Ethereal Paradigm 9 Norms, Deviance, Consequence

" Life is a continuous paradox. Society forces us unto conformity, yet progress can only be made through deviance"

-Anonymous

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As we arrived at the venue, we began forming lines by class as instructed by the university staff. It was such a rare sight to see youngsters from different origin gather in one space, of which most were made up of southeast Asians and Westerners. Everyone was quit well-disciplined as I can see. They were in complete uniform, with shirts tucked under our black khaki pants and their neckties were perfectly fastened in place and their shoes? Well, have you seen a first-class luxury car yet? They are as shiny as that.

But, yet I just can't stop piling several negative criticisms against opening ceremonies. I mean, who wouldn't? From the start of everyone's scholastic career to their latest, I think everyone would hate that, at least not the principal, nor the student body representative who are the ones who will take the longest time spouting which is said to be "words of gratitude" or "warm words of welcome" which is in fact, nothing but political nonsense with an "inspiring" quote at every end, of which they thought can be life-changing...and yet again, no it is not.

And the question that boggles me the most is the existence of such ceremonies itself. What's so great and special about starting another year in sleepless nights and lifestyle deprivation anyway? Its actually, better for us to put on sackcloth and weep rather than clapping our hands-on lengthy speeches while faking a cheerful smile right from the start of another academic turmoil. Yet, judging by the current structure of society, the top brass is always correct no matter how vague their decision is. The same goes for educational institutions.

Not yonder, school staff, and preceptors began to reveal themselves on the back of the students' disciplined lines of classes, and personas in black elegant suite began to show up on stage, interrupting the students from their first-day friend-making session. As the staff is about to commence the event, apparent silence then began to befall on the whole gymnasium and a lady began speaking on the microphone...

"As interesting as it gets, I know the hype you are experiencing at the moment, as we feel the same, but that can wait, and to officially open the first school year in the world's first international city, please welcome the AU principal, headmaster Aldixiel Radars". A man in his 30s with silver hair and glasses then stood from the committee sitting comfortably on stage, that was the institution's principal, Aldixiel Radars. His first emergence was met with an astounding ovation from the pool of students. Damn. It never occurred to me once that a principal could probably be this fine and young, he was also rather personable! Well, nobody can't blame me, for thinking that way! Since almost all headmasters in fiction and non-fiction are always portrayed to be a stout old man or an old lady who is both in their 60's. Yet, having a principal as noble-like gives not only me a different kind of vibe, but to my fellow schoolmates as well, especially on the freshmen.

And here it starts, the seemingly unending speech of inspirational cliches. "Ehh, Good morning everyone. I would like first, to congratulate you all, for your admission being accepted in the world's finest and newest intercontinental university...." and so the speech continued henceforth that fortunately made us all sleepy at some point, but some, of course, would do their best to stay awake and eventually finds something better to do or to listen at the least. And this girl, lined beside me has this vigorous aura to do just that.

"Hey, never mind that boring speech. Do you know who will be representing the students?" I asked a girl left to me as if she already is a mutual acquaintance.

"No... I'm sorry, I have no idea here"

"Oh."

"Hey, hey. I think I know who it might be. While eavesdropping is a crime, it would not hurt to hear it accidentally you know?" whispered a thin and rather tall fine lad right after me. I never thought that he could button in conversations just like that, as his face showed that he was a silent type. yet, there was no judging, by outward appearance.

"So what did you hear?"

The two continued talking to unravel the conspiracy as to who would represent the second years. I don't care if they would like to have a little chitchat in the middle of the headmaster's speech, but as far as it concerns me, why am I being the center of a message relay here? They are both pinpointing their murmurs in me, although I never recalled agreeing to be a part of the conversation. This can get me to trouble. Yet, I hesitated to give them little as a warning, as these two are probably in the same class, and there is no destroying of their candor first impression on me.

"I heard just an hour ago right at the faculty room that the representatives are all stellar in academics"

"Well, that is to be expected," I thought, while I acted a little uninterested and while taking sudden glimpses on the staff at the side to see if trouble is indeed coming.

"That girl. They said is the daughter of an economic image in Germany. I also heard of a beauty and brain thing, which made people from her previous university call her the 'Prima Donna' SIck right? But I did not catch clearly as to what the name of the girl could be, hmmmm.. was it? Oh, seemed I can't get a hunch after all"

Prima Donna? Isn't that the name used by the traditionalists' generation to call the main female character of an opera? If people did give her a sobriquet such as that, she would be hellish and legendary I think.

Yet, upon hearing the word 'beauty', my mind suddenly went on reminiscing something that is of significance... I think.

Wait, now that I remember it, where is the noble-like girl that I met earlier? I looked around but she was nowhere to be found. I expected that she will be easily seen even in this kind of crowd, as she is of course "lofty" in all stature. If she is to be compared to anyone random from this crowd, it would be like putting to contrast the discrepancies of a noble and a less-fortunate peasant.

Wait don't tell me...

Now that I think of it, she is a student, based on how she presented herself in the sunrise-She is the Student representative that my two classmates have been talking about.

"Well, Prima Donna or not, we are gonna find out!" the girl who suggested the subject said, ending the duo conversation.

"R-right" the lad she has been talking to respond. The two then began to lend a worn-out ear to the ones talking in front, facing head-on, with eyes in wanton for sleep.

