower classes. there are rumors about mysterious runes somewhere in the maze of tunnels that lead to some sort of treasure, but it’s never been found as far as students know. they enjoy telling a story about a student several decades prior who claimed to have found something, then promptly disappeared within a week of making this statement, never to have been seen again. sometimes, to add some level of incentive to participation in dorm activities, students have their teambuilding activities in the dungeon in the form of a scavenger hunt. there is also a graffiti wall with things going back at least a century, judging by the dead languages utilized. there is also a rumor that there is a third portal that exists somewhere beneath that goes somewhere other than to the two locations situated in the modern realm.
the great room is the large dining hall situated in the main building, and it has served as the dining hall for centuries, though it has been expanded to fit the large number of students housed currently. it is a t-shaped room with the long end holding a substantial number of long tables and chairs, while both sides of the shorter end hold identical buffet-style layouts for students to get their meals. at the very center is a small stage with a lectern, and stained glass allows beautiful colors to rain in with the sunlight. The front used to be the kingdom’s chapel, which explains the slightly confusing layout. meal times are often used to discuss events and other information. for example, morning meals are utilized for the dean to read off those who are on the honor roll with the exception of on saturdays, when anyone who took an exam the day prior has their grade read to them aloud. it is supposed to be encouraging, yet students don’t look forward to it at all. during afternoon meals, general information is provided such as any cancellations, anything important coming up, or anything else to note. at this meal, the riding teams for the coming week are announced as well as the rewards for the winners and the punishments for the losers. on monday afternoons, the winners and losers of the weekend’s competitions are announced. at the evening meal, the entertainment varies. sometimes a guest speaker such as a professor or faculty member presents a message, sometimes students give special announcements or recognitions to their peers, and sometimes there’s pure entertainment such as a performance, a demonstration, or a show of some kind. regardless, students line up by wing with their dorm and are expected to get their food, then sit down and eat until they are dismissed to their next activity. students who skip meals for any reason will be penalized.
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