Making of a master

"That's a Tiger, I've raised you right!"

-Arthur James Reed

It was a hard thing to picked up the round nites from the bottom of the glass box, manipulating it so all the round nites attached on my hand on the other side of the glass. It takes two months to get to this structuring manipulation, i was currently at the high stage of developing class trying to learn the skills. My remoting skill had advance strengthening for 800 meters, only 2 of us in the same classroom can do it, reaching the 1000 meters is a normal compiler can endure, since if the slave nites went to far in a crowded place it will only take less than 1000 meters to linked in. My pre high grade master training course will be ended by this week, i need to pass the semi master grade, but these round nites is a great obstacle to get over with.

"Good job Mr.Clancy you pass, now you are a low grade structuring class" Said the instructor.

I greeted my teeth trying to focus, it was 5 more for it to picked, 4 more, getting closer. I drop one! "Argh!" Maintaining my composure i picked again, 4 more, taking a long breathe. 3 more, jingling~ don't drop it, i slowed my phase, 2 more. And the last one, the instructor is coming since the automated detecting has detect no more round nites on the bottom of the floor is blinking yellow. About 10 second it turn to green.

"Well well well 2 passing compilers a day just make my efforts worth it guiding you Mr.Reed!" Turning around pointing to all the non passing compiler "Please refer to Mr.Clancy and Mr.Reed, you all has a week to pass this test or you'll be repeating this class next semester end, you'll waste my time for repeating my subjects!" And he's back looking at me "You can let go now Mr.Reed, you've pass!".

The whole round nites falls to the end of the bottom of the glass box as I'm smiling. On passing i have no obligation to attends that classroom, i have 1 week of free time every time that class subject is on, it was 3 hour of painstakingly concentration.

"How was school?" My mom asked me as i put my bag and hang my coat.

It was 2 months since my Father Arthur death, my mom Cortina is handling the kitchen with a maid of the Barnes family, because of the Fadia attacks, only trusted hand may involved on inner and daily chores. Like preparing food, cleaning the bedroom, delivering supplies and driving car. No driver since my father death can be tolerate by Barnaby, he always regularly change the driver every 1 to 2 months at a time. And his patrolling in the turf has increased to 2 days a week, before it was once a week. He would bring 6 men at all time as a counter measure of the war declaration against the Fadia. Lilia has been sending letters everyday, for the last month, i guess she was worried about me, my mom and her father. Lilia has insist to go home last month hearing that her father almost being killed and my father has died. But i told her to finish her own plate before start chewing on everyone's plate and she'll be a burden for her father to worried that another life has to be protected in this house. She understand it with heavy heart, she is a Barnes anyway, she can think ahead before became a liability.

"I pass my grade mom" see turn around and hug me. "Your dad will be proud if he is here" with watery eyes. I have no comment of this, and take my seat at the kitchen table. "Have you decided which institution? Your pledge company have to be notified in a week, we need that 30% leverage you know" she is reminding me of my contract.

Arthur have arrange for my education plan, it sadden me to think he will never see me graduate from high grade master compiler school. A glimpse of his smiling face on a coffin "He died happy anyway" whispering.

"What dear? I don't catch that last word" my mom asked me. "Oh nothing mom, I'll decided within this week" i get out of my seat and head to my room. "Don't miss dinner! Don't push yourself Cass" my mom reminding me, again. She is missing Arthur terribly now she focus everything to me, sometimes i stay in her room at night only to hear her telling a story about my father, and get out when she told me to go back to my room and sleep, by saying that i need to focus on my education rather than with a lonely old lady. She is a rock! Only my dad cant melt her and now no one cant.

Fang followed me to my room, he is bigger now reaching the 8th years. He is keep growing slowly, i guess nanites really promote full DNA builds. No matter how big he is to me he is still that cute little pup that use to wriggle on my towel, he is like a little brother to me, when he was in that room with Taher, he really take his time to chew on that fucker face. The limbs is intact none was eaten, all disassembled fingers, toes and he pulls all the organ one by one without damaging it. Before Taher died of blood loss i think that fucker twitching like hell breaks upon, agonizing in pain. Even the henchmen of the Barnes have trouble seeing the aftermath. After resting that afternoon a maid informed me that Mr.Barnes will be dining with us tonight. I bet he want to talk about my options picking the school, after all he will legally funded me for 70% of my tuition, and I'll be going there as Barnes family organization as my net.

"Come on Fang let's get some air before taking a bath!" Fang jump out of the bed and followed me to the backyard.

