The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 67 - Toss A Carrot For The Fox, Brandish A Stick For The Deer

Chapter 67: Chapter 67 - Toss A Carrot For The Fox, Brandish A Stick For The Deer

The next morning, the dining room of the much smaller home than her estate was once again filled with the sounds of tools tapping against leather. Despite wanting to continue the evening before as she had been... she ultimately decided to go home and spend some time with her father. There was also the hope that Qat might show up for dinner.

’But she was sent off on a task in another city again. At least she can keep busy and not be at home.’

While she never kept pressing about what the man had done, it was clear that Anper er Yecine had become a bigger enemy to their happiness than she expected. She decided she had the time to carefully consider what to do about that. As well as the time to gently probe about what the gem of hers, that now had an unsatisfying inclusion buried inside it, would allow her to do.

Elua paused her work. Another interruption was coming, but this one had been planned and expected. Hurriedly, the cultivator rearranged a few piles of things to create an ’illusion’ of greater chaos. If they were going to clean and help... she needed to look like it was required!

"Come in."

She called after their knock. Her voice carried a hint of ’frustration’ whose cause was apparent when they entered. Fusand poked inside first and his eyes widened at the leather-strewn dining area. Nohre followed inside rapidly with her gaze quickly assessing the room before settling on the heiress that had called them back with promises of more work.

"Thank you both for coming. As you can see, I could use... the help."

The sandy haired teenager nodded eagerly before moving towards a nearby pile. He had a feeling that the young girl would pull something similar as last time... giving them a first ’simple’ task that became more complex and worth doing. He was already happily wondering just where all of this would even go!

The girl with braided hair held back despite wanting to assist. She was still kind of wary and her protective instincts visibly struggled to ignore the brunette. But when Fusand tried to lift more than he was able, she rushed forward and stabilized it. Elua wondered for a moment if he hadn’t done it on purpose to break her indecision.

"I wanted to say this yesterday, but I hope you didn’t spend the entire time on my task. How has your training been progressing?"

The boy’s eyes lit up. So they were going to talk about cultivation? He didn’t understand how the tasks related, but-

"I’ve been practicing my Projection daily still. It’s still unstable... and simple shapes are much easier than complex ones."

The mint eyed girl looked toward him and nodded. She found it a reasonable moment to teach... and reveal that she intended to teach.

"Yes, like most training your foundation is the most important. People who wield weapons work on their muscles. People who wield spirit or essence work on their understanding. I actually have a confession to make."

Both orphans paused what they were doing. Their respective curiosity and wariness had increased with her ’conspiratorial’ tone and phrase.

"You see... I also have the Projection Astralism."

Elua first admitted. She lowered her sight so that it would be downcast in an imitation of ’hesitancy’. She could feel his excitement as he gasped... and sense the unease behind the posture of the one ’left out’.

"Really? Can you show us?"

The illusionist nodded before closing her eyes in ’concentration’. The air grew thick with spiritual energy and quickly the view of the room transformed. Leather scraps were organized into neat piles. Tools aligned on a gleamingly clean workbench. Half-finished projects were even arranged artfully on display.

Nohre’s eyes darted between the ’projection’, the Goltbred, and her friend. There was awe, but there was also something else... like a hope entwined with a fear. Fusand’s jaw dropped - he was expecting the younger girl to make a flower or something! The one at ’fault’ for their reactions explained in her soft voice.

"This is how I envision the workspace turning out. But I’m open to other ideas. Actually... Fusand, perhaps you’d like to visit some artisans in town? Your input would be valuable. I’ll even teach you some of my tricks."

The imagery returned to the actual mess at the same time she flourished her hand. Trails of sparkling stars glimmered and spun before winking out. Fusand nodded more vigorously than he ever had in his life - already moving towards the door.

"Can I go now? I’ll do it now. I’ll take notes and-"

"Of course."

The reborn cultivator smiled ’indulgently’. Disciples were always the same when you waved a carrot. The teenager rushed out and his partner started to follow. That wouldn’t do! She was teaching two orphans, not just one. Elua prepared her lecturing tone and spoke.

"Actually, could you stay a moment if it’s fine? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you first..."

The more serious tone of voice made it clear that it was something a lot more like an order than not. The dark haired girl turned back, unable to hide her grimace of impatience knowing that Fusand was probably going to get halfway to the markets.

"Before we discuss your abilities and how I can help you with them, I want to clear the air between us."

Elua leaned against the workbench, her fingers idly tracing patterns on a piece of leather. She spoke with elocution while glancing at Nohre, who was tense again at the first sign of coming confrontation. The young miss couldn’t help judging by the posture and wary eyes that she was... almost a deer?

