252 Graduation Nigh (1/2)
”Hey,” Zaksus looked over and said to me as the boat started sailing up the Helliger River, making it so that the beautiful skyline of Nocsinis and Lumina began to slip by. ”How much do you think this ceremony costs?”
”I don't know,” I responded as I leaned against the railing, taking in the wonderful breeze atop the river.
”Where did they get all this money?” Zaksus wondered, frowning as he leaned forward a bit more, thrusting his face into the path of the wind.
”The ceremony will begin in a few more minutes,” Loyd walked up behind us and said. ”Should we go and grab seats?”
”Sure,” Irina smiled and said.
”Alevian,” Loyd looked over at me and said. ”You can take in the view later on. The boat will make a turn just before we make it out past Vanille and Mistelheim.”
”Let's go,” Alvelyn whispered to me, nudging me on my elbow.
Slowly, I retreated from the deck railing and started walking after the others as we made our way to the interior of the boat where the ceremony will be taking place in the specially designed theater area in the boat. At the far side of the theater was a large stage, and before the elevated theater was plenty of seats in neat rows that curved with the curvature of the theater. There was also an upper level to the auditorium with plenty of seating as well. The floor to this upper level was slanted, a design that ensured that each ensuing row of seats were taller than the previous ones so that everyone could see the stage.
The first few rows of seats nearest to the stage were reserved for graduating students, and the seats behind them were open to sit in for the attendees. However, it is an unspoken rule that the seats were left to parents or family, making it so that us students who weren't graduating and are simply here to congratulate graduating friends or seniors in our respective clubs filled in the back row seats and the upper level seats. When we entered, the ground floor seats were all taken, leaving only the upper floor seats available. So after taking a flight of stairs up to the upper level, we all sat down on the open seats at the front of the upper level where we can see the stage without any issues.
The theater soon filled up and the door closed, signalling the unofficial begin of the ceremony. However, it will still take a few more minutes for the ceremony to begin as there are still some minor preparations that must be finished first. As exactly what those preparations are though, I do not know the answer to that. In the meantime, the theater was filled with the chattering sounds of conversing and whispering, mostly originating from the audience down stairs. That went on for a while longer until the blinds on the large windows on either side of the theater folded up, revealing the beautiful city view of Palisia from the center of the wide Helliger River. Upon this reveal, the chattering ceased for a bit as people looked over to take in the view.
I leaned back in my seat, relaxing my entire body as I waited for the ceremony to begin. I turned my neck and observed everyone, taking in the look of excitement on Irina's face.
”You're excited,” I whispered to her.
”A little bit,” Irina smiled in an embarrassed manner as she answered. ”It's just that...this will be us next year.”
”And Zaksus still got two years,” Noah said in a mocking manner as he looked at Zaksus in a playing manner.
”God...” Zaksus sighed. ”I don't think I can last that long...”
”At least you got basketball to keep your mind off of school,” Noah said, suddenly transitioning into a state of depression. ”I don't have that luxury...”
”Oh,” Loyd suddenly sat up in his seat and looked over in our direction. ”Aren't some players on the basketball team graduating today?”
”Yeah,” Zaksus nodded. ”Our starting point guard, backup center, and some more important players on Varsity.”
”Would you all take a big hit from their loss?” Loyd asked.
”Yeah,” Zaksus sighed and smiled. ”They're all important players in our rotation...”
”Guess you'll have to step up next year,” Noah commented.