The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 330 - Urgency and Agency, Clemency and Extremacy
Chapter 330: Chapter 330 - Urgency and Agency, Clemency and Extremacy
The commander cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the fervor of the researcher or how those under his command were shifting to the expectation.
"Master Jevri, while I appreciate the scientific urgency, we’re currently in the middle of-"
"Commander, with all due respect."
Elua interrupted the man, her tone changing to what amounted to ’deadly serious’... for the milky voice she had with her facade fully engaged. She hadn’t even bothered to lower her register, like she did when lecturing. Because she wanted to be taken slightly unseriously!
"If we wait, then it might be another cycle before my Guild can try this again. And in those years, we could be studying the information we find... instead of regretting that our preparations weren’t enough."
The man considered this. He didn’t know how long the sigilists may have been planning what they had going, but another eighteen years was a long time to a mortal. His gaze shifted between the pair of Coiled Serpent members, Qatrand, and the gathered crowd.
"You’re also suggesting an immediate deployment?"
"Within hours, ideally. That should be plenty to let them get ready and for you to finish your debriefing, correct?"
Answering him was Jevri, the older man drumming his fingers against his leg.
"I’ve already sent a messenger to ready the on-site forces. They’ll be preparing for our arrival as we speak."
Pigeon blues exchanged a glance with mint eyes. Judging by the lack of ’surprise’, her wife had clearly anticipated this development. Perhaps even orchestrated it through particular suggestions to either this man or others. But if she was being honest, moving on to the next thing sounded a lot better to her-
’-than standing here with all these people watching me. Like they are waiting for me to say or do something profound.’
"Commander. I’d like to request formal permission to undertake this assignment immediately. I’ll take two from my previous team. Ryder from the Void Defense Society and Helace from the Ironclad Order."
The pair below the stage had different reactions. While the archer nodded with something arrogant like he was thinking ’as expected’ in his spirit, the other man was wondering what his luck was lately. His name was inserted for things he didn’t want, and the things he did kept getting refusals!
"And your... wife? You plan to take her along again?"
Kefa spoke up and the Yecine on stage looked down at her. With first only a nod, which was followed by a small Guild salute, the tall cultivator hopped off the stage to land in front of the woman. Elua wasn’t sure what she was about to say, but the ancient spirit was already thrumming.
"I’m plenty comfortable with protecting her when I have to. Just as she protects me. You can continue to share what you saw happen on this mission." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Raven hair tilted as the swordswoman looked up onto the stage, to see the brunette leaning over the edge of the platform. With the fox on stage close by, mimicking her motion. Seeing she had been ’caught’ eavesdropping, the girl simply smiled and waved her fingers.
Kefa was almost certain that the flat hand motion that ran across the girl’s neck when she stopped was completely intentional. As was Qatrand.
"At least, what you are comfortable with telling people. Some things are hard for others to believe and might be best kept to yourself."
A calloused hand made the same flat hand motion and sliced it toward their own wrist, leveling a look at the older cultivator before turning away and thanking the shield bearer. Kefa’s eyes shook, realizing that the Yecine heir *knew*.
’Protecting a little monster like that? Is he sane?’
The heiress was fine with being disparaged, but the little spike of failing ’respect’ toward her beloved that rippled within the woman was not at all okay! Tumbling off the stage and bouncing to her feet, she entered the other cultivator’s space before the fox even had time to consider that copying her drop was a bad idea.
"Now, now, don’t be thinking weird thoughts. Who do you think keeps me from being-"
"El."
"Yes, darling?"
Even though the brunette knew it was coming - precisely because she did - she turned about with a bright smile as a palm gripped over her head. Qat let out a sigh of exasperation, knowing it was her own fault for trying to defend her cute wife to someone... that didn’t have the capacity to understand her. With so many eyes on them the swordswoman knew it was unwise to make much of a scene.
"I didn’t protect you so you could go and get yourself killed. Please be very careful."
Words that were chosen by Qat to the twin-blade wielder sounded just like any superior that was worried about their subordinate. Almost none of those nearby felt it was strange to hear at all. But Kefa knew that it was a warning as well as more proof.
"Q-qat, you’re squeezing a little hard? W-wait, let’s talk about this!"
With that whining set of phrases, the brunette was pulled along without being let go of. Seeing the strong, if small, cultivator handled that way sent goosebumps down the Ironclad Order woman’s back. While she had seen the Yecine heir in action and caught the last part of the fight against the leader...
’Qatrand isn’t stronger... right? No, that’s impossible. But even if that isn’t true, the Goltbred just obeys them. Is that also her love?’
The soldiers in the near crowd shifted uncomfortably under the minor pressures of spirit being put off. The commander of the fort stood on stage alone, with a crowd watching. Wondering where the prestige of the ceremony went.
His posture remained rigid, years of military discipline preventing Huri from showing the annoyance that flickered briefly in his eyes - as even the old sigilist had rushed back down the steps behind him. The man met the pair coming back around, but the Yecine only raised her hand and shook her head as she released her grip on Elua.
She straightened her blazer before stepping up the stairs and turning to face the commander. With a formal bow that acknowledged both the momentary lapse in decorum and her continued respect for the chain of command, she addressed him in a sure voice.
"My apologies for the interruption, Commander. As I was saying, I request permission to undertake this assignment with the team members I’ve mentioned, and my wife, whose sigil expertise will be quite vital to the operation’s success."
Commander Huri nodded slowly. Knowing that if it came down to it, he couldn’t stop them from leaving. The young man before him was showing remarkable respect as it was.
"Very well. I approve this deployment with immediate effect. Master Jevri, coordinate with my staff for supplies and any additional personnel you require."
When he turned around, Jevri was already pulling Elua toward some other location. Speaking rapidly about all kinds of things. His urgency was palpable, driven by something beyond mere scientific enthusiasm.
Of course, the real her was clinging tightly to the arm of her beloved, sighing as she let go and retrieved the fox on the edge of the stage.
"Well, it’s not exactly his life’s work, but he has been planning this for some time now. Hurry and catch up, my love. I don’t want to separate while you are mad at me."
"I’m not mad."
The brunette twisted on the corner and balanced along it, walking to the section closest to where her illusion and the older man was headed. Her monotone voice practically thundered in the swordswoman’s ears, forced into not looking her way to maintain appearances.
"I know. That just makes me want to cling tighter."
"Everyone is dismissed back to their duties. After a final cheer for our protector!"
Commander Huri’s voice rang out, riling the crowd into stomps and vocalizations. Some were generic, some were ’Yecine’, but enough were ’Qatrand’... that the heiress stalking after ’herself’ - and the hasty Coiled Serpent member talking its ear off - couldn’t help but smile.
’How is it, my fortress? The attention you were curious about. The attention your father never got and mine never wanted.’
"Noise so loud yet so flimsy. Emotions so volatile that they burn to prominence and run out of the very fuel they increase their demands for. The latest deed, which must be greater than the one prior."
The ancient cultivator began to skip and dance to the crashing sounds of feet and the name of the one she loved. An Ogre Strength Fairy, flitting this way and that to the fading sounds of mortals. To the rising expectation that made her ’giggle’ and cackle.
"So precious few of you are even worthy of her protection, yet all of you are important to her~ Wait for more glory, you parasites. And I will give it - as long as she desires. I will do anything!"
Before long, the illusionist took the place of her double, insinuating into the man’s head that the fox had always been in her arms. The only thing she truly forgot to ’correct’ was her slightly flushed face.
’I really should not think of *all* of the *anythings* I will do if she desires...’
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