The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 123 - In Order Not To Break, Properly Tempered Steel Must Flex

Chapter 123: Chapter 123 - In Order Not To Break, Properly Tempered Steel Must Flex

The pair of cousins sat there, each contemplating the future in their own ways. In both of their cases that time ahead seemed alive with potential. The meaning of the competition had been reassembled by others into a source of tension between them - now it held the kind of challenge that could strengthen their bond rather than divide them.

One young man felt his own filial weights become just a little lighter... perhaps borne instead by the one beside him, though she didn’t show any strain.

"Like you said, Qatrand... I already told you I would compete fairly. I don’t expect you to do any differently. If you need someone to talk to in the future - while I can’t promise to always help, I’ll listen."

He was glad that he let himself be nosy this time. This chat of theirs seemed to have helped them both. The swordswoman he spoke to looked away from him and back into the stars - and smiled like there was something there waiting for her to look at it.

"I wonder what our family will look like in a generation or two. I’m not very good at imagining the future. With all these new perspectives and any changes to our damaging traditions... I want it to be better than before."

Navuill nodded at her as his expression grew pensive. Instinctively, he wanted to agree that things could only get better... except he didn’t have the precedents to know that was true. His own changes with his wife could be called a little ’good’ so far, if he had to pick between two options. But he was just one example and there were so many members of their family.

"It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? The Yecine have always been so... set in their ways. As well as *set* on putting children in those ways."

"True. But I’ve been told that change is an inevitable part of life. I refuse to believe that our family is as unmoved by the surroundings as they want others to think. Look at us now, having this conversation. Would you have imagined this a year ago?"

The young man chuckled softly as her while he stroked the back of his neck.

"Definitely not. Then again, I wouldn’t have imagined a lot of things that have happened recently."

Qatrand’s hand unconsciously moved to her chest, where Elua’s spirit fragment rested.

"I think the way that my wife is affecting us is good, Navuill. Not just the two of us, but even the elders who have been struggling with how to address everything."

The cousin was not sure if Anper’s reaction could be deemed good, but he nodded at her anyway. How worried the man was and the pushes to do things in such roundabout ways did at least show something to him. Qatrand was right that not everyone was ’unmoving’.

’There are also the limited words I’ve had with Lirades...’

"I’ll admit the fact that she *can* make so many of them worry means that others, possibly for different kinds of good and bad, may have shaped changes throughout the course of our family’s history. What are you thinking?"

She reluctantly turned her pigeon blue eyes away from the night sky. Not looking at who you were talking to could be seen as rude - and she was past the point of returning any rudeness due to his sudden appearance to have all these conversations with her.

"I think... that we have an opportunity here. To shape the future of our family in a way that honors the intent of our traditions to make us better cultivators and heavy sword wielders - but also allows for growth as people."

She looked so assured that the older young man couldn’t help the curiosity leaching into his voice.

"What do you mean by that?"

The raven haired Yecine rapidly started to change her hair color to her natural blonde, to reinforce her points.

"Our family has always valued strength and duty. We can expand on what those mean to us. Strength isn’t just physical cultivation level. It can be emotional resilience, adaptability, the courage to question and grow. We neglect the spirit too much in this region, Nav."

He almost didn’t even have to consider this. As he was so often put on guard duty, his Astralism was the thing nearly constantly in actual use and actually useful. It allowed him to locate people in distress or people approaching the Guild premise in anger. Instead, he let himself get hung up on the fact that-

’Did she... just give me a nickname?’

He shivered and shook his head. A little unexpectedly, he received an immediate apology from the tall girl. She might not be able to read the emotions of others like she could her El, but body language was more than obvious. It was the only real way she had to know in her youth whether those around her were in approval or disappointed.

"I’m sorry. I went too far in showing how the Yecine can potentially bond as a family. I would also prefer it if others did not call me Qat like my wife does."

"No, it’s... fine. Nothing to forgive, but it is good to know we each have lines. To continue from your thoughts... duty - it doesn’t have to mean blindly following traditions and doing the same as others. It could mean doing what’s best for the family’s future, even if that means accepting or seeking change."

Placing a firm hand on his shoulder, the blonde teenager exhaled through her nose audibly with a sharp nod.

"Yes. The true honor in upholding our duty comes from integrity - from being true to oneself while still contributing to the greater good. Yet another reason for which it makes no sense for us to neglect our spirits as much as we do... as we must know ourselves to grow it."

’Anything less than being true implies you fear the consequences of it... and I know personally that the consequence which our youngest and most vulnerable fear is being unaccepted.’

It was the case with herself, though the actual feelings were so muted from her dull upbringing. It was also the case with Elua er Goltbred, who pretended from a young age to be something others would like. How many times had she been forced to see how terrified the girl was of revealing parts of herself even to the person she loved?

She was sure the man before her must also have had plenty of times he held his tongue or followed along because it was ’safer’ than the alternatives. Qatrand did not want the future Yecines to *fear* their own family. Just as she had no desire for any children between her and her wife to feel the same towards their parents.

"It’s a bold vision. I... I agree with it. The elders might not take to it easily."

Seeing his hesitance, but that the tension in him was aimed at something other than her, the blonde’s expression grew even more determined.

"Maybe not at first. Changes can be sudden or they can be gradual. You said yourself, Navuill, that the last year has seemed like I became far different than you could have expected from me - and that is because of so many gradual changes that have kicked off even more sudden ones."

She released her sword from its sheath while aiming it downwards a handspan from the forest floor, before increasing its weight with her Element and allowing it to drop into the ground. With that simple distance, the blade sunk in easily - and far deeper than it seems it should have. While the showing might mean little to others, a fellow Yecine knew what the weapon *should* have done.

"If we lead by example, if we show them the *benefits* of this approach... we might be able to guide the family towards a more flexible and resilient future. At least, that is why I’ve decided to prove I am fit to be our heir."

"It won’t be easy."

The cousin warned her quickly, but there was brightness in his eyes. He could hardly believe that the difference between talking to a father and his daughter could be so vast... yet so similar. They both talked with conviction in their ideals. Both seemed liked the family and its future - its success - was a very important thing to them.

’But one makes me want to follow because I’m scared not to and the other - well, frankly also makes me scared not to. The potential regret is... different? A life of buckling under against one of being able to express my opinion without being bullied down with looks and words.’

As this comparison solidified in Navuill’s mind, the silence seemed to deepen around them. The distant sounds of the camp had already faded as their conversation stretched on. Only the rustle of leaves in the soft breeze was audible as one half of Qatrand’s hair shifted back towards its black. She had changed it to make a point... and to be truer to her potential ally, but they were still on mission - and that was the promise she had made to herself.

"No, it will not be easy. That does not mean it is not necessary. For us, and for those generations that will come after us. We owe it to them to leave a legacy that allows for our traditions to have merit that does not stifle progress. That does not *stifle* us at all."

Both sides of her hair shone with different lusters under the light of the moon above them which danced between the moving leaves. Her stance was firm and resolute next to her embedded sword, with a hand resting on its pommel. Her pigeon blue gaze was as resolute as the rest of her.

That moment would stick with him for so many years, as Navuill er Yecine saw not just his cousin... nor just a weak ’girl’ like her father claimed - but the coming times for their family.