"Of course!" the gentleman replied. "It's just that most students your age think they already know all there is to reading. The Fundamentals of Reading is something most students only pick up once they get into University. However, there has been a lot of discussion in pedagogic circles that it should actually be part of standard curriculum at an earlier stage - it's just that many argue that the level is too advanced for most secondary school students. What's your name, again? How did you hear about this?" "Michael, sir. The book was recommended to me by ... the employee of an older relative," Michael explained. "Technically, that's sort of true... right, System?" he thought to himself.

>

While Michael wondered how a rather robotic disembodied voice in his head could feel pride, the gentleman behind the counter nodded and continued. "Michael, is it. Well then - my name is Mr. Maddox, and I'm a graduate student in Library Studies and Pedagogy completing my work placement here at the school. As you noticed, I'm also helping out in the administrative office. If your relative's employee recommended this book to you, they must have a pretty good opinion of your reading level." Michael beamed at this comment and said proudly: "I placed at the University Reading level in my last testing!" Mr. Maddox chuckled at this and replied, "Congratulations. I hope you find the book helpful, then. It just so happens that it was returned earlier by one of the seniors, and I haven't had a chance to place it back on the shelf yet. I can sign it out for you here, if you give me your Student ID card. Are you looking for any other books at the moment?" Michael fished out his identification and asked the System if there was anything else he should get.

>

Since he was already here, Michael decided he might as well get those, too. Hearing this, Mr. Maddox smiled and nodded. "We have a few sets of those for the more determined students. I can sign out a set for you." The system quickly posted another message at this point.

Conditions for potential t.i.tle triggered. "Dedicated Student" t.i.tle will now be tracked. Please interact with a viable basic interaction surface at your convenience to check progress.>>

"t.i.tle? What's that?" Michael asked.

>

"Why is it that I need one of these 'interaction surfaces' to look at my Status, anyway? Why can't you just list it like you do with our conversations and missions?"

>

"Underlying factors and skills. Got it. Naturally, you're not going to tell me what those are, either, are you?"

>

"...Never mind."

Looking at the time, Michael still had 45 minutes until the end of Lunch, so after checking with Mr. Maddox that it would be alright to eat at one of the tables, he put the math books in his bag, brought the Fundamentals of Reading over to one of the long communal tables, and pulled out his lunch. He'd made himself a PB&J sandwich the night before (his mother offered to make it, but since he was in high school now, he'd insisted on making his own lunch) so he retrieved half from the resealable plastic bag he'd brought it in and took a bite.

>

"System, I really don't want to hear it right now. Just... let me eat my lunch, okay? I'm already reading your crummy book, I'm in the library on my lunch break, my legs are sore from walking this morning... I just want to eat my peanut b.u.t.ter and jelly sandwich in peace!" Michael subconsciously slammed the table with his fist at this point, alarming the rest of the library's residents. Noticing this, Michael turned a vivid shade of red and quietly said:

"Really good... book."

---

45 minutes later, eyes wide in awe, Michael marveled: "I had no idea there was so much more to reading than I thought."

Enhanced Focus available for future use in appropriate context (0/1)

Fundamentals of Reading: 5% Completed. System reminds Subject of System's a.s.sessment of the accuracy of Subject's previous statement on Subject's Reading skill.>>

"I guess I've already unlocked the smugness function," Michael muttered to himself as he packed up his stuff. He waved goodbye to Mr. Maddox and proceeded to the next cla.s.s on his schedule, Chemistry. Not seeing anyone he recognized in this cla.s.s, he quickly found a seat as his teacher, a red-faced middle-aged man with a thick Gallian accent, began his lesson. After this cla.s.s, Michael found himself with another set of homework and another a.s.sociated mission. On a hunch, he swung back by the library and asked Mr. Maddox about supplementary reading for the Chemistry cla.s.s he was in. Mr. Maddox grinned, nodded and said: "Normally, students can only check out up to 3 books at a time. However, the supplementary cla.s.s reading doesn't count against this quota, for pretty obvious reasons. Here you are!"

Intelligence-???=>+0.001

Potential t.i.tle "Opportunist" unlocked.

Skill "???"=>+0.001

Please continue to try to discover additional features made available by the System. Good job.>>

Michael sighed and stuffed the books into his quickly filling knapsack.

---

Michael left the library and made his way to the computer lab for his final cla.s.s of the day. Once he sat down and logged in to the network with his Student ID, he was presented with a pretty empty interface. Icons for 'Encyclopaedia Romanica', 'Librum Scholastic.u.m', and the WorldWeb were displayed in the top right, with a folder for Michael's projects and personal student files in the top left. Naturally, these files would be under the scrutiny of the school's administration, so he wouldn't keep anything that wasn't directly related to school in there.

"It would be really neat if the System could connect to these programs..." Michael mused as the rest of the cla.s.s filled in.

>

"You mean that's actually possible!?" Michael excitedly thought back.

>

Choosing to ignore the once again repeated mantra, Michael fantasized about a day that the System could potentially access the entirety of the WorldWeb or various repositories of knowledge and make that information available to him. Just that alone might make the smug, overbearing, unwelcome cohabitant worthwhile!

>

"...Sorry."

>

"...System?"

>

"...I'm sorry."

>

"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you, System?" Michael thought, feeling somewhat guilty.

[Mission: Road to ???]

Description: The System always has your best interests at heart. It's literally in its programming. One of the foundations of a healthy mind and overall state is a healthy body. Please research the proper form for the following calisthenic exercises:

- Push-up

- Squat

- Squat thrust

- Leg-lift

- Bicycle Crunch

Reward: System will be happy. Unlock next mission.

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Penalty: System will continue to be sad. Because of what you said.>>

"...Fine. We're supposed to have free time at the end of cla.s.s, I'll look these up then." Michael acquiesced, somewhat suspecting that the System might not have been as upset as it seemed to be. "Looks like I also already unlocked the guilt-trip module," he muttered.

>