Opening Ceremony
1353 Words
"Hey, kiddo. May I know your name?"
Huh?
When did this lady came here?
Perhaps I didn't notice her since I'm absorbed by this book.
She's a blonde individual with golden almond eyes and pointed ears; currently wearing a faculty uniform, but for some reason, her uniform is much fancier.
Is she the librarian?
"Ah, yes...it's Yukti."
"Just Yukti...?"
"Yes. Just Yukti."
"I see. Very well Mr. Yukti, the opening ceremony is about to start. Perhaps you should go to the venue already?"
"Huh? Wait...woah there. It's already ten minutes before the ceremony starts! I gotta hurry. Thank you ma'am."
I bowed at her and went on my way.
I immediately headed to the gymnasium and thankfully, with the help of signboards telling directions, I'm able to reach the venue despite this maze-like place.
I happened to overheard two ladies gossiping about something.
"I'm excited!"
"I wonder who's the new director of the school?"
Huh? There's a new director?
Oh wait. Come to think of it, I've heard rumors of this local college institution purchased by a certain individual. Great, now someone is rich enough to purchase this place.
Now I'm intrigued. Who's the new one?
"Now, dear students, let us all welcome with a round of applause...our owner and chairman of Crimson Academy, Miss Rose Crimson."
Oh wow, even the name of the academy has changed. So, let me see who's this Rose Crim -- huh? W-what...? Isn't that...?
"My dear students of Crimson Academy, I congratulate all of you for passing the entrance examination and thus I welcome you with open arms! Here in our prestigious..."
SHE'S THE CHAIRMAN!?
That lady I met in the library!? Ugh, I hope I didn't offend her earlier. I don't feel so good. Perhaps I should buy a stomach medicine or two. Sigh...
"...and that would be all. Once again I welcome you all and I hope that everyone prosper here."
Then goes a lot of applause.
Ugh, so loud...
She sat down, trying her best to look emotionless but for some reason I could see her fidgeting. She seems...happy?
Putting that aside...
Another long blah blah blah moment followed, and eventually it's now down to this: picking of members of the Student Council. This is one peculiar tradition of the institution before, and it appears that even under a different management AND ownership, this tradition is still alive and well. Another peculiar fact about this is that they don't have a specific role like secretary or treasurer except the Council Administrator, a role similar to the "President" of a normal Student Council.
The students were handpicked by the faculty themselves. They're probably individuals with great potential or something. Not that I care about it anyway.
"...with all of that being explained, I shall read their names. For the ones who are called please come to the stage and present yourselves to the audience."
So, in the end, they chose ten students to take the hot seat, or seats. Five ladies and gentlemen, brimming with confidence and pride, were in front of us.
With this, the program has come to an end.
...or so I thought.
"Oh, I must add an announcement...no it's more like calling out a certain person."
Urk. Why am I getting the chills?
She's not referring to me, right?
The entire crowd started murmuring here and there, but she didn't pay attention to it. She continued her statement in a serious tone.
"I would like to meet the student whom I chatted a while ago in the library. Just come to the assigned venue later okay? I'll be waiting. If you're not going, I shall have you expelled, alright? I'll have the details and the location sent to your email."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Oh well. I bid farewell to a normal life.
•••
I went to a particular place that is always been vacant for years, or so the old faculty staff told me yesterday. It's a bummer, this library is quite huge and there's a wide variety of books here. I guess I need to wipe this place out and make it into a computer lab or something like that--oh?
I'm surprised to see someone lurking in here and is reading a book. I approached and sat on a seat adjacent to him. And yet he's flicking with the pages, not noticing me at all. Usually, men look at my direction. But this guy...he seems different from the rest. Very well, I'll poke a nest.
"Hey kiddo. May I know your name?"
"Ah, yes...it's Yukti."
"Just Yukti...?"
"Yes. Just Yukti."
"I see. Very well Mr. Yukti, the opening ceremony is about to start. Perhaps you should go to the venue already?"
"Huh? Wait...woah there. It's already ten minutes before the ceremony starts! I gotta hurry. Thank you ma'am."
He showed his respect by bowing and immediately went outside.
He's a promising lad. Most youth are quite the rebels nowadays, so it's surprising to see someone like that.
Yukti, huh. If I'm not mistaken, it means "Tactics".
"BBBBBBZZZZZZZTTT..."
My cell card vibrated.
Cell card is a product of science and rune essence combined. It's a rectangular shaped transparent glass with card slots located at the top. There, you can insert your "core", a thin card which serves as the operating system of the device. Without it your cell card is just an empty shell. Of course, it is powered by a person's rune essence. Otherwise, it would not function.
In simple terms, it's a convenient tool for my everyday life.
I wonder who's calling?
When I looked at the caller, the display showed my information broker, Ms. Liza Minne. I picked up the phone and asked her what's the matter.
"Yes, Ms. Liza. What's up?"
"Madame. There's something I would like to discuss with you. It's about a certain student who came there to the academy."
"I'm listening."
"He's the former partner of your late sister, Cory."
I almost dropped my cell card after hearing her words.
"A-Are you sure about that Liza?"
"Yes, I'm sure of it madame."
Finally, after years of searching for clues, I finally got this piece of information.
"Please elaborate your report."
"Yes ma'am. It seems that there's an enrolled student in the academy is the one the Bureau refer to as the 'Ghost Tactician'. He's the one liable for the successful capture of notorious criminals, destruction of various syndicates, and annihilation of S-ranked dungeon bosses with a five-man party comprised with copper-class individuals. There's a lot of achievements here but so far, those are the most notable feats he has, before he got into a partnership with Miss Cory."
"Oh? What an exemplary individual he was...wait, how come does this person evade the eyes of the paparazzi? I mean, he got all those achievements and yet he doesn't appear in news articles or something similar to that?"
"The Bureau kept his identity hidden from the public, as per request from the individual in question. Also, it is recorded in the recent document that he quits as a member. The Bureau was saddened by his proclamation but they accepted his resignation."
"That's quite unfortunate. About his identity...are you able to unveil his real identity?"
"Of course. It's Yukti. He doesn't have a surname according to the records. 20 years old, 5'7 in height. A man with an average built, posessing black almond eyes and greyish hair, slightly tanned. I'll email further details about this man later."
"..."
"Madame? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing at all. Thanks for that information Liza. I'll double your payment for this one."
"F-For real? Thanks madame! I truly appreciate it!"
"You're welcome. I shall warn you though. Under no circumstances shall you expose this information you've just given to me. Is that clear?"
"Of course madame, I would never betray you."
I hung up the call after hearing her response imbued with a joyous tone. Perhaps she's happy to hear that her payment got doubled. As for me, I am trembling.
I'm trembling with joy, that is.
"Finally...I finally found you. This is quite a coincidence to see you beforehand...Cory's ghost partner..."
- Writer
