The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 266 - Come Forth! Skydancer Squadron Mobile Nest: Elua-G

Chapter 266: Chapter 266 - Come Forth! Skydancer Squadron Mobile Nest: Elua-G

The Wing & Talon Enclave’s makeshift aviary at the competition grounds was fairly active as Elua er Goltbred approached. What caught everyone’s attention there wasn’t *her* arrival, but rather how the four prized birds that were missing simply flew along behind her Skydancer without restraint or cage.

Guild attendants quickly rushed to inform their superiors while several handlers moved to intercept and gain control of the loose birds. Of course, they were dumbfounded when the creatures merely avoided their attempts while maintaining general proximity to the heiress.

"Is your Guild’s master around, or is he out attending the team competition?"

"Ah? He should be... at the main pavilion. Though I’m sure he will be here soon."

The woman answered the nice girl after a few seconds. Then she looked back towards where the birds landed on top of one of their arches meant to be used in the contest. She could have sworn that one of those birds had just dug and ate something out of its leg band...

"Alright. I guess I can wait for-"

"Thank you for your assistance, Lady Goltbred. We can take it from here."

The lead handler interrupted her while reaching for the forest green bird that was perched closest to the edge. It squawked indignantly before fluttering away from his grasp and over onto a nest of brown hair. The handler’s eyebrows pinched together while he muttered.

"That’s... odd."

Of all of them he had his part in training, the green one had been the friendliest. But the fact that it flew to a person and not into the air and away suggested it didn’t desire to escape - they simply preferred their current company. He looked back towards the others that huddled up on the little structure... all of them tensed to take off.

The man cleared his throat.

"Well, this is fine for now. We’re grateful for their recovery. Is it safe to assume you managed to bring them back without their cages?"

"Oh, I have those too at our camp. They seemed quite content to follow along without the imprisonment, don’t you think? It rather speaks to your excellent breeding and domestication programs."

Her ’sweet’ tone carried... maybe a touch too much amusement. After all, the man’s expression suggested he knew exactly how unusual this behavior was even for their specially trained birds. The one giving him the cold shoulder hopped from her hair and onto her shoulder, starting a song while looking everywhere but at him.

"These birds were specially trained for our contests. Yet, it seems they’ve grown rather attached to you."

As if to emphasize his point, the other three birds leapt into the air and glided to join the ’fun’. The midnight blue clung to her other shoulder while the gold and purple fought for the middle of the top of her hair. Elua stood still with a slightly stiff smile on her face.

’Is this how you repay me for only giving suggestions that time and not orders?’

The lead handler exchanged worried glances with his colleagues. Not only was their affluent guest being accosted by the creatures, but the birds were also acting strangely. While there was still time to try and get them looked at before the event...

"I’m sorry, but if you could bear with it until they calm down some, then we can-"

"I understand completely."

Elua smoothly interjected, preventing him from finishing his sentence. She was sure it was going to be something disadvantageous to her current intent. The handlers looked at her skeptically... a little surprised that the teenager wasn’t more *concerned* about the avian feet on her skull.

"Actually, perhaps we could come to an arrangement? I propose a purchase."

Some of the few members still moving about on their own tasks slowed and looked at her. Even if she had ownership of one of the creatures already, what she was saying could only be ’naive’ to them!

"A fair price for each bird, of course. I’m not asking for a discount. In return, I’d be more than happy to credit the Wing & Talon Enclave whenever their talents are displayed."

One of the younger handlers scoffed.

"These aren’t common pets, Miss Goltbred. They’re *very* valuable assets."

"Oh, I’m well aware~"

Her eyes sharpened on him as her saccharine voice lilted her response. The brunette was ’calm’, though there was an edge inside of her from the events of today that made her choose to note his face.

"Which is why I’m prepared to offer a premium for the set. Shall we discuss numbers? Are you someone with that kind of authority?"

While she tilted her head ’innocently’ at the young man who spoke out of turn... the lead handler hesitated. He was clearly torn by her suggestion. Their loss was already being weighed due to the theft, but now that they were back...

The main goal of them being part of the prizes had been to attract attention. In a way, that had already been accomplished. But he didn’t want to make it seem like their Guild was a pushover for those with great capital to put in their way. There was a balance to negotiations!

"It’s not just about the money. These birds represent years of work. Selling them before the contest we announced might damage our reputation..."

"From where I stand, it could be greatly enhanced. Your birds were raised to show gratitude and they choose their handler carefully. It’s an attestation of your expertise, really."

The Skydancers using her as a mobile perch all puffed up importantly and looked around. As if emphasizing her point and insinuating that they could tell when they were being complimented. She could see the gears turning in the minds of the other handlers.

Elua lowered her voice conspiratorially, though not so far that the others couldn’t hear.

"Besides - wouldn’t you rather have someone like me singing your Guild’s praises than a set of disgruntled birds disrupting your event? At this point I don’t think they will behave unless I get time to work with them."

"Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more appropriate. If you’ll follow me?"

He gestured toward a pavilion set apart from the aviary that looked a little nicer than the others. Elua noticed several more attendants hurrying toward the main competition grounds and it made her smile softly while nodding slowly. The birds all launched into the air while rearranging themselves into a loose formation that circled behind her.

The discussion of terms took time, particularly after the Guild master arrived and everything restarted all over again. His hasty return forced her to explain in plenty of artfully redacted detail how she had stolen back and waited for word from the Yecine that the thieves were handled. Yet eventually, the conversation wound to its inevitable conclusion.

"Your offer is... quite generous."

The old man admitted while stroking his chin thoughtfully. Against his first expectations, the young girl in her brown dress had never tried to throw any number well beyond the creature’s worth out. She had even pointed out calmly when his counters were unreasonable.

His eyes darted between the legal document before him and the birds still arranged contentedly around the chair of the young cultivator. They’d been far beyond well behaved the entire time - something he was aware was in part to due with the aura of intent the girl leaked around her.

"The Wing & Talon Enclave’s reputation for excellence is well known. It would be discourteous to offer anything less just because you are in a tough spot."

Elua’s ’sweet’ smile never wavered as she produced the banking drafts from her satchel and signed them. The Guild master’s expression suggested he recognized the political grace in her words, even as he accepted the payment.

"Your appreciation for them is evident. I trust these specimens will find themselves well cared for in your hands. Despite what it may seem, considering our plan to use them as prizes for our contestants, that was always the goal."

"Of course. It was a very logical way of finding competent and interested people. Now, if you’ll excuse me."

She rose and gracefully curtsied toward him. Then she looked like she just thought of something.

"That’s right - I should return your cages to you before the day grows too late. Though I may have my friends drop them off instead, if that is fine?"

He nodded and she turned to exit without another noticeable word or gesture. Yet, all five birds took wing ahead of her out of the opened tent flap. They circled the pavilion once before seemingly starting to play chasing games with each other... their moods buoyed by hers. Her pace quickened with each step back toward the main grounds until she was sprinting.

’Qat~ I’m on my way to be comforted, Qat~

The Enclave members that had gathered to wait for the result at the aviary entrance could only watch as their prized specimens chose to speed ineffectually after their new owner. The reincarnator whose thoughts and desires had now been set free to focus on the only thing she would claim to care about.

⟠ ⟠ ⟠

The branch manager’s steps slowed as a bad feeling grew. She caught sight of a familiar blur darting between tents ahead. Against her better judgment, Dima turned to track it - with enough time to see the Goltbred heiress sprinting that direction like someone possessed.

’Alright. At least she’s going in a different direction than I am... now. I can avoid that side of the grounds and the plans I had for a while. ’

Relief lasted only seconds before the sound of chirps made her look up. Her mouth fell open at the sight of five different iridescent birds racing through the air. In the same direction of that menace of a little snake. Even someone who had been trying to avoid engaging in the morning’s gossip knew those had to be the stolen Whispering Skydancers - plus Elua’s messenger.

"She... she didn’t..."

The woman shook her head. Even if the girl *did* steal them, what could she do about it? Her attention fell back to ground level as she turned and marched in the other direction. Dima tried not to think of the fallout of such a scenario, but couldn’t help it.

Her life had been upended all by that devil’s seeming innocence... but for better or worse that meant her lot was also tied to the heiress. For now. Shortly after that thought solidified, Dima’s heart sank as she recognized the form of Klaytei carrying what could only be the empty transport cages of birds toward... the Wing & Talon camp.

"What are you doing?"

The servant paused at hearing that voice. Schooling her happiness quickly, she offered a small smile.

"Ah, Branch Manager. I’m just running an errand for the young miss."

"You mean helping dispose of evidence."

Something like confusion flickered in the woman’s expression at her follow up. The former liaison stepped closer and lowered her voice.

"Listen, I know you feel... devoted to her. But you can’t let that lead you into criminal activities. You deserve better than throwing your life away for someone who-"

The words caught in her throat as she realized what she was saying. Wasn’t she herself already being drawn deeper into the heiress’s schemes? When had she last made a decision that wasn’t influenced by that girl’s manipulation?

"You’re very kind to worry about me. But it’s alright."

Klaytei’s eyes softened with a show of gratitude. She really felt it - both for the other woman being able to try and step forward... and for whatever grave misunderstanding she was under!

"How is it-"

"Thank you. It means a lot that you care."

The servant’s gentle smile and the quick way she continued back to her ’duty’ made Dima’s chest tighten. Of course she would still look at her employer’s schemes in such a way! Love was so troublesome...

’To think, I was just being nice and taking care of some labor all because those two looked a little out of sorts when they got back to the camp. Ah, my princess has such an overactive imagination!’

The branch manager couldn’t see from where she was left behind how the servant’s smile had transformed into something *far* more satisfied over a misunderstanding than anyone ever should be.