Taking Alexandra into the private room, I had her lay down on the ground before I got started. "The reason you're training isn't working out is that you're manual is unsuited for you, combined with a sub-par implant. Mindscape cultivators require an implant with Max level processing power, while you have high level affinities to two conflicting elements. That means that in order for you to train properly you need a special manual that is designed to handle both aspects, otherwise you'll either kill yourself or ruin your potential. Luckily, you haven't broken through to the Body Refining Stage yet so it's not too late."
With just the two of us and her eyes closed she seemed to get over her shyness, and was able to think again. "So, you're saying that I can't cultivate because of my choice to not upgrade my implant?"
"Mostly it's because you didn't add the Water Affinity chip to the implant, so it could only give you a fire elemental manual which doesn't match your temperament. I heard once that there are no good or bad training manuals, only those that are the most suitable for you." I said as I went over the list of instructions Principal Hubert had given me. Sitting down with my back to a wall, I continued.
"Now, I'm going to send you a friend request with my implant. I need you to accept it and then enter your learning space and invite me to join you there."
Accepting my friend request, she entered her learning space.
*Ding*
*Alexandra Stellar has invited you to join her in her learning space*
Accepting it, I closed my eyes and reappeared in a rundown kitchen. Books were pilled up around the room, and I listened as police sirens echoed down the street. Looking out one of the windows I could see a dirty street with gangbangers walking around selling drugs, while girls Alexandra's age walked the street picking up clients. For most people, their learning space was a reflection of where they felt the most comfortable learning, where they got the most work done. This room said a lot about the environment she'd grown up in.
Turning away from the scene, I found her looking at me in embarrassment as she tried to change the scene to something not quite so personal. Shaking my head I said, "It's alright, by the time you're done here none of this." I pointed out the window, "Will ever be able to hurt you."
She nearly broke down crying, but I ignored it and kept going while trying to leave her some dignity.
Reading from the clipboard, I started explaining the scholarship offer to her. "The school has decided to offer you a $150,000 scholarship, the terms of which are clearly stated. Your contract is a bit different than mine in that it allocates $50,000 to room and board, allowing you to rent an apartment or house to live in. Principal Hubert did note that your mother and brother were welcome to join you, but that if your father moved in then you'd be considered in breach of the contract and you'd have to return the $150,000 immediately."
When I said that she could move her mother and brother in with her she broke down, and I decided to turn and look out the window to give her a moment. Reading the situation was pretty easy given the state of this house and the stipulation that her father was not allowed to join them. I'd noticed this in the past, but Gifted Academy had a ton of money and weren't afraid to use invest it in their students. Several of whom came from pretty messed up backgrounds like Alexandra. As I contemplated where the money came from, I noticed that she wasn't sniffling anymore so I turned back around.
"Thank.. Thank you." She said, eyes red as she tried to stem the flow of her tears.
I'm an only child and Beth isn't exactly a crier so I had no idea how to treat a girl when she was like this, so I decided to try and be professional. Looking at her face covered in tears, I couldn't quite manage it. "If your father gives you trouble, use your implant to contact me. There are some new realities to life that I'd be perfectly willing to introduce him to." My eyes flashed that dark-gold color and I smiled as I remembered how much it used to freak me out when Ms. Johanson's eyes did that. I noticed that it only happened to people who had signed a soul-binding contract with a spirit, which made me wonder just how powerful the people at the school were.
"Anyway," I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts, "the other $100,000 is for upgrading your implant. Principal Hubert wants you to add the fire affinity, upgrade processing power to MAX, and use the rest of the money to add as many Spiritual Tool slots as possible."
As I finished speaking, a contract appeared in front of her and she started to read through it quietly. Reaching the end, she asked me a question with a look of desperation on her face, "The contract states that by the time I graduate I have to pay the school $300,000, how am I supposed to get that kind of money?"
"You know MSE?" I asked her, and when she nodded I kept going. Using the tools of the learning space, I created an image of a Monster Core and an Energy Stone. "This is a monster core, they're used in enchanting spiritual items. You find them in monsters that are at the peak of body refining or stronger. You can sell them to the Alchemist's guild for items in MSE or money in real life. The lowest level fire attributed monster core that my friends and I got sold for just under $15,000."
She gasped in shock at that number, but I kept going, "Low-level, non-attributed Energy Stones can be earned at the Adventurer's Guild for completing quests or selling monster parts. The other guild's allow you the opportunity to earn energy stones through creating potions or making weapons and armor. They sell for $1,000 a piece, and so far my friends and I have earned nearly a hundred of them between the four of us. Cultivating is incredibly expensive both in real life and in MSE, but after you get started their are ways to make money far faster and easier than I ever believed possible."
By the time I was done explaining the situation, tears were streaming down her face again and she could barely say, "Do you have any idea what this will mean for me? For my family?"
I nodded, but had to say, "You need to understand something. More than 300 people have been washed out of what was originally supposed to be a 100 person trial period here. Of the original 100, only 32 remain. If you accept this contract, you need to make sure that you don't wash out, because if you do you'll find yourself in a massive hole and without the training to learn how to fight yourself out of it. The fact that you're being offered the scholarship means that the school thinks you have potential, but potential is nothing without insanely hard work."
The girl's tears kept falling as she signed the contract and it disappeared into thin air. "I'd like to get a Special Spritual Tool Slot if that's possible?"
"Oh?" I asked, looking through how much money was left after adding the affinity and upgrading the processor power. "Upgrades are more expensive after the implant has already been put into place, the requirements set by Principal Huber will cost $60,000 while each Spiritual Tool slot will cost $10,000. I can tell you from experience that you will need as many slots as you can get."
She nodded, but showed me a picture of an Alchemist Furnace along with a description. "The Alchmeic Spiritual Tool Slot allows you to bind with a high-quality furnace. Recommended for those who wish to pursue Alchemy to the max. Cost: 30,000."
She started talking as I went through all the specs of the upgrade. "I know myself, I have a hard time hurting people and animals. I don't think that I can fight like you did today, it just isn't in me. I did a bunch of research on how to earn money after the implants came out and it said that dual Fire and Water affinity mindscapes make really good alchemists so I'd like to pursue that."
I looked at her sadly before shaking my head, "You'll have to fight no matter what. Pursuing Alchemy is great, but you'll need to be able to defend yourself and the only way to learn how to do that is to fight."
She looked like she was about to cry again, a look of pure terror on her face as she spoke softly. "I.. I can't do it."
"Yes, you can!" I said, my voice becoming as authoritative as I could make it. "You'll understand more after you start cultivating, but it changes you. Hiding somewhere inside of you is someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect your family. Cultivating will allow you to do that!"
I'd said the magic words, because a fire had been lit in her eyes and her back straightened as she nodded at me as she said with more confidence than I'd ever seen from her, "Alright, I'll do it!"
Smiling, I started to set it up. "Of course, 1 Spiritual Tool slot, 1 Special Alchemic Tool Slot, and the major upgrades coming right up. When the upgrade starts, I'll be forced out of your training room and you'll experience a massive amount of pain. Get used to pain, learn to revel in it. From my experience there isn't a single aspect of cultivation that doesn't require you to feel pain at some point. After all, you're rebuilding your body, mind, and soul from the ground up." I finished imputing the information and authorizing the purchase with a code Principal Hubert gave me as I spoke.
I sent her the final form, and she accepted the upgrade after going of the information one last time.