The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 68 - Fluid, The Nature Of Teaching, Is.

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 - Fluid, The Nature Of Teaching, Is.

The reincarnated cultivator raised her eyebrows at the sudden title. Then they crinkled with a bit of amusement. The corners of her lips twitched upward and threatened to break her maintained composure.

’Master, is it? It’s been a while since I’ve heard that.’

"I don’t mind it, but be very careful with such titles in public. We wouldn’t want to arouse suspicion, would we?"

Nohre nodded earnestly while mint eyes drifted off to the side behind her. Momentary phantoms of former disciples coalesced under her Astralism, but out of the braided haired girl’s sight. A particularly dramatic student had insisted on addressing her as ’Most Enlightened Tongue’.

She suppressed a chuckle at the memory as she needed to be serious. Elua had already figured out easily that this girl would learn better with an appropriate amount of stern handling. Her voice regained its lecture qualities.

"You know... titles carry weight. They shape perceptions and expectations. Both for those that hear them and for those that use them. Choose them wisely. Use them sparingly."

She paused, to let her words sink in. After a few moments the girl looked back up and nodded. Watching Nohre’s eager expression made an old warmth spread through her spirit. The role of mentor was one she had played before. Each student brought their own unique challenges and rewards.

They were great diversions.

’This should be interesting. Let’s see what you’re truly capable of, little water-deer.’

"Show me your Element."

"Uh... weren’t you going to teach me about-"

Seeing the smile on the heiress’s face that didn’t reach up to her eyes creeped the girl out, so she abruptly stopped talking.

"The quicker you follow instructions, the sooner I tell you valuable information... and the faster you get back to Fusand."

The last part brought her back to her senses and she nodded rapidly.

"I need some water to control... huh?"

The girl could feel the essence around her moving. Specifically, she noticed it when the water in the air started to be spun into large enough drops for her to sense. Enough to fill a cup began to float nearby rather rapidly.

"An Element is a great thing to learn to control, but if you are unlucky with the one you obtain, it may be hard to source when you need it. I suggest you start carrying a pouch of it with you at all times, disciple."

She even considered a potential project after the arm-guards were done, but told herself to calm down. Sure - she had already taken some risks... but that didn’t mean they had proven themselves so trustworthy that she needed to start giving them gifts.

"A-are you also telling me your essence Aspect is Water? Such a coincidence..."

Elua chuckled ’darkly’. She was rather enjoying being able to show off expressions other than what she usually allowed herself - she even ’sneered’ a bit!

"I never said such a thing at all? While I like that you tried to come up with a solution, you should never jump to conclusions. Simple answers are often true, but often is not always. Not being right the single *important* time is when things go very wrong... disciple."

"Y-yes, Master!"

The girl’s green eyes shone as her back somehow became even straighter. The brunette in front of her reached out and grabbed her hands, forming them into a bowl before dropping the water she was ’manipulating’ into them.

"If you want to be able to do what I just did, I would suggest working on your spirit some more. We will save the discussion on how to better cultivate that energy for when both of you are present."

She was stretching the truth a little - a lot - but only very unique talents could control their essence so finely without the benefit of the higher thinking ability of a spiritual Enchanter. Even limited as an orphan, she would already be doing it if that was the case. Elua gestured meaningfully at the other girl’s water-holding hands while stepping back.

’One in seven disciples hit me by accident due to their nervousness.’

With a solidifying spirit that made clear her determination, Nohre channeled her essence into the water. A thin stream rose curling into the air, wavering like a snake. As she opened her eyes to observe her work... her concentration wavered and the water trickled downward back into her palms.

"Yes, I’ll definitely need to get you going on obtaining your Astralism. Trust me, you will grow quicker afterwards. Don’t worry, though."

The mint-eyed girl stepped forward again and held the underside of her hands. Nohre tensed but was afraid to move too much and sling the water out.

"I’ll also be teaching Fusand some things that might make him more interested in the other forms of cultivation. You won’t leave him behind, I promise."

