049

The head of admission was more than aware about how Ron felt. He couldn't do much about it as he was under the orders of the chairman. Would he have done something about it otherwise? Uncertain. Regardless, this time, it was set in stone. This kid was to go to the attendant department. That being said, considering the circumstances, he decided to give the kid some hope. It didn't work quite well and sounded like an excuse in a way. But he sent the message across. He accompanied the kid out after having finished stating all that needed to be stated.

Ron left the faculty with heavy feelings. Becoming an attendant? Going to war on the front lines? Fuck that shit! He worked so hard nearly all his life to get a chance to truly live. Yet, they wanted to deprive him of even that? He was angry. Angry at the world, angry at himself. The anger turned to despair with the realization of his powerlessness.

The cursus in universities were only three years long. If he didn't fail a year, he would be sent to the frontlines in two-and-a-half years. And he would die there. He wasn't stupid to think that he would miraculously awaken some insane abilities or become a god of war. He was hard working but not made for this. He wasn't a soldier at heart and didn't believe that he could ever become one.

He would die.

He knew.

So, he needed more than ever to never graduate. And there was one very easy way to do just that. He only had to give up on going to school itself. He wouldn't go to a single class and they would have no choice but to fail him. If he wasn't there, how could he be considered having learnt?

With this genius-level idea in mind, Ron left the university and went on to roam the city, searching for a place to settle at. He found a nice and cheap café and spent the whole day there. He worked on his own, learning through the wrist-com. He gave up on going to the lessons but not on his studies. If he had understood one thing previously, it was that those with more knowledge could live better lives. They would be given better work opportunities and higher salaries. That was the goal he had been pursuing from the beginning. He wouldn't be given it up so easily.

He escaped the nasty claws of society once and so, he would try to do it again!

Meanwhile, at school, all teachers noticed his absence during roll call. None cared though. What was it to them if a student didn't bother to come? They wouldn't be paid any less. The university continued to operate as usual. Ron wasn't worth so much to them.

At the end of the day though, the head of admission had a lingering feeling that something didn't go well. He asked to check the records regarding Ron and sighed as he saw them.

Absent at every lesson.

It wasn't like they could force him to go and learn though. This was a headache. If the chairman didn't switch this guy to the attendant department…No! He couldn't let himself think this way. It wasn't the chairman's fault. But he certainly needed the chairman's opinion on this case. This concerned someone's future, he couldn't bear this kind of responsibility.

He called the chairman.

He received a simple answer: "Let him be. His contract with our military states that he needs to finish his studies first before being enlisted. There are many ways to 'finish' one's studies, dropping out being one"

He realized that the chairman had planned this from the beginning. He didn't want the kid to attend the school. Or maybe, there were other things at stake. One thing was clear though, they wanted the kid to die and the sooner the better. But why? And who?

Forget it.

Considering how much was being invested in legally sending this kid to his death, it was better not to pry further into it. Still, he felt bad for the kid. No one would be offended if he gave him a little bit of help, right? At least, he had to for his own mental health. If he didn't, he would keep having remorse for many years to come.

He called the dorm head, Grey, and asked him if the kid was in. He was not. He then asked him to call whenever the kid came back. Grey asked why and he told him he needed to explain some things to the kid face to face regarding his enrollment and such. Grey didn't think much of it and agreed.

Ron only returned for dinner. He spent the entire day studying. He was in a good mood since he managed to cover quite a lot of documents throughout the day. It had been a wise choice not to go to school.

As he entered the dorm, he saw Grey at the entrance. As soon as Grey saw him, he jumped from his seat and forced him to stay there. A dozen or so minutes later, the head of admission arrived. He spoke to Ron: "I was made aware that you skipped all your lessons, Mister Morgensen"

Ron snickered but didn't bother answering. From the beginning, he had a very bad impression of this man. He saw the man sigh before he continued: "Mister Morgensen, please, do keep in mind that dropping out is also a way to 'finishing' your studies"

Ron looked at him slack-jawed. This got him stunned do the implications behind it. He planned to escape through failure from this jail…Yet, it turned out that the jail was his shield against hell. He needed to think of a new plan presto.

His emotions were in turmoil and the head of admission noticed it. He did what he had to do so he left. As he did, he left a few words: "Please, Mr Morgensen, I pray that you will attend classes from tomorrow on"

He waited until night solely to speak two sentences to the kid. Yet, those two sentences were enough to change a life. As he drove home, he believed he did the right thing and was saddened that he couldn't do any more. The fate of this child was too dark.