The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 176 - Two Letters, Two Senders, But Both Only Make Me Think Of You

Chapter 176: Chapter 176 - Two Letters, Two Senders, But Both Only Make Me Think Of You

The Coiled Serpent branch looked different after the week away. Elua’s mint eyes tracked the movement of workers arranging heavy bookshelves along some of the walls of the ground floor. Leather-bound reference texts and scrolls occupied some of the wooden spaces already.

Their spines displayed a careful organization that healed her heart. She didn’t consider herself to need things like that to be perfect all the time, but the administrative pavilion at the competition grounds was a living nightmare. It was a miracle that all the workers at the site were actually being managed appropriately.

’Probably more on them knowing how to do their jobs than the bureaucrats directing them well.’

Two young women in plain gray tunics sorted through a cart of incoming documents at a side table. Neither of them wore the Guild insignia, as they were merely hired mortal help rather than official members. The ancient cultivator approved of the former liaison hiring competent-

She caught herself before her facade could slip at the sight of one handling a particular scroll case incorrectly, causing the heavy rolled paper to slide out and dent on its edges when striking the table leg

’People make mistakes! Besides, managing all this isn’t my goal or desire.’

"Everything seems to be progressing well, my lady."

Her personal servant’s voice carried a touch of pride. The woman had spent the past few days dividing her time between here and the Goltbred estate, overseeing much of the furniture delivery and basic setup herself. She’d never thought she would get to help decorate a cultivator Guild’s place of business!

"Indeed. Though I worried about leaving it all to that woman while I’m away. Thank you for involving yourself."

"The branch manager has been quite... diligent about checking every invoice three times."

The servant’s diplomatic tone made Elua’s lips twitch. The former liaison’s paranoia about being set up to fail had at least resulted in detailed record-keeping. A polished desk bell chimed as someone struck it after entering through the front door. One of the new hires hurried to greet them with a rather personal smile on their face.

’Probably family or a spouse visiting for lunch.’

"Oh, I kept the key to your office desk safe, as requested. Some letters arrived for you earlier. I’ve placed them in the sealed drawer."

The brunette accepted the small brass key while wondering to herself which of her various business contacts might be writing to her here instead of the estate. She couldn’t think of any...

’The Saltfire Storm Alliance might be seeking a more official agreement with me on the cusp of the Descent. I don’t know what they have going on in their territory, but they might want a half dozen keystones as insurance against the war’s length.’

Of course, Elua didn’t think it would take all that long this cycle. Historically, things had to go very wrong in multiple regions for the invaders to become so entrenched that it took that much time to fight through to their leaders. However, even a month or three was enough to give birth to a lot of tragic stories.

As she climbed the stairs to the upper floor and entered her office, the Whispering Skydancer swooped in through the cracked window to perch on her shoulder. The illusionist told the bird it was free to wander so long as it didn’t go to far, but it seemed to prefer proximity.

"Probably my fault... I give you food. Why would you spend a lot of time flying around when you know exactly where food is?"

Its twilight-hued head tilted at her with a non-understanding white eye staring into her mint. She unlocked her desk drawer and the bird dropped to the desk and checked inside the spade... almost seeming as curious as she was about the contents.

Three letters sat inside - two bearing familiar merchant seals that could wait. The last was completely unmarked. The plain envelope carried no identifying writing or even a proper wax seal. Just a simple fold and tuck to close it. Which means it likely didn’t travel far by courier but was delivered personally.

’Well, personally could involve just a favor as well. I remember paying off beggars to place notes in places to serve as distractions or alibis.’

She shook her head at the complications of her past life schemes. Her spirit stirred cautiously before she picked it up, checking for any trace of cultivator energy or ritual work. The paper felt ordinary enough. It was kind of disappointing, honestly!

The heiress finally just read it.

/ The Coiled Serpent Guild has retrieved something I believe holds significance to you. I cannot specify more now, but they intend to relocate it. I will send word when I learn where. /

The Skydancer’s claws scraped lightly on the desk’s edge as Elua read the short message twice, checking it for secrets. Her mint eyes narrowed at the lack of any salutation or even any hints at the sender’s connection to her. In fact, other than the organization that it mentioned - it almost said nothing.

’What could my own Guild have that would matter to me? I’m pretty sure I haven’t created anything that I didn’t already know that sigilists were studying. Unless...’

Her facade broke apart and a ripple of ’anger’ and ’panic’ shook the air around her. The bird immediately took flight back to her shoulder and started pressing its feathered head against her cheek. She reigned in her uncontrolled state and blinked once, slowly before speaking out loud

"No. That was silly of me. She’s fine."

