7KPP Week Day 2 - Hobbies || Worldbuilding
Located just outside of the capital city, the First Academy of Jiyel, also known as the Imperial Academy, is the foremost center for higher learning of its time and is populated by many of the brightest young minds of the kingdom… or at least those whose parents can afford its steep tuition, or are considered worthy of receiving the few scholarships offered to those brilliant minds who are unable to attend the university otherwise. Established hundreds of years ago, when the First Emperor chose to educate those who would serve under him in his government, many of Jiyel’s most famous historical figures were star students and it is widely understood to be an opportunity for anyone, regardless of birth, to make a name for themselves.
The application process is simple in theory: a long entrance examination, covering a wide variety of topics, from history to science, writing to mathematics. Typically taken over the course of three days, it is a national ordeal, as all students who are of age (13-16 years of age) and not currently enrolled, regardless of whether they have taken the exam previously, are examined at the same time to prevent cheating—though as with any important exam, cheating does still occur. These scores are used to decide which students are accepted to which academy and whether any receive scholarships based on family income and status. Then, it is up to the families themselves to decide whether or not to accept.
Students who attend the academy declare a specialization upon their acceptance and spend the next four years of their lives learning and studying. Courses vary in breadth and depth, though there are those, such as etiquette and other general education topics, that are required for every student. At the end of the four years, those titled students who are interested in the summit examination are encouraged to participate, to try and win a position in the next summit delegation. Otherwise, students may obtain positions in different governmental departments or return back to society to pursue whatever directions they might wish.
The academy is itself sprawling, combining lands, dorms, and many other buildings into a massive campus that is at once both incredibly beautiful and highly functional. The center of the campus is a sprawling grassy field dotted with magnolia trees, where students often relax on days with pleasant weather. One side of the square is dictated by a giant lake and rumor has it that there are rare and even unique fish in the water, though it has never been proven either way. Surrounding the area are administrative buildings, as well as classrooms, while the dorms are farther away, split by gender, department, and seniority. As such, those who are in the same classes are often very close, since they also share the same dorm and may even be roommates.
Overlooking the rest of the academy from its position on a hill in the square is easily the most famous building in the university, if not the kingdom as a whole: the Jiyelese Royal Archives. Beyond simply a study and reference space for students, the library houses the greatest collection of manuscripts in the kingdom, if not the entire seven kingdoms. Indeed, it is not uncommon for students to meet many illustrious figures in its halls, and it is rumored that such high-ranking individuals such as the emperor of Corval have been known to visit on occasion. All students have access to the materials, though special care and training must be taken with the older works, some of which date back thousands of years. As such, the windows of the library, at least in areas housing ancient writings, are of thin layers of stone or thick colored glass, to prevent sunlight from further damaging the fragile documents. Many a scholar has spent hours to days within its walls, reading or studying without interruption.
For many students, acceptance to the academy is the ultimate success of their young lives. As such, many preparatory courses exist to help students achieve success on the entrance examination, and students and parents work tirelessly to gain entry. After all, it is well-understood that attendance at the academy will open many doors in the future, as well as potentially build lifelong relationships with the most outstanding peers of their time.
Some discussion/thoughts under the cut!
