Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 126: Children of Mana, Part Ten

{Enverna}

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the bustling plaza where Enverna and Caroline stood, engaged in conversation.

Caroline’s voice filled the air as she regaled Enverna with tales of her latest exploits, her words peppered with excitement and enthusiasm.

"...and then, just as the Fiend lunged at me, I sidestepped and drove my sword straight through its core," Caroline exclaimed, her eyes alight with the thrill of battle. "It was a close call, but I managed to take it down in the end."

Enverna nodded along, offering occasional words of encouragement as she listened to Caroline’s story.

However, her mind was elsewhere, lost in a maze of conflicting thoughts.

Lianna’s words echoed in her mind. Keep up the lie, she had said, so effortlessly. Even now, Enverna still couldn’t really believe that being looked down upon like that didn’t bother her.

She’d even gone as far as to say she was fine with Enverna doing... whatever she wanted. Enverna didn’t know what to think about it.

Lost in her thoughts, Enverna barely registered Caroline’s voice as she continued to speak, her words fading into the background like a distant echo.

It wasn’t until Caroline’s hand touched her arm, snapping her back to reality, that Enverna realized she had zoned out.

"Enverna, are you alright?" Caroline asked, her brow furrowing in concern. "You seem a little distracted."

Enverna blinked, shaking her head slightly to clear away the fog of her thoughts.

"I’m sorry, Caroline. I was just... thinking about something," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Caroline regarded her with a searching gaze, her expression softening with understanding.

"It’s okay," she said gently, offering Enverna a reassuring smile. "But if there’s anything you want to talk about, I would hear you out."

Enverna gazed back at her for a moment.

[So, it’s not like she’s devoid of kindness.]

"Thank you, Caroline. I appreciate that," Enverna replied, her voice tinged with gratitude. "But enough about me. Tell me more about these Fiends you’ve been hunting."

Caroline’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she launched into another tale of adventure, her words painting vivid pictures of daring escapades and narrow escapes.

Enverna listened intently, the weight of her worries momentarily forgotten in the face of Caroline’s infectious enthusiasm.

As Caroline finished her story, a mischievous glint danced in her eyes as she turned to Enverna with a playful smile.

"You know, Enverna, I was thinking... Why don’t we go hunt a few Fiends together?" she suggested, her voice filled with anticipation. "It could be fun."

The girl considered it for a moment. Speaking purely on a logical level, it was undoubtedly the correct thing to do to just agree. Declining would only create unnecessary space between her and Caroline, and if she went with her, she’d get a better sense of what the girl could do in a fight, just in case things ever took a bad turn between them.

But, at the same time...

Admittedly, a small rush of excitement coursed through Enverna’s veins.

"I’d love to," Enverna replied, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Lead the way, Caroline. I’m ready whenever you are." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

---

{Nine Years Ago}

{Caroline}

A 12-year-old Caroline gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, the weight of the blade feeling familiar and comforting in her hands.

She stood in the courtyard of her family’s estate, the crisp morning air mingling with the sound of metal clashing against metal as she practiced her swordsmanship under the watchful eye of her tutor.

Her movements were fluid and precise. With each swing of her sword, she felt a sense of pride swell within her chest, knowing that she was one step closer to mastering her craft.

"You’re doing well, Caroline," her tutor remarked, his voice tinged with approval as he observed her form. "Your technique has improved greatly since our last session."

Caroline beamed with pride at the praise, her spirits lifted by the validation of her efforts.

As she continued to practice, her attention was suddenly drawn to movement at the edge of the courtyard. Peering through the wrought iron gates, she spotted a young boy watching her intently from the street outside.

The boy had purple eyes and grey skin.

Caroline had never really seen someone like that before.

"Who’s that?" Caroline asked, her curiosity piqued by the sight of the unfamiliar child.

Her tutor followed her gaze, his expression hardening at the sight of the boy. Without a word, he strode purposefully toward the gates, his footsteps echoing loudly against the cobblestone path.

