The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 397 - But Foresight Does Have It’s Moments…

Chapter 397: Chapter 397 - But Foresight Does Have It’s Moments...

"...Is that how it looks, even to you?"

Nysoi er Valmenf asked gently and Leysah took a sip of her drink to calm down. She hated dealing with people that either knew what you were going to say... or thought they did.

"From where I sit, outside of your family, it looks like he’s trying to trade you for shipping contracts."

"That’s... not entirely unfair. But it’s also how the world works. Established cultivator families form alliances through marriage. Even if there is no basis of bloodlines for stronger children, it still allows them to pool resources for mutual benefit. In that case, what I want shouldn’t matter more than what’s practical."

"Shouldn’t it?"

The curved blade wielder found herself invested in this conversation despite not wanting to be. It wasn’t her desire to talk to a stranger about their life and the world. Her own small world was more than enough. But lately she’d opened it just a little to include Qat - and that young woman’s sphere of influence would grow very large.

"What ’he’ spoke isn’t just romantic sentiment. ’He’ just tried to tell an entire crowd full of political powers that ’he’ understands ’his’ love for someone else - someone specific - makes ’him’ a better leader, a better fighter, a better person."

Nysoi squinted and grimaced as her talking partner spoke. She’d thought she would get to drop the confusing way of speaking about another woman if she approached one who seemed to know the truth, but it seemed that was premature!

"But her... ’his’ marriage serves political purposes too. The alliance between the Yecine and Goltbred families-"

"Started as political arrangement, yes. I’m not saying it didn’t. That’s not the point I’m trying to make."

The older woman - not even one and a half time’s the younger’s age - paused to choose her words carefully. Lecturing someone else when she’d never experienced romantic feelings felt wrong. But she’d seen plenty of relationships and formed her opinion of them.

"What if the key isn’t finding the right match in the eyes of others - but finding someone who you feel actually sees you? Someone who makes you want to be the best version of yourself? I feel like that is what they have... and I don’t think that’s something you just grow into feeling by luck."

Being quiet for a long while to process this, the reddish-blonde clawed in frustration at the table. The results of her Astralism usage just now were not great - firm rejection. A heavy sigh escaped her, realizing that it was hard to find someone that covered all of your ideal bases.

’Her eyes were so nice...’

"What if I never find that? What if I’m just... destined to always be alone?"

Such words stirred her half-buried fears and uncertainties, the fragmented emotions of Leysah’s past life remained... aching of once having a *sort* of love - not entirely romantic - for someone she couldn’t save. The woman did not understand that in any solid way, but did known she sometimes worried too much about the safety of people she respected.

"Then you’ll be alone. But you won’t be entering into a lie for it. Maybe being true to yourself will attract the right person when you least expect it."

"Do you really believe that?"

With that wistful question, Leysah looked away and back toward Qatrand. Confident as she discussed things with her peers - peers who were twice or more her age in some cases. The answer to Nysoi felt tangled up in secrets and feelings she couldn’t fully explain - which was the story of her life. But it was also simple enough, in a way.

"I’m starting to. Authenticity has a gravity to it that can inspire others."

Around this time, Dris er Valmenf had finished his rounds of damage control and diplomatic face-saving with the people who had hopes of success on his endeavor. Now, he was coming to collect his most valuable political asset.

"Nys, we should be departing soon. I’ve made our apologies and early arrangements for tomorrow’s travel-"

Leysah’s hand shot out, gripping Nysoi’s shoulder with the firm pressure of someone accustomed to restraining struggling opponents. The younger woman tensed but didn’t resist at all... understanding immediately that something significant was happening. Even if it wasn’t the significance she had hoped for.

"Actually, Valmenf... I think I’ll be taking your daughter’s time tonight, if that’s perfectly alright with you."

Her voice carried the sort of calm, militant authority that made the interrupted Dris raise his eyebrows. The sort of tone that a guardsman or official investigator might use during wartime. Around them, conversations began to quiet as other guests sensed another dramatic moment brewing with him at the center.

"She has been discussing some business opportunities that I think may smooth things over quite effectively with the young heir."

