37_Unknown boy

37_Unknown boy

"That was a beautiful speech, Penelope. Just like I expected of the empress of September."

Before them stood once again the principal of their school, Aileen. She gave the crowd a beautiful smile and began to talk once more.

"It was an amazing speech, but you forgot some information you needed to share with the first years. I'll see it this time trough my fingers, but next time do it right."

Aileen spoke with a gentle voice, but the authority couldn't be hidden in her voice.

"I'll say this only once, so do listen carefully first years"

Silence came and everyone even the older years who already knew this information were quiet.

"As Penelope said, only the first place will get a title. It's not that the other ranks under is bad or something like that, definitely not. The reason is simple just like everything else here. When the school began, it had the same rules and we never changed it. Therefore, it stills remains. Not only this remains of our old school, but there are also countless other things that never changed if you noticed. We do this to show our respect to the founder. Even when you think it's not fair, it would never change."

This was the first time Lucius and the other first years ever heard of the founder of this school, and it seemed like the founder was really respected back then and even now hundreds of years later the founder is still respected.

"Penelope told you that there isn't any benefit to becoming first place. It's technically true but isn't at the same time. If you rank first you get honor from the students and maybe from the students at the other schools. If you can at least be one time first place, you have the right to enter in a tournament I and the other school organize. Everyone goes against each other and each year it can be something different. Sometimes it's a quiz, sometimes it's an obstacle course maybe even a cooking contest. We try to do something different each year when this tournament takes place. The tournament last three days. The first day it is the first years that compete. The second the second years compete against each other. And finally at the last day the third years compete. The winner will get a prize money and we will also pay for a holiday to somewhere the winner wants to go."

Hearing this made the first year's eyes open wide. What no benefit? There is obviously a benefit to be first place!

"It sounds really attractive, right?"

Even when there were no answers, she already knew the answers looking at some faces of the first years.

"It's attractive, sure, but it seems like nobody cares about the prize now. Everybody strives to compete at the tournament not for the prize, but to show that they are the best."

Aileen began to laugh when she suddenly thought about something that happened long ago, before she even was born. She had seen a video of the first place back then. She admired his spirit and the way he carried himself.

"Long ago.", she said with a wide smile on her beautiful face.

"Before you all were even born. There was this boy who got first place. He went on stage where the prize was standing. After accepting the prize, he threw it to the ground and looked at the crowd who stood under him. With an arrogant voice he talked to them. "What prize? I don't need it. It is nice to have, yeah. But you can always earn it. Do you know what you can't earn easily? It's this. This feeling I am feeling right now. The feeling of being number one. No one will ever be able to snatch this place from me! I am first and you all are beneath me!" The boy walked away with a smirk on his face and true to his words he always placed first at the tournament. He wasn't always first place at his studies, but he always had the right to participate. Everyone was so fired by his speech that the prize worth only decreased as time went by. As you can see, the only thing that matters to the third and second years is the first place. Everyone can work for a different reason, of course. Maybe it isn't as important to some, but I'm sure that it matters to them more than they show."

The words of the unknown boy were full of self confidence. It felt like he knew that he was the best and always will be. You can see how high he thought about himself. So much arrogance that can leave people speechless. But it did fire them up hearing the words of him. How could they not? They all wanted to be as confident as him. Thinking that they are the best even when they knew that they existed of flaws.

"You can choose what is more important to you, but in the end only the first place will earn everything. There was a problem so I couldn't give the first places the badge right now. The badge is the proof that you placed first. The month and which academy you placed first will be showed on it. The people who received this doesn't have to give it back. It's yours forever and more. The badges will be given when it comes in. I hope you all have a nice day."

With that she ended her speech and walked away from the crowd. When she completely disappeared, the bell rang announcing the lunch break.

*RING* *RING*

One by one the people left and only a handful stayed behind to help put away all the chairs that were put there.