"Everyday Classes"

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

14th Day of August, Thursday Late Morning

Unity College of System Studies, Main Lecture Halls (9103)

The lecture hall was filled with warm sunlight streaming through the tall windows, creating a calm atmosphere. Yet, there was a palpable sense of anticipation as Professor Elara Nightshade walked to the center of the room. Her piercing gaze quickly silenced any chatter among the students.

"Today's lesson builds on our last discussion," she began, her voice strong and clear. "Ethics isn't fixed—it changes based on context, power, and understanding. Let's explore situational ethics and the challenges of making choices."

With a wave of her hand, the holographic board lit up behind her, displaying three scenarios:

The Lone Survivor: You discover an injured civilian while fleeing from a collapsing dungeon. Stopping to save them means risking your own life.

The Greater Good: A rogue mage threatens a city. You have the chance to end them, but doing so might damage critical infrastructure.

The Mysterious Artifact: You recover a powerful artifact that could benefit your faction but might also destabilize political alliances.

Professor Nightshade paced thoughtfully, her gaze intense. "Ethics involves complexity. Let's begin with our first scenario. What influences your decision-making?"

A confident student from the front row raised their hand. "Isn't it clear? We should save the civilian, even if it puts us at risk."

"That's a noble viewpoint," Professor Nightshade replied, "but consider this: what if you alone hold vital information for your allies? Would saving one person still be worth the potential danger to many others?"

The room grew quiet as students took notes.

"Remember," she said firmly, "ethics often forces us to make tough choices, and your System amplifies the effects of these decisions. Now, let's move to the second scenario: how do we weigh collateral damage against neutralizing a threat?"

The class burst into debate, and Accel, sitting in the middle, finally spoke up. "Doesn't it depend on how important the infrastructure is? We might find a way to take out the mage with minimal damage."

Professor Nightshade nodded in approval. "Good point, Mr. Winchester. Always consider the outcomes. But keep in mind: certainty in ethics is rare. Often, we just have to make the best choice based on what we know."

As the discussion continued, each topic was explored deeply. By the end of the class, students left with furrowed brows and more questions than answers—one of Nightshade's trademarks.

14th Day of August, Thursday Late Morning

Unity College of System Studies, Main Lecture Halls (4201)

Professor Calyx Duskward welcomed the class with a warm smile as he stood at the front of the lecture hall, filled with holographic texts and old books.

"Welcome back, everyone," he said, his voice inviting. "Today, we'll continue our exploration of Knowledge Curation. Our focus will be on how to categorize data for easy retrieval and the basics of organizing information effectively."

With a gesture, he created a visual of a system storage interface in the air.

"Picture this," he said, pointing to the interface. "Imagine a messy inventory of books, artifacts, and items. How would you quickly find a specific text in an emergency?"

A student remarked, "I would just use the search bar."

Duskward laughed lightly. "That's efficient, but what if your system level or permissions restrict that? This is why good categorization matters. Let's break it down."

He showed a flowchart. "First, identify main categories like Historical Texts, Magical Research, and Combat Manuals. Then create subcategories based on things like chronology, author, or specialization."

He then turned to Accel. "Mr. Winchester, you're interested in practical applications. If you were organizing data on Runes, how would you do it?"

Accel thought for a moment. "I'd start with broad categories like Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Runes, and then organize them into subcategories based on their effects—like defensive, offensive, and utility."

"Excellent," Professor Duskward said with a nod. "Proper organization is key. It helps you find and use important information, even under pressure."

He then moved on to the practical part of the lesson. "Now, form groups and organize this simulated library interface. Focus on making it easy to access and user-friendly."

The students gathered in small groups around holographic terminals. Accel found himself working with a few others, including Lila Merritt. They discussed the best strategies while occasionally seeking Duskward's advice as he walked around the room.

"Remember," he reminded the class, "knowledge is only valuable if you can retrieve it. Mastering this skill is just as important as mastering combat or magic."

As the lesson wrapped up, Duskward summarized the key points and assigned the students to create a personal organization system for their own use. As they left, his final words resonated:

"In a sea of information, having order is power. Use it wisely."