"Thank you Dean De La Cruz and Dean Pellistri." Chancellor Phillip thanked as he stepped forwards to the plinth again. "I should go in to more detail, but I think this is enough information on this particular subject to get us started. The main thing is that your academic day will be no longer than six hours from start to finish. These six hours will be split over four days from Monday to Friday. The weekends will stay as being a non-academic day for study, training or what ever else is needed for the relevant courses you select. There will be at least two hours of each mandatory Class per week, with the remaining eighteen hours being split across the classes that you choose. I would however say that if you intended to take these subjects initially, I would continue to do so. If you are wondering why my math comes in at eighteen hours, you will find out shortly."
He paused for a few seconds and allowed the students to begin whispering to each other again, Kai and Andrew seemed to be in deep thought, whilst Steven at the end of the line was looking with Dom as if he had found out more and wanted to tell Dom about it. Dom looked around the room, seeing that Alice was in talks with someone, whilst Elizabeth Medici seemed to now be looking in his direction with a slight glint in her eye.
"The game is just one aspect of change, it is allowing you more freedom and allowing you to maximise your time. However, reality is still the most important place. How else will you earn a living, pay for your food and home, create a family in the future." Chancellor Phillip began again, causing everyone to go silent again as his voice reached every part of the room. "Therefore, it will also be mandatory for you to have a role within the campus. Regardless if you are from a poor family, to a princess, everyone will have a job for one day a week, also capped at six hours. These roles will span from cleaning, working in a restaurant or shop, admin duty, guard duty and many more."
He paused again, as mouths dropped open at this unexpected news. Some people seemed prepared for it, but Andrew looked the most surprised out of those near to Dom, almost hurt at the thought.
"Get a job? Isn't that why we come here in the first place, to not get a job." Dom heard someone say from a row behind him, which almost caused him to laugh. He always had his own aspirations for when he finished studying, to take up a role in the Military like his Parents. He was enjoying it thoroughly in World Conquest Online, however he had realised he was far behind the level that he thought he would have been at after studying at a Military Academy. Practical experience was key and whilst he was getting some in the form of World Conquest Online, he was only just at the beginning of his journey.
"You will be able to apply for jobs from tomorrow, you will have access on the Student Portal and can apply for up to three roles. If you are unsuccessful in any of those opportunities, you will enter a pot where you can select roles based on a first come first served basis. Roles will be on one of the Five Weekdays and your other courses will be flexible around them. This is now Mandatory for all students, be it a first year like yourself or a third year." Chancellor Phillip explained, a slight look of satisfaction on his face at the responses from those in the Auditorium. He paused for another second before continuing again. "This year is a new year, a year of growth for all of you. You will learn, have experiences that no one else has had before as you have the additional time to study. You will learn and earn in a practical real world environment. This isn't just to help you earn and prepare you for later live. It is also to act as a way of evening out your aspirations. In the game, some of you will be aiming for the Heavens, Leading thousands of Warriors or running the Political Might of an Empire, here in reality you can work and remember that you are just another person and no better than anyone else."
Andrew and Kai looked at Dom when Chancellor Phillip said this, as if accusing him with their eyes that because Players like him were Lord's in the game, they now had to work low level jobs to make them more levelled people. Dom didn't disagree with what Chancellor Phillip was saying though, the game was a game, and whilst it was super realistic, they had to remember it was a game. Even if they spent more time in the game mentally than in reality.
"I told you that I had a Special Guest, they are here because there are other things happening that I need you to be aware off. You will want to have excursions, you will want to see your families, some of you will want to return to your own countries during the breaks and at the end of this. These are all things that you should want and should work towards. My guest brings some wider news and whilst they will only be here with us for a few weeks before they return to their semi-retirement, there will be some opportunities for those that score highly in the relevant subjects to spend time with them and ask them some questions." Chancellor Phillip began, whilst everyone sat forwards in some slight excitement at who the Special Guest could be. Some hard high dreams of it being a Royal or a famed General, others a Celebrity that had once studied at the Central University themselves. Dom himself didn't really mind, he was still thinking about the role options he should apply for when he saw the list.