I was uninterested at this point, as knowing who will be the representative can't help me maneuver into an academic year unscathed, but one thing I was relieved about, was that their chitchat did not give us trouble and the staff at the back did not seem to notice either. Well, I can also sense that they, too, have been having a rough time listening to speeches, as their faces from afar say so.

Now back to the Romanesque girl I met. There is also no denying the possibility that she was only a fragment of my imagination because there is no such principle that explains how a mere human can be in par with Lacrimos a goddess' demeanor, and also I was medically evaluated to have Dementia, remember?... but, the scene that was about to be laid upon me is to prove me wrong, and that the word" imagination" was eventually too crude to be used.

"I hope that you will enjoy your stay here, and may the odds be forever in your favor", the principal's lengthy speech ended with an expected cliche which fortunately is a carbon copy from the Hunger Games, and also... is a little worse from the' life-changing' quote I expected to hear. The enthusiastic students then clapped as hard as they could, while approximately 90% of the crowd stands firm on their grudge held against opening ceremonies. And I, am a proud member of that population.

"Now to hear the words of challenge from the student body... "

Well, here it is...the most-awaited representative.

"Let us all welcome Celes Stella Reignsworth"

The moment the name was gushed forth from the mouth of the announcer, student-support started to tremble the venue, but the noise stands corrected and utter silence supervened, silence from a crowd that you probably have never known before as if everyone had their mouths sealed for good.

The moment the stage curtains were opened, there appeared a student opposite of what anybody could have had expected. Except me.

The girl I met earlier flourishing on her best colorful petals on-stage began talking on a graceful manner that had everyone cast under a spell, as if everyone who beheld her facade began to be pulled off by a gossamer thread. And that excludes me of course as I was currently in an acquaintance with a peculiar goddess and seeing her imperial emergence from time to time, made me a little tolerant of beauty.

"A decent day. I, as madam said prior, am Celes Stella Reignsworth...."

As she began speaking, several students of which few were from my class began spouting words of admiration for the girl.

"It's the Prima Donna of Germany high"

Using that line that was not too eloquent for me, students began to whisper to the other, which later became a ruckus as she was still delivering her speech upfront.

"She had her GPA at all subjects above others' and she top-notched several international exams even as a kid."

"Wow...what significant finesse and beauty it is"

"I heard her parents owned a business company abroad with over thousands of extensions"

Words like that came filling the whole venue, that even the seniors were piqued and the staff began to have difficulties in controlling the outrage...but then, it was not long before she, herself intervened and spelled the end of her privacy being invaded by the network of information that students shared about her, albeit positive.

" Norms. Deviance. Consequence"

The moment she uttered those three words, the outrage was slowly but assuredly being de-escalated.

"As you can see. Life Is a paradox that knows no ephemerality. It wants improvement by making us follow the norms, but it does not know, that true progress is and only fruit of deviance from conformity, moreover, while deviance is a requirement for us to meet exemplary heights, it does not mean that we also have to defy our de riguer... And that would also mean to respect this introvert that was forced in talking in front of a massive crowd"

And there it went. The indirect yet explicit bombshell that became the pedestal of proper silence. Still, she went far as to call herself an introvert, and what's even more interesting is that she publicly declared being forced to talk in front held against her own will. Not so bad.

"The deviance that I am delineating is certainly not about absconding professionalism, but it is about abandoning the norms of mediocrity that the world order considered too sacred to be altered. In a world full of players, let us not metamorphose into becoming one of these disparaging entities, but let us be game-changers, whose mind is set on things above, on the stellar level, more than a mediocre mind can even imagine grasping in their own hands. For this year, I hope that with the participation of all parties presents here today, a school year of challenge and transparent learning is to be unveiled. I have no intention of making this speech considerable length, but I want to wish everyone a great school year. Thank you and Godspeed"
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Well, that is Prima Donna for you. Everyone in the venue and even the headmaster himself then converged her speech with gargantuan ovation. Probably louder than what the Headmaster Radars was given beforehand. You could hear the words "Encore", "bravo" and the likes coalesced with a cascade of echoing handclaps and other forms of non-verbal admiration.

Yet, as she is passing the mic to the lady in charge, she took a glimpse of me that struck me with the likes of a sharp feeling, that I am unable to explain. It was a dark, eccentric and malefic gaze that if I am to describe, is like the disparaging eyes of that one murderer-my brother from years ago.

My head started to ache, with heartbeats raising at bare maximum as the image of that dreadful night again came to my reminiscence. But all I can do is to hold out the pang until the ceremony will soon reach its extremity.

"Thank you for that precise, yet wonderful speech, Ms. Reignsworth. Now let us hear the words from the Preceptral Committee of Systems Chairman, to acquaint you with the new curriculum of this institution and its majored rules and regulations" the lady emcee again began a chatter.

Before I knew it, the opening ceremony came to an end and we were instructed to return to our respective classrooms for the commencement of formal classes. As the curtains of the stage slowly started closing, it was then that I realized, that I was wrong of expecting a mundane ceremony.

Yet, what I frivolously failed to disregard was that bizarre feeling as she looked into me...

What was the meaning of that gaze?...

..Why give it to me now?...

..What's behind it?

Celes Stella Reignsworth, the Prima Donna of her previous school and is likely to be named the same, at this University. Now she piques my curiosity as to what disposition lies, behind that fame-mired name?

Chapter end