Ethereal Paradigm: Arcadia of Darkness 17 My Turn

-Rolf Dobelli

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"Whoooo! Mr. President, it is"

"We're counting on you!"

I can hear those assured cheers to the back exponentially. Well, that assures him of the class title, but, what I can't seem to understand is why the bloody hell could someone feel privileged and feel proud at the same time when he knows of the tiresome burdens that he is about to carry? Maybe I'll find the answer one of these days, with him as the ultimate lab rat. Ok, that was a little bit too harsh.

For now, I'll just be assured that someone reserved the title when others didn't want it. It would be a pain if we were to randomly choose the representative through a box of rolled paper and my name would be chosen. That would be like, stumbling vis-vis with the spirit of bad luck.

"Ok let's move on to the next one." the preceptor advanced the introductions one step closer to me, at a time.

While it may be a little overt, but honestly the majority took the easy path and introduced themselves normally and were rather too mundane to even take note of, but Celes continued to chatter down on her notebook anyway. Its called being "overly cautious" for those possibilities that are of zeros. But, yeah. We can't underestimate the value of zeros, the same as how you can't in the game of card's jokers. While a joker may seem useless, it has the definitive power to turn itself into anything that the holder desires. Same as zeros. While it is empty, it holds an infinite possibility of value. And here I am, in-consequent plankton acting all philosophical in a dire situation.

Well, anyway, as it pains me to say this, I am next in line, I can't let this turn into "utter" chaos. I must aim for a minimum backlash from the audience while utterly destroying the overly cool image they already had for me.

"Your turn now sir..." Ms. Ludenburgh pointed at me with her pointy whiteboard marker and yet...

Sir? Don't escalate the situation now. While I understand that our cultures vary, and it can even be normal to call one of your students 'sir' in some borders, it doesn't have to be me.

While I slowly stood up with both my hands on my sides and as the utterance of "sir" came echoing in the room, silence again indulged itself and everyone was staring quite vividly at me, except for Celes of course who's focus is on her notes alone. It was the scenery of total dullness, but I must muster the remnants of my life force for this introduction. But first, I really must destroy this "big shot" image that they had for me...I'll make this intro as ubiquitous as it can be, and for that, I'll exercise the use of fillers.

"Uhm. Jaiden Axcel Cendrillon. You can call me Jaiden or whatever it is that you feel comfortable calling someone. Uhm ...Formality's unneeded anyway. I hope we'll get along just well. "

"Cendrillon? Now, that's a little familiar. Hmmmmm..." The teacher seemed curious. While I was still standing, with the awkward silence slowly seeping in through my veins, she got closer to me and examined me a bit.

While it is somehow understandable as to how someone her age would make my last name ring a bell, it would be likely detestable if she were to remember something deranged.

"Hmmm. I must have been wrong. Let us have some fun this year Jaiden!" enthusiastic Ms. Ludenburgh then added.

"Yes, Miss," I answered bowing down my head.

While I was about to sit down, I was interrupted as the nightmare was still to end...

"Oh what about your quote?" The teacher asks.

"Oh right. Uhm. Hurt someone with the truth, but never let someone be happy with a lie."

What the hell is it with me with jokers today. I just uttered that, out of a mere sense of immediate action. I never thought that a quote on the end is compulsory. I even gave a cringy one, Almost like I'm a love-connoisseur rather than just being an economic bigshot...

"Thank you for that sir."

"Please do cease the 'sirs" already,' I thought, while slowly sitting down.

Unlike the previous introductions, there was no backlash, just plain hand claps. The result was better than expected. It is neutralism at its best but somehow, I feel that I was unable to remove the big shot imagery, yet the worst challenge for the first day is finally over. Now for the main dish, it was time for the Prima Donna's intro.

"Ok then, lastly, is Miss....." the teacher casually shifted her focus towards my right, where the last student is situated, but unaware, she got herself a little shocked as to whom she were to deal with.

Truth be told, I have no idea as to what this girl is really capable academically, it is just that, the more I realize how known she is, it veils her more in this mist of mystery. Ms. Ludenburgh was somehow speechless and the environment's noise dropped down to 20 to 30 decibels or even lower.

"E-ehem. Ms. Reignsworth... I was uninformed of your presence, it is now your turn to introduce yourself, although it may be a little late at this point." The run down, confident teacher, just like everybody else, switched from her casual actions to formal.

"No miss Ludenburgh. To be fair, I must." Celes replied while standing up from her chair a hundred times more confident than I was. She closed her notes and placed her expensive-looking pen on her uniform's tight pocket.

"And besides I have something important to canvass," she added.

"Of course. Everyone please does listen as to what Miss Reignsworth here has to say." Ms. Ludenburgh nervously chattered.

"There's no need for you to be nervous ma'am. Please don't make your life as a preceptor of a beta cuttting-edge institution, more stressful than it already is." the Prima Donna who saw right through the teacher said, giving her an assured look in the face, which truly was an expression of a teenage girl who wanted to be treated equally as everyone. It is something without a taint of pride nor of supremacy, but humility.

"R-right. HAHAHAHAHAHA," Ms. Ludenburgh burst into laughter probably because of her thoughts that were wondering as to why a teacher would feel taunted by one of her students.

"Ok then. Ms. Reignsworth" the teacher added, giving the stage to Celes.

Chapter end