Her monotone voice spoke directly to the concerned avian while her fingers stroked its back feathers. The ancient cultivator was impressed that their time together had already inured the creature to her bursts of intent... but also that it was intelligent enough to try and calm her.

She decided she would have to thank the old man for it again.

"My Qat is busy with missions. Besides, she’s far too strong to be easily ’retrieved’ by anyone. Not to mention they said ’something’. Who would dare call my beloved as an object to my face?"

Whether a letter counted as to her face or not, Elua didn’t care. Instead, the brunette’s face twitched as she imagined anyone trying to directly kidnap her muscular Yecine. The swordswoman would probably just politely decline while readying her blade if they were obvious about it.

’The problem is if she was ever tricked-’

The worrier shook her head slowly. Such hypotheticals just made her want to lock the young woman away. She knew from another bad relationship experience... that partners generally did not like that. Nor could she imagine Qat agreeing to it if she posed the topic.

She tapped the paper against her chin, carefully considering what else it could be about. There was really nothing that came to mind. She was even starting to consider that the unmarked note might be meant for Dima and got mixed into her things... though she doubted her servant would make such a mistake.

"Someone fishing for a reaction, most likely. Trying to see what I value enough to go check on. Then they could steal it."

She maneuvered her hand and ordered the bird onto it.

"Alternatively, this was sent by someone so that if I ask questions of the Guild, then someone will learn that whatever they just ’retrieved’ likely has me worried. Really my only option is to do nothing."

Elua sat the Skydancer back on the table before sitting back in the desk’s chair. It felt like the right mix of comfortable and firm for something she was meant to work in.

’Someday.’

Time at this place she ’rushed’ so much to set up was really limited with war not far off. She considered that she really should take some time to assist with the basic defenses of the building. The heiress noted when she arrived that someone, likely Dima, had been slowly applying the planned sigils to the outer foundation.

"I need to be out there in the spotlight of the citizens showing off my craft as well."

Her facade powered expressions eased back in as she threw the letter back in the drawer and reached for one of the merchant-sealed letters instead. She also grabbed the letter opener from the drawer to gently pry the wax away. The Goltbred skimmed through the two quickly, finding little of interest in their contents.

The Silversky group wanted to discuss new contracts because of her recent large purchase through them. Another trading group inquired to her directly instead of through the branch manager about commissioning custom work on their building.

’As if I have time for that - ours isn’t even finished yet!’

She turned to the doorway because her personal servant’s hasty footsteps thundered up the stairs. The woman’s face was flushed from exertion as she burst into the office holding a fresh letter.

"My lady... another courier just arrived... from the... the young master."

The servant’s breathless announcement was hardly necessary. Elua could see the seal. The pale yellow wax of a private letter from her beloved, pressed with the imprint of three fingertips.

Her hands trembled slightly as she accepted it. Getting a letter from someone you were just worried about the safety of felt strange! What’s more, they hadn’t seen each other in days...

"Would you like me to bring tea while you read it?"

A knowing smile tried to place itself on the winded woman’s face. She was sure that, like always, the young miss would read and stare at its contents until each individual word lost all meaning. Her love was really too deep!

"No, thank you. You should rest after running up here like that."

Her monotone slipped through as she focused entirely on lifting the seal.

/ El,

I hope this reaches you before you depart for the anomaly site. During this mission, I passed a caravan carrying something that felt... similar? I couldn’t help but think of that day you told me about. The trip to the woods you took during training.

I felt compelled to ask their destination. They’re taking it to the research camp you are headed to. I know you’ll want to handle this carefully, my wife. I trust you’ll figure out the best way.

Stay safe,

Your fortress /

The brunette read it three times quickly, verifying the lettering and imagining the state it was written in by its small eccentricities.

"I see now. Then the unsigned letter must have meant *that*."

She said it calmly and like it was important, but her heart was busy swelling with warm honey at how perfectly her Qat had remembered such a specific detail about her cultivation from months ago.

Even the illusionist had forgotten about that material she left out in the woods!

’My Qat noticed something... and took the initiative to warn me.’

Her mint eyes narrowed behind heavy lids as she made a connection. She glanced back at the drawer containing the other warning. The swordswoman knew because the reincarnator told her - and because the fragment probably resonated as she passed by.

"How interesting that someone else is also looking out for *me*..."

There should be no *good* reason anyone else could have traced it to her already.