The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 217 - Differences In Controlled View: Inheriting A Path And Choosing It

Chapter 217: Chapter 217 - Differences In Controlled View: Inheriting A Path And Choosing It

The empty expression on Elua’s face starkly contrasted with the almost violent ’restraint’ she imposed on herself. The hints of ’handled’ but *existing* jealousy were making her want to prove herself faithful in ways that she knew she couldn’t allow to happen. Not for years longer.

"Yes. Alone - and as myself, of course. By which I mean my facade. The adorable medical fairy."

"Pointing out that you are adorable isn’t helpful."

The reborn cultivator conceded the point. She hadn’t been trying to be that helpful! At least not toward easing the *wonderful* feelings within her spouse that pressured her into acting on instinct. The tips of her fingers trailed random circles on the hand holding her wrist.

"It will be very natural and very public. I could better gauge how she might react to learning about the connection you two share... or possibly learn if she already knew of it."

The heiress pressed her small fingers into the gaps and curled the tips inward, holding onto the calloused hand slowly loosening its grip. Qat was quiet as she processed her wife’s suggestion. The fragment in her chest pulsed with ’patience’ and ’support’ as she considered each option.

The rest of the ancient cultivator was clearly roiling with a very contrasting ’hunger’... but of course the Yecine was learning to ’note, but ignore’ that aspect of her mint-drop.

"You really think she might be... worth knowing?"

"I wouldn’t have woken you if I didn’t. I would have just enjoyed watching you sleep. But it’s your choice, my fortress. Whatever you decide, I’ll handle it exactly as you prefer."

"I believe you’d try. Truly."

The soft laugh that escaped the tall girl made Elua’s empty expression warm the slightest amount, though she didn’t take note of it herself. Qat shifted to sit up properly while she kept her fingers linked with her wife’s. Having an unexpected family connection surface during the eighteen year event was... overwhelming.

’But if they carry the same values I do...’

"You can meet with her first. After the duels. If it seems like she doesn’t know, don’t reveal it yet."

"Of course. I’ll be perfectly innocent while I investigate her intentions."

The brunette leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her fortress’s cheek. It lasted for a half dozen seconds - and when she pulled away she pecked quickly again in the same spot. Elua stood and looked down at her beloved... forcing herself not to just drape over and complain audibly.

’Ugh, we should just stay in. Forget the competition. Forget everything! Is a day of absolutely nothing but clinging to her really an impossible ask?’

She knew it was. Life had other responsibilities. Meanwhile, the illusionist held too many irresponsibilities. Clinging would become kissing would become pushing boundaries... would become mistakes.

"Now, I should go before anyone else wakes. Don’t think about this issue any longer today. You need to focus on your matches."

Her ’invisible’ illusion shimmered into place as she moved toward the tent’s entrance. She paused just before slipping out, glancing back with that ’sweet’ smile and tone of voice she had perfected.

"But since you allowed me to do this for you, I’ll allow you to think of me while you’re out there winning. If I distract you, I’m willing to take the blame. You can even include me in your speech again."

A soft rustle at the tent entrance marked Elua’s departure. The spiritual tendrils that had been wrapped around the girl lingered in the air for a while. They slowly retracted as her wife got completely out of her limited range.

’It’s still amazing to think she can find me across the entire venue. Across the city.’

Her fingers traced the spot on her cheek where those gentle kisses had landed. The fragment in her chest still rang with echoes of her El’s emotions. She found herself appreciating how the brunette sat in front of her and fought those impulses.

Qatrand wondered if she would have bothered to ’fight’ and voice for her small wife to stop immediately... if she had done something ’strange’. Or if she would have waited for her to do it on her own, after realizing what she was doing. Like that time, that felt so long ago, when her neck had been bitten.

The teenager was unconfident about controlling her this morning. Especially after dealing with the Yecine elders yesterday. Any time Elua told her she wanted to be held back from doing things, she could easily agree. When *they* directly suggested she should ’keep a better hold on her behavior’...

"For a moment after he said that, I’d thought of making it clear. That the only control in this relationship was that which I’m asked for. That she relinquishes."

But she kept the words to herself, knowing they wouldn’t understand. None of them were her and none of them were El. The memory made her uncertainties about changing their mindsets flutter.

Her spirit curled protectively around the fragment of her wife’s presence, remembering how those elders had looked at her yesterday. As if El was some wild thing that needed to be controlled rather than... cherished.

Qat knew she was the only one El trusted with moments of genuine ’weakness’. With admissions of wanting care and attention. Yet sometimes she still doubted her own worthiness of that trust.

The person that provided it was the same person that provided her praise. It should be the only one whose opinion mattered.

’At times it is, but other times it feels limited. Like we might not be seeing ourselves in the correct way?’

The tall girl shook off the moment of sudden meditation and began her usual preparations. The swordswoman’s fingers drifted from her cheek to the back of her hair as it grew raven colored. She reached for the nearby black ribbon and bound the hair at her back.

Each motion felt thicker with tension than usual. As she retrieved her training attire, she couldn’t help but recall the words of the heiress about thinking of her during the matches. About taking *blame* for any distractions.

’As if I need their permission. I promised to treasure you of my own volition.’

Her hands moved through the familiar motions of securing her heavy blade. The fragment pulsed with distant ’pride’ as she readied for practice. Her mint-drop was definitely watching from somewhere. Instead of making her self-conscious, the attention actually steadied her.

She could let them think what they wanted about control and proper behavior, for now. Qatrand knew the truth of their relationship - how they chose to support each other’s growth rather than restrict it. Today she would show them all what that kind of trust could achieve.

"Well. Trust, hard work, and a lot of excessive knowledge being passed along.’

The sounds of the rest of the camp awakening filtered through the area as she worked through her forms. The teenager’s thoughts kept circling back to the woman who had placed third.

’I have their eyes. My mother’s ancestry...’

The realization made her pause after swinging downward. Not steely gray like her father’s, but that particular shade of blue. She had always *assumed* they came from her mother - and Yatrel had said something about it once - but seeing them on another person’s face made it more real somehow.

The fact that they were a pointedly different shade wasn’t important.

Qat forced her focus back to her movements. She couldn’t afford to be distracted today. The fragment pulsed with gentle ’reassurance’, reminding her of Elua’s words. She didn’t have to decide anything yet. For now, she just needed to concentrate on the upcoming matches.

’What else might we have in common?’

Staying unthinking about this topic was harder than she expected. Another set of forms passed by despite her wandering thoughts. Her next swing carried more force than intended. The girl adjusted her grip and steadied her breathing.

The duels weren’t about family mysteries or what-ifs. She had trained hard for these matches. Had pushed herself to grow stronger in her own way, at her own pace... and with advice from the person she loved.

The last part just might be why she quite briefly felt like a sort of imposter whenever something threatened her special place at Elua er Goltbred’s side. Lacking as a cultivator. As a ’husband’.

The fragment grew hot with ’support’. On the other end, the watcher did not know the source of the emotions... but it wouldn’t change things. At this point, Elua wasn’t sure anything could.

With her wife’s faith and her own determination to forge her path forward, she stepped through a defensive sequence. Qat realized something when she deviated a bit from her family style.

Every opponent she faced would see the same thing - a Yecine heir wielding their traditional heavy blade. But they wouldn’t understand that her strength came from *choosing* to keep a foot on this path rather than simply inheriting it.

’Maybe I’ll have to give another speech if I win, after all. To dedicate and let people know again that she is responsible for my victory.’

Though this time... she hoped to do it without a bird taking the stage.