"University of Bless"
"Huss College"
"Sacred Order of Study of Arrenal"
"Study Center of Messra"
So many places to study, to learn, to train the mind, to build a future. Some people believed that real life began after university; of course, this varied from person to person, depending on their background, but in certain ways, I agreed.
Universities are the only places where certain knowledge can be acquired; if you want to study or specialize in something very specific, there's no other option—you must choose a university. At this point, the real question was different; once I decided what I wanted to do, which university should I attend?
So many places so similar; same faculties, same subjects, same curricula, same exams... Yet, there had to be something different. There had to be some universities better than others. There absolutely had to be a university that could beat all the others.
Sure, rankings existed, but they are completely useless. What are they based on? Student opinions, job market preparation, number of failures and expulsions… all nonsense.
I was holding the monthly magazine with the article containing this ranking, based on the aforementioned criteria; I was about to tear it to pieces when suddenly, I heard someone speak behind me.
-Director Culligun, good morning.
I turned around.
-Good morning, Rector Ryuga.
The man standing before me was the rector of Galag University, ranked third among the best universities in the country… according to the article I was about to shred. I was waiting for the rectors of some universities, but Mr. Ryuga wasn't among them. Despite this, I knew very well why he was in my office. However, I decided to play dumb for a few minutes.
-It's a beautiful day, isn't it? As summer approaches, the days will start to get longer, and the temperatures will rise- I decided to start the conversation by talking about the weather.
-Yes, Mr. Culligun, I agree. Given the rising temperatures, I was actually thinking of going on a mountain hike this weekend. You know, to see the snow one last time this year.
-That's a good idea, Rector Ryuga; if I may, I would suggest Mount Fasti—last year, there was snow until mid-May.
-Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, Mr. Culligun, may I have a word with you?
Since I had arrived at the meeting place half an hour before the scheduled time, I saw no harm in it. Moreover, as I mentioned, I already knew perfectly well what he wanted to discuss.
-Of course, go ahead.
-Well, you know, Mr. Culligun, as you might imagine, I wanted to talk to you about the exam that all university students across the country had to take last week. Or rather, the one you made them take.
-Yes, of course.
-Well, I wanted to ask… could there have been a mistake in the grading?
He didn't waste much time getting to the point.
-A mistake, Rector Ryuga?
-Uh, not a mistake on your part, Mr. Culligun, I would never imply that someone like you could make mistakes.
There he was, intimidated. He was fragile. I could strike again.
-And you're wrong again, Ryuga. Every man, at any level, can make mistakes. If you suggest that I made a mistake, I'll be more than happy to listen to you, but if all I hear is nonsense coming out of your mouth, we might as well end this conversation right here.- I raised my voice as I spoke.
Now Ryuga was completely intimidated, unsure of what to say next. His fear of my authority, combined with my raised voice, had shattered what little confidence he had in himself. And now it was the perfect moment to move forward.
-In any case, Ryuga, I can assure you there were no mistakes. The exams were reviewed three times, each time by different people, and the grades were confirmed.
-Yes, of course, it's just that I don't understand. I mean, you know well that Galag University is considered among the top three universities in the country. It even says so there, in the article you were reading earlier.
I looked at Ryuga, pretending to smile modestly.
-Oh, this?
I took the magazine and tore it in half.
-This magazine is garbage to me. I don't need someone else to tell me which universities are better than others. I have the power to do that.
Ryuga watched the pieces of paper fall to the ground, his expression worried.
-Certainly, I don't dare to doubt that.
-But it seems to me that you do.
-Excuse me?
I began to smile.
-You're here because your university scored very low in my rankings. Your university, Ryuga, didn't even make it into the top five in my ranking. If I recall correctly, it barely made it to the tenth position.
-Well, that's indeed very strange.
-The strange thing, Ryuga, is how public rankings are made. They don't consider the true abilities of these students, but only how they handle exams.
-Excuse me, Mr. Culligun, but I don't understand where you're going with this.
-Let's take your university; I don't doubt that in your exams, most of your students achieve excellent grades, indicating great commitment and study. Unfortunately, the same thing couldn't be seen in the exam I created.
At that moment, Ryuga began to get heated.
-Excuse me, Mr. Culligun, but I'd like to raise a point about the exam you proposed.
-Before you continue, Ryuga, I'd like to point out that no other university has raised any objections, except for you.
-I don't care about the others, I care about my university. So, a month ago, all the rectors of all the universities in the country received an email, sent by the Minister of Education himself. This email mentioned an exam, mandatory for all students of all faculties, and created by you, Culligun.
-And what do you mean by that?
-From the moment I received the email, I must admit I had some suspicions. As you well know, university courses are extremely diverse; they range from Philosophy to Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Literature, Education, and so on. How can someone create an exam that suits all these faculties?
-As you know, the exam was made as general as possible, to make it accessible to any student.
-And you call this crap an exam?- Ryuga pulled out a copy of the exam from his bag. Oh, I see we're starting to get heated, Ryuga, your fear is beginning to subside.
Ryuga began reading the sheet.
-The first question reads: 'You've been taken hostage by a group of kidnappers. You're not tied up; three of them are holding you in the back of their truck, and they're driving away with you. Along with them are two other people driving the truck. The exit door of the truck is sealed; you don't know which of the five rivals has the key. What do you do?'
