Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 129: Children of Mana, Part Thirteen

{December 5th, 239 2E}

{Lianna}

Shafts of light filtered through the lush foliage surrounding Lianna and Zura as they stepped through the gardens west of Garriden.

The two of them strolled side by side along a dirt path, their footsteps softened by the carpet of fallen leaves that littered the ground.

As they walked, the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers. The air was alive with the sound of chirping birds and the gentle rustle of leaves. And yet, things were slightly tense.

"So, Lianna," Zura began, breaking the comfortable silence between them, "she’s really that strong?"

Lianna nodded, recalling the information she had gleaned from using {Target Analysis} on Caroline.

"Yeah," she began, "Caroline has a Blade skill of 65, and all of her attributes, minus her Luck, are at least B-tier."

The specific stats she saw were as follows:

Caroline Ange

MP: 200/200

---

STR: A-

END: B+

DEX: A+

MYS: B

L: F

---

Instincts

Rise to the Occasion

{For every 10 seconds in combat, take 2% reduced damage and deal 2% increased damage, stacking up to 20% reduced damage and 20% bonus damage dealt.}

It was all Lianna could do to not faint when she saw that.

[Natural prodigies are something else, huh?]

Zura’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Wow, that’s kind of crazy," she remarked, her voice filled with awe.

Lianna nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, talent alone can’t account for that," she replied thoughtfully. "But Caroline’s potential must be incredibly high too."

Zura glanced at Lianna, her expression thoughtful.

"Hey," Zura began tentatively, "aren’t you worried at all that Enverna might... You know, think her time is better spent, uh, somewhere else?"

Knowing immediately what Zura was getting at, Lianna smirked.

"Not really, no."

"Seriously? Not even a little?" Zura asked, glancing her way. "I mean, massive bitch aura aside, the girl was really, really, hot."

"Nope," Lianna replied, her smile widening. "Not even a little."

Zura studied Lianna’s face, searching for any hint of uncertainty or doubt, but found none.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Well..." Lianna trailed off, her eyes lowering briefly, "this might sound weird but, reading people is something I’ve always prided myself on. And, I saw those two standing together, I saw how Envy looked at her, and... I don’t think I have anything to be worried about."

"Wow. I’m honestly kind of shocked you’re that certain Envy’s gonna reject her. I mean, if she hit me up late at night, I’m not too sure I would."

"Oh, she probably won’t," Lianna quickly corrected.

"Huh?"

"Reject her, I mean. Yeah, they’ll probably end up sleeping together," Lianna shrugged. "But, I don’t mind that. They can do whatever they want to in that regard. That’s not what I’m talking about."

Again, Zura just stared at her.

"You... are a very unique person, Lianna."

"I will take that as a compliment. Besides, it’s because I’m a *very unique person* that you and I still have unfinished business to attend to," Lianna grinned. "I did tell you I’d make it up to you one day."

Their conversation carried them along the winding paths of the garden until they reached a picturesque gazebo nestled amidst a grove of ancient oak trees. In the center of the gazebo, Mel was waiting for them, her expression brightening as she caught sight of her friends approaching.

"Hey, guys!" Mel called out, waving as they drew near. "I’m glad you could make it."

Lianna returned Mel’s smile with one of her own.

"Hey. Hope we didn’t keep you waiting for too long."

Zura just nodded.

"Not too long at all. Come on, let’s sit down," she gestured for them to take a seat on the weathered wooden benches that encircled the gazebo.

As they settled into their seats, Mel’s gaze turned to Lianna, a curious glint in her eyes.

"So, did you bring the artifact?" she asked eagerly.

Lianna reached into her bag and pulled out the artifact, cradling it gently in her hands. The rock gleamed softly.

"Yeah, I brought it," Lianna replied.

The air was charged with anticipation as Mel eagerly watched Lianna retrieve the artifact from her bag. The artifact, a mysterious and enigmatic object, held the promise of unlocking untold secrets and powers.

As Lianna cradled the artifact in her hands, a faint glow emanated from its surface, casting an ethereal light around them. Mel’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she leaned in closer, her curiosity palpable.

