Scenario:Alistair - Intellectual Giant
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Intellectual Giant
Alistair applies for a leave of absence only to learn that his academy has no such system. A professor storms in suggesting the academic acceleration test. Alistair, hopeful to get his doctorate with this test, heads out with the crew to do research for his thesis.
The crew accompanies Alistair to the academy so that he may request a leave of absence form and join them on their search for Estalucia.
However...
Academic Admin: A leave of absence? I'm sorry, but this academy doesn't have such a system.
Alistair: It doesn't? That can't be right. What am I meant to do? Are you saying I can't go and look for Estalucia?
Academic Admin: I'm afraid I think I am... However, I can provide you with a notification of withdrawal. I think they will accept that.
Alistair: You must be joking! If I submit that, they won't accept my doctoral thesis!
Alistair: If I don't get my PhD, then my dream of becoming a scholar will be ruined. I'll have let my name and family down!
Academic Admin: I see, but there is not much else I can do for you. Please consider abandoning your plans for travel, and work hard at the academy.
Alistair hangs his head despondently, when a hoarse voice sounds behind him.
Professor: Hahaha! There is one way I can see out of this, but you might not like it...
Professor: I'm talking about a test to see if you can skip a grade.
Academic Admin: The academic acceleration test? Professor, are you serious? That's—
Professor: If you pass, your considerable academic potential will be recognized, your study will end, and you will be awarded your doctorate.
Professor: This is a special exception, and you must know that this test can only be taken once. Fail, and you will be immediately expelled.
Professor: Since the founding of this academy, only one student has ever passed. Nevertheless, I wonder if you might have the courage to try?
Alistair: Heh, that is a foolish question. Do you know who I am? I'm Alistair Alethea!
Alistair: For the dignity of the house of Alethea, I will absolutely accept this challenge.
Alistair receives his thesis topic from the professor, and heads deep into the mountains to conduct his research.
The subject he has been given is an investigation into the monsters and ecology of the island.
Monster: Groaaar!
Alistair: Aha! There's one! Don't dawdle around! We need to get it, quick!
Vyrn: Hey, wait a sec! Don't get too ahead of yourself! Calm down a little, yeah?
Intellectual Giant: Scene 2
Alistair secludes himself in the Hall of Knowledge, furiously writing out his thesis for the academic acceleration exam. After a brief chat with Vyrn and Lyria concerning his thoughts on studying, an older student in contempt of Alistair's attitude challenges him to an open debate.
With assistance from (Captain) and the crew, Alistair has made a new discovery about monsters.
Now he must write his thesis and submit it to the professors.
Alistair secludes himself in the Hall of Knowledge day and night, working hard on his essay.
Vyrn: Hey, I was wondering. You've come all the way to the library, so why aren't you reading any books?
Alistair: Books? Like these, you mean?
Alistair gestures at the pile of tomes piled up beneath him.
Vyrn: Whoa, what are you doing? Do you really think it's a good idea to be sitting on them?
Alistair: Huh, why not? I couldn't find a comfortable chair, so I just made a few adjustments...
Lyria: Um, you want to be a scholar, don't you? Maybe you should treat books with a little more care...
Alistair: Well, if they were worth treating carefully...
Lyria: All books deserve to be treated well! They're full of things you don't know yet.
Alistair: Hmm... That might have been true in the past, but I think I know it all pretty well by now. Here, look!
As Alistair speaks, several pens float magically upwards and move slowly through the air.
Then the pens dance through the air at an incredible speed, leaving glowing blue letters and mathematical formulae behind.
Vyrn: W-whoa, what's that?
Lyria: Oh, it's a book! It's exactly what's written in this one!
Alistair: Do you get it now? All of these books are in my head. I can call them out any time I want.
Alistair: Hehe... Paper is dead. Now begins the age of the air library!
Vyrn: Whaaat! You have all of these books? That's really useful!
Vyrn: But if they're in your head, you must have read them at least once, right? You sure do love to study.
Despite the praise heaped on him, Alistair's face falls.
Alistair: My father used to praise me if I studied hard.
