Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 110: Garriden’s Call

{November 10, 239 2E}

{Lianna}

The same low-level, dense forest Lianna and Enverna had gone to before echoed today with the clash of weapons, the rustle of leaves, and the distant growls of various Fiends.

Lianna, Zura, and Enverna found themselves deep within the heart of the woods, facing a particularly ominous Fiend that lurked among the trees.

Zura, clad in some fresh, new, white armor she’d bought, positioned herself in front of the Fiend, her shield raised high.

The creature, a grotesque amalgamation of twisted limbs and gnashing teeth, lunged at her with frenzied aggression. Zura skillfully parried its attacks, creating an opening for Enverna to strike.

Enverna, wielding her trusty spear, danced around the Fiend, aiming precise blows at its vulnerable spots. Each strike was calculated, her movements a testament to years of combat training. The Fiend roared in frustration as Enverna’s attacks weakened its monstrous form. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Because Lianna had successfully gotten Enverna to stay, she now had an RP of 60.

This brought Enverna’s stats to this point:

Enverna Alteri

MP: 50/50

---

STR: B+

END: B

DEX: A-

MYS: B-

L: C-

Hence why she was destroying this Fiend with ease right now.

Lianna, a few paces behind, focused on the shimmering artifact in her hands. The same artifact that had mysteriously failed during the previous Fiend raid. Her eyes narrowed with determination as she attempted to tap into its power, seeking control over the creature.

"Come on, work this time," Lianna muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the artifact.

The Fiend, sensing the threat, turned its attention towards Lianna.

Zura stood between them, acting as a wall. She gritted her teeth, struggling to keep the creature at bay.

"Lianna, any time now!" Zura called, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Lianna concentrated, channeling her thoughts into the artifact.

[Control this thing, control this thing, STOP!]

However, to her dismay, nothing happened. No matter how hard she tried, no matter what she tried, the artifact simply would not turn on.

[Come on... What’s different? Why did it turn on back on the beach but it’s not turning on now?]

The Fiend continued its relentless assault as Lianna was unable to interrupt it.

"Lianna, nothing?" Enverna shouted, her eyes darting between the artifact and the Fiend.

"I... I don’t know!" Lianna replied, frustration evident in her voice. "Let me try again."

The situation grew dire. Zura, fighting to maintain her ground, shot a concerned glance at Lianna. Enverna, recognizing the urgency, abandoned her weakening strategy and lunged at the Fiend with a decisive thrust of her spear. The creature howled in pain as Enverna’s strike hit its mark.

"We might not have time for this, Lianna!" Enverna yelled, dodging a retaliatory swipe from the wounded Fiend.

Lianna, feeling the pressure, tried once more to control the Fiend with her artifact. Yet, to her dismay, it remained unresponsive.

"Crap! It’s still not working!" Lianna exclaimed, frustration turning to desperation.

Enverna, her expression grim, made a quick decision. With a swift, calculated move, she aimed her spear at a vital point on the Fiend’s midsection and struck with lethal precision.

The creature convulsed and then fell, dissipating into dark energy.

The forest fell silent, the only sounds being the heavy breaths of the three adventurers. Zura lowered her shield, looking at Lianna with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Huh. Still can’t get it working? Uh, not gonna lie, hope we do... I’m not looking forward to fighting those Constellations’ followers again," Zura remarked, glancing at the inert artifact.

Lianna shook her head, puzzled and frustrated.

"I don’t know. It wakes up at the most random times. I don’t get it."

Enverna, catching her breath, walked over to Lianna.

"We can’t rely on it if it’s going to remain this unpredictable. Perhaps it would be a good idea to destroy it."

"I hope it doesn’t come to that," Lianna responded.

Zura chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Artifact troubles aside, we handled that Fiend pretty well, don’t you think?"

Enverna smirked.

"We did. You’ve been particularly sharp lately, Zura. Well done."

"Aw, I’m just doin’ what I have to," Zura shrugged.

Lianna sighed, a mix of frustration and relief on her face as she stared down at the rock.

"Hopefully, I can figure this thing out soon."

As Lianna searched through the creature’s remains, she grabbed a sword out of its Inventory.

Shadowblade

{Weapon}

{Rare}

{Class Req: None}

{Stat Req: STR B-, DEX B}

{Description: This shadowy blade seems to absorb the ambient light, creating an aura of darkness around it that can blind targets.}

{Val: 5000 Tokens}

The blade’s design was sleek, its edge sharp, and the shadowy aura it emitted hinted at its mysterious potential. Lianna marveled at their find, a twinge of excitement coursing through her.

