The Principal, Causious Sivilingheard, ex-general of the Western front during the Tragedy of 1917, he was the sole reason why the Narchasian forces couldn't penetrate the Eastern front of Zaoland. Impressed by his work, the Federation appointed him as the Principal of one of the twelve state schools to prepare the next generation.
As the Principal climbed up the stages to the platform, the chit-chat in the auditorium started to die down. Everybody knew that this man meant business. He took the mic, resting his elbows on the podium. He still wore his navy green army uniform, adorned with badges on the front and his shoulder; a testimony to his greatness.
"Good Mourning, my lovely students. I'm Principal Causious Sivilingheard, and I welcome you all to the 1934-35 session of Weiterführende Schule der Elite. I believe that we would work with the same spirit and enthusiasm as we did the year before, if not more than that. To the new admissions, I welcome you all to our school. Here you shall fall and get hurt over the course of four years to stand again and become the mightiest leaders of our country. I shall now brief the first years with the rules and regulations of the institute, breaking some of them might cause your expulsion so please listen to them carefully...." the Principal said, each word carrying the same sense of authority and power as him.
The students sat in silence as they listened to each and every word of their principal.
Natria looked bored, his face resting on his palm, looking at the stage with emotionless eyes.
"You look bored." Leon commented.
"So does you. You already know what I'm waiting for, don't you?" Natria said in a careless tone.
"Of course!" Leon replied with enthusiasm in his voice.
Natria looked around the auditorium when his eyes noticed something. The Colonel rank insignia, the buzz cut and the same navy green uniform, it was 'him'.
"Very interesting." Natria remarked.
"What?" Leon asked.
"Look at the guy in the army uniform, in the corner of the first row." Natria pointed to Leon.
"Hey, isn't that Colonel Vod?" Leon asked.
"Yes indeed. Seems like he shall be the instructor for the Elites this year." Natria added.
"You might be right. After all, he had proved himself countless times in the battle. The Federation might have chosen him for the job." Leon said.
"....And now we come to fourth-year students." the Principal said.
"Hey, the Principal is going to address us." Leon said.
"I also heard it, man. Now, shh!" Natria said, pressing his finger against his lips.
"It has been a wonderful journey with you all, my children. These four years have been a journey to remember. I and your teachers have worked hard on you to make the best out of you, but let's not forget about you; it was your hard work that has brought success to our efforts. I can;t express how grateful I am to you. Now, in you last year you shall join different professions, you might have decided over the course of last three years. Some might have changed their mind while others might have stood strong in their decisions. Regardless, I truly believe that you shall bring our country prosperity wherever you go. Our institute has been the home to many outstanding leaders, doctors, engineers, writers and what not. Our institute has given our country the finest of its kind. But even among them there are some which outshines the other, you all know very well who I'm talking about. The Elites!" the Principal announced as the curtain behind him rose, revealing six podiums arranged in a triangular manner bearing their particular name cards.
"Look! It's time." Leon said to Natria, his voice filled with excitement.
"Yeah. I could very well see it myself, Leon. There is no need to mention it to me." Natria said in a sassy voice.
"The Elites! The finest specimen of Weiterführende Schule der Elite. The seven students who are the best of best selected on their merit, of the last three years of their presence in the institute, are the brightest diamonds in the entire state. These seven students will train under the supervision of the Colonel of the Southern Front, Vod Hattinson, to become chief rank holders in the military. A Round of applause for the Colonel who shall now announce the Elites!" the Principal said as the auditorium was filled with claps.
"The colonel is walking up the stairs. Look!" Leon said as he grabbed Natria's collar in excitement, shaking his neck here and there.
Natria grabbed Vod's hand with his hand. Leon, who was a moment ago mesmerised by the Colonel, looked at Natria as he felt Natria's grip on his hand.
"How did my hand get to your collar?" Leon said, as he slowly understood the situation.
Before he could notice, his face was met with a punch straight in his face.
"Ouch!" Leon groaned in pain as he vigorously rubbed his cheek to reduce the pain.
"I told you that I can see, dammit! If you do that to me once again, I'll make sure you never have a son or daughter, any child, for that matter." Natria raged as he showed his fist to Leon.
"Ye-Yeah I get it. No need to get mad, bro." Leon stammered.
Colonel Vod came up to the mic, raising it a little, and started.
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"Hello, lovely students. It is I, Vod Hattinson, the Colonel of the Southern Front. I suppose I need no introduction thanks to your Principal who gave me five hour run down about each one of you. To tell you the truth, it's really boring to just hear names sitting on a sofa while having nothing to do." Colonel said casually.
A faint chuckle rose in the audience.
"I didn't know the Colonel like to joke." Leon commented.
"He doesn't. He's trying to get our trust, so that we feel comfortable in his presence."
"How can you be so sure?" Leon asked.
"Because I know him." Natria said nonchalantly.
