Academy of Magical Research
Founded to advance magic, the school has trained some of the greatest pupils in the Dragon Court and also provided major contributions to the realm of metamagic.
History
Organization
The school is run by the Dean of the Academy. It is him (or her) who concludes the final matters on issues of policy. The Dean is not alone in the decision making processes. The Conclave serves as the Dean's cabinet, a group of seven individuals who are picked by the Dean and who hold their positions as consiglieres for life, or until they choose to retire. Sessions are usually called at the beginning of every fourth year, when the curriculum is rewritten to reflect advances in research and knowledge. The Dean appoints new members to the researching staff or faculty, which then must be approved by the members of the Conclave. The Conclave on the other hand approves applicants into the academy, though the Dean has the power to expel. The actual day to day administrative work is performed by the Dean alone.
Faculty and staff chosen to become members of the Conclave almost always come from the senior echelons of the school. Upon accepting an appointment, they thereby earn the title of Master. Seniority earns the faculty and staff the right to choose which classes they wish to teach, and also lead research projects as the head of a laboratory.
Research is usually conducted by staff members, though each year students (mostly in their final years) join. Projects include the heightening of spells and their duration and effects, new manners by which to cast them, the creation of new spells and applications of magic, and also item creation.
Accepted applicants to the school undergo rigorous training. They begin with a broad introduction to magic, learning the basics of mana manipulation and spell casting. As they advance further, they progress into spell weaving, advanced mana manipulation, including borrowing and lending from the various threads, and also the beginnings of the manipulation of metamagic itself. After each year, exams are given, and each year the class shrinks. In the students' fifth year, they are given the option of specializing in a particular domain of magic. Upon finishing their studies, students become members of the Brotherhood of Mages, though whether they give their aid to Titan during times of war is up to the individual.