Alistair: Everyone in my family would praise me because I was so good at studying, so I made sure to work hard.
Alistair: Hehe... I studied so hard to make them happy, but actually, I really hate studying...
Lyria: That can't be true. If you didn't like it, you wouldn't have tried so hard for so long.
Alistair: But I've always known that I didn't inherit my father's passion. I just looked up to him.
Alistair: It doesn't matter how many books I read. I'll never be a great scholar like my father was.
Lyria: Oh, Alistair...
Everyone is lost for words, but suddenly a boorish laugh breaks the silence.
Older Student: Hehehe... That's right. A blockhead like you could never make it as a scholar.
Alistair: Oh, it's you again... Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now.
Older Student: Oh, I can see that. Is it true you took an acceleration exam to skip a grade?
Alistair: Huh? I don't know who told you that, but it's none of your business.
Older Student: W-why you little—just the thought of you trying to skip ahead so you can graduate first makes me sick!
Older Student: Don't think that you can beat me just because you have a smart mouth! I hope you're ready for this, because you're not going to run away!
Alistair: Ugh, you're such a pain. All right, let's have a farewell debate then.
Older Student: Hah! A debate? You pale in comparison to my vast knowledge. Behold! True intellect!
Intellectual Giant: Scene 3
During the heated debate with the older student, ink from the desk spills over, ruining Alistair's thesis. However, he remains undeterred—his enduring perseverance in the face of all adversity earns him a passing mark and a spot in the crew.
Alistair and the others score a fine victory in the debate with the older student.
However, in the chaos, the ink on the desk spills over, and Alistair's essay is now soaked with black ink.
Katalina: Oh dear... This doesn't bode well for the test tomorrow.
Older Student: I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted to...
The older student carries on, explaining that she just wanted to have a serious debate with Alistair.
Alistair tries to cut in, shaking his head and telling her that it's all right.
Alistair: Hehe, who do you think I am? A genius like me needs a handicap, or it's just no fun.
Alistair: Come on, stop this. I'll make up the points in the oral section.
And so, the next day, the acceleration test begins before a panel of professors.
The first step is to apologize for being unable to submit the thesis.
However, without offering an explanantion, Alistair stubbornly tells them that the thesis is in his head, and lays out his theory.
The professors are skeptical and offer fierce criticism. They determinedly pick holes in his argument.
Nevertheless, Alistair does not falter. He sticks to his theory until the end, defending it with all of his willpower.
When the closing arguments are completed, the professors retire to a separate chamber to consult. They take a vote, and return shortly thereafter.
Professor: Now then, Alistair. There is one thing I would like to ask you. When walking the path of a scholar, do you know what the most important thing is?
Alistair: Would that be... wisdom? No, a quick wit, perhaps.
Professor: How foolish. The answer is a heart that never gives up.
Alistair: A... heart?
Professor: That's right. To be a scholar, one must have faith.
Professor: Even if all are in opposition, a true scholar will stubbornly defend their truth, and stand up to face the storm of criticism.
Professor: Whether you face the greatest scholar, or an emperor with his sword drawn, you must not turn from the path of reason.
Professor: This is no easy feat. Many of us will yield in the face of authority or prestige...
Professor: But in truth, I know only one person who would stand up to even the greatest scholar.
Alistair: Just one? Don't tell me—
Professor: That's right. Your father.
Professor: He is the only one who has ever passed the acceleration exam at this institution. No, I should say, he was the only one.
Alistair: P-professor... Do you mean...
Professor: Hahaha. And now we have a second person. Congratulations, Alistair. You stand at the same level your father did.
Father: Now, our great ancestors studied diligently and became masters.
Father: So do not worry, Alistair. Though you may still be small, you can ride on my shoulders.
Father: Then, as you view the world from my shoulders, you will see even further, and one day become greater than I am.
Alistair: Thank you... I will become an even greater scholar than my father!
Having passed the exam, Alistair is welcomed aboard the Grandcypher with open arms.
There on the spacious deck, his friends shout congratulatory messages, and their merry laughter continues throughout the day.