Caroline watched in confusion as her tutor approached the boy, his voice sharp and commanding as he addressed him.

From her vantage point, she couldn’t hear the words exchanged between them, but she could see the tension in her tutor’s posture and the fear that flickered in the boy’s eyes.

After a brief exchange, the boy ran away and her tutor returned to her side, his expression annoyed as he turned to face her.

"What was that about?" Caroline asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Her tutor sighed heavily, his gaze troubled as he met her eyes.

"That boy is a child of mana," he explained, his voice low and somber. "Descendants of the angels that betrayed Saren."

Caroline’s brow furrowed in confusion.

"Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Her tutor sighed again, his features darkening with a mixture of sadness and frustration.

"Indeed. Children of mana are not to be trusted, Caroline," he said firmly. "They are born unnaturally, often with gifts that they use to perpetrate evil upon the world. Chaos and destruction is the entire point of their existence."

Caroline’s heart sank at the revelation, a sense of unease settling over her like a heavy cloak.

She had never encountered a child of mana before, but the fear and distrust in her tutor’s voice left her with a chilling sense of foreboding.

"But... he seemed harmless," Caroline protested, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Her tutor shook his head, his expression grim.

"Appearances can be deceiving, Caroline," he said solemnly. "Never forget that. Children of mana are dangerous, and we must always be vigilant in protecting ourselves from their influence."

With those ominous words hanging in the air, Caroline returned to her training, her mind consumed by thoughts of the mysterious child and his kind.

---

{Now}

The golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows over the forest floor where Caroline stood, her gaze fixed intently on Enverna as she battled a Fiend amidst the tranquil beauty of the woodland surroundings.

She observed the scene unfold with a sense of detached interest, her crimson eyes scanning the young woman’s movements with a discerning gaze.

At first glance, Enverna seemed unremarkable, her movements lacking the speed and finesse that Caroline had expected to see.

Yet, despite her initial skepticism, Caroline couldn’t ignore the whispers of admiration that surrounded Enverna’s name, nor the undeniable aura of confidence that seemed to emanate from her every pore.

[This self-assured aura of hers has to be coming from somewhere... Perhaps her Instinct is just that strong?]

As the battle raged on, Caroline’s attention was drawn to the Fiend’s tentacles as they lashed out at Enverna with deadly precision.

Despite her best efforts, Enverna struggled to evade the creature’s attacks, her movements growing increasingly desperate as she fought to keep the monstrous beast at bay.

With a frustrated sigh, Caroline realized that Enverna was outmatched, her skills falling short in the face of the relentless onslaught. It was clear to Caroline that if she didn’t intervene, Enverna would soon find herself overwhelmed by the Fiend’s relentless assault.

Stepping forward with purpose, Caroline closed the distance between herself and the battling pair, her sword drawn and ready to strike.

With a swift and precise motion, she sliced through the air, her blade slicing cleanly through the Fiend’s tentacle and freeing Enverna from its grasp.

Then, she took another quick step and stabbed her blade through the Fiend’s body, ending its abominable life in an instant.

Enverna stumbled backward, her eyes wide with surprise as she glanced up to meet Caroline’s gaze.

Relief washed over her features as she realized she had been saved.

"Thank you," Enverna said with a smile. "You’re very fast."

Caroline merely nodded in response, her attention momentarily drawn to the smear of Fiend blood that marred Enverna’s cheek.

Without hesitation, she reached out and brushed the stain away, her touch gentle yet deliberate as she wiped clean the young woman’s skin.

Their eyes met.

Caroline’s heart skipped a beat.

The woman felt a spark of something unfamiliar stir within her chest, a warmth that seemed to radiate from the depths of her soul.

Enverna’s beauty was a sight to behold. Downright captivating.

It was then, as she stood there in the aftermath of the battle, that Caroline made a silent vow to herself.

[I should try to find some way to free her from this... tether she maintains with that Lianna girl. God forbid they actually do end up getting married. A beauty like this deserves better.]