The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 444 - A Growing Place, Seen By Hearts Growing Closer

The rail platform was filled with workers unloading construction materials and merchant goods out of the afternoon train. Nohre stepped down from a passenger car carefully with her travel pack secured across her shoulders. Directly behind... Fusand hez Talcres followed with his own bag. Their shared luggage was carried in his arms - a box full of the carefully wrapped gifts from Zyris and Meyran.

"It’s so completely different."

Green eyes surveyed the transformed competition grounds as they walked forward. Even though she said those words, in a way, it was as busy as the teens could remember. The calls of vendors and the laughter of mortal children playing in the street. And if the pair had to guess, the sounds of hammering and sawing throughout the air probably existed during the setup period of the original venue.

"The visiting population must have tripled since the letter sent to the Talcres estate. Maybe we should look around a bit first."

The sandy haired youth was already focusing on the buildings he could see. In the distance, stone foundations supported timber frame buildings in the central district. The outer residential areas showed similar demands, all of the first floors being durable stonework - clearly showing that long term integrity was more important in this place than getting things done quicker.

More diverse construction was allowed at the further off homesteads being established, with most being constructed by individuals or limited size families willing to take the first plunge into farming in an area that the soil had not yet been ’proven’ in. Without as much access to large construction Guild crews, they tended to be smaller, simpler, and made in ways... that would probably be prone to being replaced entirely some day.

Of course, Qat was aware of this potential future issue and already had plans to offer reconstruction plans for those who wanted to take part. Not only thanks to Elua’s nearly Clairvoyant instructions, but because of the Void Defense Society helpers still attached to her administrative work.

After all, such an important group gained nothing by promoting a hero that failed. They would not sink abundant resources into anything just to keep it afloat, but they *would* provide the manpower and technical knowledge their Guild had gathered over millennia for that purpose.

"Look, they kept the main tower structures but expanded around it. Is that a guiderope now between two of them? I wonder what the plan is with that..."

Nohre pointed toward the area and both could see workers moving like ants across scaffolding. They were busy adding new sections to many buildings between where they stood and where everyone once watched the various pre-Descent festivities. Fusand scratched at his chin before shrugging.

"I can’t think of any good reason to tether them together like that. It seems too far for a bridge. Elua’s influence, I’d wager."

The mention of their teacher brought conflicted smiles to both their faces. All the months of separation hadn’t diminished the warmth they felt toward the heiress who had changed their lives so dramatically. And they’d come to visit someone who they were sure felt that even greater than they did.

Following the widened, well-crafted road that served as the main thoroughfare toward the city center, two betrothed sets of hands found each other as natural as can be. Passing many people who all seemed happy enough even though some looked a bit tired, they eventually navigated around a group of children chasing a ball between the market stalls.

"Oi, you brats, careful there!"

A mortal woman called out as the toy bounced out in front of the young couple - yelling at the playing kids and not the teenagers themselves. The girl with dark braided hair bent down while her hand uncorked the cap on her Water satchel. Scooping up and washing the ball with her Element, she tossed it back to the children with a grin as they blinked and watched the streams still flowing around her hand.

"Thank you, cultivators!"

One of them called and ran off with the toy when Nohre flowed the liquid back to the section of her lower back container meant for unpurified water. The woman who had yelled approached while shaking her head and watching the very young argue about whose turn it was.

"Yes, thank you. You two visiting our growing city?"

"In a way. We’re here to see your Warden Patrician about a matter."

"Ah, Lord Qatrand! He’s probably at the training grounds this time of day. Hardly seems to rest from either sword work or territory duties, that one."

She spoke of their local leader with the sort of exasperated fondness reserved for family members who worked too hard. There was a pride in the woman’s voice that was unmistakable. While it was just the opinion of a single person they’d met at random, it still made their spirits rise to know that people were appreciating their master’s spouse.

"Despite being a former Yecine, they are well-regarded then?"

"Well-regarded? He personally helped my husband dig our well when the ground proved harder than expected. Showed up at dawn with work clothes and didn’t leave until water was flowing. Which... was only an hour later, but it was the work of five for a whole day!"

The teenagers exchanged glances as the image of the suit wearing sword wielder they remembered... getting hands dirty with more ’common’ manual labor painted a strange mental picture. It wasn’t that they could not picture Qatrand offering to help, but that they never personally saw anyone in such a high position use their time that way.

’Even if it was already half dug up... An hour seems quick! Though.the new water finding and digging ritual Master Elua made might have been quicker. Did she choose not to hire an Earth elementalist on purpose? Or were they just too busy...’ 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Seeing the pensive look on Fusand’s face, the older mortal woman seemed to get defensive.

"The Warden doesn’t put on airs. Works as hard as anyone else and harder than most. But he also knows when to make the tough decisions that keep us all safe and prosperous. Don’t cause him trouble here, now."

"That’s not our intention at all, I assure you."

Diffusing it with a smile that made her cough, turn around, and fan at her face as she walked back to her home... the boy received an elbow to the side. But then she joined hands with him again quickly. They paused near a fountain that existed during the competition, watching as children played along the plaza edges and adults filled jugs with purified water that was only possible thanks to a certain Little Snake prodigy.

"Look, someone put up a plaque letting people know who to thank. I wonder who made sure of that?"

"Heh, remember when we thought this place was impressive during the tournament?"

The recollection after her chuckle came with a squeeze of her fiance’s hand. All the impressive little details for something that was supposed to be temporary seemed excessive. But now she realized it was something people were meant to build their lives around. Permanent and meaningful.

"We have more appreciation now for the difference between temporary spectacle and lasting community. But our master... it looks like she just wondered why both cannot coexist."

His adoption into the Talcres family had given him new appreciation for the value of belonging somewhere. What they were willing to teach him, the responsibilities they were expecting him to take on if he was likewise willing... he’d always appreciated on some level the family the Goltbred heiress had. As well as the brunette girl’s treatment of him and Nohre - and the things she did in secret for so many.

’Family should also be made that same way. Temporary strangers turned into lasting relationships.’

"Speaking of meaningful coexistence..."

The teasing voice made him flush brown under his skin as she kissed his cheek. Their own marriage-to-be had been a topic of conversation during the journey. His adopted status made the arrangement socially straightforward now, but neither of them were thrilled at the idea of undergoing the ceremony without their friend there to see it.

"Feeling sentimental, Nohre?"

"I’m only suggesting that as a Talcres, the orphan boy I grew up with is now much more confident about his future. I’ve been so proud of you lately. You’ve only Projected a crab in public once all month."

Her directness of affection and complaint brought out his smile. He remembered doing that - only to annoy her, so that she would focus on him instead of her annoyance with her Mend practice that day. Of course, her particular choice of words was important, too.

For Fusand was too obsessed with the creatures to ever give them up in private. The sand sculptures being made with his Dust element - thanks to the help of a pair of performance art cultivators who had been hired by Elua before the war broke out - were starting to fill too many shelves.

’And my wife-to-be has promised to turn every one of them into quicksand if I purchase a new shelf...’