ACADEMIC PROBATION

Marcus stared at the email from his academic advisor with a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Mandatory meeting regarding academic standing. Friday 2 PM. Please bring course syllabus and attendance records." The formal language left no doubt about the seriousness of the situation.

He'd been dreading this conversation for weeks, but somehow seeing it scheduled officially made the consequences feel suddenly real. His carefully constructed balance between worlds was finally collapsing under the weight of neglected responsibilities.

The academic advisor's office felt like a tribunal chamber when Marcus arrived precisely at 2 PM. Dr. Peterson, a stern woman in her fifties with the kind of professional demeanor that suggested she'd had this conversation too many times before, gestured for him to sit across from her imposing desk.

"Marcus," she began without preamble, "your academic performance this semester has been... concerning. Multiple professors have reported poor attendance, missed assignments, and what appears to be a complete lack of engagement with coursework."

Marcus felt his throat tighten. "I understand there have been some issues, but I've been dealing with significant personal challenges..."

"Personal challenges that prevent you from attending classes you're paying thousands of dollars to take?" Dr. Peterson's tone was skeptical but not unkind. "Marcus, I've reviewed your high school transcripts. You were an excellent student with strong academic discipline. What changed?"

Everything, Marcus thought desperately. I discovered I'm living in two worlds simultaneously, helping plan education reforms and investigating enemy infiltrators while trying to maintain the pretense of being a normal college freshman.

"I've been exploring different academic interests," Marcus said carefully. "Trying to find subjects that engage me rather than following expected paths."

Dr. Peterson pulled out a thick folder with Marcus's name on it. "According to your professors, you seem more interested in researching medieval history, social systems, and what Professor Williams described as 'anachronistic engineering applications' than in any of your coursework."

Marcus felt heat creep up his neck. His obsession with Valdris-related research had apparently become obvious to multiple faculty members.

"Marcus," Dr. Peterson continued with the patient tone of someone delivering bad news, "I'm placing you on formal academic probation. One more semester of performance like this, and you'll face suspension from the university."

The words hit him like a physical blow, but surprisingly, Marcus felt something closer to relief than panic. Academic probation meant expectations were lowered, pressure was reduced, and he'd have more freedom to focus on what mattered.

"I understand," Marcus replied, probably with less distress than Dr. Peterson expected.

"Marcus, this is serious. Your parents will need to be informed about your academic standing. They've invested significantly in your education, and they deserve to understand the situation."

Marcus's relief evaporated instantly. "Is that... necessary?"

"It's university policy for students on academic probation. I'll be calling them this afternoon."

Walking back to his dorm in a daze, Marcus tried to prepare for the inevitable family conversation. His parents had already been disappointed about the pre-med change, but academic probation would feel like a complete betrayal of their sacrifices and expectations.

He found Tyler in their room, surrounded by streaming equipment and looking unusually serious. His roommate looked up when Marcus entered, and his expression suggested he'd been waiting for this conversation.

"Dude," Tyler said without his usual gaming enthusiasm, "we need to talk. You've been acting strange lately, and I'm starting to worry about you."

Marcus sat heavily on his bed, still processing the academic probation meeting. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you're not attending classes, you're never studying for them. You're always busy with weird research projects that don't seem connected to any of your courses." Tyler's voice carried genuine concern. "It's like you're building an extremely detailed character for some MMO or game that you never play."

Marcus stared at his roommate, struck by how accurate and completely wrong that assessment was simultaneously. "I... I don't know how to explain it."

"Try me," Tyler said simply. "Because right now, it looks like you're completely checking out of reality. At this rate, your family won't pay for next semester, and you're not crazy enough to take out loans just to research medieval atomic bombs." He laughed, but it sounded forced. "At least, not yet."

The phrase "medieval atomic bombs" hit closer to the truth than Tyler could possibly realize. Marcus was researching ways to counter advanced technology in a medieval setting. But explaining that would require revealing his interdimensional existence, which was impossible.

"Tyler," Marcus said finally, "there are things happening in my life that I can't explain. Complicated things that make normal college priorities seem... less important."

Tyler's expression grew more serious. "Marcus, that sounds like something someone says right before they have a complete breakdown. Whatever's going on, isolating yourself and abandoning your responsibilities isn't the answer."

