At the College of Engineering Physics, Mirabe had just gotten a message on Messenger from Dr. Elliot, asking her to swing by his office.


    Downstairs, by the elevator, Robert was waiting. When he saw Mirabe, he broke into a warm smile. "Hey, you made it."


    "Hello, Professor," Mirabe greeted him politely.


    Robert nodded. "Dr. Elliot''s expecting you. Let''s go, I''ll take you up."


    He stepped into the elevator, swiped a card, and the button for the fifth floor lit up. Handing the card to Mirabe, he said calmly, "Here, this is for you. From now on, you cane straight up to the fifth floor."


    Mirabe was a bit taken aback as she took the card. She remembered Matthew mentioning that the fifth floor was off-limits to students due to restricted ess.


    She hesitated for a moment but then epted the card without questioning it further.


    "So, what''s your major over at the School of Life Sciences?" Robert asked gently as the elevator climbed.


    "Bioinformatics," Mirabe replied, twirling the card between her fingers.


    Robert''s brow furrowed in disbelief. "Why that major?"


    He''d expected her to be in something more mainstream like Biotechnology or Biological Sciences... Bioinformatics had been on the decline in the biology field.


    Wasn''t this a waste of talent?


    Mirabe noticed Robert''s reaction and wondered just how far bioinformatics had fallen for everyone to react this way.


    When the elevator dinged and the doors opened on the fifth floor, Robert didn''t press further. He


    stepped out and led her to Dr. Elliot''s office gesturing for her to go


    while he headed to the over


    door.


    **


    Dr. Elliot was sorting through some papers when Mirabe walked in He pointed to the couch nearby,


    signating her to have a seat while he finished up. Once done, he joined her on the couch.


    "I was in a meeting at the administration office when you came by to report the other day," Dr. Elliot exined as he sat down.


    Mirabe nodded. "That''s alright."


    Dr. Elliot had been in touch with Mirabe on Messenger for almost a year, so they weren''t strangers. After some small talk, he asked the same question Robert had in the elevator.


    Mirabe paused, then asked, "Is bioinformatics a very niche field?"


    Dr. Elliot thought for a moment. "It''s notpletely niche, but in thest decade,


    the field hasn''t produced any standout talents, so it''s be a bit undervalued by the college."


    Mirabe nodded, starting to grasp what Dr. Elliot meant.


    vei


    For a prestigious institution like Prestige College, which was a leading national university and talent incubator backed by state support, a field that didn''t contribute significantly or align with key research priorities was bound to decline.


    Seeing Mirabe''s interest, Dr. Elliot continued, "So, you chose this major?"


    "Yeah." Mirabe didn''t mention that she had been pushed into the bioinformatics program.


    Dr. Elliot felt a twinge of regret but considered that the rarity of persistence in such


    a niche field might mean more opportunities for his department.


    Clearing his throat, he set aside his thoughts and advised earnestly, "No worries, every major has its value. Since you''ve chosen it, give it your all."