Chiron pretended as if he had not seen her initially. With a surprised look on his face, he turned to her,
"Carla!?"
Carla was a student from his cultivation class. She was the only other person apart from Cablen that had an A-grade Dantain.
She was also the person that had fought with Nora during the test. She was young and immaturity was still very fresh on her face. She was only eight years of age.
Which meant that she was one year younger than Chiron and two years older than Nora.
From the look on her face, she was very excited to see him.
After Chiron had killed the Green skinned shadow beast, the elders had concluded that those that survived the incident were allowed to be considered graduates of the Academy.
This was done as means to persuade the clan of its current loss.
Of course, the Elders expected loss of life during the exam. After all, this was the cultivation world. It had been proven since the day that they got their cultivation that it was a harsh world and only those with strength were going to make it to the end.
But the loss was too bad and resulted from a mistake made by the elders.
Just like Chiron, Carla had gotten her Cultivation badge.
However, she had gotten hers a long time ago. The reason she was here was because of something else entirely.
As the two conversed, Carla's parents approached.
As they did, Chiron observed them closely.
From what he remembered from the Book, Carla's mother was very sick and in need of medication. However, the family was too poor to afford the kind of treatment she needed and her father was a negligent man, and the original definition of a boot licker for peanuts.
The only choice that Carla had was to hunt for a solution herself. Fortunately, Mount Chikit was a saving grace to anyone that was willing to take the risk of going up the mountain against wild Cored beasts and poisonous plants.
Carla was young, but since the day she had gotten her cultivation badge, she had always left the clan to go up the mountain at any opportunity she got in other to search for the rare snow-white tulip healer.
She was the first child of the home and had two younger ones after her. Both of which were twins. One boy and a girl.
Her father was never at home, all day long and her mother's health was deteriorating fast.
However, Carla was a very good study, and she had learned of the Snow White Tulip Healer. It was a drug that only grew far off in the snowy parts of the Chikit mountain.
According to Chiron's knowledge of the book, Carla eventually got the Snow white Tulip Healer and cured her mother.
What's more, her mother was a kind woman with a lot of virtue. She was the guiding lamp that led to Carla becoming that great hero in the future that later became one of the Clan's strong Pillars.
However, that was far off in the future.
This was a future that Chiron was currently interested in. After all, he needed points from changing Fate.
What's more, he also had a side business with this family.
Even as Chiron looked at her parents, he could see it clearly.
Her mother had a cloth to cover her head and another one over her mouth. Her skin was very pale and from time to time, she coughed in the discomfort at her health.
Her father, on the other hand, was a bit robust. He really looked far healthier than his wife or daughter.
He was an alcoholic and according to what Chiron could remember, the man also beat his wife regularly.
The only good thing he ever did was to ensure that Carla, his daughter got into the Academy for Cultivators. Of course, he had done this for reasons attributed to increasing his own worth.
This father of Carla's known as Fanam had another identity Chiron was a fair bit interested in, and even from the Callouses on his hand, Chiron could confirm the truth of it.
Fanam was a Blacksmith, but not just any other blacksmith. He was the favoured apprentice of the Current number-one blacksmith in the Clan, Leongu.
Chiron already had a rough plan in his head for this family but he needed to take it slow.
He greeted Carla's parents as politely as possible.
"Oh, my! is this, not the famous Chiron," Carla's mother gave him a kind smile. it was so kind that even her eyes seemed also to smile.
"Your words are too kind ma'am!" Chiron bowed again.
"Oh, that's nonsense. Carla speaks very highly of you. She always boasts of how the boy that killed a green-cored beast was her classmate!"
Carla's cheeks suddenly became red, "mother! don't say that. It's embarrassing."
Carla's mother laughed a bit, and Chiron pretended to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.
After all, this was the behaviour that was expected of a young boy of this age.
Just then a deep bass unfriendly voice interrupted the moment between the three of them.
"It is because of that damn sword, isn't it!?" It was Fanam's voice and from his expression and the way his eyes laid on the sword behind Chiron's back, it was obvious that he had some enmity against Chiron.
In Fanam's eyes, Chiron was the apprentice of his master's rival. As it was tradition, the children carried the sin and glory of their fathers and so did disciples of their masters.
"I bet you are nothing without that sword," he frowned and turned to his wife, "I have a package to pick for Master Leongu. I'll take my leave first."
He turned and walked away.
*Cough!* Carla's mother coughed a bit, "please don't mind my husband. He is a bit... erm... On edge today because of work." She tried her best to mediate the situation.
However, this woman did not know that Chiron could care less about this.
It was totally normal for disciples to see their masters and mentors as near god or infallible beings. Many times, they could even give their lives for them.
Such sacrifices had been seen by history many many times already.
Chiron watched as the man walked away.
"Chiron!" Carla's voice brought him out of his head. "I heard you talking about the Snow white Tulip Healer. Do you want to get it too?"
Chiron nodded, "Yes! I need it for important matters. After our fight against the green-skinned leopard, I sustained injuries that require the help of the plant." Chiron carried a pained uncomfortable look on his face, and his hand seemed to subconsciously hold his abdomen as if he was putting in the effort to hold the pain back.
Carla nodded in understanding. Chiron was an ordinary human being. Although Carla had seen him fight before and knew that he was incredible, it was only natural that he had sustained injuries from his encounter with a beast that could tear apart a stone-ranked cultivator.
Chiron could see pity for him in her eyes.
"So, are you going to get it alone?" She asked him.
Chiron nodded, "I have been indoors for a long time in other to heal properly. And I have no one to get it for me. I have no choice but to go get it myself."
"What of your father?" she asked, "he is a copper rank cultivator. Surely, it must be easy for him to help you."
Chiron was already prepared for this question.
"Carla! it seems you have forgotten that I still carry the identity of a Tamashi. In my father's eyes, I'm a stain to the family's name."
Saying this, Chiron's eyes carried extra sadness.
It was sadness that arouse Carla's pity. One look at him and she could tell that he had been through a lot.
There were still visible scars on his body. And her eyes caught them well.
"Carla!" her mother called out, "since you are also going to get the snow-white tulip, why don't you invite Chiron to accompany you."
Carla nodded in understanding.
"Chiron! I have already joined a party of four. I can ask the others for you can join us," she smiled "They are all really strong and I'm sure they will agree for a green-cored beast killer to join their party."
Chiron had gratefulness in his eyes as he thanked her properly.
This was one of the many advantages of a clan. Cultivators were bonded by blood and unity to the clan. It was easy for them to form small hunting groups.
Naturally, the bond of blood was a strong binding force that allowed for cultivators to trust their backs to their comrades.
Which in turn permitted the maximum use of one's ability in a fight.
Most cultivators except of course those filled with pride and those that were very strong always left to hunt as a Party.
Carla took Chiron to her party and introduced him...
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