The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 540 - A Good Man Wisely Bends, But A Good Husband-Wife Has Long Bent Completely

"Send them here, then."

Interrupting him with something that *was* a full-on recruitment, at least for young talent, Qatrand gil Yecine stared at him with calm but extremely sure pigeon-blues. Eyes that on someone else, or against someone else, might be piercing... but to most were merely enveloping. Like they tried to shield and protect you by taking you into their depths.

"The Clearer Skies Society isn’t martial focused, but their leader is Yatrel er Goltbred. Do you think she intends to let her people remain unprotected?"

"Well, no, but... what are you implying?"

"They will have their own fighting force. They don’t intend to *rely* on other Guilds as they take on missions which others already considered costly - or beneath them. Your nephews would be training to guard healers, performers, and builders. With the Bloody Duelist herself as a primary teacher. And with a number of other brilliant fighters like Aleck to correct mistakes."

She knew if the man was worth anything, he would know her competitor from the competition. If not for the meteor hammer wielder’s placement back then, then because he was part of the forces sent against the threat of the Saltfire’s schism and dangerous artifacts. Qatrand knew if she ever was in a similar situation, she would learn the name, role, and accrued cost of every person that had to clean up her mess.

Of course, she also knew that she had more reason to know him than most people... and that he actually liked being lesser known and was averse to working in groups. His work in her territory and the notes Elua sent back about him when he returned had taught her more than most would ever know about him.

Just like she was sure that Salghis knew more about his supporter, the woman who had glared at the swordswoman with bitter accusation in her eyes while helping her wounded leader through the fortress gates. A person that Qat would have loved to have been here for this discussion. Because that particular Terrnine, a cultivator who risked her own body to pull her companions out of tough spots, was a woman worth converting to the Society’s cause.

’Probably even more worth it than he is, though I won’t be that rude aloud. Besides, I have a feeling they come in a package set. Even if not for bluntly romantic reasons.’

"Personally, that sort of offer sounds incredible. One of our recruiters back then actually approached him, but obviously the events after the Descent... anyway, one of my nephews is also a chained weapon fighter. Though it is a flail, with a shorter range. He could still benefit greatly from the tutelage."

"And the ’but’ is...?"

"...The other one’s mother was actually one of the women chased out by your mother-in-law. Convincing her to let her son be trained by the woman that broke her nose for finding her husband very attractive..."

For a moment, this actually startled the young woman. She had heard people whisper or talk about Yatrel, had heard people mention the risks of approaching while she was around her husband. But this was actually the first time, even second-hand, that she had encountered one of these individuals which led to her dark-sounding moniker.

"Ah. Well, while every story has two sides, I’m inclined to believe that your relative had more ideas than just being attracted, Salghis. I may not be the best judge of this because my wife is the only one I’ve ever..."

For much longer than a mere moment, the man was genuinely startled. Seeing this person *blush*, her androgynous features suddenly gained a layer of ’pretty’ that redefined something in his brain from ’handsome young man’ to... ’beautiful young man’. The masking tool still did an annoying amount of work on others sometimes, even when they were actively trying to think of the ’truth’ hidden in front of them.

But though it didn’t fully stress the point to the former leader, it was truly the case that only Qatrand could *hold back* every sort of mischievous impulse from Elua very simply - and only the brunette and a memory of an adult form from almost six years ago... was able to draw out a certain itch throughout the inexperienced blonde. One that filled her head with lines from romance novels she’d been reading in private recently.

"W-what I’m trying to say is that Ondua is objectively someone who a number of women have room to have physical attraction to. Has an Earthen Gauntlet found the face of every single one of them? Or even the official request to duel which she always starts with? It is very logical to think that there is a line that people have crossed if she has acted."

’...Lines like Kefa once shot past, for El. Or Dima and Lirante. Probably a lot of others, though I expect she would have told me if she went *as far* to warn anyone else away as she did them.’

The trust one husband-wife showed to a known manipulator and schemer was truly as incredible as the honesty that same brunette battered her back with at all times. Almost rather like a gas, trying it’s best to fill the once hollow but strong walls of a unique, shiny, precious gem. Allowing the reborn ancient cultivator to feel just as protected and cherished by existing inside that space as Qat felt... extremely, obsessively loved by the one who filled her to completion.

"Besides, if I thought others might try and lead my El into situations I disapprove of, I would also be rather... unmerciful to such an other party. I hope we understand each other on that front."

That beauty was still there, in a way. Underneath the less flushed face and suddenly severe eyes. But if Salghis had to feel anything when looking at this Qatrand gil Yecine, as she stood with her shoulders squared and jaw tight... he would pick that this woman was very composed. Very strong. Very respectable.

Exactly the sort of man he wanted to be! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Which proved that he had a pretty good eye for some people, after all.