Chapter 431: Chapter 431 - Making The Walls Clear By Setting Fire To Them
The conviction in her voice drew approving nods from both Ondua and Lirades, both of whom had their own forms of favor for the heiress, even as the pair eyed everyone else on the platform during the seeming moment of vulnerability. All cultivators knew that their reaction times tended to be a bit nebulous and inconsistent as their body and spirit adjusted to the new sensations after advancement.
Around the area, the security forces of the Void Defense Society and other Guilds ushered away onlookers. Corde herself studied the person she’d apparently offended with greater attention, not one to usually push her spiritual sense at others. Unlike the duel at the competition grounds, the person before her held a much firmer cultivation.
’More than what they’ve been through on the battlefield. This is not his first Primalist breakthrough. Well, that does explain why that Astralism was so very effective in its tactic as things moved along.’
It was a detail she was sure Kwared and some others knew already. But it was again, something kept from the official documentation. Even though the plan was to look for and build more Cynosure wielders to usefulness... if they could find them.
"My intent is not to offend, but inform. You speak of her as an equal, but I am not confident she sees you the same way."
"Then I will *inform* you again, that you bear misconceptions. When I speak of her, I do so as my wife. We are partners that work together - but there is a sense of who is most important to us that precludes something like ’equality’."
The father-in-law nodded again, his hand on the hilt of his crystal whip-blade. This sounded similar to how Yatrel and he were together. He also more than anyone knew that his daughter put ’Qat’ above all else. His nodding slowed and a slight frown took over as he had to admit... that ’else’ included himself.
Rather, sometimes he was not all so sure he was ’highly ranked’ at all? More like a housing fixture that needed to be interacted with from time to time and maintained so that it did not break down...
"This is exactly why she could so easily take your suspicion of her motives, for my sake. And why I cannot possibly take it as easily as her. It is not my responsibility to fix or accept what you do not understand about a relationship that had nothing to do with you."
The statements established boundaries that the Frozen Duskblade clearly recognized. But the distrust ran deeper than one ’manipulated’ youth could convince her to change her mind on. Even if she could acknowledge that she was only projecting experiences that did not fit the narrative before her...
’I will wait and see more.’
"Then I look forward to meeting her more properly when she returns to better study what causes your sort of devotion. And of course, to beginning our training together whenever you’re ready."
"Now then, before this becomes any more of a public spectacle than it already has been..."
Lirades spoke quietly, though her voice carried that slightly amused tone of someone who had witnessed more than her share of wisdom or folly in making a scene of things. Her weathered hand squeezed Qatrand’s strong shoulder briefly - a gesture of approval and full support from someone who had chosen to never remarry these hundreds of years.
The elder then leveled a pointed glance at the remaining heroes on stage that sent a clear message. Something that felt quite like ’get on with it and scram’. Ondua took the hint immediately, stepping forward with renewed enthusiasm.
"Qatrand, you must come to the estate tomorrow. Yatrel has been planning a more private celebration feast for weeks... and I’m sure Onya will never forgive me if she doesn’t get to see her ’brother’ after my wife kept mentioning you would be back."
A mention of her little sister-in-law brought a smile to Qatrand’s face - the first she’d worn since the small argument began. The thought of boundless energy, at least until she needed a nap, and uncomplicated affection... at least until she may be asked about ’E-wa’... was exactly what the swordswoman felt she needed after months of war politics.
’And the last time I saw her when I told them about being a woman... kids really grow fast. Closer to two years now than one.’
"I’d like that very much."
A throat cleared nearby and Qatrand turned to see the person her tendril had already latched onto. Rather, had been attached ever since he tried to read her emotions earlier on. She did feel a little bad that it meant he was probably filled with everything she felt just now.
Navuill er Yecine looked uncertain in his steps. Unsure whether he’d be welcome in this particular gathering. Less because of the blonde former Yecine, but more because all of these people - including Lirades - were quite famous in their own right. Her smile widened as she stepped forward to clasp his arm in greeting.
