Investment in the Future

[Faith Augustin]

Investment In The Future

Life, Death

&

The In-Between

Pressing her hands together tightly, Faith sat in a comfortable chair in the office of Chancellor Manyon. He was the Chancellor of the Scalvoris University and the casual observer might think that Faith's straight back and tightly-controlled demeanour were because she was in front of the Channcellor. He was, after all, the man in charge of the University and she might be nervous. But that was not why Faith's fingers turned white as the pads pressed against each other.

Of all the people that she had spoken to about this, of all the negotiation and the machination, of all of everything, it was this man who Faith really wanted to be part of it. This man who had allowed her to study, who had overturned the rule on slaves ~ or former slaves ~ being educated. Then, he'd stood up for her when she'd been on the receiving end of academic jealousy and, finally, he had employed her.

Faith had never been able to find the words to thank him. She did not believe she ever would. And so now, as she sat here and waited for his reaction as he read the notes and documents she had brought to him, she prayed most fervently that she would be able to give him something back here. That she would make him proud - and believing that he had done the right thing when he had faith in her.

Sitting back, Kristoff Manyon looked at her and shook his head. "I find it hard to believe," he said with a smile, "that the timid little thing who came in here and took an exam to check she had the ability to start a degree, could be sitting here and suggesting this after so few arcs." His smile was genuine and pleased. "I like this idea, a lot. How big is this hospital actually going to be?"

Faith reached down to the bag she had with her and pulled out the plans. "Here, Chancellor. There are four of them, around a central hub." He looked at what she was showing him and he whistled slightly. "That's a large hospital in its own right, and it's one of five? What you'll be able to do there is quite something." Faith smiled at him and nodded. "That's my hope, yes."

Looking back down at the papers, as though to check something, he raised an eyebrow. "And you'll be teaching in Saoire's School?" Faith nodded. "Yes, Chancellor. I made the offer as a gesture of good will. Besides, I miss teaching." He nodded. "Well, I think that this is something that we would very much like to be involved in. It sounds excellent, an excellent opportunity. "

Faith's face showed her relief. "I was thinking of running a scholarship programme, here and in Rharne," she said. "The best and the brightest get the chance to be trained, mentored, have work experience there and to be offered a guaranteed job there, as long as they pass the programme." He listened and considered it. Then, he nodded.

"I'd like to suggest an addition?" Faith indicated that of course, he should do just that. "What about a programme for those from disadvantaged backgrounds?" He smiled at her as he spoke. "The same thing, tuition, mentoring, and a guaranteed job. Even a sign up that they must work for you for a certain length of time to ensure that you get your time and effort's worth."

Faith's face showed the truth of her thoughts before she spoke them. "I love that idea, Chancellor! Thank you."

He gave a slight smile and nodded. "I've always thought it best to give people chances, especially when they really want them," he said seriously. Looking at her, he explained his reasoning for doing what he had done some six arcs ago. "I consider it an investment in the future."

Faith felt tears threaten her eyes and she nodded. "Hopefully, you see the return in that investment," she said quietly and he simply smiled.

24th Ashan, 722

[Faith Augustin]

Investment In The Future

Life, Death

&

The In-Between

"What sort of involvement would you like, Chancellor?"

That was an important question. Faith did not want to assume. She looked at him and Chancellor Manyon gave it some obvious consideration. For a moment, he was quiet and then he steepled his hands together and looked at her. "This is where your academic career began," he said. Faith couldn't deny it, nor would she try to. Here was where she had finally been accepted into the world of academia, no longer a slave whose owner was pandering to her by getting her a tutor but, in fact, a student in her own right. It had been a revelation.

"It nearly ended here too," he said and Faith's eyes lifted to regard him. Her silver gaze rested on him and she nodded. There was no point denying it. "And that has led to changes here. New teaching staff are assigned mentors, they are reviewed and evaluated regularly, that kind of thing. I want to help you make sure that this succeeds, and so I'd like to propose an addition."

In fairness, whatever he proposed Faith was predisposed to listen to, but she was careful to attend to his words now. "I think this should be a teaching hospital. A place where people can come, outside of university, and learn. A place where they can earn medical degrees not by sitting in a classroom, but by learning via doing. Demonstrating competence, that kind of thing."

Faith leaned forward, intently. "That sounds like a fascinating idea, but it would need administration. A degree demonstrated through practical understanding and knowledge is relevant to medicine. Would that be the only subject?" He smiled. "For now, yes. A pilot scheme if you wish?"

She considered it, working it through in her mind. "It's intriguing. Those who wish to learn medicine, who have a practical knowledge and a sound ability, but might be put off by formal learning environments, this could benefit them and, thus, the patients."

He nodded, obviously pleased that she'd caught on and liked the idea so quickly. He smiled at her fondly and watched as Faith's mind moved to practicalities.

"So, Scalvoris University will oversee this?"

Chancellor Manyon nodded. "We will. We can work with you to assign mentors, look at requirements and so on?" Faith nodded at that, he had a point. "Alright," she said. "I like it. It opens up education to those who are not traditionally inclined towards it. It will require a lot of input from you, though. Shall we conisder that, at first, we will limit it to twenty doctors in training?"

Kristoff Manyon considered that proposal for a brief moment, and then nodded. "I think that makes sense. But I would like to hear what you think?"

Faith smiled at him. "I think it's a marvellous idea. Those who like and need to learn practically, the most needy and impoverished and those who have the sheer talent to progress. Those will be our mentees, our students and in receipt of our scholarships. "

He looked at her with a serious gaze and Faith returned the look. "I need you to be clear," he said. "This will require time and effort." Faith nodded, well aware of that. "I'd like to name the scholarship after you," she said and he did a double take. Faith took advantage of his surprise and continued to speak. She would have to be persuasive, she knew, but she thought she could do it. "If it wasn't for you, literally, none of this would be happening. In a very real sense, Chancellor Manyon, you are responsible." He shook his head and Faith smiled, but she didn't stop and let him argue. "I'm doing it, I know, but you know and I do that I'm the figure head. People will say I did it, but I didn't, we did. Like we rebuilt the docks and we cured the Rynmere plague. People say that I did it because it's easy and we need to name the people who have actually been invaluable. You are one of those people, the first one." Faith gestured in an 'out there' sort of way. "You gave me a chance. You didn't have to, you didn't need to -and in fact you knew that there would be those who would argue you shouldn't. We need to celebrate and emphasise that there are people out there who will give chances. That's what this is. It's a chance." She nearly had him, she knew.

Not quite, but nearly.

And so Faith pulled out her final weapon. "It would mean a lot to me to be able to feel like I've paid that back in some small part. Please, Chancellor, if you'd let me, I would appreciate it." He narrowed his eyes at her and Faith gazed at him with an innocent expression. He didn't buy it for a minute, nor should he, she was dreadful. But then, he smiled. "That's a very kind gesture, Faith. Thank you."

Faith gave him a broad smile. "You are most welcome," she said with just a hint of sassiness in her voice. "It means that you'll be more personally invested and so I can exploit your time more," She was teasing and they both knew it. But equally, there was nothing small about this task and so, they began to draft the proposal.

24th Ashan, 722