Bergen Academy

Bergen Academy is the school where Theodore Miller's story begins, and a branch of Meltor's Royal Academy. It stands in the city of Bergen in the east of the kingdom; the Nadun mountain range runs to the city's west and the river Moya flows to its north, which shields Bergen from invasion but also lengthens the road to the capital, Mana-vil, to the northwest. Thanks to the academy, Bergen itself is richer and more magical than ordinary cities: its streets are paved and imbued with magic, and magical items cost several times less here than anywhere else, which draws both buyers and dealers of artefacts.

Children of noble families are admitted relatively easily — which is why Theo once persuaded his parents to send him there, dreaming of becoming a great mage. To graduate, the academy imposes two requirements: scoring at least 70 points on the written exams and becoming a 3rd-Circle master. The first is hard enough in itself, since some questions are tacitly 'designed to be missed' and a perfect score is impossible; but the real wall for most is the 3rd Circle. Students usually reach the 2nd Circle by the end of their first year and the 3rd by their third, while the most gifted graduate already at the 4th Circle.

Theodore is a legend of the academy for sorrowful reasons. In theory he is unrivalled: only three points were deducted across all his written exams — better than some professors. But because of his extremely low affinity for mana he failed to cross the wall of the 3rd Circle in five years and received a repeat-year letter three times — the only such case in the entire history of Bergen Academy. There is no fourth letter: another failure would mean expulsion and indelible disgrace. Professor Vince even denied him a scholarship, judging him hopeless. It is in the academy's library, his sole refuge, that Theo finds the Gluttony grimoire, with which his rise begins.

Among the faculty is Professor Vince Heidel, who came to Bergen from the capital, a former battle mage and senior mage of the Red Tower. In the first chapter he is called a 5th-Circle master, and consistently thereafter a 6th-Circle senior mage, which sets him above the other instructors; it is he who teaches battle magic to the third-years and who, despite his dryness and lack of warmth, genuinely cares for Theo, feeling guilt whenever he must hand him another repeat-year letter.

Two graduation conditions: at least 70 points on the written exams and the rank of 3rd-Circle master. A perfect written score is impossible — some questions are tacitly 'designed to be missed.'

Progress by Circle: usually the 2nd Circle by the end of the first year, the 3rd by the third, with the most gifted graduating at the 4th.

A student who receives three repeat-year letters is expelled; in the academy's entire history this had happened to no one but Theodore.

The academy stands in eastern Meltor, in the city of Bergen: the Nadun range to the west, the river Moya to the north; the capital, Mana-vil, lies to the northwest.

Thanks to the academy, Bergen is richer and more magical than ordinary cities — paved, lamp-lit streets, magic everywhere, and magical items several times cheaper than elsewhere, which draws buyers and artefact dealers alike.

The academy itself is full of equipment and reagents charged with magic; its library is the only truly peaceful place for Theodore, and it is there that he finds the Gluttony grimoire.