Perhaps, the Mortalborn considered when he returned to the stage after Trandino had informed him of the Ellune’s “offer” – he had of course thanked the dean for letting him know – his initial assessment had not been entirely correct. Rather than continuing to discuss the matter in private and in more detail as would have been the better option, he had simply continued, and he seemed to consider it appropriate and entirely unproblematic to force him to make a decision that would have far-reaching consequences on the spur of a moment.
The son of Ziell was hopeful and preferred to see the best in people rather than always assuming the worst of them. At least he did so nowadays. In his opinion, everybody had at least a bit of potential. The Ellune was without a doubt passionate and cared, at least about his own people, but he was, quite obviously, prone to frustration, prone to quick anger and twisting somebody’s words, and rather biased. Such traits could of course be worked on, but they clouded his initial impression that had been positive, for the most part, somewhat.
He did not let anybody know that though as he stepped forward in order to speak once more. Unlike Cyrus, he remained calm, composed and controlled. He did not clench his fists, and he did not clench his jaw in frustration, although he found it somewhat ludicrous that the Ellune had apparently insisted that he needed help
now. Cyrus’ concerns had without a doubt not been unimportant – he did not change his mind in that regard - but the members of the Academy had done him a favour by letting him speak, nevertheless. He did not know him, but he doubted that he had ever been a student here.
That was only a minor issue at best though – you did not need a degree in order to be knowledgeable or educated. What irritated the Mortalborn the most about the little quasi-tirade that he had been informed about, although he did again, not show it openly – unlike the Ellune he had good manners - was that the other man made insane demands and told him to stop something that the Institute of Sciences and Yvithia herself had not had a problem with and had apparently not even bothered to read his thesis or educate himself on his research beforehand. Did he really think that his opinion was more important than Yvithia’s or Trandino’s?
“You spoke about me profiting and seem to imply that I am the only one getting credit, among other things. If you had familiarized yourself with my research, you would know that this is not true. Any volunteer, any scientist that helped me with my research, any blood donor, I mentioned their contribution, provided that they wanted me to do so – or offered to reward them in other ways. You will be able to find their names if you open my thesis. I can provide you with a copy”, he told him in a calm and slightly dry tone of voice and met his gaze. Cyrus might consider him to be arrogant, but he simply pointed out the flaws in his thinking.
“Furthermore, you insisted that I should have educated myself beforehand. I spoke about learning more”, he reminded him which was an important distinction in his opinion – as was the fact that he had used the past tense when he had spoken of people taking issue with his work. Nobody had, and the initial research was finished. Unlike Cyrus, he was not particularly interested in arguing in public and disrupting an important meeting though. He would not suddenly ignore the other man’s concerns either though, especially not since Dean Trandino had apparently approved of his questions. It was good that he was concerned – or it
would have been, if he had actually listened or familiarized himself with his research beforehand,
really familiarized himself.
“I offered to discuss the matter with you in private after the debate is over so that we have more time”, he spoke.
“That offer still stands. Are you interested?” he wanted to know in the same calm and polite tone of voice as before. Unlike Cyrus, he had used Common, the most frequently spoken language in Viden, the entire time now. The Ancient Language was the language of scholars, that was true, but he would not exclude any member of the audience from this conversation, either on purpose or by accident.
~~~
No matter whether Cyrus accepted or declined his offer, the debate eventually continued. Trandino’s third – and apparently last – question impressed him, he had to admit and increased the opinion that he had of his superior further. Trandino did not only think about Viden, but about the world beyond. Micaus, he observed, as he glanced at his one remaining competitor, looked shocked though. He had obviously not expected that, and what more, he did not seem to think that there was any merit to Trandino’s question.
Doran nodded at him encouragingly regardless though.
When Micaus admitted that he did not have any plans and thought nothing of opening new campuses, the expression on his face remained carefully polite and neutral. He looked at his competitor for a moment before he let his gaze drift over the audience in order to see what they were thinking. That was important to find out, although he would not change his reply to match their expectations. He preferred to be true to himself.
“I believe that there is a lot to be gained from interacting with our sister campuses and intensifying our relations with them”, he spoke when it was his turn. He looked at all of them as he spoke rather than just Trandino, so that they would know that his answer was meant for all of them.
“Just a few seasons ago, Faith Augustin who founded the Institute for Innovation in Rharne visited Viden, for example, and defended her thesis here. I held guest lectures in Scalvoris myself, and I plan on visiting Rharne in a few trials in order to discuss the upcoming science fair. As some of you know, I also used to teach at Rynmere University before the civil war”, he continued. He did not mention those things in order to brag about his international experience, but so that they knew that what he said was based on facts.
“Micaus thinks that interaction between campuses would diminish our name. I believe that the opposite is true and that it will in fact increase our reputation further. Viden is the foremost centre of knowledge in Idalos, but in order to increase our knowledge and grow even more we need to continue to reach out to the world beyond Viden’s borders. They knew things that we don’t. How do you think that the Academy became what it is to-trial? By being isolated?” he asked which was a mostly rhetorical question, a question that he did not expect an answer to.
“Yvithia herself shared her knowledge willingly during the early arcs of Viden, when the Academy first opened”, he pointed out. He had been alive during those early arcs. He had already been alive when the Academy of Viden had opened its doors to students. His knowledge came from actual, personal experience rather than from books.
“And besides, do people in other parts of the world not deserve the same standards of knowledge and education that we do?” he asked and paused briefly in order to give the audience time to consider that question and the other things that he had said so far before he continue,
“If I were to become dean, I would continue to do what I’ve already begun. I would regularly interact with my colleagues at our sister campuses and visit them – the Eclipse Portals fortunately provide easy access to our sister campuses – and foster joint research projects and events as well as support those that wish to come to Viden, or spend some time abroad. As for opening new academies, that is something that is ultimately up to the Chancellor and Lady Yvithia, of course. My personal opinion is that it is something that should be considered though, and that cities that wish to open academies of their own should be supported”, he finished before he nodded at Trandino and Micaus, stepped back and waited for a decision to be made.
Notes
IC evidence of Doran offering to mention his volunteers' names in his work/talking about it can be found
here and
here, for example.