The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 358 - Nervous Energy In, Dreadful Energy Out

"And how exactly would you determine if such contamination exists?"

Even though the conversation was being had more with the Talcres, it was the Frozen Duskblade who expressed her interest first. Nohre took a deep breath, summoning courage for the moment of truth. Knowing that any success or failure after this, nothing would be the same.

"My Physique isn’t Regeneration. It’s called Mend. It allows me to transfer and stimulate physical energy between bodies. With practice, I can... sense abnormalities in physical systems."

"Interesting. I’ve never heard of such a thing. I suspect... Elua er Goltbred has been training you in medical applications of this ability."

It wasn’t a question, but Nohre shook her head anyway. Throwing her benefactor under the moving carriage was not what she wanted out of this.

"She only provided books because I was interested in healing myself. And a little guidance on responsible use... after I told her my s-suspicion about my own ability. She agreed that healing should be accessible outside Guild frameworks when possible, but... cautioned me to be wary of who I tell."

While the older cultivator wanted to think it was to keep the ability all to herself, as a sort of personal healing servant, she would admit that what had just been done was foolhardy. Revealing uses of unknown Aspects usually launched plenty of scrutiny and expectation over a young cultivator.

"And you think you’ve detected such a contamination in my wife?"

"Yes. A spot inside seemed to... pulse when she attempted to gather essence. It’s subtle, but I could sense it. Somewhere past the base of your ribs."

Zyris placed a hand over the indicated area as ’hope’ and ’skepticism’ built. She didn’t think the young girl would lie to her intentionally, but she’d heard plenty of healers confident that they could be the one to find the problem.

"I’ve never felt anything specific there."

"You wouldn’t. If it truly formed so early, then it has had time to integrate with your physical energy system almost like a unique organ. Especially if becoming a Physical Enchanter did nothing to destroy or flush it out... I... I think."

"And what do you propose to do about this contamination, assuming it exists?"

Corde narrowed her eyes, starting to wonder why she had been made part of the green eyed girl’s risk. The Talcres might have kept things tighter under wraps compared to what she could realistically do. At least, she had no reason to put her political neck out for a cultivator she barely knew.

The boldness that had carried her this far wavered under the swordswoman’s additional scrutiny. Here, was where things went from just admitting her power to asking others to let her experiment with it.

"That’s... where you might be able to help, Lady Iralev. Your Anti-Essence Physique is well known. It actively repels and neutralizes Void essence when it infects you, doesn’t it?"

"You’re well-informed about Aspect capabilities. That is the gist of what it does, though not only with Void."

"Understanding the interplay between different Aspects was emphasized in our training. Theoretical mastery should come before practical applications."

Nohre nodded gratefully for his support, even if it made the Talcres both tilt their heads. While it was something they felt like they could have explained to the pair, they didn’t think they did.

’Fusand doesn’t usually trip up like that. He must be quite nervous for her...’

It left only either the Youth Guild or one other certain person as the one responsible for such solid advice. But to call it ’trained’? Meyran shook his head once while letting out some of his breath.

"I believe... if I c-could transfer some of your infused physical energy directly toward the contaminated area in... in Lady Talcres’s body, then it might neutralize the Void remnant. Perhaps."

"This sounds like an unusual application you have no precedent for."

The words weren’t harsh, but they were firm. She knew it wasn’t her place to really do all the convincing. She just wanted to put the idea out and let the Talcres decide. But it still riled her nerves at the idea of being shot down entirely.

"I know it sounds... unorthodox. But! My Astralism it... it’s called Synergy. It helps-"

"I’ve heard of it before. I know what it does. Just calm down and take a seat."

With a few steps, the woman led the stiff young girl to a chair and steadied her as she sat. Corde knew she could sound a little harsher than she intended to, which is why she hated playing noble’s games.

During this exchange... Zyris had grown very still - all of her earlier fan-like enthusiasms were completely absent. But after another dozen seconds of uncomfortable silence for those around the shaded outdoor table, she turned to their mentee.

"You believe this could work? That it might allow me to finally cultivate essence properly?"

The naked hope in her voice made Nohre’s chest tighten. Even though she had heard the tales earlier this year, she still hadn’t wrapped her head around what it would be like. To not be able to cultivate and to not be able to have more children.

"I think it’s worth trying. I can’t guarantee success, as it’s something I’ve never done. But the principles are... sound. I believe."

She hoped they were as much as she wished her master was around to give her advice - and also just to oversee it all. Nohre thought she was nervous for her plan to be rejected, but if that was so she didn’t know what to call what passed through her as it seemed about to be accepted.

’Dread... probably.’

"Is there any risk to either participant?"

"For Lady Iralev... a small expenditure of physical energy. To Lady Talcres... I don’t know. I would hope the worst outcome would be that nothing changes."

Corde studied the young healer with a gaze that reminded Nohre uncomfortably of the headmaster of the orphanage on the days before he suggested she just leave Fusand and go join a Guild on her own. Finally, the swordswoman nodded once.

"I’m willing to attempt this, if only to satisfy my curiosity about your method. As it is, I only have your word on what your Aspect is supposed to do."

Nausea built in the teen, because she’d committed herself now. revealed her abilities, proposed an untested treatment, and secured the participation of a renowned cultivator. If this failed, or worse, caused harm...

’No. I can’t think that way. My spirit has not led me astray before, once I started to trust it.’.

Curtsying deeply once again, she thanked the cultivator. Zyris was already up from her seat, shifting two chairs for the three of them to remain close for whatever needed to be done. Meyran watched her grow busy with concern.

He wanted this too, for her and himself, but wasn’t sure he wanted any risk. His happiness with his wife lately, since first coming to visit the Goltbreds before the wedding, had been large enough that he hadn’t even been ’depressed’ about the death of his children for any significant period.

’I know that is also because we have been taking care of these two, but...’

Both older women took their positions in seats close by while Nohre knelt between their chairs. The transfer of physical energy was her Physique’s natural function; directing it to a specific target merely required precision and intent.

Something she’d never really had a chance to do on her own, but she had been practicing sharing small amounts with Fusand in secret. And she had the memories of what it was like when her master Elua guided her to heal those birds.

"I’ll need to make physical contact with both of you. First, I’ll draw a small amount of physical energy from Lady Iralev and make sure I can contain it without it dispersing or changing. If that works, I’ll try and direct that energy to the Lady Talcres."

"Proceed."

Breathing and exhaling to calm herself, she placed her right hand on Corde’s wrist and closed her eyes. A small smile appeared on her face, knowing the heiress would probably be flicking her on the forehead for that. Somehow, that calmed her down. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Rallying her control, she immediately felt the distinctive quality of the woman’s physical energy as she tugged at it. A thin stream fought her, just a bit, but only to the extent that it seemed certain to prevent extreme draws.

’That must be the cultivator’s mind itself, letting me do it but making sure I don’t do too much.’

Slowly drawing it along her fingertips and across her skin, knowing from some advice written down in the book that dragging another’s energy too deep into herself might-

’She knew I would have to do something like this, someday...’

Nohre was surprised and not. Elua er Goltbred was an amazing cultivator, an amazing teacher, and while she felt bad thinking it with Fusand nearby... her best friend.

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