Chapter 410: Chapter 410 - Unsatisfying Conclusions, Possibilities, & Expectations
Reaching for the top of one of the document stacks, one of the oldest cultivators on the continent readied a bound folder that she’d been given. One with an option that the woman was sad even needed to be made available.
"Formal apologies have been issued for the disruption caused by the investigation. Your in-laws have been... gracious about the entire affair."
"Of course they have."
The Goltbred parents would be gracious openly because they were good people. Cultivators who believed in the system of governing bodies working as intended. They would accept it because they had faith that a form of justice had been served according to proper procedures... and because they’d now learned their lesson about who was and wasn’t their friend or enemy.
’I do think she will still swing her fist if she ever catches him in her line of sight. But what happens privately there is... different than what the families as an organization must reflect.’
"There’s something else."
Lirades’s tone grew even more somber as she loosened the leather cord wrapped around as binding. In her life, she’d only ever *seen* this offer made four times and only was it accepted once.
"The Council has also discussed your current status in relation to the family. Given your new official public designation and ceremony upcoming... they’ve offered to facilitate a sanctioned stripping of family allegiance. If you wish to distance yourself from the Yecine name entirely."
"They want to make it easy for me to abandon my family to protect their symbol."
Immediately, Qatrand felt a dislike for the very prospect. Her whole life she had grown up with a duty to protect others... a calling that was as much a part of herself as it was a part of being raised a Yecine. Whatever failings the men involved with the conspiracy had, they possessed solid records of quiet heroics while holding the line against Voidlings.
’And other human criminals, when necessary. Which is why I still can’t believe some of them were okay with all of this.’
"I would view it differently. They want to make it possible for you to choose your own path and hold your head high without being constrained by the criminal actions of others - as we will be when the truth inevitably spreads some day, regardless of any tight cover over the incidents."
The optimistic phrasing didn’t soften the reality. The Continental Guild Council had effectively shown her an escape route - a way to wash her hands of the situation. To perhaps align herself more closely with the Goltbreds, or even to establish herself as a Hero with an independent name.
A lot of affluent family founding stories started as being the first big force in a pioneered region, but a large portion also began as fresh, ’no named’ heroes that gained the very sort of fame and territory that the teenager herself was primed to receive.
When mortals and cultivators alike wanted to flock to work under you, the amount of influence that even someone previously unknown gained was often the first step. Maintaining the area would then turn it all into the path toward traditions, legacy, and the growth of a family force that eventually became very well annotated in the recorded histories.
Qatrand studied the woman across from her, well more than ten times her years alive. But despite her recent harrowing investigation experience, she was still a strong force with strong opinions - and pretty much the most dutiful person she knew of when it came to family. No matter what some of the elders ever spoke in private.
’And this person is using such an amount of neutrality in her tone, that speaks of someone trying very, very hard not to influence a decision she clearly has opinions about. Just like El does. <
"You think I should take their offer."
"I think you should do whatever allows you to sleep at night and accomplish your goals. The question is whether staying connected to the Yecine name helps or hinders both of those things in your truest, unaffected opinion. And whether the... reality of the unique circumstances of your upbringing should be a story in their hands or yours."
The heavy blade wielder had not yet informed the woman of her secret, so she could only reason out that it must have come out as she dug deeper into the particular members surrounding her father. But that wasn’t even what felt bad at all about the situation. It was that a month of patience had yielded exactly what she’d feared - political consequences that looked impressive on paper to make the Yecine consider paying more attention to their people.
But changed nothing fundamental. The family would pay some fines they shouldn’t have had to. Her father would spend a few dozen months confined to the estate after the war... and emerge with his essential, problematic worldview intact. If she couldn’t even convince them now that such a thing was an issue...
"I need to speak to the council of elders before I make any sort of decision."
"Of course. Take whatever time you need to decide. Their offer will likely remain open permanently."
Qatrand stood to leave, intending to do this right away. When she reached the door, the eldest woman of the Yecine added a set of parting lines. Very quietly, knowing that a cultivator would hear it.
"For what it’s worth, I think what they did to you was unconscionable. Not just for someone from our family. House arrest seems... woefully insufficient for their choices fourteen years ago."
For a long few moments, the teenager held onto the door handle. It was not possible to disagree entirely that what they did to her was wrong, nor was it possible to agree entirely just for the fact that it aligned her path with that of her then young fiancee-to-be.
"Thank you for everything you’ve done for my wife’s family and our own. I know this wasn’t easy to manage. I’ll remember it."
Walking out and back through the almost empty city, blonde hair shifted black as she found herself thinking of a conversation she’d had with Elua long ago... about the difference between justice and revenge. Her wife had been very clear about which one would feel as though it had been worth pursuing once it was actually achieved.
’The problem is that what I’ve just been offered felt like the start of neither and also like running from both. I’m sure El would know what to do. I’m sure she’d think I’d know what was best. Why are so many things in life two ways and no ways all at once?’
⟠ ⟠ ⟠
The Yecine great hall was not often filled with elders in wartime, even near the period of wind-down. Even rarer were so many of their faces bearing shame from recent new brought upon the family name. Sitting at the center of the council, the current family Patriarch whose authority had been unchallenged for thirty years sat with his old hand clasped firmly on their traditional style blades.
Qat too stood before them all in her same dark Yecine tailored clothing. With the same variety of heavy blade, though one of significantly higher quality than all of theirs. The respectful deference these men had grown accustomed to from the family heir was notably absent.
The young cultivator who had once sought their approval and expressed her respect had been replaced by someone. Someone who carried themselves with the confidence of war-won recognition. One that had been tuned appropriately after a very strong series of incredible showings... since *well* before the competition, many were beginning to realize.
Their heir of this generation had not slacked in their duties, in their training, and had always shown a plenty appropriate amount of respect for their positions. Yet, as the ones in charge of their family, all of them were guilty of letting things go on to this point. Ignorance of it happening in the background just showed off their failure as leaders.
"Our members were found responsible and the consequences to our family’s standing have been... significant. Recovery will not be simple."
Raven-hair did not shake or shift as the teenager remained silent, pigeon-blues studying the faces around the table. Nor did the Skydancer on her shoulder make any sound as it twitched and watched the room full of severe looking people. The conspirators now under ’house arrest’ by family decree were all here.
"Loss of multiple open natured contracts will not be unnoticed by the uninvolved families."
"Removal of personnel from the Ironclad Order’s current hierarchy will be in plain sight to other Guilds.
"The financial penalties will impact the profitability of our holdings for years to come."
"The reputation we’ve built over all these generations has been severely compromised."
"However..."
When the Patriarch continued after some other speakers, Qatrand was already beginning to feel uncomfortable. She knew all of these details already... but some elders were looking at her like she was ’hope’. In the very way mortals had when she showed up in a fort after fighting Voidlings.
Old men looked at her as if there was nothing better they could do themselves to repair any of those things than to rely on her.