The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 208 - When Second Best Steals The Show, Everyone Else Receives Our Consolation Prize... A Cloud Of Indifference?!

Chapter 208: Chapter 208 - When Second Best Steals The Show, Everyone Else Receives Our Consolation Prize... A Cloud Of Indifference?!

A set of mint eyes swept across the massive gathering along the paths between the towers and the main stage. In the distance, her fortress stood ready at the base with two others also positioned before their respective regional tower.

Of course, besides her Qat being the best one - she just was! - the Whispering Skydancer that perched regally on the swordswoman’s shoulder made her stand out. Its twilight plumage contrasted sharply to her traditional black attire. Not to mention everyone who had been at the venue for very long had seen the bird at some point - and practically all of those had heard the rumors.

An expensive pet owned by the ’Medical Fairy’ that had made their afternoons that much more pleasant. Most of those from the region knew that a Goltbred had been married to a Yecine, but this little display made it clear to so many others only visiting. A certain prodigious sigilist had a connection with one of the winners!

At the sound of the signal horn, all three winners began their formal approach. The Skydancer launched gracefully from Qat’s shoulder after a few steps. It darted forward and flew the path ahead like an honor guard before making circles around the stage.

Many still watched the three cultivators, but quite a few were distracted by the bird. Its powerful wings carried it in sweeping arcs that drew their eyes skyward until finally returning to the proud stride of the Yecine heir moments before it was time to stand in place. The Skydancer somehow made the action look both protective and ceremonial.

Several of the gathered merchants whispered appreciatively at the display. A certain illusionist smirked at the stolen publicity as more people paid attention to her Qat on stage than the first place finisher - a wiry young man who looked like he found all the attention overwhelming.

Her avian companion, meanwhile, was a little irked that it had to perform like a jester in front of all these people!

Ignoring that tiny irritated spirit, Elua fixed her gaze briefly on the third-place winner. A mature blonde woman whose military bearing and outfit spoke of Continental Army service. The brunette tilted her head as she gauged the resemblance - a muscular build and blue eyes.

’...Really?’

The heiress noted that Anper’s face remained mostly impassive, though Elua didn’t fail to take in the slight tensing of his jaw... as well as how his spirit almost looked as ’cornered’ as when he faced her at the wedding. Standing beside her, Lirades’ whole intent seemed to sharpen on the man’s slight reaction rather than the ceremony itself.

’Interesting...’

"Today we witnessed more than a simple race to the summit."

The Frozen Duskblade’s voice sounded out and prevented the reincarnator from pulling at these familial threads. She decided there were other moves to make beyond *any* that directly involved her father-in-law. It wasn’t like she expected direct honesty with the way his spirit looked, anyway.

"Each cultivator who attempted the climb has now demonstrated their readiness to face the challenges ahead. Through strength of body, clarity of mind, and mastery of their energies - they proved themselves worthy of recognition."

While continuing the traditional speech, her gaze swept over the three standing around her at the center. A nervous scout, a calm enigma with a puppeteer, and a stone faced warrior. As this would be her fourth Descent, she could confidently think-

’This seems about right. A specialist, an unknown, and a hard worker with something to prove. This event often pulls combinations like this.’

"Our trio of champions particularly exemplify these qualities. As was requested of me by the Void Defense Society, I will now add my own personal words to this praise."

The statement excited the crowd, who knew full well that most of what they would hear out of the famous swordswoman would be standard words spoken for many cycles. Elua wanted to imagine that the squeal she just heard from her family’s section from a Talcres hadn’t just been given alongside a loud cheer.

’What are those adults even doing...?’

"Third place to Talva er Ryleon of the Continental Army, whose disciplined approach speaks to her years of experience. Second to Qatrand er Yecine of The Ironclad Order, whose innovative final ascent showcases the potential of novel methods. And first to Karis er Malthen of the Whispering Winds, whose mastery of mountain climbing allowed for speed far surpassing his martial peers."

She gestured to encompass the gathered crowd, returning to the prepared speech.

"As we continue through the coming days of competition, remember that individual achievement serves best to strengthen us all. Each display of skill, each mastery in technique, prepares us better for the trials ahead."

Her hands lowered and she allowed one to rest relaxed on her blade’s hilt. Corde was used to eyes and crowds being on her. That didn’t stop it all from being draining. She was glad to pass the torch for a bit.

"Now, I invite our champions to share their own thoughts on this achievement."

Without any hesitation, the blonde woman on stage stepped forward to the center where the sound magnification ritual was located. The deep - as if Elua needed more confirmation - but feminine voice carried the crisp enunciation of someone very used to engaging in military briefings.

"I am honored to achieve third place. The Continental Army values both individual excellence and cooperative strength - traits that will serve us well in the coming trials."

