The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 287 - Promises Mean Something Different When Lifetimes Aren’t Marked By Hourglasses

Chapter 287: Chapter 287 - Promises Mean Something Different When Lifetimes Aren’t Marked By Hourglasses

Some of the very crowd of spectators that may, or may not, make it out of the war unscathed began to disperse. Some mortals moved toward the station campsites - where those assigned closer evacuation timings were being temporarily moved.

Meanwhile, those in the viewing areas still bantered a while longer about the display they’d witnessed before they had to switch gears again. As the members of the Goltbred retinue prepared to depart, a tall and raven haired figure strode their way in her family’s traditional black suit. Qatrand had excused herself from the Yecine elders’ immediate planning session.

She had been unable to break away all day. Until now, only the extra calm emotions from her wife compared to yesterday had been felt. The teenager was looking forward to seeing her in person and making sure the heiress wasn’t hiding her state.

As the swordswoman passed by Talva er Ryleon, they both acknowledged each other with looks and nods - but neither slowed their pace. Each had their duties to fulfill. One brunette was also busily fulfilling a condition that could be called an obligation or duty.

’You’re making my Qat wait on me!’

Elua er Goltbred intercepted Dima before she could quietly make her escape. Mint eyes locked on the woman as she hopped into her path and waved her hand softly in the air.

"Branch manager, a moment."

The ’senior’ member of the Coiled Serpent Guild stiffened. She was acutely aware that she’d spent the entire ceremony avoiding the heiress despite accepting her servant’s invitation. Dima had really hoped to scoot out before that attention was gained!

Klaytei who was ’seeing her off’ cast a ’concerned’ glance between them before dutifully stepping aside. Her ’worried’ expression only heightened the former liaison’s unease. It was already sky high just because of the... not particularly *cute* clothing the girl wore.

’She is always in dresses. Why is it this unsettling just to see her in something tighter that does not flutter?’

The woman wanted to believe that it was not just because the young teen still looked ’good’ even in the simple and practical attire of slim white tunic and brown pants. That it was more about the ’change’ in behavior than something so vain.

’It is ridiculous to be envious of her youth. I am not so old...’

While Dima waited for whatever doom was about to befall her, Elua was growing more irritated. It was one thing to agree to this for her personal servant’s sake days before and another entirely in the moment of performance.

"I understand you’ll be based in an area around the south. Working as a floating sigilist for the martial guilds like I plan to for The Ironclad Order."

The edge in her intent could still be felt beneath the polite veneer and voice.

"That’s correct. I’ve already begun reviewing the inventory logs that are essential to-"

"Be careful."

The brunette cut in as her voice dropped lower.

"The roads toward the eastern fortresses down there aren’t as secure as the military reports suggest."

The warning hung between them as the girl crossed her arms. An expression was on her face that was direct enough that the branch manager couldn’t even immediately think of what she might be veiling.

’Rather, shouldn’t she be feigning her smile more than this, normally?’

"Oh. Okay?"

The illusionist intentionally let her eyes flicker briefly toward Klaytei.

"If you go missing, some people might grow upset thinking something happened to you. That would be... unfortunate."

’Showing interest and being *genuinely* nice to this woman. Somehow I feel like I got the worse end of this deal we made.’

Elua’s tongue rolled in her mouth, as if the very thought of voicing such concern disgusted her. The ambiguity of both warning and threat being delivered right in public made Dima’s mouth go dry. Rich people were fearless!

"How thoughtful to consider the feelings of others in such a matter."

She managed to say with a steady enough voice, though her spirit pulsed with a ’dread’ that let the reincarnator understand she had failed her task this time. Elua’s ’sweet’ smile returned, looking even more empty to the ones she terrorized without meaning to.

"Safe travels, Branch Manager."

The heiress turned away after a curtsy, feeling lucky that the person she made the deal with was not a cultivator. Her servant would never know the difference in success or failure unless the other woman tattled her own paranoia! The schemer felt that even that would be acceptable for Klaytei.

"Being relied on as a confidante is sometimes a good first step into someone’s heart too~"

The Ogre’s surprisingly fleet feet took her out of range of their hearing for her out loud musing... and into the arms of her beloved turning to catch her in the air. Leaving behind two women with wavelengths that were nowhere close to matched.

