Keiran gestured for us to take a seat and keep our eyes forward. Everyone, including his teachers, sat down. He remained standing to address the crowd.

His image was as sophisticated and stylish in his navy gentleman suit as the first day I had seen him at the Doll Shop. I glanced to Alina and noticed her paying particular attention to his words. My attention wandered around to other girls at our table and saw similar expressions. It seems Keiran had some fans.

"Welcome back students for those who are with us for another year. I would also like to welcome new students to the fold." Keiran smoothly welcomed the ma.s.ses with his hands and voice that had some of the girls gus.h.i.+ng.

I mean yeah the old geezer was good looking, but he paled in comparison with Leinard. My heart fluttered at the thought of my colonel. I shook off the thought and returned my focus to Keiran's address.

"Before we commence with lunch, some house-keeping matters to go over."

My mind began to wander and eyes droop with boredom as he waffled on about grounds, barriers and rules of staying within grounds until permitted otherwise. It seemed all the students were confined to a dormitory within the grounds somewhere. His hands talked about soap waste and other stuff that didn't interest me.

"Now, for new students. About your houses."

I yawned and copped an elbow jab from Death to pay attention.

Keiran explained what each banner meant, which was pretty much self explanatory. The tables we sat at were the primary magic skill we held strong apt.i.tude towards and were learning with the aim of being a specialist in that skill. However, everyone was required to learn cakra magic when they reached their senior years before graduating from a Page (the rank of all students) to a Knight-Ensign rank and becoming part of a working squad.

He turned to face the banners and waved his hands back and forth before them. Silver numbers sparkled beneath the animal symbols.

"Sixty Nine?" I signed, finding that number oddly funny.

It seemed some of the other boys on the table did too with their momentary chuckles.

We learned that these were 'house point numbers' that were awarded to students whenever they displayed ethical and good behaviour or when they achieved a winning result in sport matches. The house that received the most points were awarded a huge celebration in town and dorm privileges that seemed a big kind of win. It definitely got a lot of my peers buzzing with excitement.

"Settle down." Keiran firmly brought order back to the crowd.

He added a bit more boring house keeping pointers before saying some golden words.

"Without further ado, enjoy your lunch everyone."

On cue, a number of animachines entered the hall, wheeling in trays of steaming and delicious smelling food.

My eyes lit up with delight at the tray placed before me of savoury mashed potatoes, steam vegetables, stewed fruit and ice cream! I clapped my hands in a thankful prayer at the plate of ganmodoki piled high before my eyes. They were fat sized patties too.

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"Buddha, thank you for the meal. Let's eat." I gave my thanks in thought and tucked in.

Death and War laughed at my unrefined eating as I shoved greedy portions into my mouth with speed. While I was too focused on eating, everyone else was gathering intelligence of their new house mates and school life.

War drew my mind to some gossip that was being obviously spoken at the top of our table. They were from older boys about our age and carried lightening badges to their blazers, additional to the order's star emblem.

"Seniors." War said in my mind, having learned that fact from another.

He slowed his breathing and relaxed his mental state, so he could open his mind to me. We both picked out our food as we listened, pretending not to have noticed.

"Yeah. Don't know about those brothers. I heard they were from Gat s.h.i.+em. That stunt they pulled at Academy Lane is suspicious," one boy said.

"I get yah, Dean. If they can do that power, what they even doing here? Something strange about them." The other boy whispered low.

"Hang on. You sure that black hair one's a guy? Pretty like a girl." Another voice entered the conversation.

I tensed with anger at having my manhood question. War tapped my leg with warning. We continued to eat.

"Yeah, but the pretty ones are the sneakiest. Aren't you stupidly besotted by your Mimi-chan that you'd do anything for that tart? Bet that one's no stranger to whoring."

The boys argued, chuckled and moved their conversation to other stupid topics.

War closed off his mind and gave me a wry look.

"It's okay. That doesn't bother me," I said in thought.

War patted my back and dumped a heap of untouched tofu patties to my plate. My brothers were the best.

I shoved the food down and leaned back, patting my satisfied belly. Ryuu caught my back before I fell off the bench. I nodded my thanks.

He gave us instructions for our next cla.s.s and returned to his spot at the teachers table. I felt the school bell ringing, which stirred all of us up and out of our seats.