Back in 2022, Square Enix started releasing Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea Academy, an alternate reality manga placing familiar heroes and villains in a high school setting. It was a brief tale spanning only seven chapters. Now that it’s available worldwide in English, I can’t help but wish it was longer. It’s so fun and packed with personality, and the characters translate over to their new roles quite well.
The stars of Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea Academy are primarily Alisaie and Alphinaud Leveilleur, with other Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Garlean Empire, and side characters like Ryne and Tataru also playing fairly large parts. Depending on characters’ ages or personalities, they end up being students or faculty. So, for example, Alisaie and Alphinaud are first-year students who are living away from home, so they’re staying in the same place as teachers Y’shtola, Thancred, and Urianger.
As the school actually merged the Academy of Light and Academy of Darkness, students haven’t really adjusted to being around each other yet. So members of the former Light school, which consist of students like the twins, Estinien, G’raha Tia, Krile, Ysayle, and Aymeric, are essentially at odds with Darkness students like Zenos, Asahi, and Yotsuyu. There are exceptions. (Ryne and Gaia are still quite close. But Tataru proposed a competition of sorts that will result in members of the “winning” class getting a wish granted if they earn enough points through activities and good actions over the year.
Of course, unlike Final Fantasy XIV, there are no real hostilities in the manga. In fact, the rivalry between Alisaie and Zenos almost struck me as a similar dynamic as a pairing like Tsukushi and Tsukasa in Boys Over Flowers or another shojo manga where the heroine and hero are at odds, which very much amused me. All of the chapters feel like slice-of-life situations that wouldn’t be out of place in any school-based series, only with some clever references to the original game within.
Speaking of which, I like how the manga still maintained certain dynamics and personalities for Final Fantasy XIV characters. For example, the sibling dynamics between Alisaie and Alphinaud, as well as Asahi and Yotsuyu, are entertaining. I loved Emet Selch’s characterization as a teacher, especially his magical tendencies. There’s a great moment during the Field Day sports festival involving Y’shtola. (Though, honestly, that’s one of my favorite chapters overall.) Speech patterns are maintained for certain folks like Urianger, which works and doesn’t feel awkward given the general role in the story and actions.
The thing is that it’s all so delightful that I wanted more. The art, the characterizations, the situations, and everything mangaka Esora Amaichi did comes together so well. Also, you can tell the oversight and insight the Final Fantasy XIV Operations Team offered, because it makes the Eorzea Academy manga feel true to the series and characters. Even the way it wraps up made me feel like “this can’t be it.”
I think Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea Academy is something special. It’s really a fun manga, and I’m so glad that Square Enix took this chance and had Amaichi create it. I just wish it was the start of an even larger project, because the stories here are executed so well. But I suppose better short, sweet, and actually existing than never having it at all.
The Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea Academy manga is available via Square Enix worldwide now. The game is available on the PS4, PS5, and PC. Its 6.5 part 1 patch will arrive on October 3, 2023.
