Pentoria

4. Rumors

Chapter 4

Rumors

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 Judging from the occupied rooms that he'd seen, Stade guessed that the number of the recruits was around a hundred or less. Moments later, as they walked in the Assembly Room, he found that he was right.

 The cafeteria was buzzing with activity and chatter, filled with young people and kids. Looking around, Stade expected there to be a few older people who he supposed were to be the leaders. But not an adult was in sight. Fascinated, Stade saw that they were all teenagers or younger serving themselves breakfast and talking loudly to each other. He was then humored to imagine that the same age of people who kept the peace, led activities, and do the important errands were the same age of people who messed around, start fights, and basically wreck the place.

 The place, the Assembly Room as Furro called it, isn't really a room when it comes to size. It was more like a grand hall—like one inside a palace.

 Furro tapped Stade on the shoulder and pointed at something across the room.

 "Recognize that?" He said with a grin.

 At the far end of the hall hung an enormous flag. The flag had the same star shaped symbol that was identical to the one on the cover of the Princess' book though this one was a lot bigger. Stade looked at it entranced, restudying the design. The five rays of the star, he now realized, actually symbolized the five clans. A golden center, which seemed the most beautiful part of the emblem, held the rays together, forming the star shape.

 Stade stared at it again trying to figure out if it was supposed to mean something other than what was obvious. But before he had the chance to figure it out, Furro urged him on to the center of the room and Stade's focus was drawn to the long table just below the flag. On it were plates and bowls filled with different kinds of food—rice, meat dishes, veggies, and fruit. Although the dishes were simply prepared (most of them looked strange to Stade), he was hungry and they all smelled great.

 The rest of the room was crammed with five other tables: four long ones positioned around the fifth table which was the longest.

 "The five tables," Furro explained as they walked to the buffet, "were originally arranged to sit the Rebels according to their clan."

 "You mean there are people here from the other clans?" Stade asked in amazement, "not just from the Clan of Nature?"

 "Yep, people from the Clan of Nature were supposed to be seated there, people from the Clan of Trade there and—"

 "Wait, wait. Supposed?" interrupted Stade.

 "Yeah, but we started sitting in random tables after the weirdoes arrrived."

 "Who?"

 "We call them the weirdoes because, well...because they are. They said they came from another place far away. They didn't belong to any of the clans so they just sat at any table they wished. Soon, everyone followed their example. Of course, we didn't trust them at first but eventually, we were convinced that they were good guys."

 After Stade and Furro had filled their bowls with food, they sat down on two empty seats at one of the long tables.

 "How did you guys manage to prepare this food?" asked Stade.

 "Hmm-hmm?" Furro said with his mouth full.

 "I said," Stade repeated, "How did you guys manage to prepare this food? It's delicious!"

 Furro swallowed, "Oh, right. We plant vegetables in gardens outside."

 "...But for people who love meat, like me...we help with the hunting!" Said the guy seated in front of Furro who obviously had been listening to their conversation.