"The young both show concerning tendencies."
The smooth tone of the oldest elder didn’t mask his displeasure as he addressed Anper. Their viewing area had grown quieter and still since Navuill’s unorthodox point. That ’success’ was sohow more damning than his overall loss.
"Using such... techniques. Against family no less."
Another elder’s spirit churned with barely contained offense. The heir they drifted away from backing had maintained form throughout most of the match. Most. anwhile, their preferred successor demonstrated a similar willingness to abandon tradition - instead of accepting that he was not as refined a swordsman.
"He sought victory through any ans. Our teachings stress simplicity for a reason."
Anper’s fingers had yet to release their white-knuckled grip on the railing. The words felt like ash in his mouth. His own child’s technical excellence only emphasized how positions had been reversed. Navuill broke tradition while his ’disappointnt’ upheld it strongly for *that* point.
"Perhaps they require more focused instruction. Assuming they survive the Descent by looking for shortcuts this way."
The threat of increased training by the senior elder hung in the air heavier than the prospect of death. Lirades watched the n much younger than her years posture. For now she concealed her amusent and instead focused on how both cousins now spoke quietly at the field’s edge.
"Perhaps he simply recognized what was required in the mont. As did our heir."
Her continued use of the title when referring to Qatrand was clearly intentional. A descriptor made in approval instead of said as a matter of course. Several elders beca uncomfortable as she continued to speak her mind.
"If you think that both of them were not considering that all of our eyes were on them as they fought, then you underestimate them for their youth. Those two showed you everything you taught them - and everything they’ve learned today."
Down below on the grounds, Navuill carried no regret for his choices. He discussed the match details with Qat and their easy interaction ca from a desire for mutual growth. The swordswoman regarded her cousin with his relaxed shoulders, knowing it was a sense of calm before the later storm.
"That move was clever. I didn’t expect you to abandon your form mid-sequence."
"Had to try sothing different for once. Watching Aleck and his smart use of that weapon made realize how predictable we can be."
He patted the poml of the weapon in his hands before looking directly at her.
"We stick too rigidly to the forms, so anyone that knows them has a high chance to overco them if we are matched in strength. You’ve known that for a while though, haven’t you?"
Pigeon blues looked back into the steel gray.
"Power and weight is only one advantage. Learning our style truly is another, because it simplifies our reactions. It makes us win in speed at tis because we don’t hesitate and think. We just do."
Qatrand readied her blunt blade in a two-handed overhead grip and swung down quickly.
"When it cos to overpowering criminals, the Yecine style is very effective. It is also clearly good for dealing with Voidlings or else it would not have survived this long. But in all these centuries that we’ve been fad, how often has an *unpredictable* style beco the type that slays the most invasion leaders?"
The dark haired young man nodded at the point she was making. Their family was praised for dealing with the bulk forces that rallied against the continent... but so rarely did soone from that cycle step forward and confront the toughest of their opponents. At least, as more than backup within a squad of fighters.
"I don’t claim that I’m ready to step forward to fight them either, but I’d rather be stretching my understanding of combat toward that goal than remain where we are."
"I understand. People lose their lives and livelihoods while we dawdle. If our training would allow us to be more confident ending it as early as we can..."
In the corners of her mind, Qatrand did worry that achieving that would amount to the sort of thing that her El had warned her of. That the Descent can get harder the next cycle if they proved better at dealing with it. But she couldn’t bring herself to strive for less.
"The Yecine have always been the bulwark in our region. When the masses need protecting, our style excels at serving as that wall of strength. But sotis I wonder if we focus so much on being reliable that we forget to reach higher."
"Being dependable isn’t wrong. The continent needs those who will stand firm just as much as it needs heroes. Though, I wonder if I might not prefer to be the forr because of how we were raised."
A throaty chuckle ca from Qat. As she readied her blade again in another traditional form.
"True. The elders act like adapting any of our thods would sohow make us less dependable. As if learning new techniques ans abandoning what makes our style effective."
She swung the weapon before applying new footwork to the follow up, turning the arc into a continuation that didn’t exist in their style. It removed the usual recovery window and inserted a second violent combination.
’So much for not holding back, huh?’
Navuill wasn’t sure he could have blocked or evaded it if she used this in their match. He also couldn’t fault his cousin for keeping a card to their chest, considering there were still more fights ahead.