"A-ah. I... o-okay. Thank you, Master."

"There is another reason I want to stress spiritualism, besides it being my favorite. You will need a better spiritual sense if you are to make the proper use of your real Physique."

The Goltbred let go of the orphan and showed herself cupping her own hands together. With an additional nod to let her know it was alright, the green eyed girl carefully dropped it into her hands. The Young Miss then tossed it up into the air - but not a single drop fell back down.

It was a neat parlor trick and it did seem to impress the other girl.

"As I said before, it is not Regeneration. What you have, disciple, is known as Mend. I suppose the part about it being a weak version of the other one is true, if you only know half of the way to use it."

"And... how do I... no, that’s not it - what does it do?"

The reincarnator grinned at the fact that she was learning to rethink her own questions so quickly.

"Why, it does the same thing it does for you. On other people."

She again let something she said sink in for a pregnant moment.

"You will be able to infuse your own physical energies into improving the rate of healing of another cultivator. It’s a very rare variation. You understand what that all means?"

After the brunette finished explaining the reality, she could feel the girl grow excited and more cautious in equal measures. It was a good reaction... and it was the kind she expected of her so far.

"This kind of ability can attract unwanted attention. It’s best to keep it under wraps for now. Along with everything else that happens between us."

Nohre’s brow furrowed and her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her worn tunic.

"But... what about Fusand? Can I tell him?"

The heiress didn’t answer immediately. If they were training together, then a lot of things would come out. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t a teachable moment. She leaned back while crossing her arms - and tilting her head ’thoughtfully’.

"Well, logically speaking, you should always weigh the benefit and cost. Consider how trustworthy Fusand is, how he might react, and importantly... whether sharing this information could potentially put either of you at risk."

Elua uncrossed her arms and placed them on her hips.

"You should also think about how keeping this secret might affect your relationship. If that strain is worth the protection it provides. It’s not something I can answer for you."

Nohre nodded slowly though her expression grew more troubled with each word. The schemer watched her for only a few seconds before letting out a ’soft’ chuckle, shaking her head and returning to her ’usual’. Her voice became ’knowing’ and ’friendly’.

"Though, who am I kidding? You seem a lot like me, and none of what I just said actually matters. You’re going to tell him, aren’t you? Just like I tell Qat practically everything."

She would even write about what she had eaten that day when she was sending letters as a ’child’. Part of it was merely to ’act her age’ and ramble in the written words... but she couldn’t deny she felt an innate compulsion for her to know even the tiniest details.

"I... yes, I think I probably will. But how did you know?"

The girl’s lips curved into a ’wry’ smile before pointing at herself.

"It’s something people like us just need to do, isn’t it? We find that one person we trust completely. Keeping secrets from them feels... wrong. Impossible, even."

She leaned forward, her voice ’softening’ even further to show she ’cared’. The Goltbred daughter wasn’t actually ready to engage with whether she actually *did* or not. She knew she could easily convince herself if she tried.

"Just be careful, alright? And maybe we can work on some ways to help him keep the secret too. Two people guarding information tightly together is sometimes harder than one, but not impossible."

Relief washed over her face and spirit. Nohre had appreciated the intent behind all the advice, but really did not want to be convinced to stay quiet with Fusand.

"Thank you, Miss Goltbred. I... I don’t think I could have kept this from him. It would have felt like lying."

"I understand, believe me. You can go chase after him now. Just remember, this doesn’t mean you have to tell everyone you think you trust. Choose wisely who you let hold your secrets."

"W-we’ll be back tomorrow!"

The girl with braided hair called out and spun toward the exit. Elua turned back to her project while her facade slipped away. She thought it would help her maintain focus. However, her gaze still drifted toward some of the unused leather after picking up a burnishing tool she should be using.

The once famous-by-chance artisan set the implement back down and grabbed a round knife instead... while searching her memories for a design that would work. She’d made more than one unique container for holding liquids.

’Yes, choose. With your mind and not your momentary feelings. Some of us are still learning that lesson ourselves.’