The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 117 - Responsible Parenting Requires Navigating Teenage Ambitions

Chapter 117: Chapter 117 - Responsible Parenting Requires Navigating Teenage Ambitions

The Goltbred heiress was facing a set of parents that were trying to show their care for her... which felt good in some ways. In others, it was mildly annoying - and she could hardly tell if it was her old self, teenage rebellion, or if she was just getting hungry. The last was more likely than not, considering how things seemed since becoming a physical Primalist.

"I appreciate your concern, truly. I am not refusing because I do not trust or think you could not help, but because Qat and I are capable of handling this."

"We know you’re capable, dear. It’s just that things are changing. Your marriage is only one part of it. With the approaching competition and Descent, it feels like we are always busy but are never doing enough for you."

After hearing Yatrel’s response, mint eyes grew dull - and Elua’s monotone response hinted at the ancient being within... yet the pair had only come to understand this as their daughter losing her false colors. The brunette still wasn’t ready to allow them to know more than that.

"The number of things that are immutable in the world is a fraction of that which can change. The path we walk as cultivators is even the very attempt to struggle and change ourselves into something that can change anything. In that view, change is inevitable, mother."

The two adults turned to each other with their concern shifting to resignation between them. These moments when their daughter spoke with such gravitas always left them slightly unsettled - like they were being lectured by the complexities that lay beneath her usually cheerful demeanor.

"Elua, my darling, are you alright? I know you’ve had a long journey, and with all the excitement of the wedding... perhaps you’re just tired and hungry?"

Mint eyes blinked rapidly as they regained some of their usual light. She considered her mother’s words, realizing that fatigue might indeed be affecting her mood more than she’d like to admit. An unrestful nap paired with a day of abusing her Astralism used to be rather commonplace.

’Oh no, I’m growing soft here, aren’t I?’

"Perhaps you’re right, mom. My apologies if I sounded... intense."

Though her voice regained its usual cadence, Ondua watched his daughter carefully. There was a heaviness growing in his chest again, due to Anper’s ’warning’ words. He’d always known Elua was bright - and he used to think of her as nothing but kind - but moments like these made him acutely aware of how much of herself and her beliefs that she kept hidden.

Considering all of the omissions from his eldest daughter, that he was learning about years after the fact, he was forced to admit to himself that his old friend was right... at least on the surface of it. Yet, the Goltbred had always felt that the Yecine often had trouble when it came to *properly* dealing with what was beyond.

’He always did get hung up on things. Perhaps I hadn’t realized how much.’

"Your perspective on change is quite mature. Your studies must have progressed at the Coiled Serpent Guild."

Sensing the oddities in his spirit, she looked at the man before smirking softly at him. While she wasn’t particularly in the mood to keep it up for long, she could reign in her mischief and just be a ’good’ daughter for a while!

"Does it actually surprise you, dad? I’ve always been a very diligent student - and have read everything I could in our libraries."

"Of course. We were always very proud of you."

Despite his statement, it was clear that his usual smile didn’t fully reach into his eyes. Yatrel noticed this tension and interjected their slightly moody interactions. Protecting her family sometimes meant coming between them.

"Judging by your dances, you must have been keeping up with your physical exercises alongside your spiritual studies?"

The heiress suddenly felt a little put on the spot. The woman was clearly only changing the subject, but it felt like she was being targeted for her secrets on a different approach. The schemer supposed she could use this opportunity to conflate her recent near insatiability with her Physique, so it would not come as a surprise later.

"Yes, I spent much more time on that than many of my peers. All that physical activity and other cultivation did work up quite an appetite. Perhaps that’s why I’m always feeling a bit... peckish."

"Well, we should certainly arrange for a meal soon. There are a few other matters we should discuss as we wait. The Earthen Fellowship meeting I mentioned before is coming up, and we need to address the issues with them over your ritual designs."

The reincarnator leaned back in her chair with a heavy sigh.

