You think you're choosing who to be. In truth, you're being filtered for who you can become.
—
Athena System · Experimental Building – New Project Launch
Three days after the "Community Field Study" ended, the second round of field assignments was officially launched.
This time, the task wasn't about social observation. It was a full-on simulation of real-world enterprise construction: every student had to propose, develop, and present a viable startup concept under real-world constraints—within 72 hours.
Professor James assigned Elric's group to a project site tagged "Urban Border Resource Zone." The objective:
• Draft a social enterprise proposal
• Consider issues of limited resources, cultural diversity, and educational gaps
• Build a working model and impact evaluation within three days
—
Team Roster Released
The system grouped four students:
1. Elric Zane – Structural logic and data integration
2. Elizabeth Gwynne – Humanitarian and case-based insights
3. Idris Vale – Strategic execution and external negotiation
4. Marissa – Visiting student from South Africa, in charge of media and documentation
When the four met at the project center, silence hung for a moment.
Idris was the first to break it, "Looks like the three of us were fated into a good team. We been through something great right?"
Elizabeth gave him a glance but didn't reply. Instead, she placed a stack of notes on the table.
"These are from the education sites I worked at last year. Maybe you'll find some 'real needs' in there."
Elric flipped through a few pages without comment.
—
Brainstorming Begins – Friction Builds
On the first night, a clear divergence emerged:
• Elizabeth proposed a low-cost mobile education module, focused on accessibility and child-first thinking.
• Idris wanted to leverage livestream branding and cultural promotion, aiming to create social heat and visibility.
• Elric leaned into quantifiable systems and structural design—his goal was to construct a traceable, metrics-based growth framework.
All three had their merits. But the room became tenser by the minute.
Idris gave a small laugh. "We've got too many smart people. Sometimes, being smart just slows things down."
He looked to Elric. "Let's vote. Keep it clean, fair, democratic."
But Elric replied calmly, "If your definition of fairness is outsourcing the outcome to the majority, we shouldn't be the ones leading this at all."
Elizabeth finally spoke, her tone more grounded than usual.
"You're not someone who likes to speak up, but today you're unusually direct. Why?"
He didn't answer. He simply slid the paper back across the table.
The tension thickened.
—
After the Meeting – A Quiet Exchange
Everyone left. Only Elizabeth stayed behind to clean up the workspace.
Without looking up, she said quietly,
"Your logic isn't wrong. But lately, your tone—your posture—it's starting to sound like the coldest ones in this system."
"They're not evil. They just always stay behind the line, calculating whether it's worth stepping forward."
"They see everything, but they never touch anything."
She finally looked at him.
"You're not one of them. You shouldn't become just another tool."
Elric stood by the door. He didn't turn back.
His voice was low.
"What you want is something human. What I can offer right now—is just a role I know how to play."
——
End of Chapter Reflection
You can pretend you had no choice.
But silence is still part of the act.
The system doesn't demand obedience.
You just play your role as the system wants.
——
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Chapter 29 · Some Gain Power. Some Lose Their Warmth in the Process.
—For the first time, Elric begins to realize: some skills only come after giving up a part of yourself.