As the third place turned away, Qatrand stepped to the center next. Under the gaze of so many eyes, ’his’ bearing was steady and confident. The voice was just as rich and deep as the prior speaker, though its timbre proved far more ambiguous - enough that no listener would suspect the Yecine was *not* the male they portrayed.

"This victory belongs not just to me. It belongs to those who trained and believed in me. My family, myself, and my wife."

To be diplomatic, she added a party into her statement. After all, it wasn’t as if everyone in the Yecine shared her father’s opinion. The Skydancer’s head tilted at that last word as a spiritual tendril brushed against it. The usual sign to return to its owner.

Wings spread wide as it launched from its shoulder perch. With flaps that drew much attention, it climbed upward before diving toward the Yecine viewing area. Elua had *honestly* tried to contain herself, but she had slipped forward to bounce happily against the railing the moment she heard her beloved start speaking to the crowd.

The Goltbred’s hands were covering up her brightly flushing face as many were able to witness the twilight bird settling atop her head. After a few seconds and a shudder, the brunette managed a small wave to the crowd now fixed her way while coaxing the creature down to perch more ’properly’ on her arm.

’Of all the times to be direct and mention me, my fortress... bravo. Someday I will expect every one of your wooings!’

In the middle of that, the first-place winner’s anxious energy seemed to build. The youth darted forward as if to get it over with and burst forth a loud statement.

"I-I’m grateful for this achievement!"

The young Karis found his voice cracking as he realized he didn’t have to yell.

"B-but I worry I won’t place again. Everyone will be disappointed and-"

The scout’s rambling trailed off as he noticed Corde’s stern gaze. As usual, the beauty nearby must have found a reason to hate him already! Scattered and sympathetic chuckles rose from the crowd due to his anxiety... along with a few unintelligible heckles from deep within the sea of people representative of his region.

The Frozen Duskblade smoothly stepped forward to conclude the ceremony portion for today... but Elua’s attention remained fixed on her husband-wife. Likewise, the ’heir’ had her face aimed directly towards where the bird flew. A ’content’ pulse through the fragment suggested her Qat had achieved exactly what she intended with her statement.

She couldn’t know that such a ’scheme’ had primed the ancient cultivator for potential disaster. The mint-eyed girl wanted nothing more than to run over, share a hug, and kiss the one she loved as passionately as any she had ever given. Feeling unwelcome, the bird on her arm took flight once more.

The sea of people was already ’noise’, but the immediate Yecine surroundings had at least been marked as ’necessary noise’. Of course, Elua couldn’t tell the difference now. It was all the buzzing of mosquitoes.

"Father says girls just distract from important training."

Ajoreal’s voice carried a particular tone - a curl of distaste wrapped around the words of a child that sought to sound quite like the adult they emulated. The boy was sure this would provoke a reaction! Yet... the petite figure in her black dress didn’t even twitch.

"Brother wasted time mentioning you instead of talking more about our family’s strength."

Emboldened by her silence and seeing a chance to show his junior how it was done, his older brother stepped closer. His attempt was just as haughty but a little more like the man who taught him. If his target had even heard, she might give him points for it.

Instead, dull mint eyes remained fixed on the distant stage. Elua had allowed her spirit to wrap completely around the fragment in her chest except for a high arcing beam that treated the space between them as irrelevant distance to be ignored. Through it, she poured out her desire for the other girl to come straight there and spoil her.

"Are you even listening?"

Kaland’s fingers tugged at her dress with growing frustration. The motion finally drew her gaze - a brief, empty glance that carried neither anger nor actual acknowledgment. Just pure indifference to anything not Qatrand.

If she hadn’t etched the sigils in her silver dress so perfectly, she would have made ’trouble’ for her love. Verifying that it wasn’t the case and that he held ’black silk’ was her only goal. That momentary attention felt much worse than hostility. Such raw apathy was something they had never known.

The two boys stepped back, deeply unsettled by how thoroughly their existence had been abruptly dismissed. Lirades and Anper both watched the entire interaction with their own varieties of interest. They both noted how the girl’s usual careful mask had slipped, though one had experienced similar before.

In the perception of the two adults, that face revealed something far more unsettling than mere rudeness. The complete absence of pretense or performance around them suggested depths that the eldest Yecine woman hadn’t anticipated. A certain father-in-law thought he knew.

"You two, get away from-"

The ’respected’ elder’s voice cut off as ’indifference’ swept over him in response to his ’fear’. The entire Yecine contingent and a good chunk of the others surrounding their pavilion felt the weight of being ’lesser concerns’. Lesser than a spouse merely watching the other just exist from afar.

Lesser than waiting patiently on the tall teenager rushing that way.