The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 248 - What Is Poison Swallowed To Some Is Just Spicy Flavor To Others

Chapter 248: Chapter 248 - What Is Poison Swallowed To Some Is Just Spicy Flavor To Others

The letter felt heavier than its single page should allow as Qatrand approached the Yecine elder’s meeting pavilion. Her father had summoned the others quickly after she requested an audience. She’d heard some of the opinions yesterday, but now she needed to present Corde’s formal offer of training.

There was tension beneath her calm exterior. The fragment in her chest stirred with a gentle pulse of ’support’, though she could tell her wife was still slightly irritated at being kissed only once. That divided feeling of the brunette provided some comfort.

’I wonder if she is still pouting.’

It let her know she wasn’t the only one that was of two minds. On her current task... and on leaving the cute girl to her own devices. It was not that she didn’t trust her El to be ’on her own’, but rather that Qat wanted to be involved more.

Most of her plans kept the Yecine ’heir’ out of it, directly. It was hard to feel like you were protecting someone when they were doing too good of a job at protecting *you*.

Entering the large tent, the swordswoman was met with the shadowed faces of the gathered elders. She gave a formal salute and bow, feeling a lot calmer now than when she walked there.

"Honorable elders. I come seeking your guidance regarding the offer of instruction from the Frozen Duskblade."

The words came out steady despite her remaining uncertainty. She withdrew the sealed letter and presented it with both hands to Anper. His expression remained carefully neutral as he broke the seal and began to read. When he was done, he passed it along and stood quietly as the letter made it around the tent.

Lirades shifted forward in her granted seat. No one had wanted to argue with her sitting in this evening, though they didn’t bother to pass it directly to her. The other elders maintained their stern facades after reading, but their spirits betrayed varying degrees of anticipation for those that knew how to look.

"The terms are... quite generous. She offers to personally oversee your combat training after the Descent."

Some of the elders exchanged meaningful looks after the senior elder announced his careful opinion. Qatrand kept her posture straight but allowed a hint of her genuine hesitation to show in her eyes.

"I have concerns about accepting this opportunity."

An elder frowned before stepping forward to speak.

"Concerns? The Frozen Duskblade has not visited our region since her tour showing off that Anti-Essence Aspect of hers after she was adopted into the Iralev house. The fact she would teach one of ours her techniques..."

"I do not doubt her capability or sincerity."

The swift response from the heir drew several considering looks. Her mind drifted briefly to how El might tease her for being too stiff while speaking to them. Qatrand shifted her stance, not dropping the stance entirely... but easing it.

"Then would you care to explain what it is you felt necessary to bring to our attention?"

Pigeon blues locked with the steel gray of Anper er Yecine. He and some others had not been especially pleased in their words when they first heard about this opportunity yesterday. Of course, they had only given her part of their opinions before sending her away at the time.

"There is... a form of tension between her and my wife."

The man’s eyes narrowed at the mention of the Goltbred to his question, but Qatrand continued before he could speak.

"The woman seems to believe that something nefarious is going on."

She could almost feel the entire room grow tight. The faction behind her and her father felt defensive of their plot... while the others merely felt defensive of the reminder that the heiress had shaken them after the tower climb winner’s ceremony. It was easy to attribute ill-intent to anything that gave you a sense of fear.

Similar to how things that go bump in the night must exist because the unknown in the darkness scares you.

"Explain."

The senior elder demanded, but the most senior *person* followed behind it.

"A woman’s instincts are usually pretty good. But sometimes we fixate on what someone is hiding without why... and merely assume it’s the same reason as had hurt our heart before."

Lirades happened to know a little more about Corde hez Iralev than most. Not because she was a specific fan like a certain father and his friend... but because she had met the woman’s monster in the dark. The illusionist that had manipulated her before she fled to the continent and was adopted.

The men in the room listened to the advice through one ear as it passed through their skulls. Only a few, like Qatrand, bothered to save it inside to examine later.

"Based on the phrases she used, I think Corde expects that my El has been... manipulating me to serve as a tool."

The words tasted strange in her mouth as they left. It wasn’t untrue - the woman did apparently believe that - but presenting it this way felt like a betrayal of El’s actual help and support. Still, she needed them to try and understand her real hesitation.

