"Wait are you that admins younger sister?! What was his name again!"
"No,no." Shacking her head to add. "It's true we share a last name, but we ain't blood related."
Kazuki "huh?" Lia with a confused expression on his face.
Reiji sigh catching the attention of Lia and Kazuki.
"She's right Kazuki. After all Hien is just a clan name." He tries to continue, however the teacher interrupts him make a funny remark about him that it let's out a laugh in the room.
"Even though you interrupted the class by coming late and talking while am teaching. I will have to say your correct." The teacher puts down the chalk on his table. To proceed to sit on the table.
"However before you could know about Hien clan you should at least first know about the 6 great clans of our State."
Kazuki, Nero, Tamia and Faizan become interested.
"There are multiple clans in our state, however this 6 are the reason why our State is one of the strongest State when it comes to our financial standing, the military force and security. The technology and the level of intelligent our State is known for on the battlefield."
"All this things make the 6 great clans. Which are the Hien clan, Kōshin clan, Higuma clan, Shōshen clan and Uma clan."
"With all that said…" Pointing his finger at Kazuki. "…Are you still wondering how Lia share the same surname as Kaito, yet not related to him." Putting his finger down.
Kazuki nods in agreement.
"The simplest answer will be their are cousin's, however I would like to make you understand it better. Since you now know that the Hien clan is part of the 6 great clans. The question is what role it plays in our State?"
"That is being out security that protects our borders as well as the daimyo's. Because of that the Hien clan usually recruit young ninjas from the academy or other clans."
"Sensei if so that would mean that the Hien clan aren't made up of true bloods." Reiji speaks to the teacher.
"What's your name boy?"
"Reiji Kōshin sensai."
"Kōshin huh? Are you from the branch family or the…" Kazuki interrupts him.
"Am from the head of the clan."
"That is quite shocking. No matter, but to answer your question the Hien clan does have a true blood head. So for you to understand the Hien clan is the oldest clan in the SHINWA STATE."
"Because of this many of the true bloods were sent to wars leaving only 25% of the clan members."
Out of nowhere Nero raise his hand shocking both Tamia and Faizan.
"Yes." The teacher points at him noticing his hand up.
"Sensei what qualifies you to be a ninja of the Hien clan?"
The teacher slightly grins at hi to say. "There are two ways. One to have exceptional level of Sei or perform your best during the academy tournament. Third try make sure you get recognized in the annual Rank tournament."
"Now that is something y'all know about later. All in all boy sitting next to Kōshin-kun the reason why Lia is not related Kaito is because Kaito is a ninja from another clan."
The teacher comes down from the table picking up his chalk and tells the students time to get back to today's lesson.
***
The first day in the academy has finished and the two boys are famished by how much writing and reading they had to do.
Luckily they can now go home and eat.
"Kazuki-kun, Prince-kun hold up!" A sweet voice calling Kazuki from behind them. They both turn around and find it is Lia.
"Is she still calling me Prince." Kazuki looks at him and chuckles.
"Lia wanna walk home with us!?" Waving his hand at her while he gets closer.
"Really?" His eyes bewildered.
"Huh thanks for waiting." Catching her breath.
"Before I forget thank you for giving me you your food earlier Lia-san."
"No prob Kazuki-kun. A beautiful girl like me should always think about the less fortunate." Pushing back her short hair.
"You did that just to feel good about yourself!!" His expression looking like a men who just found out his going to be a father.
"So what beautiful people like me should always be happy." Her smile glowing her face.
"You are so full of yourself." Reiji covering his face from her glow.
"It doesn't matter Reiji, after all she at least was kind enough to give me food when I was hungry!"
"Wait. Why does it sound like it's my fault?" He rubs his head to say. "You know what let's just leave it."
"Anyway, what do you want from us Lia-san?"
"How many times have I told you to drop the formality. Just call me Lia okay and I just want to walk with you two."
Reiji agrees as all three of them walk away from the gate of the academy.
***
After several minutes the three are walking in the busy streets of the town district laughing at the joke Kazuki made.
"Hahaha. Speak of where do you stay Lia?" Reiji regaining his composure.
"Owwww Prince! You wanna visit me?"
"Don't kid yourself." Looking at her with a serious expression.
"Can't you take a joke?" Her face like a dissatisfied child. "Whatever, I stay in the ninja district. In one of those accomdation apartment."
"Isn't that far?"
"Na it's ten stores around the corner." Pointing to the direction ahead of her.
"Lia am curious why was sense calling you with your first name!?" Kazuki join the conversation.
"Oh! I forgot you guys arrived late." Kazuki chuckles inwardly feeling embarrassed that he arrived late on his first day in the academy.
Lia continues. "Before y'all came sensei was calling the learner's names in the class. And surprisingly out of 25 learner's 17 of them came from the Hien clan."
"What!?" Kazuki baffled.
"Does that mean they are true bloods or they come from different clans like you?" Reiji ask.
"Well… I don't know about them. As for me my people sold me off to the Hien clan in order for them to love a good life." Kazuki taps her shoulder seeing a gloom expression on her.
Lia looks up where she meets with a warm and pure smile coming from Kazuki. She thanks Kazuki regaining her calm.
"I don't understand didn't sensei say you can only be chosen to be a Hien clan member in two way?" Reiji ask.
"Shame he lied. Because, the Hien clan have multiple ways for a ninja to join their clan. Enough about me how bout y'all two tell me how y'all become friends."
The two of them look at each other before bursting out a laugh. After a few seconds they explain to Lia they became first partners during the entrance and after lived (and still live together) for a month where they got know each other.
Lia surprised by what they just said, as she thought people like Reiji would rather lazy up in their castle's giving orders than hang around common folk people like Kazuki.
Reiji smiles at her for the first time saying. "Am just different."
"Then tell me why you did you not attend the Kōshin academy when you're the Prince of the Region?"
"Rather not." With a glommy look on his face.
***
Time passes without anyone saying a word. They reach the corner where they are supposed to separate with Lia.
They all pause with the intention of saying goodbye for the day to each other. However, something clicks inside Lia's mind.
"Uh…wait you two. I have something to tell you."
"Ya what is it?" Their question overlap with each other.
"You remember when sensei said something about a tournament. Well during break I overheard the other teachers saying they plan on making it happen next year."
"And what does that have to do with us?"
"It's because am worried about a certain person."
"And who might that be?" Reiji ask once more.
"Nero. His this-"
Right as she is about to finish her sentence the two boys get all over her face shouting Nero's name.
"Do you perhaps know him?"
The two boys look at each other once more and explain to Lia what Nero did. Baffled to hear this she also explain what Nero did to Victus and his brothers.
Clenching his hand on his sword so tightly that could break a glass. His eyes burning with flames of anger and Kazuki says.
"I am really gonna make this guy apologize to everyone who his murdered."
"What is he talking about?" Her mind curious about this side of Kazuki.
"Me and Kazuki are planning on confronting Nero and his two buddies. And when we do we are going to kick their ass so hard they will apologize for everything they did."
"Well in that case be prepared cause I could sense that they are very strong."
A few seconds pass and Lia decided to leave waving the two boys goodbye. They do the same as they walk in the streets.
"Finally calm now?"
"A bit." Staring down on the smooth concrete ground. "Why didn't you tell Lia that Nero and his two friends are spies?"
"I didn't want to risk her informing the Hien clan leader before you kicked Nero's ass."
Kazuki smile grateful at him to add. "Then thanks."
"So tell me what do you plan on doing after hearing what Lia just said about Nero?"
"I first want to get strong then you know what!"
"Hahaha! I like that."
TBC.
Next Chapter: Prelude (8)