Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 131: Children of Mana, Part Fifteen

{Enverna}

The soft rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as Enverna stirred awake.

She blinked groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before sitting up in bed, the events of the previous day slowly coming back to her.

[Training’s coming along well,] she noted. [Hopefully, I can keep that up today.]

As she dressed and made her way downstairs, the sounds of movement and chatter greeted her ears. This inn wasn’t particularly lively most of the time, but today it was positively buzzing.

Pushing open the door to the common area, she found Lianna and Zura seated at a table, engaged in conversation. The others in the inn weren’t talking to them, but it didn’t take long before Enverna noticed how their eyes drifted toward them.

Vayn stood nearby, her expression unreadable as she glanced at the flyer lying on the table.

"Morning, Envy," Zura greeted cheerfully, flashing her a bright smile. That nickname of hers had spread a while ago, but today, for some reason, it annoyed Enverna to hear someone other than Lianna call her that.

[Hm. I woke up in an odd mood for some reason.]

"Good morning," Enverna replied, returning the smile as she took a seat opposite them. "What’s going on?" She asked, looking at the flyer.

Lianna looked up from the flyer, her expression thoughtful.

Vayn answered instead, though.

"We’ve been summoned by the Divine Council for a meeting," she explained, gesturing towards the flyer. "We’re not sure what it’s about, but we agreed to go and find out."

Enverna frowned, her brow furrowing in concern.

"The Divine Council? What could they possibly want with us?"

The leaders of Garriden, the Divine Council rarely made their presence felt but ruled with an iron fist under the surface. Enverna’s family themselves hadn’t interacted much with them, so on a personal level, Enverna didn’t know what to make of this.

Lianna shrugged, her expression mirroring Enverna’s uncertainty.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "But we’ll find out soon enough."

Zura nodded in agreement, her expression determined.

"Yeah, can’t exactly just ignore this."

"If I had to guess," Vayn added, "it likely has to do with our slowly growing problem outside the walls."

[Ah, of course.]

Enverna sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I guess you’re right," she conceded. "Well, let’s hope we get this out of the way quickly."

---

The grandeur of Garriden’s palace loomed before Enverna, Lianna, and Zura as they approached, escorted by Vayn, their footsteps echoing against the marble floors of the expansive building.

The air was thick with anticipation as they were led through the ornate corridors, the weight of their impending meeting hanging heavy in the air.

Upon entering the meeting room, they found themselves greeted by the sight of Olin and Caroline already waiting. Olin’s expression was composed, his eyes betraying a hint of concern, while Caroline stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Lianna with undisguised distaste.

As they took their seats, the tension in the room was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation at hand.

The Divine Council, four individuals clad in priest-like garbs, awaited them at the head of the table. Their faces were solemn, their expressions unreadable as they watched the newcomers enter the room.

The woman among them spoke first, her voice carrying a weight of authority that demanded attention.

"Greetings," she began, her tone measured. "I am High Priestess Adelina, and these are my esteemed colleagues." She gestured to the three men seated beside her, each nodding in acknowledgment.

Enverna studied them carefully, noting the stern lines of their faces and the intensity of their gaze.

These were powerful individuals they were dealing with.

"We have convened to discuss a matter of grave concern," she explained, her words carrying a sense of urgency. "The growing number of Fiends outside the city walls poses a threat to the safety of Garriden and its inhabitants."

Enverna exchanged a worried glance with Lianna and Zura, their apprehension mirrored in their expressions.

[Well, they’re right. This isn’t really a problem they can afford to ignore, so I understand why they want some answers.]

Lianna opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, one of the council members interjected, his voice sharp with authority.

"As the Lover’s Follower," he stated, his eyes fixed on Enverna. "We would like to hear your insights on this matter. No one else’s."

Enverna hesitated, feeling the weight of their expectations bearing down on her. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before responding.

"I... I haven’t heard from the Lover directly about this," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "But we are aware of the Fiend problem, and we are actively working towards finding a solution."

The council members exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable as they considered her words. Adelina leaned forward, her gaze piercing as she addressed them once more.

"We understand the importance of your mission," she began, her tone grave. "But we cannot ignore the possibility that your presence in Garriden may be exacerbating the situation."

Her gaze shifted to Lianna. The woman wasn’t carrying the object, but the lady’s gaze may as well have been falling over the artifact she held, as everyone knew that was what she was referring to.

"The artifact you carry could be drawing Fiends closer to the city," Adelina explained, her words careful yet resolute. "Its power, though still unknown to us, may be inadvertently attracting these creatures, leading them to our doorstep. We cannot afford to overlook this," Adellina pressed on, her voice firm with conviction. "If we are to ensure the safety of Garriden and its people, we must at least hear what you have to say on the matter."

Enverna swallowed. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to think of something to say.

She ended up stating:

"With all due respect, the number of Fiends has been growing since before we arrived in Garriden," she explained, her voice firm. "Well before then, in fact. There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that our presence here is responsible for the increase in Fiend activity."

The council members exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions betraying their uncertainty.

Adelina sighed, her voice heavy with concern as she addressed them once more.

"Indeed. It is why we haven’t tried to have you killed, exiled, or arrested."

Enverna tensed up hearing that.

The lady continued.

"We are willing to give you the benefit of the doubt," she conceded, her tone measured. "But we expect you to work diligently to find a solution to this problem. Garriden’s safety depends on it."

Enverna nodded, her determination resolute as she met Adelina’s gaze.

"We understand," she replied, her voice unwavering. "We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of Garriden and its people."

---

As the girls exited the grandeur of Garriden’s palace, the weight of the council’s concerns still lingering in the air, they were met with the cool embrace of the evening breeze.

The tension that had permeated the meeting room started to dissipate with each step they took, replaced by a sense of relief mingled with lingering apprehension.

Caroline’s voice cut through the quiet though, halting their progress as she stepped forward to address Enverna directly.

There was an air of determination about her, a subtle intensity in her gaze as she spoke.

"Enverna," she began, her tone measured yet tinged with a hint of eagerness, "if you wish to continue your training, you’re welcome to stop by my home anytime. Just make sure it’s fine with your... fiancée."

Enverna’s brows shot up.

The way Caroline’s eyes went past her made it clear there were some alternate intentions behind this little quip.

Before Enverna could respond, Lianna stepped forward, her voice cool and composed.

"Oh, I don’t mind at all," Lianna remarked, her tone laced with a hint of amusement. "In fact, I encourage it. Enverna could use all the training she can get."

There was a brief moment of silence as Caroline’s gaze flickered between Enverna and Lianna, her expression inscrutable. For a moment, it seemed as though the tension between them threatened to boil over, a silent battle of wills playing out in the space between them.

Finally, Caroline relented, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features as she turned away, her posture stiff with frustration.

"I am happy to hear that," she replied curtly before striding off into the night, her footsteps echoing against the cobblestones.

As Caroline disappeared into the distance, Enverna couldn’t let out a sigh.

Lianna, however, seemed unfazed by the encounter, her lips quirking into a sly smile as she turned to Enverna.

"Spicy," she remarked casually, her tone filled with subtle amusement. "She could stand to be a little nicer, though. Still, the meaner, the better in bed, usually."

"Is that really something you should be saying with your future wife right next to you?" Vayn asked, one brow arched high.

"It’s literally for her sake that I’m saying it," Lianna grinned.

Vayn blinked.

"... I’m gonna go scout ahead for trouble."

On that note, she left them there.