Chapter 14 - Unconventional Aspecting

Being too complacent due to how 'nice' her fiance had been, while she felt unwell, ended up making them not talk about certain matters. It was only as they sat back to back in the training field in the next week, taking an honestly unneeded rest for the peak essence Enchanter, that the pair found the 'chance' to actually discuss the young Yecine's cultivation matters.

"I felt… or rather I feel like the Aspect made me think about myself more? That… no, that doesn't sound like what I meant to say. I was already thinking about myself while I was following your advice."

"Hmm~ are you trying to say that your Astralism feels especially centered on yourself?"

"I think so. But does that even help you-"

"A little more than you think. When I first obtained mine the feeling I got then was more along the lines of it involving the spirits of others. So you *not* is of note. As you might imagine, those are the two large categories. Abilities that focus on affecting either the self or others."

"You could also say that about any Physique I'd learned of… at least if you consider a counter-reactive type as working on 'others'."

Elua giggled at Qat's comment. She had to admit, including the visit the other day and their short interaction before this… her 'fortress' had become a lot more confident in speaking. It was obviously caused by rising to an Enchanter in spirit - which the wavy haired girl couldn't be happier about.

Now maybe her gem would realize her own shine.

"Well, you aren't wrong. Element is the only one that is *always* going to be an unquestionably outward manipulation, because it is related to essence. This is one of those things I mentioned about spirit: being something in between and also attached to the other two."

The mint eyed girl closed her eyes for a moment to think, then sighed.

"I can't easily explain how I know, but I'm pretty certain what your Astralism must be. Or at least I know the description of the most likely one."

The Goltbred heiress crawled on the ground around to her fiance's side and laid her head in their lap while facing her stomach. The Yecine would be too busy as a new recruit to some Guild, so Elua really wanted to stock up on little memories like this. Viewing a kept illusion wouldn't be the same as actually interacting, but it would 'ease' the matter.

"You… I told you that you are special. There is a kind of cultivator that is a little different than others. Their Trinity of Aspects is… 'aligned'. Similar. Connected."

Watching the smaller girl lay there and talk haltingly, the dark-haired swordswoman felt an urge to 'calm' her. Calloused fingers found an opening in their hair and swiped the part that had covered her closed eyes out of the way. Then Qatrand rubbed her thumb on the other's temple, thinking she might still be having a headache.

"My Physique, according to you, is called Cynosure."

Elua only hummed an affirmative. She'd explained it to her weeks ago.

"Then what kind of Astralism is going to… 'align' with an Aspect that makes enemies pay more attention to me than others?"

The one being asked started smiling. She'd been trying to 'hold in' her satisfaction so that her husband-wife would keep the *caring* little motion going. The 'thought' behind it was more gratifying than the 'result', but still! *Undemanded* affection was great~

"It's called Anchor and actually compliments the other quite well. A Physique that does something more like the spirit should be doing and an Astralism that tightly welds your spirit onto your own body. There are other qualities, like growing resistant to spiritual intrusion from others… it is sort of the 'protection' type of spirit."

Her cheek twitched.

"There are also downsides. You'll never be able to spread your sense all that far away from your immediate surroundings compared to others of the same rank."

For the illusionist that detail was more than a downside, it would be debilitating. Having lived all those millenia, using that very control of the energy to function as an additional way of viewing the world at *nearly* all times… if she had been reborn without it, but still with all her other memories, she would have felt crippled!

For instance, right then she wouldn't even know of all the individuals watching the two treat the training field like a nice spot for a 'date'. Nor would she sense that more than a few seemed to want to ask them to move for no other reason than so they didn't have to *see* the sight. It was actually not that busy of a place, for once, and there were a number of fields open so the scheming cultivator inwardly scoffed at their jealousy.

"I could also make a few fair guesses as to what your Element will be, but maybe that will spoil your enjoyment of finding out on your own… or possibly disappoint you if I'm wrong. Actually, now I really don't want to say it so that you don't lose any faith in me~"

The thumb finally stopped its massage, which was growing in comforting 'skill', making Elua lazily open the one eyelid that could glance upward without shifting much. The adolescent looking down at her - with a frown - tilted her head when she caught El looking back… and then Qatrand quickly ran her fingers and gripped on the hair above the Goltbred's forehead before shaking her just a little. 

"You can keep any secrets you want. But don't…"

The Yecine rapidly let go and started brushing down what was just disheveled, unable to *take* the cute muffled 'nngya' groan that resulted from even that slight attempt at 'corporal punishment'. She didn't even understand why she wanted to try doing it.

"Don't underestimate me, El. I wouldn't blame you for being wrong or for any advice I take from you."

