Chapter 560: Chapter 560 - Second Place Sulks Are Just First Sister Losses

The Goltbred estate had changed in the four and a half or so years since Elua had walked them, especially with Yatrel on leave and recovery. New flowerbeds and pots were in the gardens, a reorganized path system made from a lighter & stronger choice of modified stone, and also a small pond that hadn’t existed before. The eldest daughter of the family noticed all of it in passing... as she ’badly’ tracked down the spiritual signature of someone very *deliberately* hiding from her.

’Not well - but deliberately. Behind the new rose trellis for the last three minutes, watching me pretend to search.’

She could have ended this little game immediately by walking directly to the spot and plucking her favorite, if the only true-sibling sister from her sulking place. Instead, the brunette stopped, hummed, and wandered in the opposite direction. Examining a patch of herbs that Klaytei had clearly been nurturing - puncturevine, winter cherry, sarsaparilla, and a form of ginseng that the heiress had sent back from the Astral Exclave... to see how a potentially valuable plant did when subjected to the continent’s climate.

Coincidentally, all those plants could be harvested for use in producing various libido increasing tonics... though Elua specifically *only* asked her to tend the ginseng! The personal servant clearly had her own ideas about how to use the space. Something that the young woman, who had not seen the person who had taken so good care of her little home in years, was loath to talk to her about - because she was sure that it involved something silly with Dima.

Running her fingers along a new stone bench nearby, one that actually had quite similar scrollwork to the doorways in the place she had built for Qat, the once missing daughter of the Goltbreds sat down on it and panned her gaze. Toward the new little arrival platform ’watchtower’, toward the Growing Tree that was already impressively large enough to climb around on, but... specifically not toward the trellis.

She was letting the little one stew as long as she wanted. Though even that did get old to the wife who knew her spouse was waiting for this situation to resolve. When she started to hum an old tune, the spirit ’hiding’ so terribly stilled and then shivered.

"I know you’re upset with me~ Arriving back home finally~ Only to leave you neglected~ No hug or hello, as expected~ Would you like to know why?"

She sung the words into the air, knowing Onya was listening. Of course, the sound met only silence for a while... for the child was very torn between being openly amused and staying mopey and mad. A little nasally voice eventually tried very hard to sound unaffected and failed completely, sounding ’happy’ but ’stubborn’ even without reading any Intent within her small spirit.

"I already know why."

’Ah. Isn’t she a little old for the dismissive, self-reliant *I know* phase? Well, I guess that can continue well into teenage years...’ 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Mint eyes finally faced the trellis, where reddish-blonde hair had been visible through the gaps in the teal-stained wood lattice. Brown eyes peaked through thorny stems, pinnate leaflets, and a rare cultivar of chocolate colored roses. If the eldest sibling had their mother’s bright and intense irises, then these were definitely Ondua’s soft and friendly ones. Even when they were doing their very best to *glare*.

"Hmm. Do you?"

"Because you love her more than anyone. More than me. More than mom and dad. More than anyone."

There was just a bit of strange accusation in it. As if it were her sister’s fault for not *trying* to love her more than the spouse. And underneath that, a sort of resignation that didn’t belong in a normal, nearly six-year-old’s voice. That being said... most children that age did not have it repeated so often by an illusory sing-a-long - and a perfectly physical, right there mother - that their matrimonial counterparts were the most important people to them.

"Yes. Qatrand will always be first."

The heiress didn’t soften it, didn’t try to apologize, and most definitely didn’t bother to make any immediate excuses. Different from Yatrel, who actually did admit she was sorry but would prioritize her husband anyway. Elua simply walked toward the lovely new garden feature with graceful steps in her Silver wedding dress. An item of clothing well cleaned with her supercritical CO2... after the much deserved dawdling around in bed with her unexpectedly attacking ’fortress’.

"You will always be second, same as myself. Everyone else is a distant third, starting with our parents. That is how my heart is arranged, Onya. And it will likely not change."

Small hands plenty used to gripping a practice blade gripped down on the lattice, knuckles whitening as the happiness at seeing a person that existed more in memory than reality for her... started to sour just a little bit.

"...Then why did you come looking for me at all?"

"Because you’re *second*. And that place in my heart is not a small thing, little otter. As I just said, it is the same level where I exist and live and protect myself. I’m not sure I can articulate to you what that means, but there is plenty of room there for both of us. Enough to hold you in my highest regard, completely, forever. At least... as long as you don’t betray Qat."

Bringing herself to a crouch, to get to eye level with the little girl peering through the gaps, the ancient cultivator allowed herself to simply look at what her youngest sibling had become in her long absence. The height growth was obvious, and compared to memory... she was even taller than El had been at that age. Clothing was functional and not dressy, clearly showing she was taking very different early life paths from the doll-like scholar.

