Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 108: Mana Ties, Part Twenty

{Lianna}

Lianna could feel the artifact in her Inventory trembling.

The sensation had started shortly after Enverna went out for her walk.

And, just a little while after that, Lianna saw the news.

"A Fiend raid!?" Lianna asked as she and Zura sat on the edge of the couch, looking at the TV.

"Looks like it," Zura replied, her expression tense. "They’re saying it’s happening at the northern gates."

Lianna’s heart raced with worry.

Thoughts of Enverna’s safety flooded her mind.

Without any hesitation, she stood up.

"We need to go there. Now," Lianna declared, determination in her voice.

Zura nodded in agreement, and they hurriedly changed into their armor, leaving the dorm in a hurry.

By the time they arrived, this part of the city was in chaos.

The process of evacuating nearby civilians had begun, and all of the biggest guilds had already amassed some adventurers to confront the Fiend raid. Lianna recognized them from the years she spent avidly reading about adventurers and their exploits.

Amidst the regular soldiers, Lianna saw the Shields of Saren, the Silver Blade, the Holy Light, and, of course, the Watchful. Among them were also the Green Tongues, their distinctive emerald uniforms standing out in the crowd. She spotted Cynthia nearby, coordinating efforts with other guild leaders.

As Lianna scanned the area, her eyes fell on Enverna.

She was in a heated discussion with none other than Verana herself. The argument seemed intense, and Enverna’s frustration was evident.

Lianna approached, catching fragments of the conversation.

"Enverna, you can’t risk your life for Telvan," Verana argued. "It is pointless!"

"This is my duty. I can’t just stand by," Enverna retorted, her voice firm.

As Lianna drew closer, Enverna’s gaze shifted from her mother to Lianna. Relief flashed in Enverna’s eyes, and a small, grateful smile tugged at her lips.

"Lianna, you made it." Enverna murmured, her voice a mix of gratitude and reassurance.

Lianna gave her a determined nod, silently conveying her support. Verana did not look happy to see her.

"Enverna, this is madness. You don’t owe this city anything," the woman argued, frustration evident in her tone.

Enverna, however, remained resolute.

"I am a member of the Watchful. I owe them protection. I can’t abandon my duty."

Lianna stepped forward, interjecting into the conversation.

"Mrs. Alteri, Enverna is strong. We’ll get through this."

She looked like she was about to yell at Lianna, but before she could, Enverna said:

"Mother, go with the other civilians. I will do my job here. You are simply wasting my time arguing like this."

Honestly, Lianna was surprised by how hurt Verana looked in that moment. But, biting her tongue, Verana muttered a quick:

"Be careful."

And, promptly left the area.

Enverna watched her go and Lianna asked:

"So, uh, the Fiends. Come on, let’s see what Miss Taylor wants us to do."

"Right."

On that note, Lianna, Enverna, and Zura went to talk to Miss Taylor. The woman saw them approaching and held a hand up, stopping them.

"Stand with the other Watchful," she said. "I will address you all in a moment."

Nodding, the girls went and did that.

The air was thick with tension as the members of the Watchful gathered near the northern gates, their eyes focused on Miss Taylor, who soon stood at the front.

The usual bustling sounds of the city were drowned out by the impending threat of the Fiend raid.

"Listen up, everyone," Miss Taylor’s voice cut through the murmurings. "Our goal today is to protect the other fighters on the field. We are the Watchful, and our duty is to save lives. The other guilds will focus on taking down the Fiends; we will focus on protecting them."

Lianna exchanged a quick glance with Zura and Enverna. The weight of responsibility hung heavily in the air.

"As members of the Watchful, you are not here to be the heroes who defeat the Fiends. Leave that to the other guilds unless you are attacked directly. Your job is to ensure the safety of the people and the fighters who are risking their lives to protect this city," Miss Taylor continued, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the assembled group.

Lianna felt a surge of determination. This was their duty, their purpose as members of the Watchful.

It was why Lianna had wanted to sign up for this guild for so long. Specifically for this purpose.

"We’ll split into groups and position ourselves strategically. Our first priority is to keep the Fiends from getting any deeper into the city than these gates. Alright? Is everyone clear? Once again, remember, our goal is to protect lives, not to defeat the Fiends. Leave that to the others," Miss Taylor emphasized.

Just as the gravity of her words settled among the Watchful, a military officer approached, saluting Miss Taylor.

"Ma’am, the Fiends are about to reach the city. They’ll be here any minute."

The collective inhale of breath echoed the impending danger. The time for planning was over; it was time to face the threat head-on.

"Remember your training, work together, and prioritize saving lives. Let’s get ready," Miss Taylor commanded, and the Watchful members dispersed, taking their positions near the northern gates.

The anticipation hung thick in the air as Lianna, Enverna, and Zura stood behind the ranks of regular soldiers and other guild members near the northern gates.

The distant echoes of Fiends approaching sent shivers down their spines. Archers and mages stationed on top of the walls unleashed a volley of arrows and spells, attempting to halt the approaching threat, or at least slow it down.