"My lady isn’t very good at making friends, but I hope you’ll be patient with her."

The key figure responsible for her rapidly beating heart - though not in the way the servant secretly hoped - asked this of Dima. The sigilist found herself frozen in place... uncertain whether she’d just received some sort of protection by proxy just for getting along recently with the other woman next to her.

’I didn’t think the Goltbred heiress cared so much for her at all. Wasn’t she just given the job at the branch so she could have a servant close by?’

More unsettlingly, it could be a warning of what might happen if she kept trying to stick her nose into their affairs.

"She means well."

Klaytei’s soft assurance pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. The warm smile from the woman appeared genuine enough, told through years as a liaison that had taught Dima some things with her Clarity. To look beneath surface expressions in order to better get along with the people she worked with.

A skill that seemed useless against the ’little snake’.

"Does she? I’ve never really-"

Something caught her eye and broke off what she intended to say. A man with a very familiar hourglass hanging from his belt passed by them. She’d seen him from the other side up in one part of the viewing area with the cultivator woman who walked just ahead.

Dima’s brow pinched as she watched him. What he had was identical to the "unique gift" now packed carefully among her evacuation essentials. She felt silly for hoping... but the item was still of fine quality!

’I can’t believe I’m trying to convince myself to find silver linings about this.’

Klaytei followed her stolen gaze with narrowing eyes.

"Do you know him?"

The question carried an undertone that Dima couldn’t quite place. She turned back to find the kind woman’s expression had shifted to something more professional. Her eyes darted between the branch manager and the retreating figure.

"Ah? No, I just..."

The woman wasn’t sure how to say she had been fooled again by the servant’s employer. Especially when she had just been asked to make friends with the very person. Klaytei saved her the trouble when she began speaking - with her usually composed voice slightly hurried.

"I hear he’s quite skilled with his Element. I saw their performance once, though I didn’t really get that since I’m a mortal, I guess. If you’re interested in elemental techniques, I’m sure the south will have many such talented practitioners as well for you to talk to."

The sigilist blinked at the unexpected rush of information. For some reason, it felt like the other woman was a little upset with her, though she couldn’t understand what she’d done to cause that. She chose to set aside both her thoughts about the gift and this strange reaction.

"I really should finish my packing. The southern garrisons are a little far, so I’ll be among the first groups leaving."

The jealousy soothed rapidly as the servant fought not to offer her service. She’d seen the woman’s tent last night, there wasn’t truly enough there for two people to work on.

’I also have to keep us more professional. Respect my job with the Goltbreds. I need to stick to my plan!’

"Please be careful. Like my lady said."

Klaytei urged as her fingernails dug into her own palm to help return her composure. Dima found herself caught in the servant’s earnest gaze. She wasn’t really sure that what the heiress had done was anything like what the woman before her thought it was, but still...

"I’ll do my best to return in one piece."

The promise felt weightier than she’d intended as it left her lips. The former liaison had not really had someone to ’return’ to... or that would care so greatly if she went missing on some mountain pass due to the machinations of a rich teenage girl.

Klaytei watched her turn and go and her fingers started worrying at her sleeve. For her safety first, but also because her Princess had been looking at another man. A cultivator, no less. Someone who could protect her in ways a mere mortal servant couldn’t during the coming conflict.

’Someone who could live a life with her longer than me...’

⟠ ⟠ ⟠

"What is it?"

The muscular Yecine still holding onto her clingy mint-drop asked suddenly, when she sensed a change in the spirit her tendrils were holding onto. The brunette turned her head and looked back in the direction she’d come from. Mint eyes dulled then regained their light as she shook her head.

"Nothing to worry about. Just a common struggle in our world."

So the ancient cultivator said, knowing that only someone that had experienced it personally could understand the very particular mesh of ’anxiety’, ’love’, ’death’, and ’fear’. It would be easy for another cultivator to think it was just her silly servant worrying for the other woman’s safety.

’If it does start to work out between them, I guess I’ll extend my promise to her... and have a friendly conversation with that woman. About accepting the limited time you have with someone even knowing that it will be painful.’