A FEW MINUTES EARLIER
*A man standing on the school rooftop, behind the stage. From his smile, he seemed to be smiling. Meanwhile, the others looked at him and spoke to him*
"Sir, your time is almost here. Please get ready, sir."
The man:"Hehahah...! You guys are really impatient, huh. Since this is the arrival of the new students, I get a little nervous when speaking."
"(he and the others stare flatly) Sir. We know Sibalih Shion and Sibalih Kharim enrolled here. Are you nervous because of that?"
The man:"Ah, you speak too truthfully. (takes a sip from his bottle). You'd better not bring up the Sibalih name in front of him as a noble family. For him, that's embarrassing."
"Alright, sir. But we don't have time! If you don't get ready soon, they'll be waiting for you!"
The man:"Hahahah... yeah, yeah. (finishes the drink). (walks away)"
BACK TO THE PRESENT TIME
*Still in the school auditorium. Shion was shocked by the presence of the principal, and Shion asked Kharim in such astonishment—his eyes opened wide from the sheer surprise*
Shion:"Hey Brother, he's the principal? I can't believe it!"
Kharim:"Yes, he is the principal. Uncle ALVONSO."
*Voice from the stage*
"We invite the core principal to speak. But before that, let's give him a big round of applause, everyone!"
*So lively, everyone in the auditorium gave applause to the core principal. Then the core principal began to speak with a sweet smile*
Core Principal: "(while waving his hand) Yes.., thank you, Mr. RICHARDSON."
Mr. Richardson: "(smiling broadly) No problem!"
Core Principal: "(beginning his speech in front of the students). Before I begin, I want to deeply thank all of you, especially the 164th generation of students in this school. I am truly grateful to all of you who still choose to live your lives here in the Magical Steel academic school. I believe in every one of you, that you are all candidates to become the finest fighters. Not only to take the profession of Fighter, but whatever path that is good for each of you."
*While the core principal was speaking, Shion spoke to Kharim*
Shion"The 164th generation? That's a lot, huh. (looking at Kharim) If our 164th generation alone is already this many, then if we add it all the way back to the first generation, how many students have ever been in this school?"
Kharim:"How should I know. This school already existed before I was born, so how would I know."
Shion:"Then this school has been around for over a thousand years?!"
Kharim:"More than that, maybe two thousand? Or even three thousand years."
Shion:"(amazed) Awesome... (looking forward) This school has endured for two thousand years!"
Kharim:"(calmly) That's why Magical Steel has created so much history in the world."
Shion was so overjoyed that he couldn't contain it anymore. He stood up on his chair, stretched out both arms wide, and grinned broadly, showing his teeth. Kharim, the other students, Ms. Olfa, and the other teachers were shocked by Shion's antics.
Kharim:"Hey, Shion!"
Mrs. Olfa:"What is he doing?!"
Shion:"(taking a deep breath and shouting loudly) I'M SO HAPPY TO BE STUDYING AT MAGICAL STEEL!! YOU WHO CARVE HISTORY HERE, I TOO WILL CARVE THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD AT MAGICAL STEEL!! (looking at Kharim) WHAT ABOUT YOU, BROTHER?!"
Kharim:"(annoyed and exasperated) What are you saying, you idiot! Get down now! You're embarrassing yourself!!"
*The other teachers and students, who were silent at first, slowly began grinning, then burst out laughing at Shion's antics*
Teacher (1):"Goodness, this kid. He actually made us laugh!"
Teacher (2):"He stood up just to say that? Oh boy… kid, you could've said that on stage, you know."
Student (1):"Hahaha… This kid's too much. Standing on a chair just to shout that."
Student (2):"...hahaha… But he's the son of King Orion, so you can't just call it nonsense."
Shion: "(looking at the other students) Why are you laughing like that?! Are you underestimating me, huh?! I'll prove it by becoming the King of R.O.E, I'll carve the history of the world! (shouting loudly) I WILL BECOME THE KING OF R.O.E!!!"
Kharim: "(more exasperated) I told you to get down, YOU IDIOT!!"