Alert. Ready to bolt at the sign of danger. Yet also capable of standing her ground if necessary. The boy might be a spiritualist, but this was her favorite kind of disciple!

"I can sense your unease with me - and I think I know why."

The girl with braided hair stiffened significantly as her gaze darted towards the door Fusand had just exited through. As it was the way out and - had she had less experience with people... that might have only been seen as a desire to run. Instead, the brunette knew it to be an instinctive search towards what must be protected.

"You don’t need to worry about me. I’m completely, utterly devoted to my fiance. Qatrand er Yecine is... everything to me."

Her eyes took on a ’dreamy’ quality. It didn’t completely dispel the wariness of Nohre... but it also hadn’t been completely intentional! She shook her head and cleared her throat.

"Your friend is a bright student to me - nothing more. Consider it a whim of a young miss who happened to have something to offer the both of you."

Nohre’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but uncertainty still lingered in her expression. Part of it was the inability to fully let down her guard... but the other part was that her words kept implying that there was something specific to talk about with her cultivation. She jumped when the Goltbred stepped closer while chuckling.

"Besides, I think we both know what it’s like to be so devoted, don’t we? We’re much better off being friendly and wishing each other success. After all, neither of us would approach each other’s beloved partners."

A faint blush crept across Nohre’s cheeks. The girl ducked her head to hide a small smile. She had a weak spot for people that noticed and... approved. She always hated when the headmaster kept talking about separating. How could she separate from Fusand?

"Now. Let’s talk about your Physique. I have some insights that might help you understand it better."

Nohre nodded, her posture more open and receptive... until she became confused.

"What do you mean... exactly? Do you know something about Regeneration that other people don’t?"

With another step, Elua made it into her space and smiled. She tilted her head and spoke as if something was an amusing secret.

"I know lots of things that others don’t~ I also know that what you have is not what the Youth Guild said you have. Your Aspect is similar, but much more impressive than they know. Now, how badly do *you* want to know?"

"U-uh... not that bad. I’m fine."

The reincarnated cultivator once again marveled at her ability to look one way outwardly while her spirit stormed with the truth. It had churned violently when she teased the truth about her ability.

"Hmm. That’s too bad. I guess your Fusand will be learning Projection from me while you just... sit and watch? A real shame."

The words clearly ate at the girl even when spoken ’sweet’ and ’sad’. The girl with green eyes had a bit of a fear of becoming too much stronger than her friend. But she also had a fear of not being strong enough to protect him. Nohre was like Elua, but definitely not her.

Being content with just watching your beloved grow was the prerogative of the strong.

"What exactly... do you want?"

"Secrecy. That’s it. You aren’t to tell anyone who taught you anything. You’ll take my knowledge and live as you will. Do as you will. Be with who you will."

Seeing the timing was right once more, the mint eyed girl used illusions to turn her expression toward a mimicry of her ’real’ self. Eyes that turned into pools that stopped reflecting as much of the light around them. Voice that had a depth despite its static cadence.

"However, with such blessed freedom from your cultivation master, if I find that you intentionally betrayed me for something I deem unacceptable - or *ever* attempted to harm Qatrand... you can imagine the consequences."

Nohre’s eyes became saucers. She felt like she couldn’t breathe due to the sudden transformation. The sweet, gentle heiress was gone, replaced not by the stern teacher she had seen a few times... but by something ancient and terrifying.

The air itself seemed to thicken with an oppressive force. Her thoughts were torn between fear and the unexpected... thrill. The young girl was showing her an amount of power beyond what she’d imagined - and more than that, it was being *offered* to her. At least in the form of knowledge to get to that point.

’Isn’t that what I wanted? A path... for us to get somewhere together?’

Her fingers twitched... spirit longing to reach out and grasp for what had been dangled before her. Yet, her instincts screamed caution. The unspecific threat echoed in her mind. Still, would someone that wanted you to fail offer you such a stark reminder of the danger that came by seeking such power?

The girl swallowed hard... forcing herself to meet the placid eyes that somehow seemed bottomless.

"I... I understand. The secrets will be safe with me, Miss Goltbred. And... I want to learn. Please."

The last word came out with desperate longing. Nohre realized she was willingly stepping onto a path that could change everything - for better or worse. But the allure of strength... of being able to truly protect Fusand? It was too strong to resist. Especially if she could stay beside him while gaining it.

Elua nodded once and dispelled her illusion - which she personally thought might have gone slightly off script with the inclusion of her spirit in the area around the girl. The braided haired teenager found herself both relieved at the release of fear... and oddly disappointed. She shook her head and straightened her posture.

"Miss Go-... Master. Please tell me about my Physique."

Even before the explanation came, she just knew her life would never be the same!