The doors opened from the side, with four armed guards stepping in. Each had a sword strapped to their waist and wore black Military clothes. Between them walked a woman and Kai gasped at the sight of who it was as she walked to the stage. Both Dean Pellistri and Dean De La Cruz both lowered their heads slightly and took a step back, whilst the Chancellor grinned at his Guest as if seeing an old friend.
"Dom, look up." Kai whispered to him as he looked at the face as she turned towards the crowd.
"Thank you Prince Medici, it has been a while since I last saw you." Lady Camilla Mordred said politely, however her voice was loud enough that everyone heard it. Dom felt a slight cold shiver as his Aunt spoke, he hadn't intended to see her for another two weeks and she was an intimidating person to be around, let alone finding out you was related to her.
"And you Lady Mordred." Chancellor Phillip replied as he turned to the crowd. "Our guest is Lady Camilla Mordred, former Advisor to the King."
There was a loud applause from sections of the Audience at her name being announced, as she had been one of the most important people in recent political History. She had been a main reason the last war had ended, as well as making the Western Kingdoms an affluent place compared to some other parts of the World. For those that wanted a role in Business or Politics, regardless of their personal views, would want to learn from her.
"Thank you for the introduction old friend." She began as Chancellor Phillip stood back slightly, his rank higher than hers, but the respect for each other was equal. "I am here for three weeks and then I need to leave for other engagements. I have come to give you an inspiring speech, about how you can develop yourselves and surpass myself, the Dean's who teach you and even Chancellor Phillip himself."
There was some applause, laughter and cheering as she began, her words eloquent with a tone of humour in them. Dom however felt there was something amiss as his Aunt's eyes seemed to look around the crowd, hunting for someone, who he expected would be him.
"There are three things that I am going to talk to you about, The Game of course, as how could I not!" She continued, as more laughter and applause as she spoke. She seemed to naturally accept all of the attention and the crowd continued to give it to her. Dom didn't realise she was so popular, his own interactions with people who knew her or about her was fear. "Then I shall talk about Reality, as that is what life is about. Then some nice words about how amazing you all are for even getting here and that you are the future of not just the Western Kingdoms but the World itself."
She paused as everyone continued to clap, before Chancellor Phillip behind her raised his hand for silence in the room. Everyone followed his command and her eyes finally met Dom's, a slight smile appearing at the sides of her mouth for a second, before disappearing. She did a slight move of her hand that Dom noticed and no one else probably would have, but it seems one of her Guards did who passed a piece of paper to a member of the staff and some instructions.
"The Game is taking over they say, you can live four days out of one if you maximise your time properly. It is a pulling all of our pasts together and allowing us to shape our own futures with those learning. The Game makers are almost impossible to speak to, but the information we do get continues to expand our own knowledge and minds as we progress. Some Players are Bakers and Farmers, some are Guards and Soldiers. But you in this room are the Elites of our Western Kingdoms. Whilst people of all ages play, I expect the best from you. You are Lords, Generals, Leaders of the World. You are Commanders, Politicians, successful Merchants. Captains of Ships, The owners of the shops the other Players work in. You are our Future, so use the game to hone those experiences and knowledge." She said passionately, so passionately that even Dom was almost pulled in to the trance of her words. Dom looked around him and saw that many people were sat on the edge of their seats, as if wanting to be eaten by his Aunts words as she told them how great they were and how much greater they could be. Her tone then changed slightly, a warning to her words. "The game is more than a game though, families and militaries are investing their most precious resource in to it, time. You die, you start again with everything lost. You invest all your time in to building a small holding, a raider comes and takes everything away. Life is precious be it in reality or in the game. Look out for each other, but don't let people walk over you either."
Dom noticed that the member of staff was now heading up some stairs that were near them slowly, as if not trying to distract people from the speech, whilst also getting closer and closer to the row that Dom was sat on.