Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 120: Children of Mana, Part Four

{Zura}

The moonlight poured in through the open window. Lianna, Enverna, and Zura slept soundly, Zura in one bed and Lianna and Enverna sharing another, as a fourth person entered the room.

Approaching Zura’s bed, Vayn leaned in close and gently shook the sleeping girl awake, her touch light but insistent.

Zura stirred, blinking away the haze of sleep as she gradually became aware of Vayn’s presence.

"Wha... What’s going on?" Zura murmured, her voice thick with drowsiness.

"Shh, come with me," Vayn whispered, her tone urgent as she gestured for Zura to follow her.

Confused but compliant, Zura climbed out of bed and followed Vayn out of the inn, careful not to disturb her slumbering companions. Once outside, she turned to face Vayn, her expression a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

"Why the fuck did you drag me out here?" Zura asked, her irritation evident in her tone.

Vayn regarded her with a knowing look, her eyes reflecting the dim light of the street lamps.

"I wanted to talk," she replied cryptically, her voice low and slightly teasing.

Zura rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.

"About what?" she asked, her impatience growing.

"About you," Vayn answered simply, her gaze unwavering.

Zura’s brow furrowed in confusion.

"Me?" she echoed, her tone incredulous.

"Yes, you," Vayn affirmed with some laughter. "I want to know how you ended up as Lianna and Enverna’s third wheel."

"WHAT!?" Zura bristled at the implication, her annoyance flaring to life once more. "I’m not their third wheel," she retorted defensively, her voice tinged with frustration.

Vayn raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing.

"Really?" she challenged. "So, you don’t just watch them fuck, you get in on it sometimes?"

"I..."

The moments in which Zura passionately made out with Lianna sprang to mind. Vayn stopped, her brows touching the sky.

"... Are you serious?" Vayn asked. "Holy shit."

"Nah, no, no," Zura shook her head. "It’s not like that."

Vayn just blinked back at her.

"Okay, sexual clusterfuck aside, how did you meet those two?"

Zura hesitated for a moment, her mind racing as she searched for an answer. Finally, she sighed, relenting to Vayn’s persistence.

"Look," she conceded, her tone begrudging. "It all started when Lianna insisted on talking to me..."

As they walked, Zura recounted the events that had led to her unexpected alliance with Lianna and Enverna, from their initial encounter in Telvan to the harrowing incident with the exploding amulet.

She spoke of the curious bond that had formed between them, forged in the crucible of danger and an assassinated president.

Vayn listened intently, her expression unreadable as Zura recounted her tale. When Zura mentioned the incident with the exploding amulet, Vayn’s lips curved into a faint smile, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Well, shit," she remarked, her tone tinged with irony. "Sounds like things have been lively."

Zura nodded grimly, her memories of that fateful day still fresh in her mind.

"You could say that," she replied, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"But maybe..." Vayn mused, her tone thoughtful, "it was a blessing in disguise."

Zura regarded her with a skeptical look, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"How so?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Vayn threw an arm around Zura’s shoulder, drawing her close as they continued their stroll through the quiet, nighttime streets of Garriden.

"Because," she explained cryptically, "it showed you the true nature of the world we live in."

As they rounded a corner, Zura’s gaze fell upon a disturbing scene unfolding before them: an old man being accosted by a group of thugs, his frail form no match for their ruthless aggression.

As the thuds of their punches and kicks rang out along with the man’s whimpers, she stopped.

"This..." Vayn began quietly, gesturing towards the scene before them, "this is the reality of life in Garriden. I’m sure that rich girl you run with probably doesn’t even know about this sort of thing. I’m sure it’s probably like this back at Telvan too, right?"

Zura’s jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides as she watched the injustice unfold before her eyes.

"It is," she replied through gritted teeth, her voice laced with anger and frustration. "And... I know, because I used to be one of them."

"Really?"

"Old gang I used to run with," Zura muttered. "Did all sorts of shit."

Vayn regarded her with a knowing look, her expression inscrutable.

