"I'm sorry about the guards. They are more lenient to other people's guests in the family, but I guess I haven't reached that level just yet," Tenn said while apologizing to the two.
"It's fine. My family's guards aren't so different either. Although I do have a bit more authority than you I suppose," Kaleb said.
"I'm truly sorry," Tenn continued apologizing.
"If your uncle had vouched for us, wouldn't that have worked?" Ning asked. "Or does he have even less influence than you?"
"Huh? My uncle has no influence in the family," Tenn said. "Why would he?"
Ning was taken back for a second. "Wait, is he not a part of the family?" he asked.
"What? Oh, no. He is my uncle on my mother's side. My father's side only has aunts and they are already married," Tenn explained.
"Ah, I see," Ning finally realized. "Was that why he had to use that token to get in."
"Yes," Tenn said. "He has free entry in and out of the family, but nothing more than that."
"I see," Ning said.
Tenn's uncle had already moved on ahead and was acting as if he wasn't hearing any of their conversation.
Ning and the rest continued walking as well and only then realized how big this place was.
Calling this place a separate city for the elites wouldn't be an exaggeration at all. There were roads inside with multiple buildings that had restaurants and general stores and what not on either side.
There were normal mansions inside the family ground that had their own walls around it. Ning was truly stunned to see it all as he had never seen something like this at all.
"That's my house," Tenn pointed to a 3 story tall mansion that was lit iwth light from the inside and outside, and had people at the gate guarding it.
The mansion was fully white in color, either by choice, or because they were forced to have white walls due to the name of the region.
Now that Ning was noticing it, he was realizing that most of the buildings inside had completely white walls.
The guards bowed and the gates opened.
The group of four entered the mansion, and Ning immediately started looking around at the designs of the building inside.
This was his first time seeing an extravagant mansion in this world. The only other one that could count was the Paradise Hunters' hideout back in Grayfire city, and that was the house of a very small noble.
Compared to that, this place was no different than a palace.
"You see surprised," Kaleb said. "Is your house not like this?"
"Like this?" Ning chuckled. "Compared to this, my house is very simple."
"Oh," Kaleb gave a surprised look. "Right, you're from a small noble family, aren't you?"
Ning couldn't help but chuckle at the remark. He had been talking about his own house back on Earth that, while amazing, couldn't compare to this place. Although that house was built to look simple, so maybe it didn't count.
"By the way, are you two hungry?" Tenn asked. "I'll ask the servants to prepare something for you."
"No, that's alright," Ning said. "I already ate too much on the way to the city and then back there."
"Yeah, I'm full too," Kaleb said. "I'm sad I didn't get to go around much in the end. That was what I came here for in the first place."
"I'm sorry about that," Ning said. "That was my fault."
"I will have the servants prepare a room for you," Tenn said. "Let's relax a bit for now."
The Uncle had already walked away somewhere, leaving the three behind. Tenn brought the two to the living room, only to find his uncle and his parents waiting for him.
The room was lit with warm yellow light, with three people sitting on fancy couches. Tenn's uncle sat to the side, sipping a cup of something.
The middle aged couple that were Tenn's parents were sitting in the middle. The woman was knitting some clothes while the man was reading a book.
The middle aged woman had pitch black hair tied in a bun and wearing floral pink gown that seemed to be made through knitting as well.
The woman looked up and saw the three walk in. Her eyes shined with excitement as she immediately stood up.
"My son! Come here," she excitedly spoke the moment Tenn entered.
She hugged him tightly without any warning, and squealed like a 13 year old girl seeing her favorite celebrity. "I saw your matches yesterday and today. You were so cool," she shouted. "I heard you were out celebrating your team's victory with your friends. You should have stayed out longer."
Tenn side-eyed his uncle who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Yes, yes, mother," Tenn said before prying his mother's arms away. "Sorry I was a little late."
"No, no, don't be sorry," his mother said. "Hmm, are these your friends?"
"Yes," Tenn said. "This is Kaleb, and this is brother Ning. They are both in the same year as me."
"Oh," the woman walked up to the two and smiled. "Thank you for being friends with my son."
"No, no, you don't need to thank us for that," Ning quickly said.
"Yeah, miss. Being friends with Tenn is not a very big deal," Kaleb said.
"Is that so?" the woman said. "Please, come sit. You guys must be tired after today."
"It was only Tenn who fought. Our competitions ended a few days ago already," Kaleb answered
The middle aged man that sat in the center finally put down the book he had been reading and looked at his son. "I saw your matches. They were quite good," he said.
Tenn smiled slightly. "Thank you, father," he said.
"Continue at this rate and you'll achieve big," the man said and went back to reading his book.
Tenn smiled slightly and shrugged at his friends.
"Come on, you three. Sit," the woman said. "I have so many things I want to ask you guys."
