Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 117: Children of Mana, Part One

"This is it. Unless she was referring to some other warehouse I do not know of," Enverna said, pointing ahead to the structure in the distance.

The old warehouse loomed before them, its weathered exterior casting long shadows across the desolate street.

Lianna’s heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as she stepped through the rusty doorway, her companions close behind.

[Ah.... How has she been? It’s only been like a month or two, but it feels like it’s been a lot longer since I last saw her.]

The interior was dimly lit, the air heavy with the faint scents of decay, dust, and metal.

Lianna’s gaze swept over the abandoned space, searching for any sign of her former classmate.

And then she found her.

Mel stood in the center, her vibrant purple hair cascading in loose waves around her shoulders.

She was dressed in a sleek purple dress that hugged her curves and wore short, black heels. As she turned around, Lianna saw that she’d donned a new, black lipstick as well.

Lianna’s eyes bulged out of their sockets.

[Holy shit...] She blinked. [She... looks so hot!]

A rush of conflicting emotions surged through Lianna as she locked eyes with Mel, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

Beside her, Zura’s eyes widened in astonishment, the shock of seeing Mel’s transformation evident on her face.

But it was Enverna who bore the brunt of Mel’s gaze, her expression tinged with guilt as she met the other woman’s eyes.

Mel strode toward Enverna. Soon, she stood before her and bowed.

"Enverna..." Mel’s voice was soft. "I owe you an apology."

Enverna’s brow furrowed in confusion, her gaze flickering between Mel and Lianna. She didn’t say anything, just crossed her arms.

Mel’s shoulders sagged slightly, her voice tinged with regret as she spoke.

"I... I was in a dark place, mentally, when last we saw each other. I let my desires cloud my judgment. I am glad Lianna stopped me."

Lianna’s breath caught in her throat at Mel’s confession, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.

The sincerity in her words struck a chord within her.

"I do not expect to be forgiven, but I just wanted to say it." She stopped bowing, looking up at Enverna. "I have been wanting to say this since the very day I left the city."

Gauging Enverna’s emotions was difficult for Lianna. The girl maintained a perfectly neutral expression, the only sign that she was feeling anything at all was the way she tapped her index finger against her arm.

Mel’s gaze lifted, sighing with relief at having been allowed to say this.

"Now," she smiled a little, turning her gaze onto the crimson-haired girl herself. "Lianna. It’s good to see you again."

As the tension began to ease, Lianna walked forward and hugged the girl.

"It’s been too long," she said, her voice tinged with affection. "I’ve missed you."

"I... I have as well," Mel said as she swallowed. "I would like to tell you all about my time with the Starsign Association... But, later," she said. "Right now, we need to speak about more important matters."

"Of course," Lianna replied, taking a deep breath, her voice tinged with anticipation. "What did Al’has want to tell us?"

Mel took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

"She believes that the artifact is influenced by your emotions. As in, your feelings are what cause the artifact to turn on."

Lianna’s brow furrowed in thought as she processed Mel’s words, the implications sinking in slowly.

"Really?"

Mel nodded.

"Yes. Al’has believes that the artifact responds to the emotional state of its wielder, provided that they are a child of mana. What do you think?"

Lianna’s mind raced as she considered the implications of Al’has’s theory.

It was a slight variation from what Athene had believed, but the fundamental principle remained the same.

Athene had believed that her desire to protect Enverna had enabled her to control the artifact, hence why she’d purposefully put Enverna in danger back when they were testing it.

Lianna’s brows furrowed.

[So, while Athene believed that my conscious desire influenced the artifact’s power, Al’has’s thinks it’s basically just my mental state as a whole.]

Lianna mulled over the notion.

Admittedly, Lianna was leaning toward thinking Al’has was right.

How else would she be able to activate the artifact subconsciously as she had a couple of times now?

[It makes sense... But...]

"So, what does that mean for me?" Lianna asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "How do I control the artifact if it’s influenced by my emotions? Is there a specific emotion I’m supposed to be focusing on? Will any emotion work?"

Mel’s expression softened with sympathy as she met Lianna’s gaze.

"That’s part of why I’m here. Al’has wants me to help you test it."

"Ah, okay," Lianna nodded. "I guess we’ll have to find out together."

"Indeed."

The weight of this revelation settled over her like a heavy blanket.

In a way, controlling the artifact felt even more unlikely. Still, Lianna wanted to try her best to make it happen.

If they could make this work, it would be massive progress.

Thus, Lianna said:

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started."

Mel nodded.

"Alright. I have a few ideas."

---

{Zura}

Lianna, Enverna, and Mel huddled together, their heads bent in deep conversation.

They were engrossed in discussing various theories and strategies for activating the artifact, their voices hushed yet animated as they debated their next course of action.

[Hm?]

Suddenly, Zura’s keen eyes caught a flicker of movement.

Through a wide crack in a nearby wall, she saw an eye peering into the room.

Instinctively, she tensed, her senses on high alert as she silently observed the unwelcome spectator.

[I don’t think this guy’s noticed that I saw him. I shouldn’t let it slip.]

Without a word to the others, she slipped away from the group, her movements swift and silent as she exited the building.

Outside the warehouse, Zura tracked the mysterious figure, finding him in an alley, her footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone pavement.

"Hey," Zura called out. "Enjoying the view?"

Instantly, the man ran away.

With a startled yelp, he turned on his heel and bolted down the alleyway, his footsteps echoing off the walls as he fled.

[Oh, no you don’t.]

Zura gave chase, her heart pounding in her chest as she pursued the fleeing intruder through the streets.

She pushed herself to move faster, her determination driving her forward as she closed the gap between them.

Just as she was about to catch up to the elusive figure, a shadow dropped from above, landing squarely on top of the fleeing man with a resounding thud.

Zura skidded to a halt, her eyes widening in shock.

It was Vayn, their odd bodyguard, who had intercepted the intruder with effortless precision. She loomed over the fallen man, a proud grin on her face as she caught her prey.

Zura approached cautiously.

The woman’s gaze met hers, and Zura felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity of her stare.

"I’ve been tailing this one for the past hour," Vayn explained, her voice low as she regarded the intruder with a steely gaze. "He’s been lurking behind you all, just watching you."

"Seriously? For how long?"

"Probably since you left the inn," Vayn responded, pulling a rope out of her inventory and binding the man’s arms. "Honestly, I’m surprised you caught sight of him."

The woman’s voice held a tinge of respect for the first time since she’d met her. Zura scratched her head, looking away.

"... With the people I used to hang around with, it paid to be perceptive."

Vayn’s lips quirked into a faint smile, looking back at Zura with newfound interest.

Vayn nodded thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on Zura.

"That’s a valuable skill to have," she remarked, her voice holding a hint of approval. "In the darker parts of either Telvan or Garriden, the most observant people tend to live the longest."

Zura did feel some pride in hearing that praise.

She had always prided herself on her ability to read people and situations, a talent that had served her well in the unforgiving streets of Garriden.

As Vayn finished securing the intruder, she hoisted him over her shoulder with ease, her muscles rippling beneath her black leather armor as she turned to leave.

"Keep your wits about you, kid," she said, her voice gruff yet strangely reassuring. "You never know when they might come in handy."

With a nod of gratitude, Zura watched as Vayn disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but a lingering sense of respect in her wake.

As Zura made her way back to the warehouse, her mind buzzed just thinking about that lady.

[You know... Maybe I should ask her to teach me a thing or two. I’d like to be a little more useful.]