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Throughout the ceremony, Gideon sat silently with a stony face, only occasionally reluctantly joining in the applause. The song and speech of Levia did not impress him much, but he still noted her effort, with which she desperately tried to overshadow her inexperience in such matters. If she doesn't lose her enthusiasm, she will eventually learn to truly inspire.
During Nira's speech, he carefully observed this person. Words themselves are easily manipulated, and careful selection is not so difficult, so they should not be trusted; he was interested in the emotions with which the girl delivered her speech - it is in them that the soul lies. They were bright, but ambiguous. He wondered what he himself would say if he were in her place. In fact, it doesn't matter what - the point is that at the same time, an even more radiant smile would shine on his face than hers; he would feel like a hero who had unraveled the system and brought it to its knees, along with all those who had not coped with this task.
When the speeches were over, Duncan suggested that everyone take combat uniforms and weapons. At that moment, the students were faced with a choice of their destiny, because weapons save lives... And end them. The question is only who will be more capable and lucky, and this, among other things, depends on the right choice. Gideon found it a little easier than the others, because he had made his choice even before arriving - he thought, remembering the pistol and rapier he had brought with him. From the point of view of readiness for combat activity, he did not need a third weapon at all.
But for someone interested in modern technology, to pass by such a weapon as a rifle, a marvel of weaponry compared to the rest of the sticks and pikes, is simply unforgivable. Its power was undeniable; together with it, a powerful and dangerous opponent was equal to a puny musket, which could be crushed with a light movement of the hand. Some nun nearby said that she already had a weapon, so she would not take another because greed is a terrible vice. However, in Gideon's case, this is not greed. For someone who understands the progressiveness of this weapon and its potential for research, possessing it is an honor. Only a fool would refuse such an honor.
However, it was not difficult to figure out some things in order not to indulge in illusions. Despite its external technological sophistication, the rifle had a number of drawbacks. Bulky, complex reloading, strong dependence on the quality of the cartridge and the cleanliness of the barrel... Gideon was not sure that he really wanted to entrust his life to it in battle. However, as an object of research, it is an extremely valuable specimen. So, in addition to the combat uniform, he also takes a third weapon, and which of them he will thoroughly study and ultimately use in battle - he will figure it out as he goes. The extra one can always be hung on the wall in the room as a decoration - anyway, with his meager scholarship, he is unlikely to be able to buy anything else for this purpose.
During Nira's speech, he carefully observed this person. Words themselves are easily manipulated, and careful selection is not so difficult, so they should not be trusted; he was interested in the emotions with which the girl delivered her speech - it is in them that the soul lies. They were bright, but ambiguous. He wondered what he himself would say if he were in her place. In fact, it doesn't matter what - the point is that at the same time, an even more radiant smile would shine on his face than hers; he would feel like a hero who had unraveled the system and brought it to its knees, along with all those who had not coped with this task.
When the speeches were over, Duncan suggested that everyone take combat uniforms and weapons. At that moment, the students were faced with a choice of their destiny, because weapons save lives... And end them. The question is only who will be more capable and lucky, and this, among other things, depends on the right choice. Gideon found it a little easier than the others, because he had made his choice even before arriving - he thought, remembering the pistol and rapier he had brought with him. From the point of view of readiness for combat activity, he did not need a third weapon at all.
But for someone interested in modern technology, to pass by such a weapon as a rifle, a marvel of weaponry compared to the rest of the sticks and pikes, is simply unforgivable. Its power was undeniable; together with it, a powerful and dangerous opponent was equal to a puny musket, which could be crushed with a light movement of the hand. Some nun nearby said that she already had a weapon, so she would not take another because greed is a terrible vice. However, in Gideon's case, this is not greed. For someone who understands the progressiveness of this weapon and its potential for research, possessing it is an honor. Only a fool would refuse such an honor.
However, it was not difficult to figure out some things in order not to indulge in illusions. Despite its external technological sophistication, the rifle had a number of drawbacks. Bulky, complex reloading, strong dependence on the quality of the cartridge and the cleanliness of the barrel... Gideon was not sure that he really wanted to entrust his life to it in battle. However, as an object of research, it is an extremely valuable specimen. So, in addition to the combat uniform, he also takes a third weapon, and which of them he will thoroughly study and ultimately use in battle - he will figure it out as he goes. The extra one can always be hung on the wall in the room as a decoration - anyway, with his meager scholarship, he is unlikely to be able to buy anything else for this purpose.