[Ah, I’d want to give this to Zura, but she doesn’t have the Dex for it.]

As Lianna navigated the floating marketplace of the Player Shop, her eyes scanned the listings for items that could enhance their capabilities against Fiends or rival players.

Fiendbane Elixir

{Potion}

{Common}

{Description: Grants temporary resistance against Fiendish attacks. Duration: 30 minutes.}

{Val: 100 Tokens}

---

Whisperwind Cloak

{Armor}

{Uncommon}

{Class Req: Rogue}

{Stat Req: DEX B+}

{Description: This lightweight cloak enhances the wearer’s agility, making them harder to detect.}

{Val: 800 Tokens}

---

Mystic Ward

{Artifact}

{Rare}

{Class Req: None}

{Stat Req: MYS A-}

{Description: Provides a protective barrier against magical attacks. Limited uses per day.}

{Val: 2500 Tokens}

Lianna considered each item with a discerning eye, weighing the potential benefits they could offer in future encounters. Eventually, she ended up putting away the Shadowblade and buying four of those elixirs, disregarding everything else.

The Lover’s foretelling lingered in Lianna’s mind, the eventual razing of Garriden by Fiends. Every item, every piece of gear, held the potential to make a difference when that dreaded day arrived.

Enverna, glancing at Lianna, couldn’t help but notice a subtle change in her friend’s demeanor.

"Do you want to find more Fiends?" Enverna asked gently, her voice conveying both curiosity and a readiness for action.

Lianna sighed, her gaze momentarily distant.

"No, Envy. Not tonight. Let’s head back to Telvan," Lianna suggested. "We can try again tomorrow."

"Alright."

With that being said, Enverna called the driver she’d hired to bring them here, and the girls made their way back to the city.

---

Their return was met with an unexpected sight.

"Uh..." Zura scratched her head. "Guess some people felt a certain way, huh?"

Their dorm’s door was marked with vulgar graffiti and hurtful comments. Generalized insults, "go back to Garriden," and all manner of unpleasant things had been painted onto it, most of it seemingly aimed at Lianna’s fiance.

"Seriously?" Lianna hissed. "What the fuck is their problem!?"

Enverna remained silent, looking down at the ground with a guilty expression.

Lianna, sensing Enverna’s emotional turmoil, decided to shift the focus away from the negativity.

"Hey, forget them. Let’s go out, have a good time. How about we hit the Player’s Drops?" Lianna suggested, her attempt to lighten the mood evident in her voice.

Enverna hesitated, glancing at the door once more. The hurtful words stung, but Lianna’s offer of distraction provided a glimmer of solace.

With a nod, Enverna agreed, and they made their way to the popular bar.

The atmosphere inside the Player’s Drops buzzed with life.

The low hum of conversation, the rhythmic clinking of glasses, and the ambient sounds of a lively tavern enveloped them as they entered.

Lianna led the girls to an unoccupied table in a cozy corner.

"Woo! God, it’s been a while since I came here. I missed it!" Lianna declared while Zura and Enverna looked around with great curiosity at it all.

For a while, Lianna, Enverna, and Zura sat in the dimly lit corner of the Player’s Drops, enjoying their drinks and the lively atmosphere.

Every now and then Lianna would make sure to glance at her fiance, checking to see if her efforts to improve the mood were working.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar figure approached their table, and Lianna couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his stark contrast to the bar’s typical patrons.

The man wore immaculate white robes that seemed out of place in the rustic tavern setting. His face carried a serene, almost otherworldly expression, giving him an air of mystery. Lianna, always curious, decided to scan him using her interface.

Olin Morgal

MP: 125/125

---

STR: A

END: B-

DEX: C+

MYS: C

L: F

---

Traits:

Chosen

{The Monk’s chosen follower}

Lianna’s eyes widened.

The mysterious follower inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the trio with a courteous demeanor.

"What do you want?" Zura asked, adjusting her position in her seat so that if she needed to stand up quickly, she could.

"Greetings. My name is Olin. I am the Monk’s follower, and I have come seeking your aid. My master, the Monk, has foreseen a calamity befalling Garriden. Your assistance is crucial in averting this disaster. Will you, noble adventurers, lend your strength to protect our home?"

Lianna just blinked.

"How did you even find us!?"