"Ah, yes. It so happens that I’ve been giving that some thought."

He had heard a little of this matter from his wife, so an intrigued Ondua leaned forward with his fingers tented together on the table. All other considerations aside, it was frustrating to hear that a ’friendly’ Guild was looking to take the work of his daughter for their own gains.

"What have you come up with?"

Elua sighed again, quite dramatically! Knowing this plan might eat into her time with Qat in the future really irked her. After a few moments to collect herself, she began to answer in a well measured voice.

"I believe it’s time to seriously consider the Coiled Serpent Guild’s offer they’d sent in that letter. Accepting the branch in our city - more specifically, whatever high position in it they are trying to offer me - could impact our approach quite a bit."

The reddish-blonde nodded at the girl while recalling the abrupt letter she’d received so many months ago. She was pretty sure that the girl hadn’t had any interest at all, at the time. Things truly did change!

"I was also wondering what you’d thought up. So you want the extra leverage being part of it will give you here?"

"Yes. It would be harder for them to dismiss my concerns if I’m representing not just our family or myself, but an established Guild. Especially if I make enough connections and waves that I’m valued."

The illusionist figured that - as she was going to be doing similar things for Qat’s sake... she could blind two eyes with one sweet smelling, thorny rose. Actually, she felt like she could toss pointy flowers into many onlookers and get away with it. The schemer also had a few other ideas to make her required workload essentially non-existent!

"It’s the best way I can think of to address their attempt to keep *my* ritual designs for their proprietary use - without making them an enemy by releasing them directly myself."

’Though that is always an option I am willing to do, should my mother deem it necessary to cut her ties with them.’

The brunette man looked between his wife and daughter in the middle of the Guild politics conversation. It wasn’t impossible to understand, as he had been involved in a lot of situations over his tenure in The Ironclad Order. But he couldn’t help but be caught on one thing.

"That’s... quite a responsibility. It was not that long ago you spoke to me about wanting to find yourself by sticking to less public tasks and hobbies. Are you sure you’re ready for such a role, Elua?"

The girl in fact... only kind of remembered saying that - as a way to explain away her sudden interest in leatherworking. However, it was ultimately true that she had little interest in being in the public eye for no reason. Qatrand er Yecine was the best reason to do absolutely anything!

"I am. I believe it’s the best path forward. Not just for the Earthen Fellowship issue, but for me and Qat... though I still have yet to talk about it with them. There is also the upcoming competition that this could help with."

Yatrel raised an eyebrow, trying to correlate the ideas. It eventually clicked after recalling the first conversation about the event at a meal they had when the girl came back from her training.

"Ah, yes. You mentioned wanting to be on the event staff rather than competing. I assume you mean for this position to help with that?"

"As a local sigilist, I’d surely have some leverage to be assigned as a helper at the event. It’s one of the more important things going on currently, in that line of work. It aligns perfectly with my goals."

Both of them looked thoughtful over her words, but Ondua managed to speak first.

"It’s an intriguing strategy. Are you sure that you can balance this with your other responsibilities? What about the construction and management of the branch itself?"

"That’s precisely why I wanted to discuss this plan with you. I’ll obviously need your support to make this work. While I am confident I could trick the Earthen Fellowship into offering to build it, say... for a limited window of exclusivity with that ritual they covet, it might be better to make sure we could manage the funding on our own."

’Bullying them quickly into submission might only come back to bite me later. This is why I loathe politicking. It’s like my illusions, but with real steps.’

As the three discussed expected numbers and hurdles, the bustle of servants preparing for dinner seemed almost muted compared to that of the recent wedding celebration. Qat’s absence pressed against her chest, a dull ache she was determined to ignore. However, try as she might... everything and anything reminded the lovestruck wife of the spouse - including the food.

’The second dinner after our marriage, eaten by my lonesome... well, except for my parents.’

The night alone was looking ever grimmer.