The one being 'admonished' reached unhurriedly up and ran the tips of two tender-skinned fingers over the swordswoman's lips before pulling away. She wasn't sure how to express how both *relieved* and 'further worried' she was. It was always nice to hear someone tell you it was okay to *not* tell them things, but that didn't mean they would 'always' be so acceptive.

"I'll keep that in mind if you also remember something. I underestimate you a lot less than anyone else right now… and trust you more than possibly anyone else ever will. I'm also really, really going to miss seeing you this much."

The usual barrier of air to keep their talk more private dispersed as the mint eyed girl quickly moved to roll away and to her feet. Qatrand didn't stop her, but after she didn't… wondered if she should have. There was a lot of thinking about what she should be doing ever since her spirit 'widened'. The older girl stared back at her lap for a second and then looked over at her fiance's small back.

"Yeah. Me too."

'I wonder… what kind of face she is making right now? Am I making her sad again?'

The answer when the brunette spun around was… 'complex'. There *was* a smile and her pose was energetic, but her eyes somehow said that it wasn't the full truth. The extra sensitivity to the subtler emotions of other people was-

"It means a lot to hear that, Qat. I'll send plenty of letters. Do tell me if they become… too many."

She giggled, but the sound was just a little not 'right'. The Yecine stood up and stepped close enough to place her hand upon the brown hair once again. A whisper thin 'layer' of intent-laden spirit had practically tried to envelope the Goltbred's little form as her 'fortress' first reached out.

"I'll read every one. It's a little early, but let's get you on the way home. Maybe… your parents can find something else for you to do than come here. I don't want you to feel alone."

"…Okay."

Elua would have *preferred* to spend their time to the last moment possible, but… what just happened had filled her 'greed' for the moment. The reborn cultivator was sure the newly minted Enchanter didn't realize she was even doing it. Bloodlust was only 'one' variant application of spirit. All kinds of 'willful intents' could infect the energy…

It was simply that the fear of being killed made a being thinking they wanted to hurt you more 'recognizable' to most people.

The same theory applied behind people who were sensitive to being looked at with lustful gazes. The people leering at them literally, though generally unconsciously, sent out traces of spirit with that sort of 'will' which 'attached' itself to the spirit of the one gazed at. Incidentally, that was one of the things that Yatrel er Goltbred was surpassingly adept at sensing despite not regularly cultivating her spirit.

At least… sensing and 'rating threat levels' of those sort of remnants not dissipating from her husband. Despite the stories Elua had been told, the woman did have a sort of reign on her own personality and didn't immediately flip out over the tamest *indications* that someone had 'looked' at Ondua. She just began paying more attention.

Her 'impressionable' daughter could 'use' that. Intent could be sensed even by mortals!

"Qat…"

The small girl finally called out just when the two approached the Goltbred carriage. She tugged on both the older's wrists hoping she would lean down, but the girl didn't understand - which led to puffed out cheeks and a sigh.

"Lean down~"

The Yecine didn't think anything other than that her way of showing 'slight irritation' was adorable while obeying. Which is why she was *unprepared* to be held by the collar of her blazer and kissed right in front of one of the elder Goltbreds… for much longer than that time in the viewing stands.

Not only that, but near what felt like the 'end' when they were breaking away Elua reengaged from a slightly different angle! One kiss became two, but the second was more 'fierce' though much quicker. Qatrand's bottom lip was sucked and pulled on - and the top was *licked* once before the functionally frozen fiance was helped out by the watching parent.

Said parent *foolishly* thought their 'temporary' parting was going to be a more innocent affair. A firm grip lifted the back of the suddenly 'carnal' daughter's neck - Yatrel had seen *less* lust infecting her husband from the very women she'd killed herself in sudden 'duels' than was now scarily gracing her kid's partner!

"I apologize for my misbehaving child. Rest assured we'll have a long, detailed conversation about how to conduct herself in public in the future."

The Goltbred spoke out to the attendant waiting nearby for the Yecine. Anper had long ago stopped bothering to be the one present for the visits to the training grounds.

Elua's senses were only worried about one thing, though. Back in the Youth Guild there had been that intent to 'protect' reaching out to wrap her. After such a kiss, the young husband-wife again had shown wispy tendrils of spirit reaching out in the heiress's direction even as she was carried away.

Mint eyes flashed with 'zeal' as she wiped the excess saliva off of her lips - before being placed through the open carriage door like a misbehaving pet that needed to be caged. She sat obediently in her seat, outwardly calm and 'reflective', expecting the parental lecture to begin at any moment.

'I regret nothing.'

It was weak - not as intense as anything like 'lust' or deep as 'longing' - but it was definitely a sort of interest to continue to see what would happen. No revulsion or innate disgust was always a good thing in developing a romance! It wasn't *always* an initial requirement… but it helped~