The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 284 - Long Letters Are Lovely, But The Short Ones Strike Smoothest

Chapter 284: Chapter 284 - Long Letters Are Lovely, But The Short Ones Strike Smoothest

/ My Fortress,

The camp tonight is noisy in ways I would rather not experience or explain. But you seemed curious about what I was doing right now.

I’m working on legbands for the flock. They require specific sigils to ensure proper tracking and to communicate my directions.

I’ve sent this one to test the first design. Are you still meditating?

I could feel you trying to keep calm for my sake. It’s very sweet of you.

- Your Mint-Drop /

A smile bloomed at both the praise and over-explanation. The rather dangerous level of reveal of her abilities in crafting or directing these animals meant this one would need to go in her best sealed chest.

The letter was written in an extra tiny script, though that wouldn’t keep most cultivators from being able to read it. She had to wonder if someone else could read between the lines about why her wife’s camp was ’noisy’. Even their ’son’-in-law didn’t immediately get that her El’s parents were being *affectionate*.

Before she could consider even penning a response, another flutter and chirp announced a second bird. This one colored like her original companion landed directly on her knee with great familiarity after pushing in without waiting. But it was carrying another note on identical parchment.

/ This is the second note, if the first has not arrived yet! As if that were possible.

I’m adding a variation in the tracking sigils to allow for distinguishing between them at a distance. So I wanted to test both of their flights at once.

I keep thinking about our conversation earlier.

You said your back was tight, but I never did get to apply that ointment for you.

I still could, you know... if you want me to sneak in.

Are you at least comfortable?

- E /

The swordswoman’s brow pinched together. She could feel the ’anticipation’ for a positive response... and Qat felt it had more to do with allowing her to come over than the worry if she was alright.

’Its probably not a good idea.’

The blonde quickly reached for ink and paper, deciding a fast response was warranted before a third message arrived. Her ’hesitation’ was quite obviously going to be felt!

She enjoyed teasing Elua in person. Drawing out those flustered reactions that resonated through their connection. There was something profoundly satisfying about seeing the ancient, calculating mind reduced to stammering.

All by a well-timed comment or touch.

But tonight felt different. Qat would be extra careful about her words. The echoes coming through the fragment of her wife’s spirit carried not just the remnant urge, but ’frustration’.

A self-directed annoyance that didn’t amuse Qat at all. She didn’t want to push Elua further toward that. Especially when she was finding it harder to maintain her own resolve.

Qatrand would also rather have the cute brunette there than not...

/ El,

I was failing to meditate. Your birds and messages make for a welcome distraction.

The Yecine quarters are quiet tonight. I would offer to trade places, but I suspect that would defeat the purpose of your asking.

My back is feeling better now, thank you. Maybe next time.

- Your Qat /

She rolled the parchment and tied it with the first message’s ribbon. She offered it to the second bird who seemed to be a bit clingy with humans... just to get it out of her tent. The creature accepted her handling to secure it, well practiced on its look-alike, with an almost dignified manner.

The minutes that passed next, with the first of the new birds staring at her at a distance made her regret her choice just a little. It seemingly refused to be easily shooed away without a message. Qatrand eventually gave in and wrote a quick:

/ I love you. /

No sooner had the disconcerting bird left than the third Skydancer arrived. The dark blue one of them took flight after entering and circled overhead before landing on her sleeping mat to inexpertly dislodge its package. The message it carried was quite a bit longer... almost like it was trying to oppose the short note she just sent.

The parchment rolled up much thicker and the size of the script was no larger than at first.

/ My Beloved,

The third band as I write is now complete. I’ve incorporated small variations this time that should allow for enhanced range. A carrier wearing this should be able to find you or I anywhere within the competition grounds with much more simple commands.

The distraction of crafting cannot quiet my mind completely.

I’m sure you can feel it through our connection, but it’s been difficult tonight. You’ve been so patient with me. I sometimes wonder if it’s fair to ask it of you. Would you tell me if it became too much?

