"Death Row student…" Luttrena muttered, feeling suspicious of Virala, 'How did I fall for someone like that?'
"What's he like?" She asked next.
"Hmm…" Inala made it seem like he was pondering carefully and spoke slowly, "He's cunningly smart, has a way with words, and always plans a few moves ahead. He's someone I both respect and dislike."
Everything he said was what he honestly felt about Virala. It was best to be as honest as possible, only then would he be able to probe Luttrena and glean into Virala's plans.
He then stared at her, "Why are you asking about him? Did he do something to you?"
"It's…nothing." Luttrena sighed softly.
"By chance…" Inala focused on her eyes, acting like he could see through her as he spoke, softly, "Do you like him?"
"None of your business," Luttrena snorted and turned around, walking away.
"If you're thinking of falling in love with him, I advise against it, since you're a valuable customer of mine." He raised his voice slightly, "He already has a lover."
"Lover?" Luttrena stopped suddenly. For an instant, her Prana flared up, causing her hair to flail about like it experienced a shockwave. Veins popped all over her eyes as she glared at Inala, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Yup," Inala acted like he was oblivious to her emotional state and waved his hand calmly, "Any student from the 44th Settlement would know. He's sweethearts with Ruvva, one of Granny Oyo's granddaughters. It was because of this that he was accepted as her disciple and taught medicine. He was selling medicine at a stall here with her."
'That girl with him?' Luttrena recalled the girl beside Virala at his stall. 'All he told me was that the two of them had a decent friendship.'
"Is that so?" Luttrena waved her hand and walked away, exiting the outer ring as she climbed the 43rd Empyrean Tusk's trunk and calmly scaled up. Her eyes were calm, cold even, staring at her surroundings as if everything was but dust.
'Okay, I did my part here.' Inala exhaled softly. It didn't matter if Luttrena commissioned him for the Imagination Art he boasted to her about. Plenty of elites would knock on his door for a portrait anyway. He could gradually tell them about Imagination Art and increase his sales.
Besides, his goal was only to earn enough Parute to hit 100 Prana. Once he reaches the Body Stage, he would be able to prepare and sell items vastly more expensive than the portraits. So, this art fiasco was only until the First Major Disaster began.
Therefore, his primary goal in approaching Luttrena was to instigate her against him. 'It's not possible to interrogate her about whatever she had with Virala. But, I hope by instigating her like this, I can use her to hinder his growth.'
That was his only goal. Of course, he would love it if Luttrena gave her all in destroying Virala. A borrowed sword with a fatally sharp edge was the best for destroying an enemy.
Inala packed his stall, watching the crowd leave the hilltop one after another. The elites broke down the walls into smaller segments and began to transport them back to their respective settlements.
"Let's return. You're last." Instructor Mandu approached him, having just returned after guiding the students to the settlement.
Inala accompanied Instructor Mandu as they slowly began to climb the trunk, watching the elites carry the items—from the hilltop—past them.
Krrr-Rooo-Rhaaa!
Right as Inala arrived on the head, the 44th Empyrean Tusk lifted its trunk high up in the air and unleashed a powerful trumpet, thunderously deafening.
"Shit…!" He used his palms to apply pressure on his ears, shouting as he felt like he had gone deaf from the sound. His body rattled, even though all that reached him were mere residuals from the sound waves.
As the Empyrean Tusk pointed the nostrils of its trunk away from the settlement, most of the trumpeting sound moved away from them. A blast of shockwaves, powerful enough that he could see a densely compressed wave of air blast outwards in a semi-circular arc.
It was powerful enough to flatten a hill, even though it wasn't even an attack. The shockwave travelled for more than a hundred kilometres, entering the Dieng Canyon. There was a stirrup in the canyon as a jet-black cloud flitted about in response.
"Amazing, right?" Instructor Mandu muttered with unbridled pride, "Only our Mammoth Clan has such a terrifying home. That's why even massive empires don't dare mess with us."
His eyes shone with contempt, "Fifty years ago, when I was a student, a king offended us."
He uttered with a bone-chilling coldness, "That day, 44 Empyrean Tusks stomped that foolish king's kingdom into oblivion. An entire civilisation was wiped out from the map just like that."
He patted Inala, slightly applying force, "If you wish to be part of our Mammoth Clan's legendary legacy, prove your worth and live past your deadline."
"I know, Instructor Mandu." Inala nodded, "That's why I'm giving it my all."
"You sure?" Instructor Mandu snorted, "Didn't you show me something else yesterday? Why did you not display that exhibit?"
"Actually…" Inala whispered in his ear, shocking him with the truth, "A master witnessed it after that and improved my Skill to a terrifying level. They told me to avoid using it to earn Parute, since it had combat potential. That's why I had to drop it."
"A master?" Instructor Mandu's negative impression of Inala vanished. Upon staring at the latter's excited eyes, he knew Inala spoke the truth, "Congratulations on getting a master's grace. That's a reward in of itself."
"Thank you, Instructor." Inala bowed in joy, "I'm sure it was because you spread the word."
"That…" Instructor Mandu smiled wryly, 'I didn't do anything.'
He then patted Inala, coughing to speak, "Keep working hard. We'll now proceed to select a house. Once it's done, I'll have to send the address to the elites that will request your service later."
"I have one in mind," Inala smiled contently and obtained the house he wanted. It was a cheap house, located close to the Empyrean Tusk's tail. It was the farthest house located in the settlement, never occupied because of the stench that pervaded the region.
It was situated alarmingly close to the butthole, after all. Moreover, every time the tail flapped around, it produced thunderous sounds. The environment would disrupt one's meditation. The previous homeowners vacated it when they lost a lot of Prana due to the disturbance.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Instructor Mandu face palmed, "You have hundreds of better options, especially since half the homes are vacant. And this is the one you want?"
"Instructor," Inala spoke in seriousness, "I'm a Death Row student suffering from the Fragment Disease. Do I have a future?"
"No," Instructor Mandu shook his head.
"That's why," Inala stared at his home, "I'll challenge myself in this home. Just by surviving in such a condition where others gave up would mean…"
He grinned, "I'm worthy of living."