They laughed even harder at Shion's behavior. Meanwhile, Ms. Olfa could only facepalm while smiling at Shion's antics. One of the students across from where Shion and Kharim were sitting, after seeing the scene, said:
"That's Shion and Kharim?"
The core principal only smiled at Shion's behavior, then chuckled a little, just like the students. His laughter clearly echoed through the mic, reaching Shion's ears, which startled him. Shion looked at the core principal angrily.
Shion: "Why are you laughing too?!"
Core Principal:"...hahaha... No, no, forgive me if my laugh offended you."
Shion:"It's fine. But just so you know, Uncle. I will face everything so I can become King. If necessary, I'll overthrow the ruler of this world!!"
Immediately, several teachers, several people behind the stage, the three principals, and the core principal froze upon hearing Shion's words. Kharim noticed that many teachers, even the core principal, fell silent. Then the core principal continued.
Core Principal:"Are you serious about your words?"
Shion:"Have I ever joked about my own dream? Do you think my dream is just a toy?!"
Core Principal:"If you are serious about your words, then you'd better uphold them. The world is harsher than you think. Don't assume that just because you're the King's son, you can casually speak of overthrowing the ruler of the world. What do you think world governance is?"
Shion:"Do you think I care?! I just want to be King, nothing more and nothing less. Do you understand me, Uncle?"
Core Principal:"(staring flatly at Shion's ambitious expression) Yeah, I understand. I hope your words match your actions and strengthen your resolve, Shion. Even in the things you least desire, they might still happen, Shion."
Shion:"(grinning widely) I already said I don't care, Uncle."
Mr. Richardson:"(sighing and shaking his head) Hhheahh… Sir, why are you provoking him like that?"
*The core principal also smiled after being reassured by Shion. While they exchanged smiles, Mr. Richardson took the mic from the core principal*
Mr. Richardson: "You, standing there, you'd better get down or we'll have you removed, kid. You're disrupting the event."
Shion complied. After stepping down from the chair and dusting it off, Shion saw Kharim leaning back in his seat with a serious expression. Shion looked puzzled and said:
"What's wrong with you, Brother?"
Kharim:"(after a pause). I don't know. Seeing the expressions around us, they looked serious when you spoke about the world's ruler. I don't know what that means to them."
Shion: "Hihihi… Why are you the one worrying, Brother? (as Kharim looks at him) We just have to keep moving forward to our goal, don't we? So don't overthink it."
*Kharim fell silent, then gave a faint smile, and looked forward again. Shion did the same. After that, the core principal began his speech*
Core Principal:"Before I begin my speech, I will introduce myself. My name is SIBALIH ALVONSO, I am the core principal, and in front of you are three principals, each with their own duties.
The first is Principal 1, Mr. TAKEMI ANGGASKA. He is in charge of the Council of Knowledge; all the studies you will learn will be adjusted according to your expertise, and he will also implement several exclusive tutorials. Next is Principal 2, Mr. BACH EMILIO. He is responsible for the main administration in the category of finance and compensation funds. He also plays an important role in maintaining the stability of Magical Steel. Beyond that, his responsibilities are quite a lot, hahaha (laughs). From collecting your data, as well as compiling data from previous generations—because evaluations must always be done from the past generation's records—then ensuring evaluations about the conditions of this school, and many other things. And lastly, Mr. ARKANA. He is responsible as the program coordinator, community development officer, and other roles. Oh yes, you will be undertaking missions, and for each mission you will receive compensation money according to the mission level you take..."
*Noise began to rise among them, but it was the excitement of the students, while Mr. Alvonso continued his words*
Mr. Alvonso:"...and these are our three principals, and I, the core principal as well as the supreme leader, am myself. (applause)"
Kharim, upon hearing this, spoke in his heart:
"So many principals, huh. And also what Ms. Olfa said about bokon, turns out his name is Bach Emilio. His name's actually kind of cool. I guess Ms. Olfa only just found out too. (looking toward Ms. Olfa)"
*Ms. Olfa, who was standing, noticed Shion watching her. She only replied with a faint smile. And Shion immediately felt he had been deceived by Ms. Olfa*
Shion:"(in his heart) I-I guess Ms. Olfa already knew..."
