MOMENTUM

Marcus woke up in his dorm room feeling more energetic and optimistic than he had in weeks. The success in Valdris had given him a confidence boost that seemed to carry over into his real-world responsibilities. Today marked the beginning of his first batch of midterm exams, and for the first time all semester, he actually felt prepared.

"Morning, sunshine," Jake said from his desk, where he was already reviewing notes with the systematic precision that had made him Marcus's academic role model. "Ready for the chemistry midterm?"

"You know what? I actually think I am," Marcus replied, stretching and feeling genuinely positive about the prospect. "The lab work has been helping me understand the concepts better."

Tyler looked up from his computer, where he was editing a video from his latest streaming session. "Dude, you seem different lately. Like, actually optimistic instead of that weird stressed-out zombie thing you had going on."

"Just getting my priorities straight," Marcus said, gathering his study materials. "I think I've figured out how to balance everything."

The chemistry midterm went better than Marcus had dared to hope. The concepts that had seemed abstract and disconnected when he was struggling with dual-world stress now felt manageable and logical. His hands-on experience with soap chemistry, even though he couldn't mention it directly, had given him an intuitive understanding of chemical processes that translated well to the exam questions.

When he emerged from the testing center, Marcus felt genuinely confident about his performance. Not just "I hope I passed" confident, but "I actually understood most of that" confident.

"How'd it go?" Jake asked, meeting him outside the building.

"Really well, actually. I think I might've actually aced it."

Jake's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Seriously? That's awesome! What changed?"

Marcus considered how to answer without revealing his Valdris experiences. "I guess I finally started connecting the theoretical concepts to practical applications. It makes more sense when you can see how it works in real situations."

That evening, after Tyler finished his streaming session, the three roommates found themselves sitting around their small common area, sharing takeout Chinese food and talking about the future in a way they hadn't since the beginning of the semester.

"So," Tyler said, twirling lo mein around his chopsticks, "if you're actually gonna pass your classes, what's the plan? Still pre-med?"

Marcus paused, considering the question more seriously than he had in months. His conversation with his father had given him permission to explore alternatives, but his recent academic success had also restored some of his confidence in his ability to handle the pre-med track.

"I'm starting to think maybe I've been approaching it wrong," Marcus said slowly. "I was so focused on whether I could handle medical school that I forgot to think about whether I actually want to be a doctor."

"And do you?" Jake asked, genuinely curious. "Want to be a doctor, I mean."

Marcus thought about the sick people he'd seen in the Lower District of Drakmoor, the way illness and malnutrition were visible everywhere but resources for treatment were scarce. He thought about his grandfather's cough and the way Tom's improved rations had transformed his health so dramatically.

"I think I wanna help people," Marcus said carefully. "But maybe not necessarily through traditional medicine. There are other ways to improve people's health and quality of life."

"Like what?" Tyler asked. "Public health stuff? Or like, medical devices and technology?"

"Maybe something entrepreneurial," Marcus said, surprising himself with the admission. "Finding ways to solve problems that affect lots of people, not just treating individuals after they're already sick."

Jake nodded thoughtfully. "That's actually really cool. Like, preventive approaches instead of reactive ones."

"Exactly!" Marcus felt energized by the conversation. "There are so many problems that could be solved with the right approach, the right innovations. Sometimes it's not about having advanced technology. It's about applying existing knowledge in new ways."

Tyler leaned forward, his content creator instincts kicking in. "That sounds like it could make for really interesting content, actually. Documenting innovative solutions to everyday problems. There's definitely an audience for that kind of thing."

"I'm not trying to be famous," Marcus laughed. "But I do think there's something satisfying about identifying a problem and then actually solving it, you know?"

"So what's the plan for next semester?" Jake asked. "If you're thinking about alternatives to traditional pre-med?"

Marcus considered the question. His success today had proven that he could handle his coursework when he wasn't completely overwhelmed by dual-world stress management. But it had also shown him that his real passion lay in practical problem-solving rather than theoretical study.

"I think I wanna keep the science foundation," Marcus said. "Chemistry, biology, maybe some engineering courses. But I also wanna learn about business, economics, how to actually implement solutions rather than just understanding the theory."

"That sounds like a solid plan," Jake said supportively. "And honestly, you seem way more excited talking about this than you ever did about medical school."

"Yeah," Tyler added. "You get this look in your eyes when you talk about solving problems. It's like how I get when I'm optimizing a really complex strategy."

Marcus felt warm gratitude for his roommates' support. Having friends who believed in his potential made the future feel more achievable, even if they didn't know the full scope of what he was trying to accomplish.

"Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the support."

"Now you just gotta actually pass the rest of your midterms," Jake pointed out with a grin.

Marcus spent the rest of the evening studying for his remaining exams, but this time the work felt purposeful rather than drudgery. He was building knowledge and skills that he could actually use, in both worlds, to make a real difference in people's lives.

As he reviewed his biology notes, Marcus found himself thinking about nutrition and public health applications. Chemistry concepts reminded him of potential innovations in soap-making and sanitation. Even his literature course, which he'd been dreading, seemed relevant when he considered how communication and persuasion skills would be essential for implementing any kind of social change.

But as he studied, a growing realization weighed on his mind. The conversation with his roommates about his future had clarified something important. He was moving away from the path his parents had envisioned for him. The traditional pre-med track no longer felt right, and after winter break, he would need to have a serious conversation with his family about changing his major and career goals.

The thought made his stomach tighten with anxiety. His parents had sacrificed so much for his education, had pinned their hopes on his success in medicine. How could he explain that he wanted to pursue something they might see as less prestigious, less secure? How could he make them understand that his passion lay in entrepreneurial problem-solving rather than traditional medical practice?

For the first time since starting college, Marcus felt like he was building toward something meaningful rather than just checking boxes on a predetermined path. The future was still uncertain, but it felt full of possibilities rather than limitations. He just hoped his parents would see it the same way.

He fell asleep that night surrounded by textbooks and notes, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, he felt energized by the prospect of tomorrow's challenges. And apprehensive about the difficult conversation that awaited him during winter break.