Anaphol's gaze following the massively gigantic stairs had a question in them. So he asked.
"I don't believe they are scales. More like carved in. They are not truly scales, right?"
There was a problem. Audience accompanying him did not want to answer him and none of them were like Duchess Inri Plora.
Lady Izne instead offered, "That will be part of your one week curriculum here. You can ask then." Tapping the same paper she had handed him that was still in Anaphol's hands, "Writing that down will be a good idea."
It wasn't long until the carriage descended towards a gate with walls high enough that Anaphol compared them to the tallest caestre kill he had ever made. 'Got to be above half a kilometre.' His neck craned trying to see the top.
The gates were wide open with the tiny carriage passing through it without any fanfare. Yet, despite it all, in the expansive entrance pathway and surrounding lawns there were only three children waiting to receive the passengers of the said carriage.
A carriage of the royal family with a guest of the empire was to be received by simply 3 people. It would seem odd or even insulting to many of the nations, kingdoms and colonial offshoots of the empire from Regda.
Three students dressed in the seasonal uniform of the academy bowed to the arrival of the carriage as it stopped. The door on Lady Izne's side opened as well as the servant's.
The servant stepped out first to assist Lady Izne to alight from the carriage.
After her, the servant only directed Anaphol to step out. He didn't show disrespect and Naph did not witness any.
"May Rimtral and the Keyriftrian Empire ever have your blessing!" all three children echoed, bowing to Lady Izne. Their voices flowing over the neatly trimmed and maintained green lawns, the trees far but not too far, hitting the walls and the hall behind them ever so softly only to be absorbed into the very air of Aergylden.
"May Rian no Tera bless your hopes." Lady Izne answered.
Anaphol stepping forth only considered what to answer but he did not know that the welcoming words were just for Lady Izne and her alone.
"Uh, May The One who Walked be with you." His voice nearly dropped to a whisper. Naph did not completely believe in Him. He only liked the myths he had heard of, having never read them.
All three raised their heads. With a smile that captured their nature, all three gave a respectful nod to Anaphol.
The servant in the meantime had taken out the suitcase from within. Lady Izne simply stated.
"This is where we part ways Anaphol. The Emperor," her eyes retained a certain gleam to it, one Naph had seen in a past he suppresses, "wishes you best."
Before he could respond, Lady Izne, the servant, the driver and the vehicle vanished. No sound, no fading imagery. A simple vanishment so abrupt air only responded with a thunder crack subdued by unknown method.
Stepping forward, the boy with blue rimmed iris extended his right hand, "Hi, I am Vance Verticia. Son of Baronet Oliver Verticia."
Turning to him, Anaphol simply nodded not taking his offered handshake. Vance stepped onward and grabbed the suitcase's handle instead.
'Can't. Cannot let them see us being-' Vance thought was cut by his sister while he lifted it.
"Adopted son." Pointing to herself, "I am Neva Verticia. Baronet Oliver Verticia's adopted daughter and this," her left thumb indicating to the other boy, "is Dren Verticia, also adopted son of Baronet Oliver Verticia."
Dren had his lips parted on path to speak but Neva spoke faster. "We are the stand-ins as your host in the Keyriftrian Empire."
Nodding, Anaphol felt a mental itch to grab his chin, but didn't. "Baronet Oliver?" Racking his brain, he looked down at the piece of paper he had, noticed something.
A statement was being etched in real time.
"Baronet Oliver Verticia offered his children as escorts during the Grand Hall discussion but has been promoted to be stand-in hosts. Treat them well, Naph, for your proposal. –Inri."
Crumpling the note and putting it into his jacket's pocket, Naph grabbed Vance from both his shoulders. "I am starving! How about we do a redo of introductions as we have.." He looked up into the sky for the sun.
"Breakfast." Dren offered.
Before they knew it, they were sitting in one of the eight mess halls of the Sanctuary. Already mid course gulping and inhaling their varied breakfast.
Vance spoke after swallowing, "So, let me get this straight Naph, you don't have a surname or a last name?"
"That's right." Naph chewed on a sandwich. "By the way, what's a Baronet? I have heard of Baron," he spun his left hand, "in Tarna."
Neva dragging a plate of dessert she had earlier put aside, "Let's focus on your lesios. We can talk about the rest in between classes. The classes for today are about to start in half an hour."
Placing his left hand down on the immaculate polished silver table, "The only thing I know for now is Perspicuity's Ember." Tapping his forefinger on the surface, "How about I learn that first and then anything else?"
All four at the same time bit into their food of choosing. After less than a minute of silence, it was Dren who spoke. "No. Your proposal needs you to learn the selected lesios and then anything else. And only if you do learn," he pointed his spoon, "that will your proposal be considered."
Naph took in Dren's words but then he shifted his left hand up letting his elbow rest on the table while his chin rested on the back of his hand. "What's your age again?"
Dren confused as the child he is, "10?"
"And you are taught in or about royalty?"
"Ah-!" Dren just said but Neva answered too.
"Dad sent a detailed letter." She gulped down the sweet.
A ringing ran across the mess halls of the Sanctuary aspiring Proficiency and Wisdom.
Vance stood up picking up his plates and into the tray he had brought them on. "That's the bell to let the students know to get ready." Looking at Anaphol, "We need to get you in uniform. Fast!"
"Ready for what?"
"School." Neva offered.