Mel’s gaze fixed on the artifact.

"Alright then, let’s see if we can activate it," she exclaimed, her voice brimming with anticipation.

Lianna took a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead.

If all went well, this moment would mean the end of her mental training sessions with Olin.

She closed her eyes, focusing all her energy on clearing her mind, pushing aside the distractions and doubts that threatened to cloud her thoughts.

This time, as Lianna attempted to activate the artifact, she could feel a subtle shift in its energy, a faint stirring beneath her touch.

It was the first time she’d felt this. Like she’d been standing in a cold wasteland and felt the sunlight’s touch after years of darkness.

A surge of hope blossomed within her, but it was short-lived as the artifact remained inert, refusing to yield to her will.

Mel watched intently, her expression a mixture of anticipation and concern.

"Did you do it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lianna sighed.

She shook her head, disappointment weighing heavily on her shoulders.

"No," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I felt something, but it didn’t fully activate. I’m not quite there yet, but... This did prove to me that my training’s paying off, I think."

Mel frowned, her mind racing with possibilities.

Then, she said:

"Let me try," she suggested, holding out her hand expectantly.

Reluctantly, Lianna handed the artifact over to Mel, her gaze fixed on her friend as she closed her eyes in concentration. For a long moment, silence enveloped them as Mel focused all her energy on activating the artifact.

Seconds turned to minutes.

Lianna and Zura both patiently waited. However, it soon became apparent that Mel’s efforts were in vain. With a sigh of resignation, she opened her eyes, returning the artifact to Lianna with a shake of her head.

"It’s no use," Mel conceded, her disappointment evident. "I can’t do it. And," she quickly added, "Miss Varim’s been having me do a similar training to what you’ve been doing for a while, now. Ever since she came up with that theory about it being controlled by emotions. But, I didn’t feel anything, at all."

Lianna put the artifact back in her Inventory.

"So, it seems like only I can activate this thing," she remarked.

Mel nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful.

"It certainly does seem that way," she agreed. "But, well, at least you’re making progress. That’s something."

---

{Enverna}

The crisp air of the training arena behind Caroline’s house filled Enverna’s lungs as the two women sparred.

Each clash of their weapons echoed through the serene surroundings, punctuating the silence with the sound of steel meeting steel.

As they continued their training, Caroline paused, her sword held at the ready as she glanced at Enverna with a thoughtful expression.

"Can I ask you something, Enverna?" Caroline’s voice was casual, yet there was a hint of curiosity beneath her words.

Enverna nodded, her attention fully focused on her opponent.

"Of course," she replied, parrying Caroline’s next strike with practiced ease.

Caroline hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Have you and Lianna... gotten intimate before?" She asked, her tone tentative. "I’m sorry if that was too forward of me to ask."

Enverna froze. She couldn’t believe Caroline had the gall to ask something like that.

"Yes, we have," she admitted, her voice steady despite the sudden shift in the conversation. "We are getting married, after all. If I held out for too long, it would be odd if I refused all of her advances."

Caroline nodded in understanding, though there was a glint of something unreadable in her eyes.

"I understand," she replied, her tone neutral. Caroline’s expression softened, and she regarded Enverna with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "You should be careful, Enverna," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of warning. "I’ve heard stories about women like Lianna. They have a way of leading people astray."

Enverna furrowed her brow, unsure of what Caroline was implying.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Caroline sighed as if debating whether to share her thoughts.

"I mean women like her are... temptresses," she explained carefully. "They thrive on testing the willpower of others, leading them down paths they never intended to take."

Enverna’s mind raced with questions, but she remained silent, unsure of how to respond to Caroline’s unsettling words.

"I just think you should be cautious, that’s all," Caroline continued, her gaze unwavering. "Perhaps it would be wise for you to distance yourself from Lianna and spend more time with someone like me."

Her initial reaction was to scoff, but she held herself back.

She remembered Lianna’s advice about playing along with Caroline’s delusions.

"Perhaps you’re right," Enverna began, her voice tentative. "Maybe we could go out later? It could be fun."

Caroline liked that response, if the way the corners of her lips ticked up was any indication.