[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/cd83dc89-6413-49cc-9e8d-a9fba609a17b.png [/img][/center][right][sub][@Hero] [@Scribe of Thoth] [@Obscene Symphony][/sub][/right]
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[color=63a2e4]“De-fi-ni-te-ly.”[/color]The word slipped out Kellen’s mouth like molasses and his head bobbed up and down nearly as slow as silence claimed the table once more. Derec seemed quite kind and not at all pretentious, which set Kellen at ease. He noted that the boy had avoided his prior question, though whether it was the fault of Kellen’s meek delivery or an active attempt to evade he couldn’t tell. If the latter was true, it was fair enough, Kellen thought. He could hardly say his own name without getting chills and spiralling into disarray. He’d leave it be. 

He couldn’t help himself from turning rapidly and wincing as he heard his formal title announced by his approaching House Leader. The fact Auberon was in a position of authority naturally put Kellen on edge, but worse than that was how well he fit into the role. He did his best to reciprocate the nod, the look of barely-contained panic on his face melting away a few seconds too late. He felt a pang of guilt as Auberon mentioned his classmates’ elusiveness, but chose to look up at the ceiling rather than offer any commentary. It seemed as though Auberon wasn’t going to press him on his appearance and retreat at the cathedral, at least in front of everyone. Maybe something was wrong? The blond was raising his fork incredibly sluggishly, perhaps he was more affected by his classmates’ slipperiness than he let on. Kellen's hope to extract himself and spend the evening in his dorm was dwindling quickly, though he remained standing with the unrealistic hope that someone might dismiss him. 

That tension returned in short order as Lienna fired a retort to Auberon to explain her elusiveness. Of course she had been put in a common dorm, Kellen thought, but he knew better than to say anything. While he couldn’t see her face from where he stood, he could see the way she tore off a piece of desert and infer the look in her eyes based on that. He still didn’t have a great read of the girl, but it was clear she wouldn’t need to learn how to throw a conversational dagger while maintaining an air of decorum. It was something his sister had been good at too. Thankfully, Derec interjected to try and break the tension. [color=63a2e4]“It is, ah, nice.”[/color] He winced as he heard a plate slam down on a table a few seats down from him. [color=63a2e4]“Loud, though.”[/color] The faint smile on his face faded as Derec mentioned the sermon. His mouth started to move before his mind could catch up. [color=63a2e4]“It was really, um, illuminating. When the Archbishop spoke about-“[/color]

Lienna’s instruction to sit came at the perfect time, even if it came across as less of a kindness and more of an expression of frustration.  He pulled back a chair, throwing his jacket over the back and placing the empty plate back in front of him. Somewhere along the way it appeared he had lost a fork. For half a moment, he thought he spotted it with Lienna’s place setting but the fork there was still clean.  He looked back up to the group after Lienna finished her question.  [color=63a2e4]“I am, too. Curious, I mean.”[/color] His sister had told the odd story about her time as House Leader, but from what little he recalled, back then there had been no special international unit. Nor had he listened enough to gleam many details. [color=63a2e4]”And did he mention when er, physical training might start?”[/color] This was a more important question. With any luck, the first few days of classes might be more orientation-oriented and keep him away from the training grounds.