George still not knowing what was going on took a sit and didn’t say anything. Usually, he could at least guess what it was going to be about, but with the combination of the woman who said almost nothing and this principal who kept rambling about punishing woman he had no clue what he was to expect.

“It’s my job as the principal to know a little about all my students. You have been here for two months and are working at the winery at the request of Solomon. I have read your test results and agree with the choice Solomon made to let you start at the winery. Solomon is one of the best teachers we have and if he takes an interest in you, it means that you have something to offer.

What you properly didn’t know is that we get a rapport about every improvement you make. So, for example, I know that you excel at winemaking and have been making enough money to follow every starters lesson you want. So I went to look at your applications to classes and to my surprise found that you have only taken one class since you entered our academy.”

The principal had an annoyed look on his face and turned the paper around pointing his finger at the one class mentioned on it. Then took another piece of paper from his desk and put it up next to the other one.

“only one class, look at your list and the list of another student who joined us on the same day. He doesn’t even have half the money to spend that you have, but he has already taken at least ten lessons.

So I went to talk to Solomon and see what is going on. He told me about the conversation you had and that he has no interest in you if you don’t have any ambition.

But Solomon sometimes forgets that you are just sixteen and that everyone your age is pretty stupid. And that free will is overrated. I’ll be damned if I let you piss your future away making cheap wine in a starters village.”

The principal had a mocking smile on his face and leaned back into his chair. George finally understood what it was about and got a little annoyed by the principal. He already had this conversation with Solomon and it was his decision wat he wanted to do. Right now he wanted to live in peace and didn’t want to do something like training. Maybe in time, he would start studying martial arts if he felt bored or changed his mind on how he wanted to live.

“I’m sorry principal but like I told Solomon I don’t have any intention to train in martial arts and to my knowledge you can’t force me if I follow the rules.”

The principal didn’t react at all and just kept staring at George with that mocking smile on his face.

“You know rules are a funny concept. Just like you follow your rules I have to follow mine. One of those, for example, is that good jobs like working at the winery should go to students who show promise. Even though Solomon gave you the job I have every right to take it away and give it to someone who wants to make something of him- or herself.

So how about we find you a new job where you can follow the rules and still make enough money to read books every night. There is a mine not far from here and even though experts claim it's empty I still want to send some forces to try finding valuable materials. I wonder how much we will be able to pay you though with the budget we have this year with the tournament coming up. Maybe I pay you one credit every two days if you work hard. Just hope you like to do some physical work.”

George got a little angry but couldn’t deny the principals argument. But even then he could be sent to work in the farms, why did he need to torture George by sending to the mines on a wild goose chase. But he wasn’t going to let the principal threaten him with a job. He still had enough saved to survive for two hundred session days even with a job that paid one credit every session day. And in that time he could work on his stamina and in another two months he could work four days and still make enough to live a comfortable life.

“I understand principal, please send me a map with the coordinates of the mine.”

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The principal didn’t expect him to react like that and became a little bit angry. He stopped staring at the ceiling and made eye contact with George with an angry look on his face. The smile was gone and replaced with a stern look.

“I wonder what some of the senior students will do if they find out that a first-year student with no training has a saving of around two hundred credits. I mean it would be unethical for me to tell them but you never know what will happen after a couple of drinks. Do you drink? I find nothing more relaxing than a good glass of wine after a hard day of work. But it has to be good you know, not the piss you make but quality wine.”

George was getting angrier by the second. The principal was nothing like Solomon who was kind and didn’t make decisions for others. George knew that if the principal did that he wouldn’t survive a day with everyone coming after him with everything they got.

“Principal! This is unfair.”

George gave an angry shout and for the first time in a long time almost jumped out of his chair. The principal stood up from his chair and slammed his hands down on the table.

“Listen little shit, I’m not Solomon who is going to let you do whatever the hell you want. If I tell you to study, you better ask me when and how long or I will make your life a living hell. You wanted to live like an ordinary citizen so I’ll let you experience it to the fullest. The first rule I learned when I was your age, the strong will rule and the weak will follow.

From now on you’re my personal student, you will come here every third day of the week and I will give you an assignment. Finish it and you will be rewarded, don’t and I will punish you. Another rule made for commoners.”

George felt a rage he had not felt for a long time. He knew that if the principal wanted to he could make his life unbearable and that he would not have a second’s rest. There was no way for him to win this fight so he was at the mercy of the principal and had to do what he was told.

“I… understand.”

The principal getting what he wanted got relaxed and the mocking smile came back on his face. It was almost like he got pleasure from humiliating George.

“Don’t worry kid, you can still do whatever you want the first two days of the week and I won’t make you do anything I don’t think you can handle. The day will come where you will thank me for what I did today. Kids your age are stubborn like no other and think they have the answers for everything. I blame it on the hormones.

And try to talk more or you become the male version of that irritating woman outside. And god knows I can’t handle two of those in my life.”

Seeing he was getting off topic the principal took a sip of water and went on with his lecture.

“You are lacking in a lot of aspects, but the first thing you need right now is a good beating. Go to master Keven. He is responsible for teaching the basics of fighting to people with the tank class. Class won’t start for a couple of hours so you still have some time to read the basics of the skills and its uses manual.

After you done with the lesson work on memorizing the first chapter of the skills and its uses manual before next week. I hope your memory is as good old man Levy has told me and you can remember that much in such a short amount of time or you I will have to come up with a punishment for you. So please don’t mess up and study hard, I don’t want to spend days trying to think of a way of torturing you without really torturing you. Students never understand how hard it is for us to come up with these punishments, I mean everyone can use the standard once like detention or a hundred lashes but what is the fun in that. You need to be creative like making someone run naked trough the woman dormitory or use him as bait in the next session hunt.”

George not really in the mood to listen to the principals rambling decided to cut in and stop him before he went off on another subject.

“I understand. Now if you excuse I have to go prepare for class.”

The principal thinking that George was nervous about the assignment didn’t push anymore and ended his ramblings.

“Fine, you can leave. Send in that annoying woman between the two of you maybe I’ll get a full conversation.”

George didn’t really listen anymore and left the room. He told the woman that the principal wanted to see her and started walking away. He needed some fresh air and time to think about his new situation. George didn’t really fear the principal's request of memorizing one chapter of skills and its uses because he knew how thick the book was and that he could memorize the whole book in three days if he wanted to.

George didn’t know how to handle the situation. George had never met someone like the principal, you couldn’t reason with him and he would ramble on about random stuff and you couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. George wondered how such a man could be respected even among the clan leaders.

But George knew one thing and that he needed to prepare for some hard times. The path of martial arts is not easy and it costs a lot of time and money. So after thinking for a while, George decided to go back to his room to get ready for his first lesson in basic martial arts.