Mr. Alvonso:"Alright, I will now begin my speech. (then began his speech)."
Mr. Alvonso continued with his address. The long speech made the two of them bored—and not only the two of them, but many others as well. Some grew drowsy, and some even fell asleep because of Mr. Alvonso's speech.
Shion:"Hhaahhh... so bored, (glances at Kharim) how about you, Brother?"
Kharim:"( yawns briefly) Same. (pauses) The core principal's name is Sibalih Alvonso. Truly surprising, it turns out he himself is the core principal. No wonder you were shocked."
Shion:"Of course. Who would've thought Uncle Alvonso, who's always mischievous and always plays pranks on me whenever I meet him, would turn out to be the core principal. It's heartbreaking."
A brief scene shift to when Shion was still eight years old. As he was about to enter his room and had just opened the door, a bucket perched above the door was pulled by the door's push, spilling its contents — the bucket was filled with flour.
*Startled, Shion froze until Uncle Alvonso appeared behind him. He laughed at Shion with both hands behind his back*
Uncle Alvonso:"Ahahaha... You were too careless, Shion!"
Shion:"(looking at Uncle Alvonso angrily) You ugly uncle!! This is already the umpteenth time you've messed with me!!"
Uncle Alvonso:"Hhehh? Why shouldn't I? I rarely come home here. Uhm... By the way, what's that behind you?"
*Innocently, Shion turned to look behind him, and found nothing*
Shion:""What do you mean?"
Uncle Alvonso:"(snorts). You keep going into your room like that. Can't you see it?"
*Shion complied and walked further into his room, unaware that Uncle Alvonso took a key from behind the door*
Shion:"(searching around) There's nothing, Uncle?"
Uncle Alvonso:"(grinning slyly) Is that so. But take a look at me."
*When Shion looked back at Uncle Alvonso, Uncle Alvonso suddenly threw a rotten egg at Shion's face. Shion froze, stunned by the rotten egg thrown at him*
Shion:"(angry) UNCLE!!!"
Uncle Alvonso, far from remorseful, threw two more rotten eggs at Shion and then burst into laughter. Growing increasingly furious, Shion ran while screaming though his vision was blurred. While Uncle Alvonso continued laughing, he shut Shion's bedroom door and locked it. Shion slammed into the door.
Shion:"(furious, pounding the door hard) UGLY UNCLE!!!, IDIOT!!!, I HATE YOU!!! OPEN THE DOOR NOW...!!!"
****
Shion:"(while still recalling that moment) At that time, I really hated him. And now, can believe he actually works here!"
Kharim:"Aren't you proud that your uncle holds a position in this school? Since Uncle Alvonso is from the Sibalih family, you have some privileges here."
*Hearing that made Shion fall silent, his expression turning serious as he advised Kharim*
Shion:"(looking at Kharim) Brother… Didn't I already tell you earlier that I don't really like boasting about my father? So my perspective isn't any different from Uncle Alvonso's."
Kharim:"Yeah, yeah. You are really steadfast in your stance of not wanting to flaunt the power of your royal family."
For a moment, the two of them stopped talking. After a while, Shion felt as if someone had been watching him all along. When he looked to his left, no student seemed to be there, but with his sharp instincts, he knew who had been observing him, even if it was just a hunch. Kharim noticed Shion speaking quietly to himself.
Kharim: "What is it, Shion?"
Shion: "(glancing around) Nothing. It's just… somehow, someone's been watching me for a while."
Shion looked to his left again. Kharim, noticing him, said:
"Forget it. Don't worry about it."
Shion: "(looking forward again) Alright."
As Shion faced Mr. Alvonso, who was still giving his speech, there was a female student who had previously been observing Shion and Kharim from afar. The girl was positioned somewhat far from Shion, yet she was watching him closely. But it wasn't only Shion she was observing, but Kharim too. And even Kharim noticed her for a moment before he chose to ignore her.