The Academy - Grim Trials Hub
The Academy is Death’s training hall: John, Ivanya, Iskra, Milyun, Pytra, Kai, Breone, Nameles. Craft, quests, Training Ground, then back to the trials.
The Academy is built for the training and arming of Death’s Reapers. You return here when a run ends. Avelin’s title in this hall is The Cocoon.
Named denizens
Glory Jam’s Devlog #3 plus Steam achievements:
| Name | Role | Why they matter |
|---|---|---|
| John | Mentor of all Grim Reapers before you | First Academy denizen you meet after a Trial Ground attempt. Mentor Makeover: craft him a new set with Milyun |
| Ivanya | The Witch | The Witch’s Apprentice — max affinity. Girls’ Night Out — a Final Toast with Ivanya Iskra |
| Iskra | Research (affinity achievement) | Research Assistant — max affinity. Separate Steam achievement from Ivanya |
| Milyun | The Spinner | Tailored Teaching — max affinity. Crafts with you |
| Pytra | The Blacksmith | Friendly Fire — max affinity |
| Kai | Fellow Cocoon, senior | Unlocks the endless Training Ground. From Foe To Fellow — max affinity. Kai |
| Breone | The Cat | Line on screen: Mrrra? Furry Friends with Nameles |
| Nameles | The Dog | Line on screen: Woofhh. Steam achievement spelling is Nameles (the dialogue box on the screenshot uses Namélés) |
Avelin herself: Avelin. Her still-living love is named Timmy in the same devlog.
Mentors have already completed Purification. Each one has a different philosophy of death, unlocked through sidequests. The HUD flags when an NPC has new story.
Confirmed quests / achievements
- Complete the Grim Reaper apprentice Onboarding (New Kid on The Block)
- The Special Delivery (Courier Girl)
- Three Headed Snake (Snake Charmer)
- Spar with a fellow apprentice (We Were Enemies for A Day)
- Girls’ Night Out — Final Toast with Ivanya Iskra
- Reach the ending (Deadly Enlightened)
Affinity is a real meter. Four max-affinity achievements sit on named mentors plus the cat/dog pair.
What you do here
- Craft and recraft weapons, masks, potions. Milyun’s station is the Sewing Table. Ivanya’s first recipe is Spirit Potion
- Spend Soul Runes on the skill tree
- Take quests, raise affinity
- Walk the Training Ground (Kai)
- Talk to the dog. Talk to the cat
Training Ground
Kai’s Training Ground is endless. Use it to test a Blessings + tree + gear mix before a real Purification attempt.
The loop
- Academy: tree, craft, talk
- Trial Ground: hex rooms, Blessings, FACE YOUR SIN
- Death: materials stay
- Academy again
Related Articles
characters
Kai - Grim Trials Mentor
Kai is a senior Cocoon in Grim Trials who shares Reaper knowledge after Avelin proves herself, and unlocks the endless Training Ground.
guides
Grim Trials Beginner Guide
How Grim Trials starts: Avelin dies, trains at The Academy, dual-wields scythe and crossbow, and keeps materials after every death.
weapons
Grim Trials Crafting Guide
Grim Trials crafting: materials survive death. Recraft cheaper. Mastercraft needs a perfect minigame. Masks, weapons, potions, set bonuses.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for the feedback!