"And now?" she inquired, her voice quiet but intense.

Zura’s gaze hardened, a steely resolve flickering in her eyes.

"Now," she declared, her voice firm, "this just disgusts me."

"Well," Vayn gestured at them, "shall we?"

With a determined nod, Zura stepped forward, her movements decisive.

With a shared sense of purpose, Zura and Vayn sprang into action, moving with calculated precision as they engaged the thugs. Zura punched one of them in the back of the head, hard. He hit the ground.

"What the-"

Before his buddy could react, Vayn dealt him a knee to the gut.

The third goon brought out a knife from his Inventory. Zura brought out her shield in turn, parrying the stab he went for. Then, she used that same shield as a weapon, bashing him on the head and knocking him out on the spot.

As the last of the muggers fell to the ground, defeated and incapacitated, Zura turned to the old man, her expression filled with concern.

"Hey, gramps. Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle as she offered him a reassuring smile.

The old man nodded, his eyes wide with gratitude as he surveyed the scene before him.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you both."

With the immediate threat neutralized, Vayn turned to Zura and clapped, a sense of satisfaction evident in her expression.

"Well done," she praised, her voice tinged with approval.

Zura smiled, a sense of pride swelling within her chest at their victory.

"Thanks," she replied, her tone modest but sincere.

With their task complete and the old man scurrying away, Vayn gestured for Zura to follow her as they made their way back to the inn. Along the way, she spoke with a sense of quiet determination, her words carrying a weight of significance.

"You know, Little Miss Third Wheel," Vayn began, her voice low but earnest, "I can teach you how to be useful to your friends. How to protect them."

"You think I’m ’little’?"

"Is that really the part you had a problem with there?"

"W-Whatever, anyway, why? What do you get outta that?" Zura regarded her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Vayn nodded, her expression resolute.

"I dunno. Cause I see something in you. Call it a bit of a merc’s intuition. You’ve got potential. But, if you want me to leave you alone just let me-"

"No, no, I’ll take you up on that," Zura interrupted her. "I was just asking."

"Very well," Vayn grinned. "Go get some rest."

---

{Lianna}

The same old chapel from yesterday stood silent and solemn.

Lianna approached it alone, with a sense of quiet determination, her footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone path.

As she entered the chapel, she found Olin waiting for her, his presence a reassuring anchor amidst the uncertainty that churned within her.

His eyes held a gentle warmth as he greeted her.

"Welcome, Lianna," Olin said, his voice calm and steady. "I’m glad you decided to join me."

Lianna offered him a small nod in response, her expression a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"Didn’t feel like I had much of a choice, but thank you for offering to help me," she replied, her voice tinged with gratitude.

Olin smiled warmly, gesturing for her to take a seat beside him.

"Of course," he said. "Do not be mistaken, though. I am not doing this strictly for altruistic reasons. Garriden is my home. Danger is coming and that artifact of yours is likely the best weapon I can think of to help fight against it. And, of course, it is likely only children of mana can control it. At the end of the day, helping you is the most logical decision for me."

[Right. Well, I appreciate the honesty, at least.]

As Lianna settled onto the worn wooden pew, Olin began to explain their plan. He spoke with a quiet conviction, outlining their strategy for the days to come.

"Here’s what we’re going to do. For one hour each day, we will work together here in the chapel," Olin explained, his voice low but resolute. "During this time, I will help you learn to control your emotions. Control your mind. In doing so, perhaps you will be able to activate that artifact at will."

Lianna listened intently, her gaze fixed on Olin as he spoke. Despite her lingering doubts, she found herself drawn to his words, a glimmer of hope stirring within her heart.

"But you must understand that our work doesn’t stop here," Olin continued, his tone earnest. "You must also commit to this practice outside of our sessions, in your daily life. Only then will you truly begin to master your emotions."

Lianna nodded in understanding, a sense of determination settling over her like a cloak falling over her shoulders.

She was willing to do whatever it took to gain control over the artifact. It was of the utmost importance.

"Alright," she said, her voice firm. "I’m ready to begin."