[ Claude listens attentively as she talks, having meant it about wanting to collect some information (as he always did) and what better way than from a Faerghus native? But it becomes less about potentially learning something new and more about listening to Ingrid herself, and he has to blink back to paying attention when she ends her explanation. ]

Ah- I've heard of the school, Lorenz went there for a bit. [ A thoughtful pause goes by, mostly so he can shuffle his thoughts back into order. ] It's interesting that there can be such a difference between capitals, considering with what I've heard of Enbarr, it could run laps around both Fhirdiad and Derdriu. I suppose it has the upper hand in being so much older, but still.

[ It's nearly the perfect opportunity to segue into talking about how - in a perfect world, if there was less bureaucracy, any number of things - the countries could work together instead of staying isolated. Fortunately for Ingrid, she's spared since it's also timed with arriving to the Daphnel outskirts with their destination just minutes away. ]

So, you wanted to know where we're going, right?

[ Another quick smile back over his shoulder for her benefit, considering they both already know the answer to that. This time, at least, he's not asking to just dangle the unknown in front of her. ]

The thing that's only tonight is a dinner put on by a chef who used to be in Derdriu. He moved out here a while ago and puts on this meal once a year to raise money for the village. And by meal I mean a real one because you don't order one thing and call it good. Everyone sits at big long tables, kinda like the ones in the dining hall, and shares platters of all kinds of food. Definitely worth breaking a few rules for.