Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 113: Advice

The truck moved along the worn road, weaving through the landscape as Telvan loomed in the distance.

Lianna, Enverna, Zura, and Athene occupied the bed of the vehicle, each immersed in their thoughts, their recent ordeal casting a palpable tension.

Lianna, looking at the weapon she had acquired from the Fiend, accessed her interface to appraise its value.

Icerider

{Weapon}

{Rare}

{Class Req: None}

{Stat Req: DEX B}

{Description: Sapphire-painted twinblades. This weapon leaves wounds on enemies that cannot be healed for 15 seconds after being created.}

{Val: 2500 Tokens}

Lianna pondered the potential uses of the valuable weapon but ultimately decided to sell it on the Player Shop.

Lianna navigated the holographic menu, her fingers dancing over it before she watched the weapon disappear from her inventory.

Athene, sitting nearby with an air of stoic detachment, turned her gaze toward Lianna. The lingering tension from their earlier confrontation lingered in the air.

"I’ve been thinking," Athene spoke up, her voice cutting through the silence. "About the artifact and why it activates sporadically."

Lianna met Athene’s gaze, curiosity mingled with a trace of skepticism.

"And what did you come up with?" Lianna inquired, her tone guarded.

She still hadn’t gotten over what Athene did, but she wasn’t about to turn down free information.

Athene, unfazed by Lianna’s cautiousness, continued.

"It seems tied to your state of mind. Today, the artifact activated when Enverna was in danger again. But, it was not as simple as just seeing your fiance in peril. You needed some extra... desperation for it to activate."

Lianna’s brow furrowed as she processed Athene’s theory.

The connection between her emotions and the artifact’s functionality seemed plausible, yet it brought forth a new set of questions and uncertainties.

[Desperation activates it, then? But... I don’t know, why would someone make an artifact so impractical?]

"Agh, why doesn’t it just work when I want it to?" Lianna questioned, a hint of frustration coloring her words.

Athene nodded, acknowledging the validity of Lianna’s concerns.

"That’s something we will have to figure out."

Lianna didn’t really appreciate the implication that they’d be working together again. She glanced at Enverna, Zura, and then back at Athene, her expression a mix of skepticism and caution.

"Look, I know there’s some tension," Athene began, her gaze unwavering. "But we don’t have the luxury of holding grudges. The fate of the entire world is at stake."

Lianna’s eyes narrowed as she processed Athene’s words. The weight of responsibility hung heavily in the air, urging them to set aside personal grievances for the greater good.

"We need to rely on each other," Athene continued, her voice unwavering. "And you need to understand the importance of that artifact. Nothing else matters."

"Hard to rely on someone I can’t trust..." Lianna murmured. Athene just glared at her.

Silence lingered in the truck, the gravity of Athene’s words sinking in. Lianna, despite the lingering distrust, recognized the sincerity in Athene’s plea.

As the truck rumbled into Telvan, Athene stood, her figure silhouetted against the city’s neon glow.

She looked at each of them in turn.

"Get over your grievances. We don’t have time for personal disputes. The artifact is the solution, not the problem. I will see you soon."

With those words, Athene left the group, disappearing into the bustling streets of Telvan. Lianna, Enverna, and Zura exchanged glances, the weight of the impending threat hanging heavily over their heads.

---

Lianna soon found herself standing in front of Miss Taylor’s office, the familiar door bearing the nameplate signaling the administrator’s domain.

She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorknob, before finally mustering the resolve to enter.

The door creaked open, revealing Miss Taylor engrossed in paperwork. The counselor, her emerald hair neatly pulled back, looked up with a warm smile as Lianna stepped inside.

"Lianna, dear, what brings you here today?" Miss Taylor greeted, her tone gentle and welcoming.

Lianna took a deep breath, still grappling with the revelation that this woman was, in essence, her mother.

The mix of emotions churned within her, but she pushed aside the personal turmoil to focus on the matter at hand.

"I... I need to talk to you about something important," Lianna began, her words cautious.

Miss Taylor gestured toward the chair opposite her desk.

"Of course, dear. Take a seat. What’s on your mind?"

Lianna settled into the chair, her eyes briefly meeting Miss Taylor’s before nervously shifting away.

"I did an experiment with Athene. Uh, the Constellation’s follower."

