Lyren now seemed to have understood something and that was that it was already a few minutes to supper and he could not be late. They had wasted much time looking for the factions with Julian and he had spent some more in the faction. The sun was already sinking in the distant mountains already and it appeared that it was at this time that meals were served.
Even if he was early, it would not hurt to wait. He quickly left Maya and dashed away and followed the way to the dining hall. He stood at the top of the stairs that led to the entrance and as he had expected, he was early. He sat at the first step and feel in deep thoughts not aware that there was someone seated next to him.
It appeared that it was true that once bitten, twice shy because it was none other than Julian. Julian seemed to have arrived earlier and made the same decision as Lyren. He too had noticed that there was someone seated next to him.
They yawned simultaneously as they looked at the closed doors once and then leaned their chins on their knees, and closing their eyes. It felt like forever before the doors opened again and the sun had just set. It was dusk now and their faces lit up when they saw the doors open. They could have dashed inside but they showed restraint and waited for a while before standing up.
They stretched and their hands entangled which made them aware of each other's presence. They turned their necks and self-deprecating chuckles left them. They knew what only they knew and that was sleeping hungry. Ever since they awakened, their appetite had had a surge and normal food no longer supplemented their hunger.
Their bodies were young and in need of constant energy due to their high metabolism. It would be very weird if they were not dying of hunger the moment, they woke up having eaten probably breakfast or a day before supper. It was like a rapport had been created and they took a step down the stairs and headed towards the dining hall where they took seat at the far end corner.
It was with careful observation that they realized that food had already been served so there was no time wastage making lines for food or overworking other students to serve them. Their only task was to eat and leave the plates on the table. They sat on the opposite side to each other and their mouths watered.
The meal was a hundred times better than what they had eaten for lunch. It was made form dough almost like buns but it was definitely not. There were rice balls and a brown thick stew with green cereals. What caught their eyes more though was that there was meat this time and carried almost thirty percent of food on the plate.
There was a glass of wat appeared to be a transparent drink next to the plate. Then, wooden spoons were placed on the table upside down. There was another small plate that appeared to have salt on it and other red substance that was most likely pepper. The food was steaming and its aroma quickly turned on their hunger as they were quick to dive into the food.
They ate fast but it appeared that they couldn't eat as first. He food required more chewing and the meet was even more so. Still, there was no denying the sweetness the food carried. It made swallowing feel like a crime. The food was quick to replenish and every mouthful swallowed called on for another.
Lyren looked at the white plate and used his spoon to scoop some pepper and he mixed it with the stew and stirred. The pepper in the steam choked on his throat but he could not wait to take a bite and when he did, the food was so different and the unique sweetness that came from pepper made hi eyes tear up as he coughed forcing the food down his throat before drinking the drink in the glass and it was not water.
It was like it was soda of sort but it was mainly water. Lyren's eyes turned red and his face was sweaty but he could not wait to take another bite and he was accustomed in not time. Julian was about to follow but when he saw the reaction, he quickly discarded the thought immediately and continued to eat his unspoiled food.
Lyren lifted his head and looked up above Julian and his face turned serious. He placed his spoon back and Julian stopped eating when he saw this and he put his spoon back and he could feel coldness on his back. He shivered as he turned his neck slowly and it was then he saw that many of the tables had been occupied and someone was already sitting next to him and to Lyren.
Behind him were two seniors who were looking down at them with amused expressions. They were taller and over six foot. They were slightly robust and apart from their amused expression, they seemed to carry an air of no nonsense with them. Many people were looking at this section of the dining hall and some had pity.
The two guys were in the ninth stage and everyone on this table was in the ninth stage. The majority of them wore stone faces and glared at Lyren and Julian. They had not even taken a bite of their food yet because they had to see these two ignorant first years be shown their place.
"I never thought that it would happen today also. These kids just don't seem to learn," one of the guys spoke and it was certain now that he was above twenty years of age and this explained why he was not in the rankings.
"How do we deal with them. It appears that they are A grades," the other guy said and the rest at the table chuckled.
"The mayor's son thought that this was his backyard and he dared to be arrogant. Now what do we do to these two?" The first guy asked.
Alvin just happened to walk through the entrance and he looked at this direction and he felt fear overwhelm his as memories of the last night invaded him. He could not help but wonder who it was this time but he could not be more overjoyed when he saw it was Lyren and Julian. Fate was going to do justice for him.
Lyren could not read their cultivation at all and he realized that he was in a pinch. He could fight eighth stages but not ninth stage. These people might have been in the ninth stage for a long time that he could not dare to offend them. Still, he did not want to bow.
"Honorable seniors, we are sorry for our ignorance. Please give us a chance to clear the table for you," Julian spoke first and the two seniors just chuckled when they heard this. Lyren felt his jaw dropping because Julian was already wagging his tail.
"I don't see any name written on this chair. I don't think that you have any rights to kick us out," Lyren spoke and it was Julian's turn for his jaw to drop. They were screwed.
---
It was a comical scene to see two boys being carried by their collars. They wore dumb expressions and their feet could not touch the ground so they were folded in squatting position. They were defeated but they had refused to leave their food behind and they held their plates tightly.
They were walked out and then thrown away as though they were trash and fell on their butts but somehow, not even a drop of stew fell from their plates. Their mouths were stuffed and they could only seat on the stairs step and continued to enjoy their meal.
"It was actually getting hotter in there. Thank god we have been taken outside," Julian said and Lyren nodded. Lyren reached out for a drink only to realize that they had left it inside. He walked in and out under the scrutiny of the crowd and came out with the glasses.
Julian coughed and reluctantly accepted his glass. Just who was Lyren?