The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 86 - Prelude Of An Intent-Filled Duet

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 - Prelude Of An Intent-Filled Duet

A dilapidated cottage on the outskirts of town hardly looked as though it had any importance as a meeting place. An ancient looking woman hobbled through its creaking door, hunched over while swathed in layers of patchwork fabric.

’Complete with milky tan eyes, hair the color of ash, and liver spots dotting my hands.’

Elua’s illusions transformed her into the visage of the mysterious sigil master crone. It had been a while since she had to use it, but with her Breacher level of spirit and wealth of experience... it was as simple as breathing.

A broad-shouldered man with a neatly trimmed beard stood waiting inside by a rickety table. His crisp uniform marked him as a member of the Saltfire Storm Alliance. Though she was *pretty* sure it wasn’t the one she had negotiated with so long ago. His spirit rippled with ’impatience’, but it was masked on his face as he turned her way.

"Ah, the hour grows late. I trust you’ve brought what we need?"

The ’old crone’ cackled in a sound so grating it set his teeth on edge.

"Patience, young spark. Old bones move only as they will. Their will is usually *gradual*. Some day you’ll learn."

She produced a small leather pouch from the many folds of her shawl before setting it on the table with exaggerated care. In reality, Elua simply plucked it from her pocket and placed it down quickly. The man’s hand reached eagerly as the illusion backed away.

"Not so fast."

The ’crone’ croaked, her gnarled hand shooting out with ’surprising speed’ to grasp his wrist. The physical Primalist at work wasn’t about to let him go if he wanted to fight. However, she didn’t think it would come to that.

"First, we talk about something, young man."

His jaw clenched alongside his irritation... but he nodded stiffly. The reincarnator loved dealing with people indoctrinated to show respect! They were so much easier to get information from.

"I hear whispers, you know. Of interesting pieces in dark places changing hands. Curious forearm baubles that catch the eye of those who know their worth."

She peered up at him and he felt as though her milky tan eyes were somehow piercing his thoughts. His spirit was muddied with surprise before it was quickly shielded - at least as protected as a low echelon Enchanter really could.

"I’m... not sure I follow."

"No? Pity. I’d thought an organization like yours might have grander designs in mind than mere weather-taming of a barren land."

’Suspicion and excitement?’

"Our interests are our own. Though if you’ve other wares to offer I could ask-"

The voice was neutral when he responded. The ’crone’ waved a dismissive wrinkled hand.

"Oh, not I. But my young apprentice is quite the talent. Been crafting the most fascinating things lately. I’ve even taught her how to manage these keyshards."

"You’ve been teaching someone? Even though you refused our request..."

The ’woman’ cackled at the accusation in his tone.

"Yes, the little Goltbred girl. I was already testing her back then. Lucky for you, she heard about your acidic plight and told me! How else would I have just shown up at the right moment?"

"Goltbred, you say...?"

A flash of recognition pinged in his spirit that the heiress found interesting. It wasn’t immediate... which made sense on one hand, but *irked* her a little on another. She didn’t want to be too famous, but she should at least be known to people who came regularly to the city!

"Indeed. Bright little thing. Almost makes me wonder if I should retire for good, let the young blood take over."

The man leaned forward, poorly concealing his interest.

"And this apprentice of yours, she’s to be involved in your... business ventures?"

"Now, now. A master doesn’t reveal all her student’s secrets. I’ll just say she has a gift for innovation and a mind like a steel trap."

After shamelessly bragging about herself, she pushed the pouch of two keyshards towards him.

"You might even find it impossible to tell our work apart. Now, I believe our transaction remains to be complete?"

They finalized their rather shady exchange while a corner of her mind swirled behind the mask of the ’crone’. The Guild member’s reactions had been... only somewhat illuminating. She was sure only that there was more at play than simple weather control in their territory.

She crooned a cryptic warning as she shuffled to leave - even though she had no idea what they were up to! It was just fun to mess with such serious folk.

"Until next time, young spark. Do keep an eye on the horizon. You never know what sort of storms might be brewing behind the corrosive mists."

The Saltfire representative pondered her words in the ramshackle home as she hobbled away. He would never know that he might reveal more than he intended through his turbulent spirit. If something so *general* was worrying - then that meant there were already obvious problems with their plans...

"Well, who cares about that. I have a wedding to leave for tomorrow!"

The ’sweet’ voice of a brunette girl chimed while hidden from anyone’s senses.

’Qat in a silver suit~ Qat in a silver suit~ Qat in a-’

In less than the time it took to sprint ten strides back towards her estate, she had morphed from scheming cultivator into a lovestruck teenager.

---

The night before the Yecine family’s partial exodus to the coast, Qat sat at her table with a pen in hand. A multitude of crossed-out lines littered the page before her. The swordswoman had thought about doing this earlier... but wanted to meditate until the last moments to press all of the truth into the words.

She leaned back to rub at her temples. Her focus on this task had been so great that she didn’t even alter her hair back to blonde after secluding herself. The teenager contemplated the spoken vows she needed to craft for her El.

’How do I put into concise words the depth of what she means to me?’

She thought back to the first time she met the girl. Her deception was seen through so easily. Qatrand had been frightened of the consequence. Of what it would mean if her family knew she failed.

It was only much later that she’d truly understood. That she could really *appreciate* exactly what the girl had done. The acceptance for who she was. The memory brought a smile to her face.

Her pen scribbled while determined to capture that feeling. She even mumbled the words as she wrote them. The Yecine only paused after the completed thought. There had to be more like this!

Her mind drifted to the countless times El had offered unwavering support and love. Her own name might mean ’fortress’, but the brunette had embodied that sort of sturdiness much more than her.

’I want to be like that for her, too. Her unflinching anchor... even if she despises my use of the word that way.’

She penned the words carefully while chuckling. Each stroke of her pen felt imbued with the weight of her commitment. She didn’t forget to write again of her promise to cherish and protect Elua. The vows altogether took a better shape on the page and in her heart.

For the end, Qat’s thoughts turned to the complexity of the woman she loved. The ancient soul with the intense spirit she’d come to unflinchingly adore. Elua er Goltbred was an amalgam of experiences... a vast lifetime lived and lessons learned.

The swordswoman found it a privilege - being the only one to witness most of her truth. She whispered the final words she committed to the page like an oath. The Yecine ’heir’ set down her pen and leaned back.

There was a form of spiritual exhaustion warring with the satisfaction that mingled in her chest. After focusing on this for so long, she read over the vows only once more after a small rest. Emotion welled in her throat at the raw honesty of the words. At the thought of saying them in front of so many people.

’My devotion laid bare for her to hear - for everyone to.’

She folded the paper slowly, appreciating that these beautiful words would be a vocalized symbol of the love that bound them. Despite feeling embarrassed at the action afterward... the tall girl pressed a kiss to the sealed edge. El had mentioned doing it to all of the letters sent to her.

Qat really... wanted to feel more connected to her El at this moment.

The dark haired girl made her way to bed, knowing that her family intended to take the first train and be there at the venue ’earlier than anyone else’. She felt peace settle over her with this nagging task done. The vows she’d written were tucked safely next to a familiar missive.

’That letter of hers said everything already. Even if she makes new words up on the spot, or says nothing at all - it won’t matter. After all... she’s been making it clear for years who I am to her, to anyone bothering to pay attention.’

Sleep took her easily, knowing that her fiancee would eventually be on the other side of waking up.