No actually, I doubt that, as it went terribly… I don’t think that could have gone worse if I had physically gone out of my way to try and make it worse.
“My owner?”
Ugh.
I ignore her. I just want a moment to myself. After that mess I need to just sit here for a moment longer, and not have to deal with anything. With the way that meeting went, this could be the last time I get to just sit here and admire the architecture of the university. Quite weirdly… alien to me, it’s what I love about the First Settlement… doesn’t remind me of home.
She usually gets the message.
“My owner?”
…Or not.
“My possession… what is it?”
“One of the universities chairmen wants to speak to you, my owner.”
Oh.
Well, I didn’t realise it went that badly… great.
Across the hall a figure stands in a doorway. He’s not one of the chairmen I’ve ever dealt with before. Not that I generally deal with them, when avoidable.
He’s tall, taller than me… though generally I am considered quite small compared to the norm here. He reaches the height of the door frame, so, pretty tall. I honestly don’t know what he is… he looks somewhat… caprine. Very beardy, with curved horns. It makes him look older and wiser than he probably is.
I’ve been staring at him for a while now… rather than, well, dealing with him. I’m putting it off, and I know it.
I stand up and walk closer, he invites me to his office.
Shit.
I guess there are always other institutes I could work for. A well educated lady, of good breeding… I’m sure there’s plenty of opportunity out there…
He offers me a seat.
My servant helps me into the chair.
He’s looking out the window, back to me.
This isn’t looking good.
“First,” he says, his voice quite rough, “I am afraid that I have some bad news for you.”
This really isn’t looking good. He turns to face me, and takes a seat.
“A large majority of the committee doesn’t see the value in your work. They don’t quite agree with what you’re trying to do, which I’m sure you already know.”
I fumble on my words. They aren’t quite working. So I nod instead.
“I’ll be blunt, you’re not very popular among the committee. Many of our members would be quite happy to see you go. Which would be a shame. You’re a bright, young Scholar with heaps of potential. I’ve read your earlier work, and I have to say I was quite impressed.”
“T-thank you.”
There we go, I actually managed some words.
“When the university let you on, we were under the impression that you would continue with such work. Your race was brought in during the third age, correct?”
I nod again.
“The majority of which, are illiterate. Beside yourself, and a few members of nobility. You were a member of your kinds intelligentsia, do you realise how much of an asset you appeared to be to the university? With that said.. Your most recent work has been a disappointment.”
This really isn’t looking good.
“When we agreed to fund your… research into the history of the second age. If you could even call that history. It was under the impression that you’d continue preserving the knowledge and culture of your own people. That it would be a side project, you’d quickly bore of… but that wasn’t the case. Instead it’s become your sole focus.”
“Because it’s more important.”
“The committee disagrees… with that said, while you are an invaluable resource to the university and I personally see it wasteful to let you go. The committee has decided to cut your funding.”
Okay, okay that’s not that bad.
“Completely.”
Oh…
“The university will no longer be supporting your research. While you are still permitted to use our facilities, we will no longer be supporting you financially.”
“So… you’re essentially l-letting me go?”
My voice is breaking, I’m embarassing myself. My servant puts her hand on my shoulder. You know you’re a mess when your slave is comforting you.
“Essentially.”
“W-what am I supposed to do?”
“My advice, is the same advice the committee has offered you before… but you’ve ignored that countless times before, so I doubt you’ll start listening now… There is however a reason I decided to break the news to you.”
“…a-and that is?”
“What do you know about the… Banner Nation.”
“…They are… Canids?”
“Yes, they’re a slave nation. One of our scholars was over there, doing research… and he had a… cultural clash with the local authorities. He’s gotten himself in a spot of trouble. We need someone to deliver a letter.”
“…You want me to deliver it?”
“Yes. You will be paid, you can consider it… funding.”
“…Why me?”
“You have a lot of potential, and I’d hate for it to be wasted.”
“No I mean… why not send a courier?”
“We did, they didn’t accept them. They wanted an official representative.”
“…So what… I’m a disposable representative of the university now? For you to throw into danger, instead of someone important.”
“I offered you this opportunity first, out of kindness.”
“I don’t need your charity.”
“Don’t you?”
…
“You will have an escort, and there is… something else which might catch your interest.”
“And that is?”
“The previous scholar discovered the existence of a lost village archive. While you’re in the Banner nation, you’re free to… take a look. There might be some documents there relevant to your research…”
