"Ha, the Rono clan truly does not know what shame is," Matti egged on, finally finding words. "Are you still pretending that this simple thing can hold a candle over our elk?"
He had taken time to observe the whole discussion, and from it, he had concluded that the whole competition was nothing more than a fuss. It reinforced his believe that these people were just trying to boost their prestige, a desperate way to save face.
"It's not about the mount, it's about the rider," this was Keita. For a moment, Matti turned and looked at Keita with deep disgust. How could such a weakling dare to talk to him?
While he could cordon this insignificant ant being used by others as a toy or for utility, by others, to have the nerve to address him! Much less taunt him, this was going too far.
Clearly, this idiot did not know his place. In fact, if he had not made the bicycle, he would have no place among the vasili elites.
This was an attitude that many vasilis had. While they made up the smallest percentage of the populace, they controlled most of the resources. In their eyes, they were superior to humans in every possible way. Matti couldn't bring himself to reply, however, his look said it all.
"What's the matter, are you afraid of losing to the thing, sorry, bicycle?" Chon asked, letting out a smile. That last part was addressed to Keita, hoping not to offend him by calling his creation a thing.
"Me? Lose to that? Is that even something conceivable?" Matti angrily retorted. With that, he turned around and left with a huff. His fellow sect members quickly following behind.
To him, taunting was for equals. That normie did not even deserve to have a voice. All this was understood by Keita. He could see that many of the vasilis, even his agemates, looked down on him.
However, he had somehow grown used to it, but never comfortable with it. He knew there was little he could do, for now.
Despite this interruption, the ball went on peaceably, and it was a fun evening.
"Keita, come quickly," One of Keita's cousins, Reina, called. By the time she was done talking, she had already grabbed Keita by the arms and was dragging him, not giving him a chance to refuse.
She was within earshot, and she had heard Matti's remarks. Luckily, she had been looking for an opportunity to get Keita's attention.
Cousin Reina was not much older than the twins. They had an amicable relationship, as she was the second daughter of the patriarch's first son. Unlike Abi, who was born with vasili abilities and suddenly became everyone's favorite, she was overlooked and often times abandoned.
Reina and Keita shared a similar fate in that they were not vasilis. On multiple occasions, they had been left behind while the vasilis got the first pick at resources and opportunities, and this brought the two together.
"Hey, where are we going?" Keita tried to protest, but she was having none of it.
"Just come, it's not like you loved being where you were," she retorted. They came to a group of youngsters. The difference between this group, or clique, compared to the other, was that there was not a single vasili among them.
"This is Miss Naya, a daughter of the Duke of Sigis. Lord Kassid is her brother," Reina explained as she introduced an elegant and regal looking girl.
However, as she turned, the composure seemed to melt away as she gazed into Keita's eyes. Talk about beauty, she had it in leaps and bounds. If Chon resembled a rose flower, Naya seemed to look like a lotus. There was much more about her that what was on the surface.
Not to mention, her eyes carried a certain look of maturity not common among girls her age. Keita was blown away as he looked at her.
"Keita, what an honor" she said. Right off the bat, she did not even address him as a lord, or sir.
"Miss Naya," Keita answered. She still outranked him in terms of status, and he had to show his respect.
"I hope that your bicycle wins. That's what you are calling it, is it?" she remarked unexpectedly. Keita did not even know how she knew the name, but turning around to look at Reina's twinkling eyes, he understood.
"Yes, it is called a bicycle," Keita answered. "I thought you would support your brother, what makes you say that?" Logically, she should be showing support to her brother, yet here she was, pouring support to one of his opponents.
Seeing the look from Keita, Naya smiled bitterly. How could she support him? He was a good brother, but not to her. She could feel his disdain, even when it was not obvious. If it was just that, she could overlook it.
"I think you of all people understand it well," she said as she faced Keita. "We have to be constantly reminded how inferior we are to them." She said as she indicated the vasilis in the hall.
True to form, the vasili scions had segregated themselves from the others, taking the best places. The normies had not even gotten a chance to inspect the bicycles, cast away as the vasilis hogged all the good things. No one said anything. Only the most daring could complain and grumble among themselves.
"Luckily, every once in a while, there comes someone who reminds them that they do not have it all, and that we exist." One could feel the bitterness coming off her mouth, and even Reina was surprised.
However, once one got past the surprise, they would get the point. As normal people, they were treated as lesser beings. The vasilis got the best of the best, while the normies were reduced to servants or assistants.
Keita wasn't just surprised; he appreciated her daring. In such a gathering, there were bound to be more than one vasili capable of hearing her, yet she simply did not care. She did not even bother to whisper.
"Miss Naya sure is daring," Keita remarked, noticing the others being quiet. Looking around the others, Keita noticed that they seemed to have a tacit agreement with her words. From experience, Keita could tell that Naya was just the spokesperson, representing them all.
"Do you not agree with me?" She asked, pointedly staring at Keita, who seemed to hesitate. Unlike Naya, he did not have such a lofty background that he could say whatever he wanted in such a gathering as if it was nothing.
Seeing his hesitation, a frown appeared on Naya's face.
"You are the most accomplished youth in our generation," Naya said, "Yet you will never even be considered for leadership in your clan. Do you think that's fair?"
Regardless of everything else, these words hit home. The reason why all the resources were held by vasilis was not because they were the most outstanding, but rather, nothing else qualified someone to take up such positions.
Only a vasili could inherit or hold massive properties. The only time this was not true was among the nouveau riche or wealthy self-made merchants. Even then, should a vasili be born in such families, then they would take over the family management.
As Keita was thinking about it, Naya's words seemed to galvanize her clique. They were directly affected by this level of prejudice, but they had no outlet to voice their opinion.
A boy behind Naya frowned slightly. He seemed to be in deep agreement with Naya, as though this was his reality as well. Similar expressions were reflected in the eyes of others. Even cousin Reina seemed to be a believer.
This time, Keita did not answer, instead, letting out a soft sigh. He truly understood their position, as he too was in the same boat. However, his sigh made the others consider him one of them.
"Keita, it was truly an honor to meet you," this time, Naya was more affectionate. She could sense that he was sympathetic to their cause. "I hope you continue to fly high."
Given their leader's appreciation of Keita, the sentiment seemed to grow among the group. They too began to look at Keita as one of their own. Suddenly, Keita found himself being seen as a champion for their plight, a hero to their cause.
"While vasilis may pretend to rule the world, we all know who truly runs it." Keita suddenly made a remark, one that would reverberate across the entire upper society. Years later, he would be quoted by many.