After taking a bath, i go down to the dining room. My mom is there, since Mr.Barnes has not arrived yet, i take my seat next to my mom. A moment later a heavy step and a loud conversation occur "I don't care you handle it, it was a lousy request! Tell him if he want those stuff unharmed, give me more experts to work with my merchandise, that means time and money!!" The henchman just walked away in a hurry. "Now let us eat in peace, I'm sorry Cortina after your husband died no capable hand were in my care, i cant find a replacement, Arthur is simply irreplaceable" saying this while taking a seat in the grand chair at the end of the dinner table. The food is more than great, almost everything is my favorite, i think my mom went over the table because of my passing today. The dinner went with no words, as no one dare to start with Barnaby. We understand the way with Mr.Barnes he never like to talk while we are chewing our food, that what i like about him, he has class for joyful habits as only with silence we can enjoy the full essence of it.

"Wonderful taste Cortina!" After eating full and sipping the wine Barnaby make a comment about my mom cooking."Thank you Mr.Barnes" she reply smiling. Averting his eyes on me, he is smirking.

"Have you became cocky passing?" He said.

"I cant I'm the second place at this one" i said half tone.

"I see, who is number one" he is curious.

"That Clancy boy"

"Well his pure comp parents must be helping him with special training boy! Why do you so hard on yourself! Have you choose the school then?" He said it, now I'm very tense about it. "I just pass today, i will choose it within 2 days" i answered.

"Please do, so i would have the time to send a recommendation letter to the headmaster" Mr.Barnes reply. "Now I'll go to the study, maid please tell that stupid man, to meet me in my study!" Barnaby walking out of the room. I also walk back to my room. "And don't you go to my bedroom tonight Cass, i need you to tell me which one in the morning" My mom reminding me, again.

There are 3 high grade master school in Rogan which own by 3 different institution. The military, the merchant and the industrial. By the net that i get with the Barnes it was either the merchant or the industrial, with the merchant it was will be easy acquiring things since Barnes has involvement on the black market. But to pique my interest the industrial will be a chance to learn the artifact that could be found from the times of the nanowars. And something about a rumor at the underworld that the industrialist had a secret facility that harbors assassins, but this information never reach any of the underworld net, since corporate secret means money even to the military and the merchant, and everyone loves getting a cut after the bloody fogs fade away. So they are killing each other over technology, and everyone just turn a blind eye on that matter. It was a strong net to gain, and it was a new playing field for me.

In the morning i told my mom, she is glad i choose that, since she heard that military is tough and the merchant is not a life for me. She want me to have a way out from the Barnes since the underworld is as unpredictable as it gets. I get to meet Barnaby at breakfast, saying he will make the letter as tempting as it gets to get me on that school. Although i see he is a bit worry about the choice, he is really flying blind on that part of the net. No one on the underworld dare to set foot on the industrial school using a merchant base net, only money or service can he offer. But seeing none of the 2 is needed by this net, he is really juggling for once.

Lilia replying my letter of that school choice, she said on this private school she also known a girl that have an industrial net and she is as cold as it get socializing. The school that Lilia attending is a private school where the elites of society gather, the school was founded by the old war veteran of nanowars. The alumnus of this school is either on the high ranks of the government or deep on the net of other private sector, either way it was a fearful existence. The school is the safest place on this world, since it was respected and feared even by the so called industrialist.

Today I'm practicing to increase the length of my remoting, to practice is to train your nanites to compile it coding it for a better efficiency, by using Fang that was easy. Other with no slave nites can only use a device, that needs to be moved by walking. I just have to instructed Fang to move back and forth the length marker. Coding it to the max, i reach 815 meters this time, i really wish i can make it to 1000 soon, but its really hard, you cant really find a 1000 square meters wide area in the city area just snapping your finger to practice this. Our elementary school is the only one in Rogan, we will break up into different high grade school to get our master class. I push again my self to increase the length, after that afternoon 840 is the best i can increase, it was quick on the first try when the class is started in fresh men years i even cant get 2 meters barely increase in a day.

I came home and that evening, hearing that Mr.Barnes haven't got a replied with the letter, i went to bed after hearing my mom removing me from her bedroom. Before heading to my room i put my ear to the door of my mother bedroom. "Our son has chosen that school you wish him to be, it was our dream that one day he'll be making a name for him self, since the government and that merchant only care for power and wealth" i slowly pick my ears and go to.my room. So dad wishes me to go there to, as expected from dad. He has always know that i don't like to be contained in boxes or power struggle, unlike Lilia my destiny was never bind in names or genders. I swear i will strife hard as my dad wanted me out of this pity existence. I sleep that night knowing he is always with me every step of the way. Knowing that all the carefully planing he always putting me first rather himself, i will try my best to make myself know i was the son of Arthur James Reed a non comp but a father of a world-renown Master Compiler. "One day dad, i will.." i promise to myself. His smiles, oh how i miss his smile "Dad.." tears falling as i close my eyes. I dream of him that night, imagining he is here to argue about what training i should take for subject in high grade master school.