The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 453 - Turning Crossed Lines Into People Waiting In Them

The central area that once served as the actual competing area between the three towers was filled as word spread. Some whispered speculation about a grand new construction project or a new massive trade agreement - like the ones leading toward the Valmenf coast. But despite the rumors, none there thought that Qatrand gil Yecine had called them there and stood on the central platform - made a permanent fixture for these civic gatherings - to tell them what she was going to.

She had changed from her black suit into a clean training outfit for the occasion. The same sort that her El had once borrowed to sleep in like it was a night dress. Still cut closer to men’s style, as that was not her issue with the suit today. Qat merely wanted to distance herself and everyone else’s perception as much as possible from the Yecine.

The heavy blade strapped to her back was one thing she couldn’t part with, and that may have undermined her intent - but her blonde hair that no one of her family would wear in a public setting was quite visible even in the twilight. Pigeon blues panned over the crowd while nervously fingering the brooch pinned on her clothes. Battles were about momentum... and sometimes that meant changing its direction suddenly.

"I’ve called you here because rumors have been spreading about my personal life. Rather than let this speculation continue to divide our growing community and serve as distracting gossip, I will address the matter directly."

The hush that had fallen over the assembled crowd as her low toned voice started remained deep when she paused for six seconds. Even the youngest children seemed to sense the atmosphere and neither cried nor moved. Truly, a miracle was descending.

"It’s true that I was born female. For reasons involving my former family’s internal political situation that I will not comment on, I was raised presenting as male. That deception seemed necessary then for my hopes, but it no longer serves any purpose but to poison things here."

’If it was ever anything but venom.’

Some of the crowd murmured in vindication, the ones who were certain the rumor either must be true or that it had an element of it that was unexplained. Others whispered their surprise, having thought it was ridiculous and did not matter much even if true. But to call them together like this meant to the most savvy of them that it mattered quite a bit.

A few remembered their uncomfortability when some neighbors wanted to speak of it, or how they had brushed off those most ’certain’. They had been picking sides this whole time... and their leader’s words about it splitting them apart were more appropriate than many of them had considered. Which is exactly what the Warden Patrician wanted to address by doing this.

"I understand this raises questions, key of which would be the truth of other matters. Let me be clear: every achievement attributed to me is as genuine as any second-hand report can be. Every battle I fought in the Descent and every decision I made as your leader - all of it was accomplished by the results of the person standing before you now."

Each word delivered across the field of faces was *deliberate* and ’confident’. Contrary to her prior nervousness, once she started this battle... the moves to make had been ingrained in her all this time. Revealing her gender to key people had prepared her in ways that her imagination of those revelatory moments could not - and the tactics tracked whether telling one or many.

"I will not apologize for being born or for surviving and succeeding despite the choices of others. However, if anyone here doubts my capabilities because of this, I invite you to test them. No different from before, my office is open to fair debate from mortals and cultivators alike. But it is *mine*, and I will throw out and bar anyone from my territory that has not shown themselves to be clashing with my decisions in good faith."

The crowd stirred... as somehow this was not what any of them expected but also made the most sense considering the last half a year living in this place. Her follow up was more of the same, but sent even more energy through those who had seen her fight in the past. For they knew that experience in the invasion would have only increased that skill.

"Moreover, I am willing to face any challenger in formally arranged combat. In the open, before sufficient witnesses. To demonstrate that my skills are my own and not diminished by any current honesty or prior deceit. Cultivators who wish to question my martial prowess for my being a woman may do so - through action judged by others rather than defamatory whispers."

With only a few beats of quiet, movement soon began at the far edge of the crowd. People were getting out of the way and making a path, tapping on the shoulders of those in front of them to warn them. Corde hez Iralev was stepping forward toward the platform, her distinctive frost-lathered blade in the sheath at her side. Whispers followed the Frozen Duskblade, everyone knowing that she had been in the area as something of a ’visiting resident’ because she was engaged in training Qatrand.

"Warden Patrician, I will declare myself first in line to test those deceptions."

Formal tone didn’t hide eyes that held something more personal. Though from the positioning, only the set of pigeon blues could see the dark irises and the way her face looked. Few knew her tells and reactions like a mentee who had seen them consistently for so long. Unlike what some may have imagined, that it was a staged first fight... this was not something so conveniently planned by the former Yecine.

’Hm. She is quite upset. I have a feeling she is imagining my wife was involved in me keeping things secret. Ridiculous. Why must she continually blame her for things I have done or decided? This woman treats me less like my own person than anyone else, including my former family.’

"Terms?"

"Standard dueling conditions. First blood or yield. A week from now at midday, if you’re willing to arrange it so quickly like you were this announcement."

The crowd could not stay silent with their excitement that was as high as before a festival. A formal duel between two highly accomplished *swordswomen* - one of them a veteran of four Descents now and the other a newly recognized hero that had caught her eye. Rumors of their points based duel had been a popular topic when she first showed up to start the training.

"Are you certain?"

"I’ve been observing your progress for months. It’s time to see what you’re truly capable of without... holding back."

The subtle emphasis on those last words suggested Corde’s suspicions went beyond questions of the new gender identity. She wanted to test whether Qat’s abilities were genuinely her own. Though her simmering anger was definitely about the actions and pronouns that had deceived her.

As one of the rare cultivators with a shape of spirit that stayed buried in her own form instead of touching others intentionally, she prided herself on her ability to judge things in other ways. It was not the masking tool that deceived her, but her own assumptions. Such a thing was even more unpleasant than being tricked by Illusions and the like.

"Very well. We will compete at the training areas above ground. Anyone wanting to attend, if you could please help where you can in the mornings. So that everyone is able to remain watching at safe distances when the day comes."

What had begun as damage control for the spreading rumors had transformed into a greater spectacle. One that would require new seating arrangements and draw visitors from across the region. Some were already even placing informal bets with each other as they dispersed. Word would spread quickly that week, the part with her confirmation of being female playing second fiddle to the sport of things.

However, unlike the vast majority of the crowd... neither women looked entirely pleased with how events had unfolded as they left. Leysah especially looked on how things had proceeded with frustration - for she trained regularly with Qatrand as well. Her hands on her blades, she stalked off in a third direction from them.

"First in line... big words, you’re already skipping ahead of the line of people willing to duel you in her place."

"No, that’s probably only you."

A voice teased as Nysoi er Valmenf hopped into a walk beside the Kinetic Element wielder. Her reddish-blonde hair was wrapped up tight in a bun, a new look she was trying out to get an ounce of praise or attention from her crush... that had not faded like she hoped.

"Which is to say, there are plenty of others that might step up with your Warden in front of a serious threat. But I’m pretty confident that none of your old strikeforce would take away this event from the two of them. They’d want to watch it as much as the mortals."

"...I know. Just let me complain. I can’t stand that frosty-"

"Language."

The Clairvoyant poked the older woman in the cheek, stopping her from cursing aloud just before a set of small children around the corner of a building peeked their heads around. Seeing that, Leysah sighed and reached her hand up to catch the helpfully offending hand. The action of it being held onto and maneuvered back down toward her hips before releasing it made the teenager tense up and her heart hammer.

"Thank you. I shouldn’t gripe aloud in public."

"No, thank you..."

Flushing while staring into the set of sharp eyes looking at her warmly, Nysoi couldn’t believe she just said that! She also couldn’t believe that while she rushed ahead to get away... the dense older woman would just follow up on the confusion without *understanding*. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"For what? Where are you going now?"

"N-nothing. Nowhere!"