-Many students gave original answers.
-How is someone supposed to answer this question, Culligun?
-I'll turn the question back to you, Ryuga. If your university didn't make it into the top five, while others did... it means some students answered that question correctly, unlike yours.
-Are you implying something about my students?
I snatched the exam sheet from Ryuga's hands.
-Yes, Ryuga. I'm implying that your students are second-rate. You didn't make it into the top five and barely reached the tenth place because the eleventh scored one point less than you. I'd also like to point out that there's a forty-point difference between your position and the ninth. You weren't even close; you had no chance of winning. So, go back to your place—I have other things to do.
-I find this exam highly flawed.
-Oh, really? Well, if that were true, you wouldn't have needed to come here and complain to me. You could have stayed in your office, indulging in your rankings where you were told how great you were and how well-prepared your students were.
-I repeat, this exam was rigged. Are you trying to tell me that my university isn't among the best, while those losers from Bless are?
This was the second point I expected him to bring up.
-Yes, the students of Bless performed better than yours in my exam. They even secured second place; I have high expectations for them in my future plans.
-Don't talk nonsense. Bless students are losers, and you know it. It's considered a pretty lame university, easy, and doesn't prepare you properly. In fact, the best students don't go to Bless; the best come to me, they go to Huss, they go to Arrenal...
-All universities that are in the top five of my exam. Except for yours, of course.
-I find this unacceptable.
I took a moment to look at the exam sheet.
-Find it unacceptable if you like. The fact is, this exam and these questions were approved by the Minister of Education himself; this test was nothing more than an initial entrance test to determine which universities were suitable or not for the subsequent challenges.
-And you think my students weren't suitable while those from Bless were?
-And stop whining. Anyway, to be honest, no. I don't think your students were unsuitable for the subsequent challenges; I actually believe that those from Bless would have eaten your students alive.
-What?
-And to avoid the public humiliation of your university, I decided to introduce this entrance exam.
-This is outrageous, I swear I don't know who I'm talking to anymore. You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
-Go ahead and keep whining as if you were in a movie. The only story worth delving into is that your students didn't reach high enough standards to compete in this tournament.
The door to the room opened again.
-What's this mess? Ryuga? What are you doing here?
A man had entered, very elegant, with long, well-kept hair, a clean-shaven beard, and a brisk walk.
-Greetings, Bernard," said Ryuga
Bernard, the rector of Huss, came to shake my hand.
-Nice to meet you in person, Bernard.
-The pleasure is mine, Culligun.
Huss was considered the top university in the regular rankings, yet it had managed to maintain this first-place position even in my exam, though Bless had scored very close.
-Congratulations on being the top-ranked.
-Oh, it's certainly not my merit. The credit goes entirely to my students; they're the ones who answered the questions, not me. I have to admit, the questions weren't easy; I myself would have had some difficulty.
-Yes, the exam was designed to challenge these kids a bit.
-I have to admit I'm expecting a lot from the upcoming tests. I'm also curious to see how students from other faculties will fare. I saw that we came in first, but Bless scored very few points less than us.
-Indeed, sometimes my students can really surprise you.
The response came from a fourth man who entered the room: Alarec, the rector of Bless. Alarec was a tall, very thin man, dressed entirely in red, and carried a walking stick; he was clean-shaven and wore glasses.
Alarec gave Bernard a pat on the shoulder, which Bernard returned.
-It's been a long time since we last saw each other, you old fox. How are you?- asked Alarec.
-Well, quite busy with commitments. I hardly have time to go out for a beer like in the old days.
-Of course, I imagine it's tiring being in high ranks.
-Yeah, keeping Huss's reputation isn't easy.
-Do like me, stay at the bottom. No one expects anything from you, you do nothing but the bare minimum, and look, I've surpassed almost all the faculties in this country.
Bernard laughed.
-Sorry, Ala, but I have a reputation to uphold. Besides, I think from now on, we'll be enemies.
-It's the kids who have to be enemies, I've already done my part.
I decided to introduce myself.
-Hello, I'm Mr. Culligun, the organizer of this tournament.
Alarec immediately shook my hand.
-Nice to meet you. Also, I must say, your dog is lovely.
-I'm Ryuga.
-Oh, sorry. But if you crouch down so small like that, of course, I think you're a dog. Also, what are you doing here? Are you the waiter?
-How dare you speak to me in that tone? I'll remind you that my students are better than yours.
-According to what this exam said… no, they're not.
-I-I… Bernard, say something to him.
-Sorry, buddy, but this time he's right.
-I can't stand being around these people any longer. That's it, I'm leaving.
Ryuga hurried out of the room, slamming the door as hard as he could.
-What a strange dog. In any case, Culligun, I suppose you've gathered us here to talk about the upcoming tests.
-Be quiet, Alarec. Three more people still have to arrive.
-If you mean the rectors of Arrenal, Reykvi, and Caltane, they arrived five minutes after me. I think they ran into that whiner on the way, and he blocked their path.
-They'll arrive soon then."
Not even a minute later, the three people arrived. In order, they entered the room:
Melissa, rector of Arrenal, the second university in the national rankings and the third in Culligun's exam.Pomer, rector of Reykvi, fifth place in Culligun's exam.Marika, rector of Caltane, fourth place in Culligun's exam.