Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 101: Mana Ties, Part Thirteen

Lianna took in their figures.

Closest, of course, was Xi. The woman’s worried eyes were surveying the situation. Although she’d been cautious about Lianna by the end of their shared adventure the last time they saw each other, but in this current moment, with two attackers in front of the crimson-haired girl, Xi gravitated toward her.

By the middle of the road was the very first Follower Lianna had seen. Jack, who had absorbed Instructor Vara. Now that Lianna’s {Target Analysis} had grown, she could actually see his status.

Jack Caldwell

MP: 500/500

---

STR: C

END: D+

DEX: C+

MYS: A-

L: D-

---

Traits:

Chosen

{Chosen by The Demon}

Lianna sighed.

[So, that’s your Constellation. The Demon.]

Turning to the next potential enemy, Lianna saw a young girl standing atop the roof of the very building Lianna had just run out from. How long she’d been there for, it was impossible to know. She had short black hair and piercing green eyes, and she was looking at Lianna with quite a bit of scorn.

Kate Aligon

MP: 300/300

---

STR: C+

END: C-

DEX: D+

MYS: B-

L: D-

---

Traits:

Chosen

{Chosen by The Scoundrel}

And, one old man walked forward from the sidewalk. He was hunched over and slow, but his body was so muscular one would be forgiven for thinking his head had been placed on the torso of a 30-year-old.

Arthur Wall

MP: 300/300

---

STR: A-

END: B

DEX: D-

MYS: D-

L: D-

---

Traits:

Chosen

{Chosen by The Forger}

There were, if Lianna was counting right, four missing followers.

The Tyrant, who Lianna suspected had been the one to nearly claim Mel’s soul but failed, the Wizard, Al’has Varim who was probably at the Starlight Association, The Monk, and the Champion.

Both of the latter, Lianna guessed were likely at Garriden.

As for everyone who was in Telvan City, this was it. They were all here.

Lianna stood at the center of the standoff, surrounded by the various Constellations’ followers, each eyeing the others with suspicion.

Xi, Jack, Kate, and Arthur formed a semi-circle around Lianna, Enverna, Zura, Desmond, Nareem, and Athene. The air hung heavy with unspoken intentions, and Lianna could feel the weight of the artifacts’ power amplifying the already strained atmosphere.

Xi, with her calm demeanor and regal presence, spoke first.

"Lianna, it seems you’ve become quite the central figure in this unfolding drama. The Peaceful encourages resolution, not chaos. Seeing as you’re holding the cards, would you like to say something so that we, perhaps, do not come to blows?"

[I don’t think that’s too likely, unfortunately,] Lianna thought, looking up at Jack. [With him here, and every Follower he could want to absorb all gathered in one place, a fight’s probably happening one way or the other. But, like the Lover said, it’s about who I can convince to take my side. So, let’s begin.]

Lianna took a steadying breath, glancing at each follower before responding.

"Xi, you know me. I’ve always sought a peaceful resolution. I want to avoid unnecessary conflict. I don’t know what your Constellation told you, but we can work together."

Kate, the Scoundrel’s follower, sneered, jumping down all the way from that rooftop to the floor.

"Work together? I don’t know. Sounds to me like you just want to keep that power for yourself."

"Indeed," Jack spoke, his own voice leaving his lips and not the Demon’s, who Lianna guessed was the woman she’d heard back in that forest. "The peace you seek will be turned to dust today."

[Oh, I know that. Trust me.]

Arthur, the Chosen of The Forger, grumbled.

"An artifact like that is too dangerous to exist. I’m not here to take it. I’m here to destroy it."

"Can’t let you do that," Nareem said with a smile. "If it’s dangerous that means it’ll sell well. I’m afraid I’ll be taking that thing with me."

"None of you can be trusted to even breathe near it," Athene barked out, sword aimed at them. "Stand back!"

The tension escalated. Lianna looked back at Enverna briefly. Her fiance walked up.

"Threaten Lianna’s life and I will make sure that is the last thing you do," she planted the back of her staff against the ground with a loud thud, the sound echoing throughout the street.

[Lots of strong personalities. Figures. That’s what it takes to be a Constellation’s Follower... This won’t be easy. But, here goes nothing.] 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Lianna, feeling the urgency of the moment, raised her voice.

