Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 112: Testing

{November 15, 239 2E}

Lianna, Enverna, and Zura had just finished breakfast when a knock echoed through the quiet dorm.

Lianna, with a slight furrow in her brows, rose from the couch to answer the door. As she swung it open, a familiar figure stood on the other side.

Athene, the Judicator’s follower, looked down at Lianna, wearing golden armor.

"Greetings," Athene greeted, her expression neutral.

"..."

Lianna’s initial reaction was one of panic.

Memories of their last encounter flooded Lianna’s mind and she was just about to slam the door shut, however, Athene quickly raised her hands in a placating gesture.

"Calm down. I’m not here to cause trouble. In fact, I’m here to assist you."

Enverna and Zura were both standing by Lianna’s side soon.

"I dunno," Lianna, still wary, stepped back with her arms crossed. "I don’t see how we can trust you."

"Well, if I had come here with murderous intentions, it would be rather odd for me to not have my weapons out, wouldn’t it?"

She nodded at Enverna, who was currently holding Storm, whereas Athene herself was empty-handed.

"But you’re in your armor."

"Because I do still plan to fight today," Athene responded. "Just not you. Now, may I?"

"I know you don’t fully trust me, and that’s fair," Athene admitted, her eyes locking with Lianna’s. "But as I said last time, as long as you can control this artifact you wield, I will not harm you. Problem is, if more raids happen, that time will need to arrive sooner rather than later. Now, can I come in?"

Hesitantly, Lianna stepped aside. Lianna’s guard didn’t waver but she acknowledged the shared concern.

"I’ve been doing some research. Watching that one video in particular of you using your artifact that’s online. I have a bit of a theory."

With all the class of a woman wearing a frilly dress instead of heavy golden armor, she sat on the couch with crossed legs and her hands on her lap as Enverna, Zura, and Lianna remained standing in front of her.

"It would appear to me that what caused the device to activate was seeing your fiance in peril."

Lianna pulled back, remembering that scene at the beach vividly. Enverna had been about to be killed by a Fiend when Lianna pulled the artifact out. It had worked back then, and had been dormant since.

"You mean... it only activates when Enverna is in danger?" Lianna asked, her voice tinged with both surprise and concern.

Athene nodded, her gaze steady.

"Perhaps not *only* when she is in danger but so far, that does seem to be the pattern I’ve observed. Xi also told me that when you went on that one mission with her, the artifact had also activated when your allies were fighting a perilous battle. I believe that the one thing we know for certain is that your emotions, especially the fear or distress you feel for Enverna’s safety, appear to trigger the artifact."

Enverna exchanged a glance with Lianna, a mix of emotions playing across her face. Zura, arms crossed, looked more intrigued than skeptical for once.

"So, what, is it like a protective charm?" Zura asked.

Athene shrugged.

"At the moment. Obviously, we’ll want to find a way to use it even when Enverna is not in danger, but right now, this seems like the best way to activate it."

Lianna chewed on her lower lip, absorbing the information.

"But that doesn’t explain why it didn’t work during the last Fiend attack. Enverna was in a lot of danger back then too."

Athene raised an eyebrow.

"Did you feel the same level of fear for Enverna during that encounter?"

Lianna hesitated, her gaze flickering between Athene and Enverna.

"I... I don’t know. It was chaotic."

"Or, perhaps you just had confidence in your fiance," Athene replied. "Emotional clarity could also be a key factor. If it worked when your emotions were heightened and focused, it might not respond as well when there’s chaos or conflicting emotions."

Enverna, usually quiet but now an integral part of the discussion, spoke up.

"So, what’s the plan? How do we use this information?"

Athene leaned back on the couch, her expression thoughtful.

"We need controlled scenarios. Situations where you can intentionally focus on invoking that emotional response. We’ll test the artifact’s responsiveness under different circumstances. If we can get this thing working properly, then, perhaps the artifact could work against our enemies. I hope you have not forgotten this but the group that took the president’s life is still out there. Nareem was simply the tool they used. They need to be brought to justice."

Lianna nodded.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"I’m wearing this for a reason," Athene said. "Let us go hunt some Fiends. See if we can find other, more convenient ways, of using that artifact."

---

{Enverna}

The girls trudged through a murky swamp, the thick, damp air clinging to her skin.

The ground beneath Enverna’s boots squelched with each step, and the distant croaks of unseen creatures echoed through the stagnant waters. She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in her chest, a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

Athene walked beside her. The woman’s eyes seemed to pierce through the dim surroundings as she cast occasional glances at Enverna.

"Keep your guard up," Athene’s voice, low and cryptic, reached Enverna’s ears. "We’ll find the Fiends soon enough."

