Chapter 429: Chapter 429 - Recognition Between Generations
The crowd’s energy was beginning to shift toward social mingling now that the main events on stage were over with. From the main stage, the swordswoman of the day noticed the approach of several figures and the movement of the members of her strikeforce who were still highly loyal. Immediately at hand were those behind her - Ondua er Goltbred led the small but impressive group of heroes that had sat on stage during the ceremony.
Directly behind him walked Corde hez Iralev, the Frozen Duskblade... her eyes sweeping the crowd as if noticing some of the same movements. But the veteran’s attention ultimately settled on the newly recognized hero with unmistakable intent. She was coming over to discuss her prior offer in light of some of these ’changes’.
"Qatrand."
Her father-in-law reached her first, offering a brief hug that she accepted gratefully... even if it wasn’t a very Yecine way of doing things. Her new status left a bit of an absence of need to handle every situation ’as expected’ of her. And as always, the man’s friendly warmth remained constant.
"Elua would be proud... and she probably would not have walked over nearly as slow to hug you, but I was sure you would not appreciate a flying tackle from me. You may have even just dodged!"
She chuckled shortly while clapping his shoulder briefly. Both were good mental images, even if one of them tickled at her longing. Leaning close to whisper as she moved past him, her pigeon blues did not leave the vaunted Element wielding swordswoman.
"Thank you, Ondua. Hearing that... all of that, means more than I can say."
"Qatrand gil Yecine."
Corde greeted with a nod without any hostility. Even stepping back and offering a small noble bow - not the deep deference due to a superior in foreign lands, but the measured respect exchanged between peers.
"Congratulations on your recognition today - and on your independence."
"Corde hez Iralev. It’s an honor to speak with you again."
With the pleasantries neither of them much liked to engage in out of the way, both of their stances... did not ease. Not that they were particularly wary of each other, but neither had been allowed a lot of time to wind down from search and destroy missions. And every jumping shadow and loud outcry from the revelers spreading out into the competition ground made their swordhand’s twitch.
"The honor is perfectly mutual. Your achievements during this Descent have been... remarkable. Your elevated command to a mixed unit strikeforce was the right call, even so early in your first Descent. It made you a presence that had more impact than was fully disclosed just now."
Pigeon blues met the set of gazing eyes without flinching from the swordswoman speaking and all the others watching them talk. Qat caught the evaluation in the set of words, suggesting that she had been paid attention to at least through report if not rumors. Corde wasn’t just offering praise - she was making a point about the undocumented accomplishments that anyone concerned enough could easily piece together.
’Or should I say, the ones that had been re-documented for political reasons. Why? Is she testing me?’
"I had excellent training to build upon and excellent allies."
"Yes. The Yecine methods are... reliable. But what you’ve accomplished suggests a sort of outlier’s growth well beyond those foundations. Which sounds a little familiar to me."
Something in Corde’s tone made Ondua uncomfortable by the time she finished. His instincts and spiritual sense had picked up on the deeper currents of the conversation - which Qatrand herself needed no time to parse. Again, the older woman was clearly bringing the effect of Elua er Goltbred in her life up.
The blonde admitted it was possible that, unless ordered by her Guild or expected by her family, she would have had more of an ’issue’ with quickly agreeing to the ’fame’ being re-routed... without the little schemer’s influence. Not because Qat was hungry for the glory, but because she may not have become fully cognizant of what ’protecting others’ as her primary goal *really* meant.
’It means not letting family, pride, glory, or anyone come in the way of it. However, I do fear that I will some day disappoint my mint-drop. Because of that, I may make choices she may not agree with again.’
About to open her mouth to praise her missing wife, a sharp clap drew everyone’s attention to a new speaker.
"Growth that comes from the young having the courage and fortitude to forge ahead with their own path. The one that exists with them. Rather than being pulled out of it by the constant interfering orbit of what others think to lay out as their best interest."
Lirades er Yecine approached the heroes without any wariness at all. Her joints had long ago seen battlefields containing similar cultivators - and perhaps they had spent too long gossiping and serving tea to the women of the Yecine family. But her spirit remained undaunted in nearly any presence.
Acknowledging nods from the other heroes came. Quickly from the oldest of them and not much slower from the rest. A small but earnest recognition that transcended any immediate politics, purely meant for one of the oldest living member of the entire continent.
"I’m glad they didn’t cause you any trouble coming, Lirades."
The older woman’s smile at the greeting held both sadness and approval as she studied the young woman’s ceremonial regalia. The suit may have been Yecine black, but it was not tailored by their people. Instead, it had been done by some mortal hired for the project by recommendation.
One gained from a certain heiress back before the competition even officially started. Whose family was more than seriously considering moving to the new city permanently, considering the offer the hero who owned it had made them.
"I hoped they would try, but they seem to have learned the one lesson from all of this. I can wish for more, but I don’t expect it by now. Even with your decision now out in the open. I do hope that ’friend’ might still apply between us?"
"Always. I may not be bound by the organizational effects of the name any longer, but you are still my family member. That’s not something that will change."
She knew it would irk many people that she felt such a way. Not just about those she considered innocent within the Yecine. Wanting to be legally free of the corruption and crimes, she still admitted to herself she would never be free of the blood itself.