"Cousin."
"Qatrand? I... I wanted to congratulate you. On everything."
"Thank you. For being here. And for being there."
"I wouldn’t have missed it. Even if some people didn’t think I should come."
His slight grimace spoke volumes about the reception he’d likely received from certain family members when his invitation arrived. But his presence here and his choice to support her despite the internal complications really did mean more than any formal recognition.
"...I know you."
One of the hitherto silent heroes spoke out and made everyone turn their heads. Navuill looked that way for a moment, tilted his head in confusion... then stumbled back with wide eyes. Because he only just now recognized the man, too.
In his assignment area had been a particularly bad breach in one fortress. The civilians were being evacuated through emergency routes, but containment of the corridors had not gone very well at first. As casualties mounted in the Continental Army defenders because the cultivators on site simply could not kill quicker than the Lesser Voidlings charged...
The reports say that two people changed that. One, a well known hero who just arrived and essentially took all of the burden of defending one important path onto himself. The other... was an Empath with a Fire Element. Who reported that he felt the flagging morale all around him and charged ahead of the line of other cultivators.
"They say you ground the tip of your precious blade to hell against the stone just to cause sparks you could use as ignition. Did both sides really just stop and watch you dance and scream with a flaming sword... swinging all around for a whole thirty seconds and burning up all the black ichor on the walls before your Fire winked out?"
Some of the others stared at the quiet hero. They’d known him for many decades... and this was the first time they’d ever heard him talk so much all at once. Then they looked toward the other young man that had joined them. Yecine colors, dark hair... and a stern face that twitched like it wanted nothing more than to avoid their gazes.
"It... it wasn’t that long."
"Official debriefs said half a minute. Your own and a number of others."
"Screamed?"
Pigeon blues blinked and low voice whispered when his cousin poked her elbow into his. His steely gray winced a bit more visibly.
"...It was a warcry... I thought they’d rally quicker..."
"Look, kid, it doesn’t matter that some of us got a chuckle out of how ridiculous the tale sounded after the fact. What matters is that you gave everyone a breather. You knew what you did was worth doing, and they did come back at the stalled enemy with more vigor than before."
"Well, you’re certainly welcome at our celebration, then. It sounds like it would be a good story from your perspective. For that matter, anyone here now... if you’re not leaving on other business by tomorrow evening, is plenty welcome to stop by."
Ondua declared this, apparently deciding on his own to include the entire group. Qat made a face for a moment, but hid it quickly. Not because she thought it would be better if no one else came...
’Yatrel is not going to like that more mouths are showing up without being asked...’
"Corde, if you’d like to visit to check if a spot on our estate will meet your training’s requirements, then tomorrow would be an excellent time."
The direct invitation from the Goltbred Patriarch caught the Frozen Duskblade slightly off guard. After the public disagreement, she had expected less warmth from the former Yecine’s in-laws... even if the man was one of the people who had revealed himself as her ’fan’. Especially because it was his biological daughter she had issues with.
But Ondua smiled as amiably as ever. Filled with a father’s desire to better understand anyone who would be training his daughter - blood or not. Because he knew that keeping things civil when his eldest returned would probably...
’Ah. Right. My wife doesn’t like her either now, because of that dinner she attended...’
"I... would be honored to attend, if you’re certain it’s appropriate."
Seeing her finally react, the brunette man finally started to panic a little. Having just realized everything he was about to bring to his wife’s plate as a party hostess. Briefly, he wondered if it was alright for him not to attend - after all, he’d been to this ceremony already, right?
"Family gatherings are exactly where people intending to interact with your relatives at length should get to know each other properly. I’ll be there."
Lirades added on with clear ’amusement’ thrumming out to those nearby. The Goltbred man may not look or act like her deceased husband for the most part... but he did seem to know the same tactics of shoveling more of his foot inside his mouth than his spouse would ever know what to do with.