Chapter 430: Chapter 430 - Breach Of Etiquette & Limits
The old cultivator smiled and nodded. Lirades did not think she would have felt any other way, but it was another matter to hear it said.
"Good. I know young Navuill will be more than glad to hear the same from you, so don’t let him run off without being told. Let me just say... this path you’ve chosen isn’t easy. Independence brings freedom, but it also brings isolation."
Thinking back to touching on her El’s spirit for the first time after breaking through to Primalist, she smiled again. Pretending it was easy was never something she would do, but complaining that it couldn’t be harder definitely was. What was so little isolation that she felt compared to that?
"Which brings me to the main reason why I sought you out today. My previous offer of instruction... the circumstances have clearly changed significantly since then."
Corde hez Iralev broke into the conversation again. She knew that everyone would want to have a chat with the former heir, so that was exactly why she wanted to say her part and then get out of the way.
"The formal agreement was with your family itself, but I will have to have a new one composed to work personally with you. We will have to work out the when and where, but I would prefer a place more private than appears to be available to you. That’s all."
Elua’s barely contained displeasure at the *woman* but not the ’suggestion’ rose up in the teenager’s mind once more. She also remembered her own conflicted feelings about accepting guidance from a party that felt like it might be trying to pull her away from her wife. As far as good excuses went, not having anywhere to-
"If you are considering a spot for the training, why not use our estate until a proper area can be built here?"
Ondua spoke out more as a father than as a fan. He had not lost his respect for the woman as a warrior, but his fervor had cooled off just the slightest bit despite what she had done for the Talcres. Nohre had apparently insisted, he heard, that Zyris let her closest friends know she was ’better’.
Yatrel and that young orphan girl both thought that, however warranted her concern may appear, that the famed swordswoman had something innately against his eldest daughter. In that, he was also absolutely father first - so where was better to host the training than somewhere he could freely rebuke her for speaking ill of his progeny?!
’Father-in-law... well, he meant well. And this sort of would have been one of those very choices she would not agree with. Refusing assistance just because I am unwilling to extract the value out of the rest of the situation from the unpleasant parts.’
She thought back to the things she’d done similarly. Working with the Ironclad Order member who was clearly a patsy for her father, at first. But the man was actually competent enough and of help in battle. Not refusing him after realizing how he was had worked out.
The same could be said of Leysah and Nysoi, for her personally. Looking past herself, she could count numerous times that her wife was less than pleased with a person but worked with them anyway. Dima being the most obvious, but even Navuill numbered in that mix.
"I am... amenable to that. You have new responsibilities here that take priority. But when your duties allow, we can begin for however long suits your schedule."
Such an offer from the Frozen Duskblade was plenty generous and respectful. Very little seemed wrong with it to anyone else. However, Qatrand simply could not let the matter go. Even if it made her feel petty.
"When Elua er Goltbred, my wife, is around would the arrangement still be so... adaptable? Or would you push for ever more of my time?"
It was not the same feeling as with Kefa, the disgust over being coveted she felt. But it wasn’t as far off as she woul like. Corde’s expression tightened as her Shield Astralism wavered almost imperceptibly, finally settling on ’resignation’. Detoxifying was often not a rapid process, after all.
"She would be... welcome to visit, of course. Though I admit you surprised almost everyone with your insistence on her return. The reports have not looked nearly so positive."
"Considering you already brought up things that have been undocumented, you should perhaps understand the importance of keeping some information contained. It should be quite soon."
"I see. I imagine by then we can develop enough independent mastery in you that all further sharpening of your abilities would no longer depend on her permission for your continued progress."
The phrasing was not diplomatic at all, but it surprisingly did not sting - not Qatrand. The others were a bit of a different matter, as they all winced at the blunt opinion that her relationship might be more about ’dependence’ than *partnership*. The younger swordswoman was more than confident enough now in her own abilities and the firmness of her marriage.
"Corde, I appreciate the offer more than I can easily express. For it is something that many cultivators would be over the moon for and I do take that into consideration. I’d like to accept it - with one important clarification."
The older hero raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Qatrand’s defiant tone. She assumed it was sparked by the insult to her little master, and that whatever ’programming’ had been done ran quite deep. She thought that finding the strings to tug at would take some time.
"You have had a misconception for a while now that I am not sure I can clear by saying this. But I will."
Her hand reached back for her blade’s hilt at the precise moment her spirit unraveled its intent. Not quite bloodlust, but something close. Something that proved she would *disarm* and crush the person before her to the ground in the next moments if they did not defend. But only words were spoken... and plenty of them all at once.
"You are also not someone I need permission from. To love who I do, why I do, or how intensely I do so. If you think you are - or that you deserve a say in my life more than the person I have long chosen to build it together with..."
Before their very eyes, on the stage in front of the lingering crowd watching the high profile people talk, a certain ’fortress’ already anchored down tight in a Primalist’s spirit and sitting surprisingly close in body despite the war rationing and constant fighting...
Burst forth as a Dual-Primalist. Her essence field became almost directly visible for a brief moment as its density collapsed tighter than a normal elementalist. The nature of Gravity itself pulling at everything nearby as the blonde stood tall under the force of it and truly became a sight for all eyes to pay attention to.
"Then I’m sorry to say that I will refuse such intrusive teaching methods. Because even my El has never made me do a single thing I was not willing to do. Ironically, except convince me that day... to agree to take lessons from you."