Conmmencement Speech (Dice Changers)

"And now for this year's commencement speech. Mr. Joemac," said the high school's principal. Mr. Joemac took the podium, breathed deeply, and started his speech. However, as he was getting ready, Nick and Arron looked amazed. They hadn't seen the man since they took down the cult almost 3 years ago.

"Thank you all for inviting me here. It is quite an honor to be this year's commencement speaker for the class of 2017. Now I know for some of you, you have pushed far beyond what you thought you could. For some, you brushed past this and thought it was easy. For some, you have developed into whole new people, going through arcs, and have become better or worse for it. Finally, for some, you have stayed stagnant and unchanged. Some of you have fought legions of demons, while others had duels, and then some never fought at all, which probably means you're a slave to them. Now, for those who are slaves, wake up. Know that you are strong enough to fight back. Find the truth and use it. Don't just accept defeat, don't accept being a hopeless cause, because you are not. There are people here who have slain monsters and demons, ask for their help. Ask how they started. Ask how they fought back. Ask why they keep fighting. Then once you've gained the courage. Train. Train hard and long, and whatever you do, DON'T UNDERESTIMATE the enemy. Don't give up when they fight back, don't stop when it looks like they're winning. Don't stop when things don't go as planned. Adapt and win. This also applies to those who have fought armies, as well as those who have engaged in duels. For you, keep fighting, keep pushing. You are the strong ones, the resilient ones. Take it one battle at a time, for it is the small victories that win wars. Now, for those who are in duels, the demons you face are the strongest of their kind. They use your desires against you. You don't need to kill to win. You need to just keep walking, keep living. Find their weaknesses and exploit them. Now you might be wondering what is the point of all this. Why talk about demons and monsters? To answer, because I've been through it. I know what it's like to be a slave to them. As I am a former cult member. I was told lies about salvation. I know what it's like to 1v1 as I struggled with lust and pride for years. I know how to feels to fight an army because I have to kill intrusive thoughts every day, and with that, I thank you all for your ears and patience."

The audience clapped and cheered as Mr. Joemac left the podium. Nick clapped as loudly as he could, even cheering. Arron was less enthusiastic. Throughout the speech, he kept remembering that time when he and Nick stormed into the cult compound and had to fight their way up. He remembered how it was the first time he and Goldleaf had their first heated arguments. The first time, everyone was pushed both physically and mentally. The first time, the Dice Changers nearly died and got caught by police. Yet the worst was to come as the cult dispersed, some joined the Dice Changes, others left faith altogether, while some tried to hold on to the lies. Another result of the fallout was that the Dice Changers had half of their members leave the group, and they decided they didn't want to die. They were too afraid. Arron then laughed at himself. "He doesn't know anything about the fallout. Anything about the sex traffickers, the sirens, the demon, or Zaris. Yet it's as if he were there with us. How does he know our story? Yes, he spoke vaguely, but it doesn't make any sense." Arron tried to shrug off the thoughts and had to get ready to walk the stage. Then, once he was on stage, received his diploma, and walked off, he felt proud of himself, as if the last four years had been a war and he had won.

For Nick, though, he remembered the time when he and Sherren first met, then how they trained, how Nick had to give up swimming to continue training, and fully commit to the Dice Changers. He remembered the cultists, the sex traffickers, the sirens, the demon, and even Zaris. All those villains pushed him and Sherren to levels of power that neither of them thought were possible. The fights, the strategies, the path to victory. All those memories replayed in his mind. The feeling that he made a difference and left his mark. He never felt prouder of himself than in this moment.

Then, as Nick received his diploma, he was excited. He held it like a trophy. When Arron looked at Nick's smile, he remembered the time when Nick was possessed, and Arron hesitated, leading to Jack's death. Only to banish Nick to a void plane shortly after. Then months later, a portal appeared near the place Nick was banished, and he came with Zaris and her pupils. The Dice Changers won, and it was the last fight they had. To Arron, this moment was bittersweet as Jack should've been allowed to walk the same stage as Nick and him, if only his cowardice hadn't gotten in the way.

Then, the caps were thrown, and families embraced each other. Arron and Nick's families found them and took pictures. For Arron, as his girlfriend Mia came to them, she hugged him tightly. More memories floated upward. From the sex traffickers and having to rescue dozens of victims, to seeing her get her own dice set and becoming one of the Dice Changers, to her getting used as bait by the sirens. Arron reflected on the romance, the highs and lows. The growth, not just as people, but as a couple. The speech reminded him of why he kept going: His friends and family.

For Nick, his parents hugged him tightly, too. His parents guided him and allowed him to quit swimming even though they loved seeing him swim. They were scared when he and the Dice Changers charged the cult building. They were terrified when he fought the sex traffickers; they were worried when he fought the sirens, and saddened when he was possessed by the demon and had to be banished. Yet throughout all of that, they were proud of what Nick had done for his community. They were always relieved when he was finally home after fighting the bad guys. They were proud that Nick tried to balance being a student, an athlete, and a hero. They pushed Nick to be a better person, a better hero. They loved him more than anything and sacrificed so much. More than Nick could ever have imagined. Sure, they were confused at first when Nick could become a half-orc with just a metal dice set, but over time, they accepted Sherren as family. The speech reminded Nick of the progress he had made, and as the cliché saying always goes, "the friends made along the way", but most importantly, to cherish the victories and to be grateful for the opportunities given to him.

They went to their respective homes and celebrated for the rest of the night.