The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 60 - Locomotion Toward Truth, And Back Again

Chapter 60: Chapter 60 - Locomotion Toward Truth, And Back Again

The young miss locked her eyes onto Qatrand’s figure the moment she came into view. A tightness had gripped her chest when her now closer spiritual sense detected a buried unease in her beloved’s energy. However... there was also a small smile visible on the face of the black-haired fiance as she talked with Yatrel - and the brunette decided to respect that ’facade’ for now.

The use of her own was never questioned much. Instead, she channeled her concern into an action that *might* make her feel better.

"Qat!"

Elua called out as she bolted forward. Her petite frame moved with a speed that surprised the father who had been walking along with her. Qatrand turned at the sound with her pigeon blue eyes widening in recognition. She barely had the time to brace herself before Elua launched into the air, sailing towards them with outstretched arms.

The swordswoman caught her fiancee mid-leap and almost instinctively used her essence training to absorb the impact. She knew she couldn’t spin her with Yatrel so nearby. The reborn cultivator felt the cushioning Gravity and widened her eyes at her beloved. She’d been meaning to ask to see the results of her training!

For a few moments, they were lost in their own world - the brunette’s arms wrapped tightly around her husband-wife’s neck with their faces close enough to share breath. She really wanted to kiss her passionately, but it felt like a bad idea. The last time she’d done that in front of her mother, she was dragged away by the back of her neck...

Elua reluctantly loosened her grip, sliding down until her feet touched the ground. She kept one hand clutching the Yecine’s arm as she turned. After puffing out her cheeks, the young girl pointed an ’accusatory’ finger at her father stomping up the station steps.

"You! How dare you trick me into going on a lunch date when Qat was waiting here all along!"

The brunette man blinked, taken aback by the sudden direct assault. He regretted thinking her monotone was sharper - her angry look really hurt!

"I-I didn’t... wasn’t that..."

"Don’t try to deny it. You kept me distracted with food and orphans when I could have been here with my beloved!"

Yatrel somewhat caught on to the game when orphans were mentioned. She realized that for some reason her daughter was being more direct with her teasing than normal. She decided to play along. Her voice dropped to a dangerously low and icy tone.

"Oh? You went on a date with my husband, little girl?"

Elua spun to face her mother while faking her facade’s drop by replying in monotone.

"Yeah, and you went and kidnapped my Qat from her home. We both touched each other’s things. Don’t you think we’re even?"

Mother and daughter stared each other down in the sight of their loves - attempting to play up the tension. Qatrand shifted her hand nervously into Elua’s... then, Yatrel twitched her lips and the slight sound of a held snort was heard - she couldn’t take it!

Suddenly the tension shattered as both possessive women burst into laughter. A chuckle escaped Ondua - not entirely understanding why it was all funny. The one who started the moment of madness turned to see a mix of confusion and amusement in those pigeon blue eyes she adored.

The swordswoman had known nothing was really wrong the entire time, as El’s spirit had been smothering her own with ’amusement’ ever since the finger pointing. However she had been a little worried that her fun would upset her father. Sensing the teenager’s lingering concern and how it felt connected to that unease inside of her...

The fiancee turned and pressed closer while resting her head against her beloved’s chest. She looked up a few seconds later to meet those pigeon blue eyes she adored. She spoke softly in a voice meant only for Qat - despite having stabilized the gas around them to prevent sound in the first place.

"It’s alright. They are good people, aren’t they? I’m trying to be more open with them about... certain things."

A ’demure’ smile graced her features.

"But only a little, my love. Some things are just for us. Just for you~"

Stepping back while keeping her hand firmly in Qat’s, Elua addressed the parents with her usual ’sweet’ demeanor. She looked at her mother and then to her father.

"I hope we didn’t startle you too much, dad. We got a little carried away, but it was all in fun."

She let her expression portray a hint of the ’mischief’ she wanted him to know she was capable of, but her tone remained ’gentle’.

"And now you’re part of it too. On the side knowing it is happening. Don’t worry, though. We’ll ease you in slowly. After all, we have plenty of time to get used to each other on the train, don’t we?"

Ondua felt a little pressured to agree! Especially the look from his wife. He already hadn’t listened to her *once* today by not bringing their eldest to the station quickly. He nodded at the reddish-blonde and she smiled softly without it reaching her mint eyes..

That wasn’t a good thing! He rushed to the ticket counter, remembering there was another task he needed to do. With some luck on his side, the next train toward their destination was said to be leaving within only a few minutes.

They all moved to board their assigned car after he returned, the brunette couldn’t help but notice the way Qat’s shoulders seemed to relax... just a fraction. That unease had been filled in by a sliver. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And the young miss was far from done.

"Dad, you should sit with my fiance for a bit. I want to chat with mom."

