Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 132: Children of Mana, Part Sixteen

The sun hung low on the horizon as Lianna made her way to Olin’s training grounds, the soft hues of twilight casting a warm glow over the surrounding landscape.

At the moment, Zura was with Vayn, somewhere else in the city, and Enverna was training with Caroline, continuing to improve her skills.

With nothing to do, really, Lianna went to meditate.

With each step she took, the familiar sense of anticipation settled over her, a quiet excitement tinged with a hint of trepidation.

[I’ve been making good progress. I hope I can keep it up.]

As she approached the clearing where Olin awaited her, a sense of calm washed over her, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets serving as a soothing backdrop to her thoughts.

"Good evening, Lianna," Olin greeted her warmly as she entered the church, his voice filled with genuine warmth.

"Good evening, Olin," Lianna replied, returning his greeting with a smile. "Hope you’re doing well."

Olin nodded, his expression serene as he regarded her with a knowing look.

"I am, thank you," he replied. "And yourself?"

Lianna’s smile widened, a sense of contentment settling over her as she nodded in affirmation.

"Pretty good," she replied, her voice tinged with quiet confidence. "I, uh, I’m just eager to get started."

As they exchanged pleasantries, Lianna walked in, and the smell of dust in the air felt kind of familiar by now.

"Have you been able to keep your mind clear lately?" he asked, his tone gentle yet probing.

Lianna nodded, a sense of pride swelling within her chest.

"Yeah, I think so," she replied, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "I’ve been feeling pretty focused. Honestly, I almost forgot what not being horny was like!"

Lianna cackled.

Olin’s face remained a frozen smile. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Ha...ha..." Lianna’s laugh trailed off.

[... Too much information?]

"... I’m glad to hear that," he replied slowly, his voice steady. "Meditation is a powerful tool, one that can help us find clarity and peace in even the most chaotic of times."

"Right. Well, I guess I should go ahead and get started."

With that, Lianna settled into her usual spot, her movements graceful and deliberate as she prepared herself for her meditation. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, allowing herself to sink into the quiet stillness that surrounded her.

For a few moments, the only sound was the steady rhythm of her breath, the gentle rise and fall of her chest serving as a constant reminder of the present moment. As she focused her mind, the worries and distractions of the day fell away, leaving behind a sense of calm and tranquility.

Outside the confines of her meditation, Olin walked out of the chapel, likely preferring to leave Lianna in peace.

She was thankful for that, as there was something she wanted to do today.

Opening her eyes, Lianna reached into her Inventory and brought out the artifact.

[I’ve been making good progress, right? I should give it a shot.]

Lianna sat there, the artifact cradled in her hands as she prepared herself to attempt its activation once more.

Now, with her emotions in check and her determination burning bright, she was ready to try again.

Closing her eyes, Lianna took a deep breath, allowing herself to sink into the stillness of the moment.

The sounds of the crickets in the distance fell away, replaced by the steady rhythm of her breath as she reached out to the artifact with her mind.

[Come on...] She took steady breaths, trying to wield her intent as a weapon. [Turn on.]

To her surprise, she felt a faint stirring beneath her touch, a subtle shift in the artifact’s energy that sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through her veins.

It was responding to her, she realized, a surge of excitement flooding her senses. This was the same thing she’d felt with Mel a while ago.

Steadily, Lianna attempted to continue willing the artifact to activate.

And then, just as she had hoped, it happened.

The artifact glowed softly in her hands. But this time, it was different. Instead of filling her with a sense of power and clarity, it dragged her into a vision, pulling her into its depths with a force that left her breathless.

As the world around her faded away, Lianna found herself standing in the midst of a vast and desolate void, a sense of unease settling over her as she gazed into the darkness that surrounded her.

[Shit,] she thought, inhaling sharply as she looked around. [I’m here again.]

A giant bloodshot eye hovered before her, its gaze piercing and malevolent as it fixed her with its baleful stare.

Lianna’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared back, her defiance rising to the surface despite the overwhelming sense of dread that threatened to consume her.

"What do you want?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at her insides.

The eye regarded her with a sense of amusement, its malevolent aura pulsating with unseen power.

"Heh, quite the cold way to greet your maker."

Lianna’s glare intensified, her fists clenched at her sides.

"As if I’m just going to believe that," she retorted, her voice laced with skepticism.

The eye chuckled softly, its laughter echoing in the darkness around them.

"It matters not whether you believe me now," it replied cryptically. "For soon enough, you will see the truth with your own eyes."

Lianna narrowed her gaze, her mind racing with questions. What did this creature want from her? And why had it chosen to reveal itself again now, of all times?

Before she could voice her thoughts, the eye spoke again, its tone somber.

"Have you ever wondered where Fiends get their power from?" it asked, its voice low and ominous.

Lianna hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

"Mana storms," Lianna replied.

"That is a very... reductive way of seeing things," the eye responded. "No, they, and by extension you, get their power from the heavens," the eye continued, its words sending a chill down Lianna’s spine. "The heavens that blessed this world with mana and made you."

Lianna’s eyes widened in shock, the implications of the eye’s words sinking in. If what it said was true, then...

"Are you suggesting that you are some sort of divine being?" she demanded, her voice tinged with disbelief.

The eye regarded her with an air of superiority, its gaze unwavering.

"Divinity is my very nature," it replied cryptically, its words shrouded in mystery.

Lianna shook her head, struggling to make sense of the creature’s enigmatic words.

"I don’t understand," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

The eye regarded her with a sense of amusement as if it were toying with her.

"Your ’Constellation’ should be more honest with you," it remarked, its tone dripping with disdain. "A war has been raging under the surface this entire time, and yet you remain blissfully unaware."

Lianna’s mind raced with questions, but before she could speak, the eye continued, its voice growing colder.

"Enjoy your time playing with that toy while you can," it stated ominously. "For soon, everything that rightfully belongs to me will be returned. Worry not," the eye drew closer, its massive form nearly smothering Lianna, "as one of my children, I may be swayed to give you a place in the new world. Your friends, though... No, I don’t think they’re worthy."

And with those cryptic words, Lianna’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself back in the chapel, the artifact still cradled in her hands.

She took deep breaths.

The eye’s image was once again burned into her mind.

[The heavens...] Lianna thought, reaching up and placing a hand over her rapidly beating heart. [What is that supposed to mean?]

Setting that aside at the moment, Lianna glanced down as a faint glow caught her eye.

The artifact.

It was still activated.

Inhaling slowly, Lianna tried to keep her feelings under control, desperately trying to avoid turning it off.

As she laid eyes on it, {Target Analysis} finally told her what it was.

Shard of Saren’s Heart

{Unique}

{Item}

{Desc: One piece of the heart of God. When mastered, allows for control of Fiends.}

{Note: The more powerful the Fiend is, the harder it is to control them.}

Lianna’s eyes roamed the text over and over again, a few times.

Her eyes settled on the item’s name.

[... What the hell is that supposed to mean?] She thought, her hands trembling slightly. [Is this thing serious? I mean, that’s not literally true, is it?]

If it was, indeed, literally true and not just the System being poetic, then... unfortunately, it did raise a great many questions.

[Lover?] Lianna reached out to her Constellation through her thoughts. [You, uh, have anything to say about this?]

Nothing. No response at all.

[... I guess it doesn’t matter whether that’s true, right? All that matters is that I can use it now. So,] Lianna exhaled, [let’s go try something out.]