"The core of it remains valuable. But Voidlings adapt to us between cycles and even during - why shouldn’t we? The basic forms give us that foundation of strength, but pretending there’s no room to build on it... as if it is perfected? It’s arrogant."
"Like how you’ve integrated your Elent without compromising the style’s essence of being ant for a heavy blade."
Her cousin’s observation carried admiration rather than the criticism such innovation might draw from the others. She’d used her Gravity manipulation minimally so far, but also hadn’t shied away from relying on what was part of her. Others made use of their Physique or Astralism at all tis... since her Elent was subtle, why not use it subtly?
"The elders say aiming for change weakens tradition. But wouldn’t it honor our family’s role more if we found ways to be both more reliable and occasionally remarkable?"
Qat considered what he said. She was aware they touched on sothing deeper than just combat techniques. The Yecine’s entire nature... their partial failing was within those words.
’To protect with our skill while still inspiring others to reach higher. I think that’s what they expect they are accomplishing, but the inspiration is nothing like what a hero manages.’
"Perhaps that’s why they focus more on training the heir now. The records imply this was not always the case. It’s their own attempt at reaching higher while maintaining our foundation. Even if they don’t see it that way."
Navuill’s expression shifted as he processed this insight about their family’s evolution. He had studied what he was told to in his youth, but was never that interested in looking into details beyond the founding and recent history. Especially because-
"They’d probably say it was always thus. But then, they say that about everything."
The humor in his tone drew a small smile from his cousin. They both knew certain elders who would indeed insist the sky had always been exactly that shade of blue... even if it had been recorded as different at the founding of the world.
"The elders do love their traditions."
They shared a knowing look. Both Yecine mbers were aware of how their relationship had evolved in a way apart from what the family intended during the competition. For that matter, it was not the only ti Qatrand had ended up in a different sort of relationship with soone than the elders expected.
The ancient cultivator rose smoothly from her dical station seat, drawing the attention of several fawning healers. They asked if she had a good nap and if she needed anything. Her ’sweet’ smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she dealt with answering them.
After all, they were in the way of personally congratulating her husband-wife!
Elua’s quick approach drew attention from various spectators - the brunette coming in as a rapid flutter of cloth. Her ’doting’ smile and deliberately light steps projected exactly the image expected. Those who had watched her all day hoping to see so hint of her true nature blinked at the distance she had closed.
The reincarnator let her spirit push against her spouse a little even as she maintained her public composure. That familiar warmth of ’pride’ and ’possession’ would tell her fortress everything she didn’t have ti to say aloud.
"I hear you are advancing. I didn’t expect any less."
Unlike their earlier private chatter, her ’cheerful’ voice carried enough to reach the Yecine viewing area. Qat’s spiritual tendrils reached to restrain her almost automatically. The Empath’s spirit flickered with montary uncertainty.
He had grown more comfortable with the idea of her over ti, but her enthusiasm still caught him off guard in person. Not to ntion his spirit quivered at the mory of trying to touch too deeply past the surface of the heiress.
"I hope the elders won’t be too unkind simply because you couldn’t best my beloved."
That edge of ’mischief’ in her quieter tone drew a subtle smile from her cousin-in-law. They both knew exactly how the elders had reacted - her spirit had been paying attention to their viewing area and Navuill was simply used to anticipating their reactions.
"I’m sure they’ll find appropriate ways to express their concerns to ."
"Mm. Good thing you have soone who understands what that’s like as a friend and cousin."
Elua’s mint eyes darted aningfully toward Qat. The fragnt in the swordswoman’s chest pulsed with complex emotions - ’joy’ in their solidarity, ’satisfaction’ at how their relationship had evolved, and underneath it all, careful ’calculation’ and pushed aside ’envy’.
’Having two relatives who understand the need to break from rigid expectations... how wonderful for my partner.’
Her smile regained its authenticity as she watched them share another knowing look. Seeing her Qat find others to rely on was a good thing. She knew it didn’t diminish what they shared together as a couple. After all, while this young man’s feelings and priorities might change... hers never would.
"I held myself back this ti, but I’m warning you now."
The two Yecine looked at the smaller cultivator at the sa ti. The scher had plans within plans to help her precious gem find eventual ways to everything she desired.
"When you win the Semi-Finals like I’m sure you will, I am going to hug you. It will be in front of the audience and you also know the thod of delivery."
The raven-haired version of her husband-wife rubbed at her temple for a few seconds as the idea sunk in. She couldn’t deny that it was sothing she would like!
User Comments
0 comments from readers