He squinted at his daughter. First the way she was acting a bit ago, and now this? Maybe earlier she hadn’t let go of his collar. Maybe she shook him into unconsciousness? Or choked him like her mother but went too far...

’No, she’s not even nearly that strong.’

He rationalized, ignoring her great earlier speed. Meanwhile a swordswoman was also attempting to rationalize things. She had almost taken for granted that they would set together. As she began to think about it deeper, it was *normally* possible that her fiancee might have even said something as the brunette handed her the ticket like:

"Why do we need four seats? I can just sit in Qat’s lap."

Realizing that this would have been a very good possibility, the blonde also frowned and realized... she really wanted the girl to sit with her. But also if she actually had something to discuss with Yatrel- the ride was probably long and-

’It’s not like she’s going to talk the entire time. She will probably switch seats again soon.’

Feeling the usual tendrils of spirit practically trying to *drag* her towards the tall girl, Elua turned her face and grit her teeth. There was a point to this! She just... had to remember what it was! Her steps towards her mother were jerky and erratic as she fought her own desire to hop on and sit on the strong thighs of her ’fortress’.

The two ’men’ watching her go across the car ended up sharing an awkwardly long glance. The father could *tell* that the boy would prefer him to be elsewhere. For a moment, this irked him! So he sat down quickly with that vexed energy that dispersed rather instantly.

’Now what do I say? Sorry?’

Peering at the Goltbred’s almost pouting countenance, Qatrand felt a stirring of feelings. Her own father never showed emotion in this way. The only real sentiment she’d felt from him was negative - in a different way than this was. A way that shouldn’t be interacted with. But...

"Thank you for inviting me for this. I... needed it."

She said as calmly as possible and looked out of the window. In the next seconds, the train shuddered into motion. The initial jerk gave way to a steady rhythm of motion that started their journey.

"You’re a good father. It’s probably why El cares so much about you."

Ondua was a little surprised that it was the next thing out of the other’s mouth. He’d expected them to say something about why they ’needed’ it. An explanation tickled at the back of his mind, but he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to engage with it. He knew that Anper could be harsh, but if his son was having a problem with him...

’Is it really my place to comment?’

He wanted to say that it was - or that it would be. The young blonde teenager was... obviously ’the world’ to his daughter. The fact that it had happened out of his own miserable attempt to remain close friends with an old companion had been a blessing. They had definitely retreated to work acquaintances at best these dozen or so years.

He couldn’t just remain quiet. He had to say something.

"She cares about you more, you know."

The brunette frowned at himself and held his hand on his forehead. It wasn’t the best thing. It was almost worse than nothing!

"Forget that I just-"

"I know. She cares about me the most."

A choked laugh resounded in his own head over ’this brat!’. His brown eyes cut over while releasing his grip and found the boy *almost* smirking. It was enough to know that it was on purpose!

"Didn’t she always tease you about it in the past? El always smiled very happily while describing to me in person how you reacted. She also didn’t forget to mention it if she sent me a letter. You’re important to her too."

The man really wasn’t sure how to feel. On the one hand, it was clear the boy was trying to make *him* feel better. That was obvious enough. On the other hand - the kid’s method was harsh. Telling him so directly that all those past... every innocent look while she tilted her head adorably and brought up her fiance was on purpose!

It was almost too much to take. He swallowed dryly.

’Didn’t they say they would ease me into it...?’

While Qatrand was doing her *best* to build a bond with her father-in-law through their shared adoration of the cute girl and her antics, Yatrel finally couldn’t stand the silence. Or mostly silence. There was the sound of the train and rail... and her daughter’s fingernails had been gripping the seat and making squeaking noises as she slowly clenched and released them.

"Why did you even come over here just to be so tense?"

Similar mint eyes met each other and stared for *truly* quiet seconds. While she felt the elementalist had probably noticed years ago her little barriers that she stopped hiding, it was the first time she used them with the woman. Qat was usually the only one she wanted to talk to privately in a public space.

"Because if I sat with her, I could help her slowly. I know that much for sure. But if he does... she could help herself - and that is more valuable to me."

The deafening quiet stretched out and the reborn cultivator wanted to start gripping the seat again for the tactile comfort.

"Her?"

’Uh...oh.’

She met her mother’s eyes and frowned. She trusted her a lot. A lot more than someone who lived as she did in her last life should. But still... still letting this stand would be-

"...Ah... uh. Yes, dear. Talking to your father could probably help him. He’s a good listener after all."

The sound from the train returned to their pair of seats and Elua’s listless eyes looked out of the window. If her fiance was close enough for one of her tendrils to prod her spirit, she would notice the ’regret’ staining over the immense core of her ’possessive love’.

"So are you. Thanks, mom."

Her monotone reply to the woman whose memory she just forcibly altered by dousing her in illusions... wouldn’t stain her voice with it, at least.