The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 35 - Dearly Departing

The Yecine was very aware of the Goltbred family situation, because of spending the occasional meal with everyone as well as because of the chats she would sometimes have with the more ’open’ El when they were alone. She also knew that the relationship between father and daughter was quite good - enough to be envious. The swordswoman would never feel comfortable teasing Anper er Yecine in the way that her fiancee did to Ondua er Goltbred.

"Even if the features are inherited, it doesn’t make sense. Your mother has beauty and your father..."

However, she had quite grown to like making jokes with her own future wife. Even if she would always be respectful in person.

"Maybe you’re right and he’s ’not bad’. How does that produce you and those reactions? Aren’t you choosing to be this way for a purpose?"

The heiress couldn’t refute!

"That... you are of course right. Rather, I’ve told you as much, didn’t I? As for if it’s simpler... I’m not sure that’s true. There are some advantages to being ’unsuspecting’ and unsuspected. Everyone does love ’sweet’ and ’kind’ children, but people with those sorts of qualities would be taken advantage of sooner or later, in my last life."

She laughed once and shook her head.

"I thought people would make things interesting for me *eventually* like that when I was deciding on how I wanted to be. I stopped caring a little about that kind of ’potential entertainment’ after I met you..."

"But, I also met you under this kind of facade and... and you called me cute then too so I kind of started to like it. Therefore it is your fault if I am still cute!"

The swordswoman experienced some deja vu. She was struck by her arrogance and narcissism!

"I guess I can’t very well be mad at myself for that. I could turn it around and blame you for the reason I discovered a passion for things that fit that description."

The brunette ’blushed’. Her ’fortress’ had just indirectly claimed she was passionate over her!

"Hmm! You can do as you like."

"Yeah, you’ve told me that a time or two before."

The noise of a growling stomach squelched out and ruined the mood.

"Ugh. After all that talking I’m suddenly in the mood to eat again~"

Elua ’whined’ now that the blonde girl’s questions died down. She did want to tell her more about her old self. She wanted to tell her everything. It was just a matter of picking stories that would shine the best light early on!

’Maybe not the best light, or else the darker parts will seem... dark."

"We... well, I probably don’t have the time for that. Sorry."

"Hm? What do you mean?" frёewebnoѵēl.com

The mint eyed girl tilted her head and asked.

"The last train in the direction I’m heading today was canceled. The stationmaster called it out a while ago. That means I’ll need to board the previous second to last. It will be here in..."

The taciturn teenager explained the details of the change calmly to the one more likely to be sad and unstable. Until the final word, which even she displayed some reluctance over voicing.

"...Minutes."

...

The activity in the station increased the closer to the departure time it became. The clatter of an incoming train and the stationmaster’s booming voice announcing schedule changes provided a backdrop to their intimacy. Elua’s gaze flicked ’nervously’ between Qatrand and the approaching train; her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve all the while.

Even though things had been tense - *because* things had been tense - she really didn’t want them to part again. The Yecine reached out, gently subduing the Goltbred’s restless hands with her own. Her pigeon blue eyes held a warmth that made light of the weight of the revelations she’d just received today.

"El."

Her quiet but firm voice was steady despite the tumult of emotions beneath the surface. While she hadn’t come to complete thoughts on everything, there was enough to say a few small words.

"I want you to know that this doesn’t change anything between us. My vow to protect and care for you stands."

The brunette’s face was painted with ’surprise’, before it was quickly replaced by something like ’hope’. Qatrand continued, a small smile tugging at her lips. She understood that even now, the girl in front of her was stronger than herself - yet she seemed intent on ’mooring’ in some kind of ’safety’ with their relationship.

"I may not be able to shield you from as many threats that you could have dealt with in your past, but I’ll still be your *anchor* in this life. That’s what truly matters to me."

...

’Did... did she just emphasize that word... because it’s what I told her that her Astralism is called?’

She really didn’t know whether to laugh angrily or cry! It was essentially a pun. Her beloved was using such a lazy way of joking! For a moment after reaffirming her old vow to the girl, and not knowing what deep insult she had just been bestowed with, Qatrand’s mind drifted.

’Yes, El is El, and has always been so. Even with everything she admitted, the core of who she has been to me hasn’t changed. She’s still the person... I’ve grown to love.’

A number of things were clicking into place and her resolution was increasing. Sadly, the only determination she hadn’t gained was actually bothering to tell the cute illusionist that she had started identifying her particular feelings as love. The set of mint eyes glistened with unshed ’tears’, because she decided the intent laying past the pun was worth that much.

"Qat, I... thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me."

The voice she spoke with ’wavered’, attempting to ’betray’ her own emotions. Yet, despite the hard work of the facade, it was ultimately useless with the fragment of the swordswoman’s spirit acting as a lie detection tool. The taller girl knew immediately that each word was true.

Though she *could* also tell that there was something that wasn’t being said - however that was par for the course.

"I was genuinely so afraid that once you knew everything, you’d see me differently."

The blonde squoze the smaller girl’s hands.

"I do see you differently."

The fact that the spirit of her ’fortress’ was calmer than ever did prevent her from reacting too negatively to the sudden statement, but it didn’t prevent some of the life from leaving the heiress’s eyes.

"Knowing about both your past and present, I see you more clearly."

A single tear escaped, trailing down Elua’s cheek. Qatrand gently wiped it away with her thumb, her touch lingering.The small girl’s lips opened to speak.

"I love you so much."

The sentence hung in the air, and the mint-eyed girl’s keen sense picked up on the subtle shift in Qatrand’s spirit. Despite her facial expression barely flickering, it was almost like watching a stone dropped into a still pond as ’affection’ spread.

The impact of words she had spoken more than once in the past years rippled through the tendrils of energy that had been enclosing the Goltbred practically ever since she first flew through the air and hugged her on arrival.

The trainmaster signaled after Elua spoke, the final call for boarding ruining the chances of continuing their heart-choking romance play. A lot of station goers had been quietly watching with side eyes! It was clearly some sort of love of the century and they were hooked on every little smile, touch, and tear.

Qat gathered her sword from the bench. As she turned to leave, a final playfulness struck the reborn cultivator. While she was impressed at the time, as her emotions calmed down something had started to nag her.

"Oh, by the way... about asking for that bird in the play..."

The Yecine raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. Of course, the owner of the creature would know how to find one! Only now the question was...

"Was it real? Or one of your illusions?"

The smaller girl curved her lips into an ’enigmatic’ smile.

"Now that, my beloved, is a secret to be revealed another time."

With a provocative ’wink’, she waved her to board the train. The taller girl shook her head fondly at her wife-to-be’s antics.

’Even if it wasn’t real... something could still be done.’

Qat thought so as she entered the open vehicle doors. As the train pulled away, Elua watched it disappear into the distance, then let out a long breath.

’She didn’t run away. Even after learning about my past - about who I really say I am - she stayed and listened.’

The reborn cultivator’s mind raced with possibilities. Being accepting of the strange situation in the moment didn’t mean it would *stay* that way for the other girl after she had time away to think. But not giving her the time could also lead to terrible results. She knew this...

For now, though, Elua allowed herself a moment of cautious optimism. Qat had been calmer than she dared hope for. Considering how terribly everything could have gone at practically any point, the outcome was very fulfilling. The only grievance - and it was a steadily ballooning one as the other girl traveled every inch away - was that, unless her fiance went out of their way again, it would be many months until they met together once more.

Inside the train, Qatrand’s heart was filling with determination. She would find the time to use the training tool she was given. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she would be ready to face them – for El, for whatever uncertain future awaited, and for the vow she once voiced as a child.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