"And you disagree with this assessment?"

Her father’s tone held an edge to it that she hadn’t expected. Not ’anger’, but something closer to... ’interest’. After a moment of thought, the realization that he might actually approve of Corde’s suspicions made her stomach turn.

"I have worked hard for every advancement I’ve made. My wife has supported that work, not undermined it. Do you disagree?"

The defense came automatically, though she kept her voice exceptionally level. Even though the tender and cold wound in her spirit throbbed a little. An older elder who had not spoken yet snorted softly.

"The Frozen Duskblade clearly sees something worth investing in, regardless of past influences. Her judgment in martial matters is well-respected. It is not an offer someone of her fame would make just to spite."

Qatrand felt an odd disconnect listening to them discuss this as more chimed in. These same men who quietly disapproved of women and their potential for strength were now advocating for her to train under one. The irony of their ignorance about her own gender... and the deceit of some of them towards the others made the moment feel almost surreal.

’But maybe this... is a sign that I might not always have to pretend?’

Her thoughts turned to her younger brothers. To how they parroted their father’s views and how they were willing to give her advice actual thought once they understood she wasn’t going to berate them.

What would they think, seeing the legendary Frozen Duskblade demonstrate her power?

’If they could sit in on the training and witness more greatness from a female firsthand, then perhaps...’

"The dueling results showed that our teaching methods have merit. All of our participants placed acceptably compared to past tournaments."

Several elders nodded at the statement, though whether in genuine agreement or simple politics was harder to read. They looked at the result as a monolith and failed to properly praise the peak of such an obelisk. Qatrand had not received much more than a curt ’well done’ from any of them.

Their shift away from questioning the generations position of heir was a quiet benefit and not one as easily felt.

"Merit. Surely the kind that could only be enhanced through external perspectives. Sometimes I really wonder if you hear yourselves."

Lirades’ dry comment drew a few sharp looks, but none dared to directly confront the talk of contradictions. Even when her words challenged their sense of tradition, it was simpler to ignore the woman’s age and experience that demanded respect. Neither ’side’ was poised to change their mind on some things.

"I have an idea."

The words left her mouth almost instinctively. The filled tent sharpened on Qat and caused her back to straighten out again. Her posture matched the firmness of her low voice.

"I would never waste the Frozen Duskblade’s time with those too young to learn. But if she is going to be training me, then allowing the other youth to watch occasionally - to see what heights of skill are possible through dedication and proper study..."

Qatrand trailed off as more than one spirit in the tent flickered with approval at her final phrasing. She hadn’t intended to echo their own teaching methods in her attempt to convince them, but the similarity seemed to resonate. An elder of the faction backing her cleared his throat.

"The Yecine way has always been to show by example. As well as to uphold our duty together. I am sure we can arrange it so that any potential benefit reaches more swordarms."

Something in how readily they accepted this proposition felt wrong. Like walking up stairs in the dark and finding one more step than expected. The motions (deference) were correct from her memory, but the ground was not where she thought. For a moment, the fragment in her chest stirred with ’amusement’.

’Is she reacting to my state, or...?’

Meanwhile, Anper’s face remained carefully neutral, but there was an unfamiliar set to his jaw. As if he were holding back words that wished to escape. She looked towards him and asked the real request.

"Then, my brothers will be allowed to watch and learn from this situation?"

"Yes... seeing such mastery firsthand could be... educational."

The words seemed to cost him something to say. Yet, there was a calculating edge to the outer part of his spirit that made Qatrand wonder what angles she wasn’t seeing deeper inside.

For his part, Anper felt like a man who had found a use for a bitter medicine. Swallowing poison just to kill the predator after you. The sense of quick heartburn was actually quite similar to what had occurred when he was agreeing to the original plot against the Goltbred family.

Against Ondua.

But alas, like then... he was too focused on his displeasure and felt too cornered to do much more than move forward aggressively. His daughter kept her expression steady despite the growing sense of unreality. She had expected resistance, arguments, perhaps even outright rejection.

This careful acceptance felt like walking into a trap she couldn’t quite see.

But then, wasn’t that exactly what El had predicted would happen?