Before Marcus could respond, his phone rang. The caller ID showed his mother's number, and Marcus felt his stomach drop. Dr. Peterson had apparently made her call already.

"I should take this," Marcus said, stepping into the hallway.

"Marcus," his mother's voice was tight with controlled emotion. "I received a disturbing call from your academic advisor."

"Mom, I can explain..."

"Academic probation, Marcus? After everything we've discussed about your education and your future?" His mother's disappointment was evident even through the phone. "Dr. Peterson said you've been missing classes, failing assignments, spending all your time on unrelated research projects."

Marcus leaned against the wall, feeling the weight of multiple worlds pressing down on him. "I've been dealing with some personal issues, trying to figure out what I want to study..."

"Personal issues that prevent you from attending classes? Marcus, your father and I work extra shifts to pay for your education. We gave up vacations, postponed home repairs. All so you could have opportunities we never had."

The guilt was overwhelming. Marcus's parents had sacrificed enormously for his college education, and he was squandering it for responsibilities they couldn't even imagine existed.

"I know, Mom. I'm sorry. I can do better."

"Dr. Peterson said this is your final warning. One more semester of poor performance, and you'll be suspended from the university entirely." His mother's voice cracked slightly. "Marcus, what happened to the focused, hardworking young man we raised?"

He discovered he has more important work to do in another dimension, Marcus thought desperately. He's trying to prevent interdimensional warfare and educational collapse in a medieval kingdom.

"I'm still that person, Mom. I'm... finding my direction."

"By failing classes and abandoning your responsibilities?"

The conversation continued for another painful fifteen minutes, with Marcus trying to provide reassurances he wasn't sure he believed while his mother voiced her fears about his future and their family's sacrifices.

When Marcus finally returned to his room, Tyler was still waiting with obvious concern.

"That sounded rough," Tyler observed.

"Academic probation," Marcus said simply.

"Shit." Tyler's usual gaming bravado disappeared entirely. "Marcus, this is serious. What are you gonna do?"

Marcus sat on his bed, staring at his laptop screen filled with Valdris-related research notes. The medieval education systems, the intelligence gathering protocols, the innovation strategies. All of it felt more urgent and meaningful than any college course he'd ever taken.

"I don't know," Marcus said honestly.

"Well, you need to figure it out fast," Tyler replied. "Because at this rate, you're gonna lose everything. Your education, your family's support, your future opportunities. And for what? Fantasy research that doesn't connect to anything real?"

Later that evening, Marcus received a text from Emma: "Hey, heard about the academic stuff. Want to study together? I'm pretty good at helping people catch up on coursework."

Marcus stared at the message, knowing that Emma's offer was genuine and well-intentioned. But the idea of studying business statistics or chemistry fundamentals felt absurd when he was simultaneously planning intelligence operations and educational reforms in another world.

He typed back: "Thanks, but I'm working through some personal priorities right now."

Emma's response came quickly: "Marcus, are you okay? You've seemed disconnected from everything except medieval topics lately. If you want to talk about whatever's going on..."

Marcus deleted the message without responding. Accepting help would require explanations he couldn't provide, and involving Emma in his problems seemed unfair when he couldn't tell her the truth about what was happening in his life.

As he prepared for sleep, Marcus reflected on the day's revelations with a mixture of anxiety and strange relief. Academic probation should have felt like a disaster, but instead it felt like permission to stop pretending that college mattered as much as his responsibilities in Valdris.

His parents' disappointment was genuine and painful, but they couldn't understand that he was working on problems far more complex and urgent than anything he'd encounter in undergraduate coursework. Tyler's concern was touching, but based on a fundamental misunderstanding of Marcus's situation.

Tomorrow he would wake up in Valdris to continue work that felt important. Intelligence gathering, educational innovation, defending a kingdom against interdimensional threats. Tonight, he would accept that his modern world relationships were deteriorating beyond repair.

The choice between worlds was becoming increasingly clear. And Marcus was beginning to understand which one he would choose, regardless of the personal costs.

The academic probation wasn't a warning. It was liberation from expectations that no longer matched his reality. For better or worse, Marcus was committed to a path that led away from everything his family had planned for him and toward responsibilities they could never understand.

The only question now was whether he'd have enough time to accomplish what needed to be done in Valdris before his modern world collapsed completely.