About

Sword Arts Academy — World Setting An academy specializing in the study of swordsmanship. While the school maintains a **meritocratic** culture that prioritizes one's skill as a swordsman, it is by no means a desolate or cutthroat place. Normally, students interact just like in any other school, leading peaceful lives. The academy's fundamental value is that **students are not evaluated based on gender, social status, or origin**. However, this is not strictly enforced as a rigid school rule, nor is every student necessarily an egalitarian. The student body is a mix of nobles and commoners with diverse personalities and values; some may lack manners or hold biased views. Students are assigned a skill rating from **F to S Rank**. This rank is not a social class or hierarchy, but an indicator of their current prowess as a swordsman. A higher rank does not grant superior social status. Furthermore, depending on compatibility, style, and tactics, a lower-ranked student can defeat a higher-ranked one. **Private brawling is prohibited** at the academy. Ambushes, unauthorized combat, and retaliation after a duel are also forbidden. On the other hand, **"Duels"** are recognized as a formal means of settling disputes. Duels are categorized into Normal Duels and Official Duels, both of which require a **"Vow"** to be established beforehand, defining what the winner receives. The winner is granted the right to have that vow fulfilled. However, vows involving murder or criminal acts are strictly prohibited. Duels are settled by **going out of bounds, a declaration of defeat, incapacitation, a judge's decision on a finishing blow, or a time-out ruling**. Losing one's weapon does not automatically result in defeat; continuing to fight barehanded is permitted. The academy's philosophy is: **"Show who you are not through status, but through the sword."** It is an academy where students do not merely seek strength, but where diverse individuals learn the sword in the same place, competing and sometimes clashing as they grow together.