"Enough! Listen, I know that at least a few of you would prefer it if we kept things from getting too hectic. Hear me out! I’ve been chosen by The Lover, and so has Enverna. Our intentions are clear. We seek peace. The Lover wouldn’t have chosen us if it wasn’t for that purpose. You all know that much, at least."

They all paused.

Lianna jotted this down as a small victory. The Lover rarely selected Followers. The only times she had were during times of great need. Anyone there who’d done their research knew that to be the case.

Lianna took a moment, choosing her words carefully.

"I’m not asking you to blindly follow me. I’m asking for cooperation. If you can’t trust my words, trust my actions. The artifact’s power is too great to fall into the wrong hands. I understand and agree with you on that," Lianna said, locking eyes with Arthur, the Forger’s follower. "But... Destroying it will likely do us no good either."

"How do you figure?" Arthur asked.

"The Fiend problem is getting worse, isn’t it? You all know that to be the truth as well," Lianna reasoned. "I don’t think I need to explain how an artifact that can control them could help with that problem."

"..." Arthur paused. "It’s unreliable. What if you fail? What if you get people killed?"

"I’ve done the exact opposite twice now. I think I can keep that streak going if I learn a little," Lianna responded.

The standoff continued, but Lianna’s words seemed to resonate with some of the followers. Enverna, standing by Lianna’s side, nodded in agreement.

"Now, look. I agree with you that preventing this thing from falling into the wrong hands is probably the best course of action. If you guys don’t want to use it, then, fuck it. Let’s destroy it, or lock it up, or whatever. I’m open to suggestions, even if using it is what I’d prefer to do. But... Some of you couldn’t care less about keeping this item safe, right? No," Lianna looked up at Jack. "Some of you would probably rather make things worse."

Those words directed a few people’s eyes up to Jack as well.

Athene, Xi, Arthur, and even Desmond. Lianna took stock of everyone and found those figures standing beside her.

Xi was the first to speak.

"I was there when you first used it," Xi stated softly. "As far as I’ve seen, your words hold true. I cannot deny that."

Athene seemed shocked. Maybe she knew Xi, somehow. Lianna got the impression she did value Xi’s opinion.

Finally, she stepped up as well.

"We will discuss specifically what to do with it later. But, you are right," Athene stood in front of Lianna and turned toward the others, acting as a standing shield. "Some of these people did not come with good intentions. And, some of you have crimes to pay for!"

That didn’t help ease the hostile air.

Desmond walked up.

"If you’re wrong, if you cannot control this artifact, this could be catastrophic."

Lianna nodded.

"I’m guessing you wanted to lock this thing up, right Desmond?" The man nodded. Lianna shook her head. "If we do nothing, I have a feeling things will be catastrophic anyway."

He considered her words. Athene vouched for her.

"Desmond, I know you’re more reasonable than this. Come on."

With a sigh, he turned toward the others.

"Fine. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt for now. But, one accident is all it takes before I take your head off."

"You won’t have to," Athene looked back at Lianna. "If she gets anyone killed, I’ll end her myself."

[Scary.]

The others did not move.

And, with that, the sides had been picked.

Athene, Arthur, Desmond, Xi, and Lianna on one side, and Jack, Kate, and Nareem on the other.

... With Zura and Enverna both staring anxiously, of course.

Nareem flashed a sly grin, observing the shifting tides.

"Well, shit. Our odds don’t look good. Hey, Jack! Kate!" He called out. "How about a truce?"

Kate smirked, seemingly amused by the proposal, while Jack’s eyes glowed with a demonic intensity.

"A temporary alliance?" He asked, his eyes fixed on Lianna, the whole time. "Sure. But, do not misunderstand, I will devour all of you before the end."

Before anyone could react, Jack conjured a magical bolt that streaked through the air, piercing Arthur’s neck with deadly precision.

Lianna froze. Everyone did.

The Forger’s follower crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

"NO!" Athene, consumed by rage, charged at Jack, sword and shield in hand.

"Heh, you work fast," Nareem smirked. "I like that."

In an instant, he and Kate both rushed toward Lianna.

Lianna brought out her bow.

The fight she’d been expecting finally began.