George didn’t know much about elements so he didn’t know if the dark elements was good or bad. The only thing he was curious about was that there were no dark element characteristics so how did it work? Did it all fall under intelligence or maybe wisdom? He decided to do some research about it later and focus on Solomon’s teaching.

Solomon shook his head a little and started to put the stones away.

“It’s ironic that you out of everyone here gets the tank class. Tank in itself is not a hard class to find teachers or skills for, but your combination is an unlucky one. The dark element is seen as a strong offensive element and most of the skills are made offensive attacks. It’s a shame if you had the light element which is a strong defensive element you would have been scouted by at least the trust clan alone if not all three of them.”

Solomon clapped his hands and a book appeared in front of every student with the words skills and its uses on it.

“This is the book that was promised, read it well and act according to your own conclusions. If you only follow your teacher’s instructions and never think for yourself, the best thing you can become is just a copy of your teacher. Also, remember that at the end of the day it’s your own responsibility what skills you learn or how you use your characteristics. The academy and teachers are not responsible for your decisions.

Well, thanks for coming and I wish you all the best in your upcoming endeavors.”

Everyone took the book and started to leave the room. George could see the excitement in everyone’s eyes and fast pace. He also wanted to read the book but waiting for everyone to leave before he got up to go back to his room. The last thing he wanted to was get into another conversation.

Walking back to his room George didn’t really pay attention to the students around him and was thinking about the great quantity of information he got today. He had learned a lot of new things but also gained a lot of new questions. George really wanted to go and read the skill book but didn’t think he would have the time before he would have to exit Nash today.

Just as he was entered his room he found Liz waiting for him in front of his room.

“Hey George, I was waiting for you. I knocked but you roommate didn’t let me in and asked me to wait here. He really is a piece of work you know; these nobles think they can treat everyone like dirt because they are from big clans.”

George having the same thought knocked his head and waited for Liz to explain why she was waiting for him.

“Master Solomon asked me to tell you to come to his room, he wants to talk to you. I need to go to the winery, so see you later.”

After saying her goodbyes Liz left and George went to Solomon’s office. He didn’t know how much time he had left so he decided to make haste and didn’t linger around. When he arrived he found Solomon’s door open and he could see Solomon sitting behind his desk writing a rapport.

“Come in and close the door.”

George closed the door and sat down after Solomon offered.

“If you paid attention in class you know that I gave everyone advice on what to do next except you. The reason I did that is because I don’t know what you want to do next. You should have figured out by now that I have taken a special interest in your future. If you have been a teacher for as long as I have you can see a student’s worth just by looking into their eyes.

The parents who spend all their credits on martial arts lessons and not on education are fools who wish to teach their children how to run before they can walk. I know that you have never followed a lesson before entering Nash and that at first, I took pity on you because of your physical stake. But seeing you excel at winemaking to the point of surpassing Liz’s record and fooling Levy shows that you learn quickly, and with the answer, you gave today I can see that you have been reading a lot and that you have above average intelligence.

Believe it or not but this makes you even more valuable, to like reading and studying without being forced is a trait many youngsters lack these days. They just want to swing their swords and only use their brains to read the wine list when they get drunk every night.

But they have something more important that you miss, willpower. I don’t know what happened to you but when I look at you I don’t see a shred of passion or the sense you want something; it’s like looking at a walking corps.”

Solomon had a look of annoyance on his face and even banged his hands on the table softly.

George didn’t expect Solomon to say something like this and was caught off guard by his statement. For a moment his anger took over him and he started to speak his mind.

“You speak like there is any choice, from the day we are born our lives have been controlled by god knows who. You say there is a choice but to me, everyone is doing the same thing, put in this prison called Nash and asked to go on his pointless journey which I don’t know why but everyone seems to want to take. Tell me, teacher, if I play their game and go on this journey what will I gain at the end of the day?”

Solomon got angrier by the second, stood up from his chair and banged his hands on the table.

“Horse Crap! You can tell these lies to make yourself feel better but I will tell you what the real problem is. You are afraid to try, and keep telling yourself excuses to justify doing nothing. Real world or not Nash is the best thing we got, and like it or not you are a part of it. Do you think that our ancestors before Nash had a purpose? They just like us lived a life that was limited and came to an end after eighty years or so if they were lucky. So if we have to be part of it, why not try to change it for the better or set goals to give our life meaning instead of making excuses why it’s all pointless and we can just as well never try.”

George clearly sensitive to this subject couldn’t accept Solomon’s reaction.

“Perhaps, but it’s my life and I know one thing for sure. I have only entered Nash for a couple of session days and have the right to think longer about how I want to live my life!”

Solomon sat back down and the room became silent. He knew that George was just sixteen and that arguing about this won’t solve anything at the moment.

“Then go back and make a decision. If you want to be an ordinary worker you can keep your job at the winery and make enough to survive day by day. But if you decide to follow the path of cultivation, see the world and experience adventure come back to see me.

Now go back and rest, it won’t take long before your session ends.”

After that Solomon went back to work on his rapports and George left his office in an angry state. He went back to his room and wasn’t in the mood to read so he decided to take a nap and try to calm down. But he couldn’t sleep and before long was kicked out of Nash.

Even though he was angry he still decided to do his exercises. George knew that being able to stay five full days in Nash had the most priority right now and that he had to do his best.

After a while, Omar and Clara exited the capsule and started to do their daily exercises. George just exiting the shower went to order his dinner and had a hard time finish his plate.

Omar was pretty easy to get along with and he liked to talk about his troubles. George could also use a talking companion, he didn’t want to think about Nash and listened to Omar talk about mostly how hard it is to survive with so little money.

Luckily it was almost time for Clara to enter Nash and that why their income would increase. This would give Omar the chance to save credits for lessons and skills.

George thought about how it would be if Vincent treated him like Omar treated Clara, but put the thought out of his head after feeling uncomfortable just thinking about it.

Omar talked about how there is an option to choose your starting village if you have the credit for it and that the big clans use this to put their children in villages under their control. And that the reason he had to share a meal with Clara was that he was saving for her to start at the same starting village as him. But he didn’t know if he could make enough money in the short amount of time he had left.

George like usual didn’t say much and let Omar do the talking. Clara was not used to getting no attention and was angry, sitting the corner of the room. But George could also sense that she was sad because of the burden she was on her big brother. Omar had entered Nash almost a session year ago and should already be at the point of leaving the starting village. But had to save every credit he made to pay for his sister's transfer.

Seeing that Clara wanted to be alone with his brother and that is was almost sleeping time George said his goodnight and went to his room. He was not able to sleep comfortably in Nash and was looking forward to a good night sleep. He still had some time to think about his discussion with Solomon and the worst thing was that he felt like he had lost the discussion. But it’s his decision and he is the one that has to make it at the end of the day.