The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 313 - Some Wars Are Not Fought With Fists, Some Dreams Run Uncertain Courses

Chapter 313: Chapter 313 - Some Wars Are Not Fought With Fists, Some Dreams Run Uncertain Courses

"I believe in your judgment. And in your commitment to our founding concept of protection of outsiders... rather than power for its own sake. For our own sake."

Lirades had turned to Qatrand to deliver that compliment, letting the room fall silent. For Elua, she felt it was not her moment to speak - even if she really wanted to hop up and pat the woman on the back for having good taste and eyes.

Eventually, the one in between them finally decided on some words to return.

"Thank you for the warning. We’ll be vigilant."

"See that you are. The Descent and its aftermath tests more than just our practical defenses against Voidlings. Something shifts, somewhere. Every time."

While thinking of change and how it could be good and bad depending on the circumstances and perspectives, she rose to move toward the door... then paused. Her expression was softened greatly when her gaze turned back to the young wedded couple.

"I hope to see you both return to this room again, after your battles are over. Perhaps to do a little more than sleep some day? I can only imagine how delightful it would be to see children from two forces of will like yourselves."

While their family always stressed waiting for the cultivation momentum of their generation to slow before having these thoughts... and to offset the time of births to spread out limited resources more efficiently in the last century and a half...

’Such fine mentality and physical abilities should be increased in our ranks.’

While Qatrand was one of the finer heirs she’d seen in some time, Lirades had also seen many examples that the Goltbred girl was no slouch for being only a ’second generation’. The brunette beamed with a smile and scratched at the back of her messy head, while the blonde stood straighter at the unexpected blessing.

"That... means a great deal, coming from you."

"Well, don’t make too much of it. I’m simply practical enough to recognize strength for the right purposes when I see it. And the pair of you are stronger together than apart."

"Remarkably insightful of you. I’d be nothing good without my husband."

"I’m old, not blind."

Lirades retorted. Smiles and happiness when clinging to the young man, while up to rather *severe* things like beating up over a dozen cultivators on her own - and suppressing a tent full of old men with spiritual intent alone? The young miss of that family was either a terror because of her love or would have been a greater one without it!

"Now, be safe, both of you. And remember that not all wars are fought with swords and fists."

With her departure closing the door quietly behind her, Qatrand and Elua exchanged looks in silence. Their stopover had turned into being caught breaking an estate rule... by likely the only person who would not bother saying anything to anyone.

"That was... unexpected."

"Though not entirely unwelcome. It seems you have at least one elder who fully values you properly. Even if your family doesn’t value her enough either."

The small cultivator stretched again and started to crawl to the edge of the bed. Her hand caught ’completely accidentally’ on the oversized tunic as she moved... and it slipped to show off more of her shoulder.

’A final attack! I’ve worn dresses that show them off, but it’s different when the clothes are ’disheveled’~’

Qat only moved to the wardrobe and retrieved a carefully folded silver dress that lay separated from her own garments. She brought it to the bed and laid it beside her wife before running fingers through her messy brown bed hair.

"We should finish preparing. The train leaves in two hours."

Elua’s mint eyes narrowed in pleasure at her husband-wife’s attentiveness. A teasing smirk formed as she poked fingers down the taller girl’s chin.

"My fortress, always so helpful. Will you even be brushing my hair as well?"

Without any clear hesitation, the Yecine pulled away. She retrieved a comb - notably free and clean from any hair - from the drawer of a small vanity and returned to sit beside Elua on the bed. Carved with black and accented with brown, the item had been a smaller gift from their wedding that the swordswoman put away for this purpose.

"If you’d like me to."

The reincarnator’s eyes widened when recognizing the item as one they’d split from the accumulated presents. Then softened with no little affection for her darling, precious gem who was much too gentle with her at times.

’Her style of spoiling and cherishing me is so good. It’s like she wants me to be completely dependent on her! I mean, I want that too, but...’

"Well, how can I refuse? It’s quite tangled this morning. Like we were when you gently pulled and pushed me off of you a half hour ago."

"So I did wake you..."

"Of course. I thought you were sneaking touches, how could I miss that?"

Qat sighed and began to gently work the comb through her incorrigible mint-drop’s hair. She reflected on Lirades’s parting words. Her El could certainly handle the verbal side of wars.

However, nearly everything had a hard counter. Some words could just not be defended against, if they came at the right time from the right direction. Such as leaning down next to a little illusionist’s ear.

"Please, just be good."

A squeak and hum came in answer as the reborn cultivator’s spirit flipped and wobbled. Lacking the oftenness of moments like this would be a test during their separation. But for this moment, in the quiet of the growing morning light...

⟠ ⟠ ⟠ ⦒

"You traveled to another fort by yourself?"

The pair of cultivators with their sides stuck together like they were glued rested in the cave with many soldiers prowling about.

"And then ran back, did sigil work all day, ran here after the incursion began... and did even more work holding myself back. Do I not deserve the longest kiss?"

A soft chuckle from the Yecine made the desirous Goltbred melt further in her heart.

"You do. But maybe when we are cleaner..."

Water quickly amassed into a sphere as it was stripped from the vapor in the damp air. The reincarnator flattened it some and used Adhesion on the substance to keep it near her fingers as she began to scrub the bits of ichor from the other girl’s face and hands. Another forbearing laugh rumbled before the low voice continued.

"Thank you, but you didn’t let me finish. I was going to add... maybe when we are somewhere that you aren’t maintaining illusions again? You do remember how you dropped them at the competition venue before..."

"Yes, but my focusing on this allows me to not kiss you without caring about anything else while still being slightly useful to you."

Qat leaned more of her weight onto the small girl much stronger than her.

"I don’t like the sound of calling it ’useful’, but you always are, El."

’I guess I do understand. When she said holding back, I immediately had a short thought of feeling like a burden to her.’

When vantablack stained liquid was slung onto the floor beside them and the cultivator pulled more water to keep working, instead of taking it easy, the swordswoman raised her hand and gently clasped the busy little wrist.

"The leader. Do you really know where it is?"

"Yes. It’s equally concerned with several other potential threats and targets, including the Army captain. But highlighting your significance serves our purposes better."

The honesty with which Elua shared her manipulations, rather than simply executing them silently, only made Qatrand feel the weight of the evening’s events settling further on her shoulders. Little details tickled at her as she gazed into dulling mint eyes.

"You planned to do a reconnaissance mission with me from the beginning, didn’t you?"

"Not precisely this, but something similar. Opportunities present themselves on the fly - and I adapt accordingly."

The spiritualist slipped her hand out and found Qatrand’s in the darkness, fingers intertwining as her voice grew more and more monotone..

"Does that bother you? My arranging things for you to be where your skills can shine brightest?"

The question to the Yecine ’heir’ had her considering it seriously before answering.

"Not when I’m a willing participant rather than an unwitting pawn. I trust that you won’t place me somewhere that would be to the detriment of the lives of others."

"Oh, I wouldn’t trust that, darling. Keep suspecting me."

"El..."

"Rest now. The dawn will come soon enough."

For all her millennia of experience, Elua found herself the one drifting to sleep first after she said that. The strain of her multiple illusions and interventions finally caught up to her. Yet the scout illusion remained in place, powered by the complex fragment of spirit shoved into the mirror.

Qatrand remained awake a while longer... savoring the quiet moment amid recent chaos. Her wife’s steady breathing and light warmth had to be appreciated. New opportunities for both glory and danger would soon show themselves.

Because it really was what she wanted. To gain the respect and fame that would allow her to firmly hold the heirship. Become an Elder and change her family from the inside.

And because her most precious person would do so much to make her dream... run its course.

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