’Not that I wasn’t already informed how rambunctious and active she was.’

Features were slowly sharpening from baby/toddler roundness into something that the eldest sister was sure would eventually be quite striking. A set to her young jaw was there... that was already *pure* Ondua bitterness. Something which El was certain would draw in a certain type of suitor. One who loved to tease it out - and punish others for bringing it on, in equal measure.

Visible to someone who knew how to see it, there was also the familiar growing little shape of a contained-form spirit. One that remembered more than it should... and that could potentially remember things it logically couldn’t on its own. Her Astralism, Elua knew, was going to be a tough one to teach at first. Considering that it was one of the rare forms with a trigger-action state of touch, quite like the reincarnator’s Physique!

’At least she won’t break stone suddenly. Just... get lost in a reading for a little while, maybe?’

"Will you come out from the other side? Or shall I climb through to you?"

"...The holes are too small for that."

"It’s also merely made of wood. Good, sturdy, and expensive wood... but still. It wouldn’t stop me from ripping through it, if I wanted to hug you any more than I already do."

The little girl’s defiant, moody composure cracked at that... strange, casual offer to damage something clearly *expensive* for the sake of reaching her. Others got mad when things were broken! Onya released her little hold, moving around the edge of the trellis and emerging into the open with her arms crossed and her chin slightly lifted - which made the very messy, plant debris covered, normally straight hair look even more ridiculous to Elua.

A woman who just stood patiently, with no change on her smiling face and arms opened wide. Even if her mind had things to say.

’Waiting to be picked up, even if she doesn’t want to *seem* to want it. This girl... needs to remember not to hold back with me, hm? Ah, I want to spoil her. I wonder if she would like flying? I need to see how she is with a weapon, Qat said sword probably wasn’t for her, so then I can make-’

"You really missed her more than I missed you. That’s okay. I knew you would. I forgive you."

Quiet words were delivered from someone who had been putting together the pieces of who her sister was in her heart for years. Watching her parents receive letters from each other and hearing about the dozens Qatrand received every time someone ’came back’ had taught her - what with only a single long letter being delivered to the youngest Goltbred - that people in love were just... *extra*.

"You’re right, I did. But I still missed you. I even thought about you every day. Can you say the same?"

A sort of understanding had settled in Onya a while ago. That the difference in ’quality’ with that over the top feeling between life-partners was never *really* about her in the first place... had eventually clicked. Though not in so many specific, articulable words - and only after noticing a kind of comparison she could make with herself. Her chin lowered and arms loosened.

"...I sang Love You Lots every night..."

"Eh~? Every night? I don’t believe you. Maybe you should come sing it right in my ear?"

Flinging herself onto ’E-wa’, small arms rushed and wrapped around her neck in a desperate grip. For her favorite person had come home! So *of course* she knew what her sister and in-law were feeling for each other! Quiet, too proud to cry outright sobs began against the metallic fabric as the ancient cultivator supported and lifted the much bigger ’baby’ with just one arm.

Even with longer limbs, heavier weight, and wielding much more Intent and presence... that reddish-blonde head still fit right in the crook of her neck. Both of them had grown more than a bit - yet clearly neither of them felt they had grown apart. The brunette woman said nothing, though she greatly wanted to tease her to sing through the tears. Elua just pressed one hand steady on her back and leaned her cheek lightly onto Onya’s hair.

They stayed that way for a while. Long enough for the sun above and shadows below it to shift quite noticeably. Long enough for a sense of calm to return... and for both of them to sing the little ’saccharine’ lullaby as a duet.

<⦑ ⟠ ⟠ ⟠ ⦒>

The Lullaby (Cleaner Version Below)

Cadence Key:

~ Sustained note / - rapid note / () notes separate word

[Verse 1]

A: Love~ You-Lots Sis(~)ter, You’ll Dream To()night

B: Of Stars In-The Dark~, And Teeth On Your Side~

A: Love~ You-Lots Sis(~)ter, Sleep Will Come Soon,

B: I’ll Be By-Your Side~, And O()gre Will Too~

[Verse 2]

A: Rest And-Then You~ Can, Play In Your Dreams,

B: With Friend And-A Smile~, Who Guards O()ver You~

A: Love You-Lots Sis(~)ter, You’ll Be Al()right

B: Be Fierce In-The Dark~, Grow Strong Just Like Me~

-Clean Version-

[Verse 1]

Love You Lots Sister, You’ll Dream Tonight

Of Stars In The Dark, And Teeth On Your Side

Love You Lots Sister, Sleep Will Come Soon

I’ll Be By Your Side, And Ogre Will Too

[Verse 2]

Rest And Then You Can, Play In Your Dreams,

With Friend And A Smile, Who Guards Over You

Love You Lots Sister, You’ll Be Alright

Be Fierce In The Dark, Grow Strong Just Like Me