Enverna nodded, the unease settling deeper within her.

As they walked, Athene sidled up to Enverna, whispering to her.

"When the time comes, I need you to act as though you are in peril. Let the Fiend we fight harm you if need be."

Enverna’s eyes widened at the unexpected request.

"Harm me? Why in the realms would I do that?" She whispered back.

Athene’s gaze remained steady, her tone unwavering.

"Have you already forgotten what we talked about? It might be the only reliable way to activate the artifact. I wish to test that theory."

Enverna hesitated, torn between skepticism and a reluctant trust.

She stole a glance at Lianna, who walked a few paces ahead, completely absorbed in her surroundings. Enverna couldn’t bring herself to voice her concerns aloud.

The swamp’s oppressive ambiance intensified as they reached a denser part of the wetland. Lianna, scanning their surroundings with a determined focus, halted abruptly.

"I see a Fiend’s silhouette," Lianna announced, her eyes narrowing. "Get ready."

Enverna, Zura, and Athene exchanged glances, a silent acknowledgment that their encounter with the Fiends was imminent.

Enverna’s hand instinctively tightened around the grip of her spear as she braced herself.

They spotted the enemy. Enverna glanced over at Lianna, wondering what she was seeing.

"Wait, Athene, this Fiend looks pretty damn strong," Lianna muttered, her expression growing serious.

Without a response, Athene simply stepped forward, a shield and a sword in her hands.

Athene’s gaze shifted to Enverna, her eyes conveying a silent message.

Enverna took a deep breath.

[I guess I should play along...]

The Fiend grew larger as more of its body emerged from the murky waters. Its grotesque form sent a shiver down Enverna’s spine.

The creature’s malevolent eyes locked onto the group, hunger and aggression burning within.

Athene, seizing the initiative, charged forward with a battle cry.

Zura, shield raised, positioned herself to deflect the Fiend’s potential attacks. Enverna, spear at the ready, wondered how exactly she was going to carry out Athene’s plan.

The battle erupted with a clash of steel against the Fiend’s unnatural hide. Enverna skillfully dodged the creature’s swipes, her movements a dance of evasion. The air crackled with tension as the group coordinated their attacks, aiming to weaken the formidable adversary.

Enverna shot Athene a sidelong glance, uncertainty etched across her features.

[... It needs to be done, it needs to be done, it needs to be...]

On that note, she complied with what Athene had asked for, intentionally lowering her guard as the Fiend lunged at her with primal aggression.

The creature’s tentacles slammed into Enverna’s side, eliciting a sharp gasp of pain.

Enverna fell face-down in the swamp water. She couldn’t see what was happening behind her, but that was quickly remedied as the Fiend pulled her out.

It dragged her across the ground, wanting to devour her then and there.

Athene did nothing to stop it.

[Wait,] Enverna’s fingers dug into the earth. [I am actually in a very bad spot.]

Enverna’s eyes first fell on her but then went to Lianna, silently pleading.

Athene’s voice pierced through the chaos.

"Lianna, activate the artifact. Now!"

Quickly, Lianna summoned the artifact, the small rock emitting a faint glow in her hand.

"Come on," Lianna muttered, her voice a desperate plea. "Work this time."

But, much to their dismay, the artifact remained dormant.

Zura went to interrupt the thing, slamming the edge of her shield on the tentacle that gripped Enverna. Its other tendrils then wrapped around Zura. Both girls were now about to be swallowed whole.

"Lianna, do something!" Athene’s voice, cold and unyielding, cut through the chaos.

Lianna, her frustration mounting, focused on the artifact with unwavering determination.

"Activate, activate..."

Enverna looked back at the Fiend, hundreds of sharp teeth suddenly revealing themselves as the Fiend opened its gaping maw.

Finally, the artifact responded.

The creature froze.

Enverna tried to push herself away, but the creature was still holding her too tightly.

Lianna shouted at Athene.

"Finish it!"

Athene, her blade gleaming with an ethereal light, delivered a decisive blow. The Fiend shattered into dark fragments that dissipated into the swamp.

The battleground fell silent, the only sounds being the labored breaths of the exhausted adventurers. Enverna, nursing her injury, glared at Athene with a mixture of resentment and pain.

Lianna, her frustration bubbling over, confronted Athene.

"You lied. That thing was way too strong. We almost got killed!"

Athene, unmoved by Lianna’s accusations, met her gaze with an icy calmness.

"If you cannot find a way to consistently control this artifact, both you and it are better off dead anyway."

Without offering an apology or explanation, Athene turned on her heels.

"Let’s head back to Telvan. We have much to discuss."

The girls, left slightly shaken and bruised, exchanged glances.

Reluctantly, they followed after her.