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Gideon decided to spend his unexpected vacation at home in Thioske. It wasn't that he particularly wanted to see his family; he simply wanted to return to a familiar environment. He hadn't witnessed most of the horrors of the NAILS incident firsthand, and he didn't feel any particular attachment to the victims, so the shadow of what had happened only briefly dampened his mood – and it quickly dissipated as he returned to his roots, making him feel just as he had before. The only thing this experience taught him was that he should be prepared for unexpected events with a wide range of destructive potential, from a reduced scholarship to widespread chaos. But since they are unexpected, you can never be truly prepared for everything, so this understanding in itself didn't mean much; what mattered were the subsequent decisions, which would determine the severity, mitigation, or even complete reversal of the negative consequences.
Now it was clear that NAILS was not what it seemed at first glance, and the question arose about his continued stay at the academy. His parents were predictably against it, and Gideon himself was in contemplation. After what happened, staying would be extremely illogical, even foolish. What was there for him to seek now, what was he striving for? Nothing connects him to this place; the memories of it are overwhelmingly negative. The status of a class representative? Ridiculous. He owes nothing to these people, who happened to be in his company, in his memory, their names and faces, but hardly anything more. And yet... He recalled the scenes of his unanimous election, the smile and short speech, the praise from Lorance and Nira, the applause... For a moment, he felt a slight pang of longing. Despite everything, at least once, his time at NAILS made him smile, made him feel good.
No, stop. It's all nonsense, how stupid must one be to find a candy in the mud and then climb back into it. What is he thinking about, people? People, isn't that ironic! Or is it not about them after all?
Gideon tried to change the subject of his thoughts to something more relevant. He remembered the intelligent mechanisms, the rifle hanging on the wall. Research, yes, yes. But still, images of the election kept creeping into his mind, now the faces of Vari and Leila, in whose eyes he could see a slight shadow of distrust, fully justified, it turns out. He remembered how it all started, when he so quickly decided to go to NAILS, having barely read an article in the newspaper.
No. He can't just take it and admit that it was all a mistake. He made a decision a long time ago and will not back down from it, no matter what it leads to now. He will prove that he is not some unknown, obscure pseudo-genius; he will become better and surpass the others, reveal the great secret that others failed to uncover, and whoever stands in his way will be consumed by flames.
Smiling at his thoughts, the young man leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. No one in his cluttered, makeshift workshop could see this, but this time, his smile held a hint of cunning.
Gideon returns to his room in the dormitory and looks out the window.
Now it was clear that NAILS was not what it seemed at first glance, and the question arose about his continued stay at the academy. His parents were predictably against it, and Gideon himself was in contemplation. After what happened, staying would be extremely illogical, even foolish. What was there for him to seek now, what was he striving for? Nothing connects him to this place; the memories of it are overwhelmingly negative. The status of a class representative? Ridiculous. He owes nothing to these people, who happened to be in his company, in his memory, their names and faces, but hardly anything more. And yet... He recalled the scenes of his unanimous election, the smile and short speech, the praise from Lorance and Nira, the applause... For a moment, he felt a slight pang of longing. Despite everything, at least once, his time at NAILS made him smile, made him feel good.
No, stop. It's all nonsense, how stupid must one be to find a candy in the mud and then climb back into it. What is he thinking about, people? People, isn't that ironic! Or is it not about them after all?
Gideon tried to change the subject of his thoughts to something more relevant. He remembered the intelligent mechanisms, the rifle hanging on the wall. Research, yes, yes. But still, images of the election kept creeping into his mind, now the faces of Vari and Leila, in whose eyes he could see a slight shadow of distrust, fully justified, it turns out. He remembered how it all started, when he so quickly decided to go to NAILS, having barely read an article in the newspaper.
No. He can't just take it and admit that it was all a mistake. He made a decision a long time ago and will not back down from it, no matter what it leads to now. He will prove that he is not some unknown, obscure pseudo-genius; he will become better and surpass the others, reveal the great secret that others failed to uncover, and whoever stands in his way will be consumed by flames.
Smiling at his thoughts, the young man leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. No one in his cluttered, makeshift workshop could see this, but this time, his smile held a hint of cunning.
Gideon returns to his room in the dormitory and looks out the window.