"I am familiar with her."

Lianna nodded. She then began, her gaze fixed on a point in the room.

"We went to a Fiend encounter zone to try and figure out how my artifact works. It... didn’t go as planned."

Miss Taylor listened attentively, her expression patient.

"There’s this pressure, this weight on me," Lianna continued her words carrying the burden of responsibility. "I need to get the artifact under control. Everything’s at stake."

Miss Taylor leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled in a thoughtful gesture.

"I can imagine that must be quite overwhelming. The ability to control Fiends just out of reach. It sounds like something out of a fantasy," Miss Taylor chuckled.

Lianna sighed, a mix of frustration and uncertainty clouding her features.

"I don’t even know where to start. Athene mentioned it seems tied to Enverna, specifically when Enverna is in danger. But... it doesn’t work all the time. I just need to figure out how to control it reliably."

Miss Taylor folded her hands on the desk, her gaze focused on Lianna.

"Sounds quite unreliable. Hm..." She looked down at her desk. "Perhaps the artifact can feel your intentions? Your need? Maybe next time you go and test it you should test it in a different scenario."

"What do you mean?"

"You could try activating it during a moment of great anger, for example," Miss Taylor stated. "The results could be sub-optimal, but if the artifact activates, that would be very telling."

Lianna absorbed Miss Taylor’s advice, the wheels in her mind turning as she considered the implications.

"Thank you, Miss Taylor. I’ll try that," Lianna responded, a sense of determination coloring her words.

Miss Taylor’s gaze softened, and she leaned forward slightly.

"I understand this must be challenging for you, dear. Remember, you’re not alone anymore. Seek support when you need it."

As much as she tried to hide it, that "anymore" did sting.

Still, she continued.

"There’s something else," Lianna began, her voice quieter now. "We’re planning to go to Garriden soon. I was wondering if you’ve been to Garriden yourself."

Miss Taylor nodded, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "Yes, I have. It’s been some time, but I’m familiar with the city."

Lianna hesitated before asking:

"Do you know someone there who could... act as a bodyguard or help us navigate the city?"

A thoughtful expression crossed Miss Taylor’s face.

"I do have a contact there, someone trustworthy. I can reach out to them and ensure they assist you when you arrive."

Lianna’s gratitude was evident as she nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you, Miss Taylor. I really appreciate your help."

Lianna stood up.

"Uh, well, I guess that’s all I wanted to ask."

"Ah, how tragic. I hope you have a wonderful day." Cynthia said with a smile.

Lianna turned to walk away.

With her hand on the door, a sudden impulse struck her.

She turned back around.

"Um, can I ask you for something?" Lianna hesitated before continuing.

"Certainly."

"Can I... get a hug?"

Miss Taylor’s eyes widened.

With a tiny smirk, she stood from her chair.

Her heels tapped against the floor a few times. Suddenly, she was right in front of Lianna.

Looking at her now, Lianna did feel like she could see a bit of herself in the woman. Their hair and eyes were different, but in terms of her face, her slightly narrow eyes, her thin lips, it felt like looking into a mirror.

Cynthia then stepped forward, arms stretched out, welcoming Lianna into a warm embrace.

Lianna couldn’t shake the feeling that this connection ran deeper than the surface. It was a fleeting moment of shared vulnerability, a brief respite from the challenges that awaited beyond the comforting embrace.

Eventually, Cynthia pulled back, her eyes holding a mixture of empathy and understanding. There was a softness in her gaze, a silent acknowledgment of the complexities embedded in their relationship.

"Take care of yourself, Lianna," Cynthia said.

"I will... Thank you."

Sure, this wasn’t going to erase the years of loneliness Lianna endured...

... But it did feel nice. She couldn’t deny that.

Lianna slowly walked back to her dorm. As she concluded that brief visit to Miss Taylor’s office, though, she took a moment to stand and look at the rest of the building.

Some recruits, some experienced guild members, walked back and forth between rooms. Many of them proudly showed off the equipment they’d gotten from missions, some of them laughed and joked around with each other.

Lianna leaned on the metal railing.

[You know,] she thought, [I still don’t really feel like I’ve joined the Watchful. This all seems like a weird dream. Maybe it’s because I haven’t gone on enough missions yet or something. Who knows?]