Her grip on Nysoi’s shoulder tightened just enough to communicate the seriousness of the situation... that the teenager should do her best to cooperate and not make things difficult. The patriarch’s expression turned cautiously interested as he turned his eyes on the girl.

After the earlier public moment, any chance to salvage something of a connection from this debacle would be valuable - especially if it came from someone clearly connected to the strike force. Though he couldn’t help but note the tension in both of their postures...

"What sort of... arrangements are we discussing?"

"The sort that require careful negotiation and complete discretion."

His daughter responded smoothly, really wishing that the woman would stop clutching her shoulder. Her hand pinched on her skirt, begging it not to do something like reach up. Not to place a touch back on the curved blade wielder’s sudden skinship.

"I’m sure you understand the delicate nature of such discussions, particularly after this evening’s... misunderstandings. You should let me try and pursue this, father."

Across the pavilion, pigeon blue eyes had been drawn by the shift in atmosphere. The young strike force commander began making her way over just like she was responding to a teammate’s signal in the middle of a battle.

"Well..."

Dris hesitated to agree while clearly weighing his options. But the evening had already gone disastrously wrong - refusing what sounded like a potential salvage operation that his own child seemed confident in could make things even worse.

"Of course, I would be happy for any mutually beneficial agreements to all parties involved. Are you confident in that, Nysoi?"

"Oh, I’m quite certain they will be."

Leysah replied instead, with undertones that made the teenager’s Clairvoyance spark with nervous energy. It really bothered her... that some of the more extreme possibilities only made her like the woman more.

’At least friends. People start as friends sometimes, right?’

"Yes, father. Comprehensive benefits for everyone concerned."

Her throat was dry as she watched Qatrand er Yecine approaching. The Valmenf Patriarch might think this was entirely about trade negotiations or discussing political alliances... but she understood perfectly that her evening - and possibly her entire future - had just taken a very different turn because of her choice to approach a set of beautiful sharp eyes.

"Excellent. Then I’ll leave you to your negotiations. I trust you’ll represent our family’s interests appropriately."

He began to withdrew with a respectful bow to Qat who he saw coming that way. Leysah finally released Nysoi’s shoulder - but remained close enough to intervene if the girl tried to flee, which she had in her Clairvoyant ’simulations’ that didn’t end well.

She often tried to foresee routes she would never take, just to learn information that she might not gain otherwise. The accuracy on it was not completely reliable, but it did achieve some interesting results from time to time.

’Why does she always pin me like that...?’

Each capture had ended with a hand firmly on the back of the neck... and the spine of a curved blade caressing her chin. Some chases were more aggressive than others, especially if Nysoi managed to actually make distance. However, it seemed inevitable she would be caught... and she thought it might be because she wanted to be.

The interesting results were more often things she learned about herself, than about others.

"I’m sure that whatever is going on has reached the point where a more private discussion is in order. Is that a fair assessment?"

Qat’s low voice was aimed at Leysah, who nodded back severely without taking her eyes off of the Valmenf. The blonde swordswoman turned toward the ’desperate’ and ’nervous’ young woman, who couldn’t be more different than her but for age. She had the look of someone standing at a crossroads with no clear path forward.

"I see."

A hand moved unconsciously to her heavy sword’s hilt, gripping once before letting go while repeating the gist of her earlier vow in her heart. She wanted to remember it perfectly to tell her El someday what she’d said. Nysoi rose gracefully while smoothing her blue skirts with hands that trembled only slightly.

"Then I suggest we take a walk. The air outside might help relax the situation a touch... and lead us toward that privacy we will not find here."

"That sounds like an excellent idea."

Qat agreed with her suggestion an gestured toward the closest edge of the encampment. A place away from the pavilion’s warm lights and near the fortress wall... so it did not have any patrolling soldiers.

"Commander, I’ll lead the way. She can follow me... and you can keep an eye on her back. I’m sure we can find somewhere suitable for an open and honest discussion."

"After you, then. "

Leysah maintained a pace and bearing that suggested someone escorting a potential prisoner rather than a guest, while the one in such a spot of trouble smiled while restraining herself from seeing what would happen if she tried walking beside her instead.