The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 197 - I Feel Like Three Of Us Are Projecting Here, Don’t You?

Chapter 197: Chapter 197 - I Feel Like Three Of Us Are Projecting Here, Don’t You?

Their mentor’s ’sweet’ smile remained perfectly in place as she turned back to Corde. Yatrel had done a wonderful comparison for her to build off of!

"Don’t you also find dealing with known intentions simpler? Opponents’ motives being clear does put things on a more fair footing."

"Elua..."

The brunette man tried to weakly protest again, though the hand gripping his thigh told him that whatever was happening... he wasn’t allowed to stop.

"My apologies. Father seems to think the comparison is inappropriate, but I’m genuinely curious about your perspective on this, Lady Iralev. After all, both Voidlings and women with plans can be quite... persistent."

The swordswoman took a careful sip of her drink to buy time. The conversation had somehow shifted to a discussion about dealing with unwanted romantic attention... all while maintaining a veneer of academic interest in combat.

It was this kind of aristocratic conversation that she had long ago been happy to travel to this continent to avoid. It worried her that she could seemingly be bullied back into it so easily.

"In my experience, persistence rarely indicates skill. Though it can still be overwhelming with enough time."

"Oh? Then perhaps mother’s approach was the right one. From what I’ve seen growing up, making examples tends to discourage future persistence."

Yatrel’s lips curved slightly upward as she watched her daughter weave implications through ’naive’ observation. The protective mother also realized they were no longer talking about traditional fighting - and that Elua had noticed the persistent attention on herself.

’Well, an argument of words is probably something my eldest can win.’

Zyris sat entranced during all of the conversation. Her earlier enthusiasm fully transformed into stunned fascination. Watching her idol navigate this verbal sparring with a girl half her age... it was like witnessing an entirely different side!

Her husband squeezed her hand under the table, probably thinking she was distressed. After all, it was her ’fault’ that the other guest was brought along. But how could she be?

’This is *magnificent*!’

"...Perhaps. The Void Defense Society as a whole might agree. We do learn from the records we keep."

The Frozen Duskblade responded as diplomatically as she could think of. She really didn’t want to get involved with admitting that the meaning of what they were talking about had veered, so brought her Guild into the matter again.

"Yes, keeping records is important. Scholarly pursuits can help inform that of our warriors."

All eyes darted from the speaking woman to the speaking young teen. The heiress gestured to the boy sitting nearby - one of two nervous orphans who hadn’t said so much as a word throughout the dinner. Those nerves only grew at being pointed out.

"Fusand has been working quite diligently in studies throughout his life."

The sandy-haired boy’s skin took on that distinctive tinge as everyone’s eyes turned to him.

"I took note because we share the same Astralism. His progress already shows such promise."

Corde’s gaze sharpened with interest in him. Or at least, this new detail about the girl’s capabilities given in such a roundabout form. Nohre quickly reached over and tugged on his tunic, wary but not silly enough to glare directly at the older cultivator.

"She’s right, he is learning rapidly. Perhaps a demonstration? Nothing too taxing."

The Talcres Patriarch urged the boy along. Impressing someone famous was always an opportunity worth taking. The teen looked over at him, then his master who nodded softly.

"Alright."

The swordswoman quickly felt a subtle pressure against her spiritual defenses as Fusand raised his hand. The others began making appreciative sounds about some spectacle she couldn’t witness. Her Shield Astralism automatically rejected any attempts to alter her senses - a habit born of hard experience.

"Oh, the detail in the petals is much better than before!"

Zyris exclaimed as she temporarily let her enthusiasm land elsewhere. The others all looked in the ’empty’ air above the boy’s hand. The other hero at the table added his own warm assessment.

"Quite impressive for your level of cultivation. Projection might be listed as the easiest to conceptualize of those that affect the five senses... but all spiritual matters require a strong imagination and control to master."

Corde nodded along with a stoic expression. Inwardly, she noted how the heiress had deliberately revealed her Astralism through *someone else*. The timing could have been nothing but calculated.

"You’re too kind. Elua’s guidance has been invaluable. She’s a lot better than I am."

Fusand mumbled then stiffened. The brown flush paled a bit as his head awkwardly twisted in small increments to look at the still smiling Goltbred girl. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to say that in front of other company!

"Oh? Perhaps you could show us as well, dear?"

Misinterpreting his look, Yatrel’s suggestion carried a parent’s pride. She had seen the girl show off visible blueprints of the branch building she designed. The woman was sure that a mere flower was nothing to her capable little girl!

"Beautiful!"

Zyris er Talcres clasped her hands together as servants all turned their gazes in interest. Her husband clutched at his chin while leaning forward to examine it. Meyran’s voice couldn’t hide how impressed he was.

"The way the light catches the edges... it doesn’t look out of place at all."

The Frozen Duskblade had felt another gentle pressure against her defenses, but again saw nothing of whatever display the others were admiring. Now would she lower them just to be part of things. Ondua whistled appreciatively while Nohre leaned closer to her mentor to whisper.

"Mas-... Elua, what kind of flower was that?"

Corde’s attention flickered over at partial slip. Had the girl with braided hair almost called her something else? Her awareness of how the girl’s black and gold dress caught the lantern light left an odd feeling in her heart.

Letting the boy go first felt like a test. The words of the Talcres rang in her head. Was it coincidence that the garment so perfectly referenced Yecine colors on the day she visited? She hadn’t thought so, even before now.

But... there was a murmur of a ridiculous question that she both wanted to ignore and wanted to find out all at once.

’Is such a *beautiful* dress even real?’