Lianna’s gaze was fixed on the walls above, where defenders fought against the encroaching Fiends. She winced as she witnessed some of them disintegrate under Fiendish magic, while others were snagged by writhing, fleshy tentacles.

Lianna set those dreams she had growing up aside. The reality of the situation was terrible.

The tension grew as the Fiends closed in, pounding on the massive gates with an otherworldly force.

"Get ready!" One man called out while a few mages erected walls of dirt behind the gates, seemingly accepting that the Fiends were going to break through.

’Envy," Lianna said, "stay near me, alright? You too, Zura."

"Got it," Enverna replied. Zura just nodded, her eyes fixed on the gates.

The ground trembled beneath their onslaught. Lianna could feel her heart racing, a mix of fear and determination coursing through her veins.

The gates shuddered under the relentless assault until, almost instantaneously, they breached.

Chaos erupted as Fiends flooded into the city, met with the desperate resistance of the defenders. The streets became a chaotic battleground, with the Watchful and other guilds working in tandem with the city’s soldiers.

Lianna, Enverna, and Zura moved into action.

In the midst of the chaotic fray, a lone player found themselves at the mercy of a Fiend’s gaping maw.

Enverna, spear in hand, lunged forward with precision, stabbing the tentacle that held the struggling player captive. The person stumbled back, spared from the grisly fate that awaited them.

A sorceress, about to be the recipient of a Fiendish spell, faced imminent danger that she was unaware of, as she had her back turned to the Fiend.

Zura quickly positioned herself between the girl and the dark energy swirling towards her. The shield absorbed the impact, and the girl, seeing the attacker now, retaliated with a flurry of ice magic.

"Thank you!"

"No problem," Zura responded before she went to help someone else.

Not far away, members of the Silver Blade struggled against a Fiendish onslaught.

Lianna quickly used {Lover’s Intuition} and {Through Enverna’s Eyes} to share the scene with Enverna and then guide her on how to strategically engage the Fiends.

"Make an opening for them, attack from the side!"

Enverna quickly did so, forcing the Fiend to place its focus on her.

The Silver Blade trio, taking advantage, regrouped and successfully fended off the imminent threat.

Lianna spotted a Fiend targeting a group of healers crucial to the ongoing battle. Running up to them, she darted in and out of the Fiend’s line of sight, drawing its attention away from the healers with the help of a few arrows.

[Crap.]

Lianna began running away, then.

Just as a tentacle wrapped around her leg, Enverna arrived and used her Instinct, coating her spear with water, to eliminate the threat.

This diversion provided the healers with the necessary time to continue their vital work.

"Thanks, babe," Lianna said, with an appreciative smile.

"You...!" Enverna blushed. "We are working!"

In a particularly intense skirmish, the trio identified a formidable Fiend standing at the middle of the road.

Enverna engaged it head-on, drawing its attention. Zura remained between it and other nearby players, making sure to keep her shield up. Meanwhile, Lianna focused on just trying to hit the target as best and as frequently as she could, creating an opening for the others to exploit.

All it took was some persistence and soon, the Fiend fell.

[Okay, okay... We’re not doing that badly. Maybe we can...]

In the midst of the chaos, Lianna caught sight of a familiar figure standing among the Fiends.

It was Jack.

Lianna blinked.

[What? What the hell?]

His presence sent a chill down Lianna’s spine.

It didn’t look like he was doing anything. Just watching it all.

[Maybe he wants to absorb the bodies after the fight’s over.]

As she fought off a Fiend attempting to breach their ranks, Lianna’s mind raced.

[He’s just standing there, and they’re ignoring him. How is that possible!?]

"Enverna, Zura, stay sharp!" Lianna shouted, her voice cutting through the tumult.

As the trio continued to fight, Lianna made sure to glance back at Jack every couple of seconds, her instincts telling her that he held a key role in the unfolding events.

The clash between the defenders and the Fiends intensified. The streets were painted with the blood of fallen fighters, both human and Fiend alike, but, thankfully, mostly Fiends.

Then, all of a sudden, the chaotic battlefield, once resonating with the clashes of steel and the ominous roars of Fiends, fell into an eerie silence as the malevolent creatures inexplicably retreated.

"Huh?"

One by one, the Fiends began to head back.

And, Lianna quickly felt the reason why.

[AGH!]

She hit the ground.

"Lianna?" Enverna asked, running up to her. "What’s wrong?"

In truth, Lianna couldn’t say.

She felt like ropes had been tied to her limbs, trying to pull her out of the city. She actively had to keep herself back, pulling against the pressure.

Upon further evaluation, she realized it wasn’t her the pressure was tugging at, but her artifact instead.

In an instant, the feeling was gone.

The Fiends had left, going back the same way they’d come in.

Lianna scanned the area, her sharp eyes searching for the figure she’d seen earlier.

However, the battlefield, now devoid of the chaotic frenzy, revealed no trace of the dark forces that had besieged Telvan just moments before.

"He’s gone," Lianna muttered, a mix of frustration and concern etched on her face. "What the hell was that?"