"What!" Leon exclaimed in shock.
"You never told me about this." Leon complained.
"Why would I find it apt to talk about the Colonel with you? It's like asking for deserts at the start of the party." Natria replied.
"I'm not sure I understood your example, but okay." Leon said.
"Whatever, he's about to announce the Elites. Listen carefully." Natria said.
"Anyway, we all know why I am here. Everyone, I feel honoured to be the instructor for the Elites of Weiterführende Schule der Elite. I announce to you the finest students in all of Karsen." Colonel said in a voice filled with enthusiasm.
"The finest in alchemy, one of the few girls of Weiterführende Schule der Elite, Zia Aaron! A round of applause for the lady." the Colonel said.
"The heck! Why is she here?" Leon exclaims in shock.
"Oh my, things have gotten a lot more interesting, haven't they?" Natria comments.
"How can you be so calm? You know what she did to me all those years ago. I personally didn't even know she was in the institute, did you?" Leon asked.
"No, I didn't know she was here." Natria said with a smile.
"I don't know, man, I'm getting mixed signals from you." Leon said.
"Oh, why would I plan to keep the knowledge of my best friend's ex-bully studying in this institute hidden from him?" Natria asked in a sassy voice.
A young lady walked out of the second row and climbed up onto the stage to her respective podium. She had black hair and eyes red as fire.
"Thank you, Mrs. Aaron. I hope you'lL bring wonders to the research department." the Colonel said.
The girl simply nodded.
"Next, the finest in martial arts; may we have Xander Voff, Perkov Kerious and Baquet Sherman for their amazing skills. A round of applause for the boys!" the Colonel said.
The three boys walked out of the eight, sixth and twelfth row. Xander was a blonde man with eyes blue as the ocean. He had a prideful expression on his face. Perkov and Baquet, on the other hand, had black hair. They had brown eyes. None of them seemed to care much about Elite thing, they had a blank expression on their face.
"They don't look happy." Leon said.
"They probably aren't." Natria said.
"Why? Isn't it the greatest honour we could have?" Leon questioned.
"For the most part, correct, but being efficient in martial arts requires patience and a calm mind. Maybe it's just their training that has resulted in their emotionless demeanor. I can say that for Perkov and Baquet, but I'm not sure about the Xander guy. He feels like a show-off. I could be wrong, though." Natria answered.
"I doubt it. You've been really good at reading people." Leon complemented.
Natria remained silent.
The three boys, just like the girl before, occupied their respective podiums.
"Thank you, gentlemen. With your skills, I believe our offenses and defense in close combat would be out of our enemy's league." the Colonel said.
Perkov and Baquet remained quiet.
"Oh certainly, Colonel. I will crush the enemies with my judo skills. None present here can even come close to me. It feels really good when you are the best of the best." Xander said in a prideful tone.
The Colonel narrowed his eyes, and softly spoke, "Do you really think that? Talk about a great misunderstanding." His voice was way too faint to be heard by the audience.
"Next, we have the finest in technology arts; a round of applause for Leon Valishkapov and Casious Crown!"
"Did you hear that! He called my name." Leon exclaimed in joy.
"I'm happy for you, pal. Now go!" Natria said.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you around." Leon replied as he walked out of the road.
Leon and Casious climbed onto the stage to occupy their podiums. Only one podium remained.
Casious was a young man with red hair and black eyes, possibly because he was a foreigner from the west. Despite being in his third year, his expert knowledge of electronics and radios guaranteed him as a member of the elites. He could barely keep up his excitement upon hearing his name, just like Leon.
"Thank you, gentlemen. I believe you'll make great use of your knowledge in the electronics and radio department. A round of applause for the lads!" the Colonel said.
Both of them just nodded their head in agreement.
"Now, we come to the final member of the Elites; the head of Elites. Governing such a powerful body requires the finest specimen of the institute. Everyone, a round of applause for the head of elites, otherwise known as the Chancellor, the finest specimen in all of Weiterführende Schule der Elite, the greatest strategist, Natria Av' Hamil!" the Colonel announced.
Slowly, rising from his seat, Natria walked towards the stage. He could hear the people talking about him.
"Is it really him? I never thought this dude get to be an Eite." someone commented.
"Look at his face, he almost looks like a girl." a guy said in the back.
"How could this oaf get to be an Elite?" a girl from the first row said.
Natria sighed.
"So much for a warm welcome." Natria said in a disappointed voice.
As he walked to the stage, many students continue to pass mean comments about him but he ignored them all. Climbing onto to the stage, Natria got to his podium, the first one. Colonel Vod looked at him and he nodded.
Turning back to the mic, the Colonel announced in the loudest of his voice, "And these are the Elites! The finest students in all of Karsen. Everyone, please give a round of applause to Zia Aaron, Xander Voff, Perkov Kerious, Baquet Sherman, Leon Valishkapov, Casious Crown and Natria Av' Hamil!"