Liana saw Angel's gaze drifting from time to time toward the alchemy drafts on the table. After thinking it over, she felt that she had asked nearly everything she needed to ask and prepared to say goodbye.
But just as Liana was about to turn off the communicator, Angel suddenly asked, "By the way, how is David doing now?"
Angel had not seen David for a long time. However, on the eve of the New Star Tournament finals, he had heard some news about David from Shan. Apparently, David had been very dejected. He had failed to complete the task Liana had given him—to enter the top fifty of the New Star Tournament—and according to their agreement, he had to accompany Jack Su for ten years.
"David? He's doing quite well now." When Liana said "quite well," a cryptic smile curled across her lips.
The moment he saw that smile, Angel understood. David was definitely not doing "quite well"; he was probably being put through the wringer.
Angel wanted to put in a few good words for David, but this was an agreement between master and apprentice, and it was not his place to interfere. Besides, Liana presumably would not truly drive David into a corner.
After some thought, Angel merely said, "I'll be returning to Savage Cave soon. If David has time then, you can have him come over and catch up with me."
The only help Angel could offer was to give David a sliver of breathing room in his stifling life.
How could Liana fail to understand Angel's intentions? She curved her lips in a faint smile. "You needn't worry about him either. He really is doing quite well now. I believe that in the future, he'll be doing even... better."
After a pause, Liana added, "Rather