Orientation Day (6)

In the lecture hall, Rem sat in roughly the same place he did during the morning orientation. This time, half the row was his new team. It felt kind of cool sitting like that with a group. It was a unique experience for him.

Primm sat on his immediate left, while Animina and Sofiria sat to her left. To his immediate right was Fezz, and to his right was Icky Bob and Fries.

He was surprised when no one complained about their group of seven. Where they sat prevented any other groups of seven from sitting on the same row.

Instead, a group of three and a group of four sat on the ends of the row. He and Primm were in the two middle seats.

"I guess not everyone was able to form a complete group," Rem said to Primm.

"Yeah, it's pretty typical. It's actually more unusual for there to be set groups by the end of lunch.

All the freshmen are selected from across the multiverse, it's unusual for us to know each other before coming to the Academy." Primm responded.

When he thought about it, he realized it was strange they could form seven so quickly.

"How did you manage to know everyone from our group?" Rem asked.

"What do you mean?" Primm looked at him innocently.

"Well, you called Fries, Icky Bob, Animina, and Soferia. You met me on the bus, and Fezz happened to be behind us earlier. It seems strange that you knew more than half the group before coming to the school." Rem deduced.

"It's not that strange, not for me at least," Primm said mysteriously.

"Why isn't it strange for you?"

"S E C R E T," Prim noted with a tinkle of her bell-like voice.

For the first time since he met the girl, Rem stopped and studied her. She suddenly became an enigma.

The more he thought about his coincidental meeting with her and Fezz, his suspicions grew.

"Where's your dog?" Rem asked.

His question startled Primm, "What?"

"Your dog, Jon Wein, where is he? I haven't seen it since we got on the bus. In fact, I don't remember it getting off the bus with us." Rem thought more and more about that dog.

"Ah, you noticed," she twittered.

"You already knew me before I got on the bus; you set Fezz up to sit behind us. You knew the others; what's going on?" Rem asked with a certain amount of trepidation.

"Very good; I didn't believe Fezz when he told me how smart you are."

"Fezz?" Rem asked.

"Yeah, me, how do you think you wound up with that scholarship and got admitted into the Academy. You think your meandering efforts got you in?" Fezz scoffed beside him.

"What?" Rem was flabbergasted. He felt like the ground disappeared from beneath him.

"I met Fezz at a completion a couple of years ago. When I said he was a good Trainer, I was understating his abilities. He's one of the best trainers I've encountered among the younger generation.

Everyone calls me Primm "Golden Eyes" because I can see gold. I can tell the gold from the dross. Everyone on our team is pure gold.

Imagine my surprise when Fezz told me stories about his childhood friend who was not only a much better trainer than him but was a genius all-rounder who created systems like an ant queen makes babies.

I didn't believe him. Fezz knew my school plans; he understood I wanted to create the most outstanding Project Team in the System Maker Academy history.

He promised me that if I wanted to create a monster team, it would be incomplete if I didn't add a monster king to the lineup.

Do you know how hard you made it for me to verify Fezz's words? You never enter any contests. You sit at home making up systems.

If Fezz didn't know you existed, you would have been like a priceless treasure lost in void space, unknown, lost, and useless despite your inherent potential.

Now, you're like like a diamond that is slowly being cut to bring out your luster." Primm said with a smile.

Rem's head was reeling. He was in shock. Just as he was struggling to break free from his stunned state, the lecture began.

"Good afternoon, Freshman Class of System Maker Academy. I am the school president Dr. Gardener.

I'm excited because this year, the Freshman class is joined by my very own granddaughter, Primm Rose Gardener."

Primm stood up and waved like a princess to everyone in the lecture hall.

"Along with Primm, I would like to introduce the Freshman class number one team, The Monster Kings!"

The other members of Rem's team stood up, and all waved at the audience. Fezz bent down and whispered into Rem's ear.

"Stand up; you're the team leader remember," Fezz grabbed Rem's arm and hoisted him up. Rem stood there and was stunned by everything.

Mindlessly, he raised his hand and waved.

As he waved and looked around, he saw the look in all of the other students' eyes. No one was clapping because they were happy. He saw every aggressive and adversarial look in the audience.

Primm leaned over and whispered in his ear, "That's right, we've just painted a target on our backs. No one believes we're the best team, and no one is going to accept it.

You're our Team Leader; how do you think all of these people feel about you?" Primm giggled a little.

"I guess the only choice you have is to work with us and crush your enemies and subjugate System Maker Academy. You think you're pretty amazing. Prove it!" Primm leaned back and continued to smile and wave.

Rem's blank look gave way as a fire erupted from his eyes, and a feeling of steel settled into his gut.

"I'm going to crush everyone here and prove we're the best at the System Maker Academy.

If that isn't enough for you to know your place, then I'll crush everyone else who thinks they're better from any academy!" Rem spoke quietly, but his words spread through the hall explosively.

"I'm Rem Meag, the Monster Emperor!"