Taking a seat at the grandiose school cafeteria I noticed that a few faces were staring at our table and seemingly discussing something.
The cafeteria was…huge the entire thing looked like it came from a king's dining room. It had a gigantic chandelier with thousands of small crystals decorating it, the walls were decorated with large red tarps embodied with golden symbols and straight lines from the roof to the floor. The floor was made from expensive looking marble and the chairs were royal looking with rectangular tables .Our table was close to a window that was showing a small pond with a bridge on it a few chairs were around the pond and a lot of exotic and rare flowers were spread decoratively around it.
The group we formed was the usual. Me Shiki Nassi Kaori and Haruka with the new addition Yuna-san that reluctantly accepted my invitation to lunch once we met with here near the entrance.
With the usual fooling around Shiki was hitting on her only to be disappointed by her lack of response.
She then looked at me but still turned around hastily as if trying to avoid my gaze.
We were served by the school staff a grandiose delicacy of roasted boar meat with a wicked sauce on the side…the taste was heavenly as I have never tasted something like this before. Even though Master Greetman was a good cook eating something like this was a rare occasion that deserved to be cherished.
I asked Shiki about something that was bothering
"So about that girl?"
He answered with some food still in his mouth
"You see…that is Vessma Stronghold she is the daughter and heir of a noble house of the molten lands."
"Well that I already know from our interaction earlier but what was that all about?"
"Emm…what can I say she is a bit hot headed heheh"
"…not very convincing" I replied then added. "By the way why did she address Zeles with adding –Sama? Isn't she the school council president? Shouldn't she be stronger than him?"
"…You are asking the wrong question here Asura-san san" Kaori interrupted then said
"It is true that the school elects the strongest five to be the council president members but even if she is already strong that doesn't mean that her standings on the real world reflect her position here in school."
Nassi then said
"In general Alsa is a country that is unlike the other three. It is not ruled by a king but by clans that work in the interest of people. Yet before the clan system was elated this country did have a king but after he fell noble houses scattered and the clans took the ruling of this land. However some houses are still holding on to their nobility and they still have power within the council and they too are able to partake and contribute in laying new laws."
He took a breath then said.
"While it is true that Vessma is a member of a noble house so is Zeles. He is also the heir of the House of Vind they're a noble house with a higher statue than the stronghold house…the House of Vind is the same one that the principle Kazehara comes from she is in fact his aunt. And this is the reason why he is called Sama even if he is lower in status than her in school."
I said
"Hmm…well that does answer some questions…but what is the difference between heir of a noble house and heir of a clan why did the clan even get to hold position in the capital and control the country because even if the former king lost his position, normally a noble house with a close relationship to the royal family will claim ownership of the lands…but the clans were able to claim the country this is something I don't know how it even happened."
Nassi then said with a smirk on his face.
"Power. The clans came into picture and took over because they had power far beyond the nobles and even more they came and held the country together. The strife and the civil war that almost broke because of the nobles were trying to claim the throne for themselves. Their arrival brought prosperity and stability so the people accepted them and they drove off the nobles. The rest of the nobles were perplexed most joint the clans but some retreated to their personal cities and held lordship over them. The clans did not peruse and let them have their own lands but only if they were to follow orders and help to stabilize the country."
He again stopped to take another breath and said.
"As for the heirs of the clans they're chosen based on their power. Because a clan head may have more than one child he can make them when they grow to a certain age prove their worth and challenge each other for the right to lead the clan. The next generation however will consist of a branch and a main family. But that will not disable the branch family from claiming the seat to become then next heir if their child is stronger than the main family. So the heir will always be the strongest and not like for the nobles when the heir is always the first born."
The discussion about this soon ended and I immersed myself in eating the delicacies in front of me.
Shiki and Nassi started arguing about some random things while Kaori played the non-caring card. Although once in a while I saw here laugh at something Shiki said that turned Nassi red till his ears. Haruka was trying to calm them down. I started feeling out of place…I mean I know these guys and they are good guys…but still I haven't made my place. I think that when I looked at Yuna-san's face again she had the same look as me…she felt detached I believe that this was the reason she hesitated before accepting my invitation for lunch.
Eating my portion rapidly I stood up wanting to leave. As this day was school free day I needed to go back and visit the city I really needed to take a good look at the capital as the tournament is only 4 days away now. Slipping away from the table I left the guys. But before I could turn back I was surprised to see Yuna-san at my side. She must have felt that it would be even more awkward if she was left there alone even though I was the one who invited here…what an idiot I am.
Trying to atone for my sin I nonchalantly asked her
"Hey do you have time to visit the capital? I am quite new here and I need someone to show me around the city. So if you have time?"
She seemed to have been shocked…I believe that she wasn't expecting me to ask her out thus she blushed a bit and quietly said.
"Sure"
I was ready for a rejection but when she agreed I mentally screamed in joy.
"Then I'll meet you at the school gate in two hours."
She bashfully answered
"Okay"
We separated once we reached the dormitory. I needed to be presentable so I took a shower and put on some of my old cloths…I mean who would want to go to his first day smelling of sweat and pork after sparring all day and having that feast.