"Well, what is it now?" Professor Yip scowled at the interruption. His secretary ushered in a disheveled looking teen then quickly departed. The penitent boy shifting from one foot to the other as he stood just inside the door.

"Go Me Yan told me I should report to you. I'm sorry I didn't think to register with the guild since I am really only here for the qualifying matches." Junseo bowed his apology.

"Go Me Yan?" Professor Yip had to think for a minute. "That's right, you tapped his knee into place for him before the swelling took hold."

"Well, you can't do any sort of adjustment once there is serious swelling," Junseo blushed when he realized how pert he had sounded.

"So why don't you tell me who you are and why you would know something like that."

When Junseo had finished recounting his experiences at his father's clinic Professor Yip nodded and then called for the secretary to bring this year's examination register. He impatiently flipped through the pages.

"If you are attending the qualifiers. you must have decent marks. What subjects did you write, not wait, is this you?" He pointed to a line with two stars marked beside it.

"Classics, Languages, Maths and General Science in that order? I was thinking I should probably do a couple of supplementary sciences next year."

"That shouldn't be necessary unless you want to do advanced research. Why don't you attend some of our lectures to see how you get on with what you can pick up from the standard texts."

"You want me to register as a student here?"

"Technically as an auditor until the term starts. We will have you sit some challenge exams to get you into the right level for the labs and practical."

"I am truly honored by this offer but I already have training commitments. The next qualifier is in three weeks."

"Don't tell me you are one of those dunderheads who think it is nobler to fight than to heal?"

Junseo paled. The man sounded so much like his father at that moment he wished he had not come. He pulled himself together and used his most formal accent to reply. "I can't say how I will be called to serve. My path won't decided until after the qualifiers. Even then, I will have two years before I will be eligible for a placement."

"Good. That gives you time to learn enough to treat people safely. Now who do I need to contact to get you released to study here?" Professor Yip considered the matter settled and sent Junseo down the hall to collect a lecture schedule and a  standard textbook. When he got back to the forge, he dropped the book on the work-table and buried his head in his hands.

"What is all this about?" Manager Doak asked.

"Another arrogant physician deciding how I should live my life." Tears of frustration formed in the corner of Junseo's eyes. He swiped them away impatiently and picked at the bottom of his cloak.

"Tell, Uncle all about it. Come on now. It can't really be as bad as you think."

"If you can say that you have probably never met Professor Yip from the Medical Academy."

"You mean from the Royal Medical Academy?"

"I don't know, how many are there? This is the one up by the east gate of the Palace. It doesn't much matter though. He is not giving me a choice."

"A choice about what?" Knight-Master Lie joined the conversation.

"Attending classes and taking placement exams." Junseo's tone suggested this should have been obvious from the textbook he pushed down the table. "I don't know why he thinks he can force me into becoming a healer, just like that," he said snapping his fingers.

"I think you need to back up a bit. Just what happened today?" Manager Doak bobbed up and down rubbed his hands together like he was begging.

His antics coaxed a smile out of Junseo who took a deep breath and started with meeting the Go brothers first at the tournament and then today. "I thought I was just going to register with the healers in case something else happened." 

"Well you do have a habit of helping. I'm not complaining but you have to expect the guild might take an interest." Knight-Master Lie rubbed his troublesome leg. 

"Interest fine. Warning for not waiting for a senior, sure. But this?" Junseo handed over the lecture schedule he had been given. "The thing is, my Uncle is going to be so tickled with this. But it probably means I can't stay on his academy dorms, not when I am attending classes somewhere else. Besides with all of this how am I going to fit in our making and training? It makes no sense."

Knight-Master Lie probed for more information about the incident at the tournament and who else might have witnessed the attack on Go Me Yan and its aftermath.

"You do know that being invited to study at the Royal Medical Academy is a considerable honor. One that many young people strive for and never achieve." Manager Doak said gently.

Junseo clenched his jaw and muttered, "Well, they should just give the space to someone who wants to be a healer."

"It seems to me the problem is that you have already proved you are a healer. Professor Yip is just stepping in help improve your skills." Manager Doak's assessment was all too close to what the Professor said. When Junseo looked to Knight-Master Lie he could tell there was no point in arguing.

"Don't worry too much lad. We still have a registered training agreement so any additional activities will have to fit around my priorities."

"Can those priorities include sparring with the Go brothers at their uncle's yard? I learned so much from San Jin today."

"I am sure something can be arranged but I will want to watch and see how you are getting on."

This cheered Junseo enough that he could put aside his annoyance with Professor Yip and focus on building a new clockwork.