I remember when we first met, how careful you were around me. Composed and proper as a child can be. Now... you stand taller, meet my gaze so directly, and even tease me sometimes.

It’s been wonderful to see. So much so that, sometimes...

I worry you’ll grow beyond needing me.

But then I feel foolish for the thought.

I just miss you,

Always Your El /

The Yecine ’heir’ read the letter thrice. Each time slower than the last, feeling the intensity of the Goltbred heiress and her chosen words. The intent imparted into the material during her writing.

The vulnerability in letters sent ever since she found ways to get past any privacy oversights was not entirely new. But it was rare. Her wife, even when she was her fiance, did not fancy making her feel bad.

’As if I could ever outgrow her.’

A deep flash of protective tenderness took over the ’spiritual line’ between them, made more intense by the admission of that worry. The girl receiving it on the other end whimpered and held back happy tears.

Her written concern really struck a harmonizing chord within the swordswoman.

When they were younger, that reverse had been close to her opinion of things. The one being trained only to deceive for her position... would quietly wonder if the intelligent and strong brunette hiding her abilities would realize someday that Qat wasn’t good enough to protect her. That Elua herself would be more effective.

But she’d slowly accepted that, to the cute girl, she wasn’t replaceable.

With every thing she learned as they interacted, the secrets that came out, the trust shown to her... Qatrand accepted that there might never be such a day as the reincarnator being *okay* without her ’fortress’ present to take refuge in.

’And I... am fine with that. Though I will still hope.’

That one day, her wife would be completely surrounded by people she cared about that cherished her back. That they would serve as helpful distractions from her past trauma, present patience, and future anxiety. Not to make it easier for herself - merely to make the person she loved feel even a fraction happier.

Setting the letter aside carefully, she reached for fresh paper and released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Qat knew better than to respond to such openness with anything but the same volume of reassurance. Her spirit reaching out was only part of that.

/ Silly El,

I can feel it. I wish I could do more to help.

I don’t understand everything - not exactly - but enough.

You ask if I would tell you if things became too much. I believe I would. I’ve never shied from telling you before. But the very question may be irrelevant.

What you call my patience doesn’t feel like a burden to me. At its worst it feels like a trial. To be trusted with waiting for something so precious to you is my privilege.

As for growing beyond needing you... I’ve told you before that your belief in me, your guidance, and your occasional pushing of things... have all helped me become who I am now.

That’s why... no matter the perfect moment you’re waiting for, I’ll be waiting too. For however long it takes.

I miss you too - but I know you’re right there when I need you. /

She stared at the last words before folding the paper. Qatrand er Yecine felt a sudden surge - a sharp spike of longing that made her hand pause on tying the ribbon. She closed her eyes to absorb the sensation and mull over what might have triggered it.

’My returned notes?’

The deep-seated yearning for closeness to connect in person was almost... strangling. She finished tying her last letter to the waiting bird. This time, she walked outside her tent to let it loose and watched as it disappeared into the night sky.

Qat found herself wondering about the changes in her own desires.

The years of physical suppression had dampened her body’s responses, but they hadn’t eliminated her entire capacity for feeling... certain things. She had wondered if experiencing these sensations her wife was dealing with more directly, rather than primarily through the echo of Elua’s emotions might not help her understand further. Plan better.

But to allow herself to ’want’ as openly - as intensely - when she already struggled to not lose in her duty to restrain her wife? If she were to change that dynamic by exploring her own desires more fully at this point...

A fourth messenger arrived as she stood outside for a long time, meditating more effectively than in the confines of the tent. The Skydancer landed directly on her shoulder... the primary creature that her El had been given as a wedding gift. The message it carried was quite brief this time.

The handwriting however... was less controlled. She might even call it *excitable*. With a small doodle on either side that appeared to be a pair of hands holding each other and-

/ What sort of things were you thinking about?

- A Curious Mint-Drop /

Qat felt a flush of warmth rise to her cheeks at the question paired with the two little faces kissing.