Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 141: Children of Mana, Part Twenty-Five

{Lianna}

{December 15, 239 2E}

The soft glow of lamplight bathed the cozy inn bedroom in a warm, golden hue as Lianna sat perched on the edge of the bed, phone pressed to her ear. Beside her, Enverna reclined against a mound of plush pillows, her expression distant as she stared off into the distance.

"Absolutely, Xi," Lianna said into the phone, her voice tinged with gratitude. "Your help will be invaluable. We’ll be waiting for you in Garriden."

As the conversation with Xi drew to a close, Lianna thanked her once more before hanging up the phone with a satisfied smile.

"Alright, Xi will be coming in a couple of days."

Turning to Enverna, she noticed the faint furrow of her brow, a telltale sign of the thoughts weighing heavily on her mind.

"What’s on your mind?" Lianna inquired gently.

Enverna let out a sigh, her gaze shifting to meet Lianna’s as she struggled to put her thoughts into words.

"It’s just... Caroline," she admitted, her tone heavy with frustration. "The way she thinks of you... It’s infuriating."

Lianna reached out, placing a comforting hand on Enverna’s arm.

"It’s okay, Enverna," she reassured her, offering a sympathetic smile. "It’s nothing new."

But Enverna shook her head, a troubled frown creasing her brow.

"No, Lianna, you don’t understand," she insisted, her voice tinged with self-reproach. "I can’t help but feel awful for ever having thought the same things she does. To think that I could’ve been so blind..."

Lianna’s heart swelled with affection for her friend, touched by the self-awareness on display.

Leaning in closer, she pressed a gentle kiss to Enverna’s cheek.

"I don’t think you were ever like her," Lianna murmured softly, her breath warm against Enverna’s skin.

"Debatable," Enverna muttered.

"No, seriously! You’ve always been kind, and compassionate... You gave this whole thing between us a real shot even when you didn’t really have to. You’re different."

A warmth spread through Enverna’s chest at Lianna’s words, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of gratitude and affection.

Lianna pressed another kiss against Enverna’s cheek.

Then another, but lower. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Slowly, her lips traced a path toward Enverna’s own.

Enverna’s breath caught in her throat as Lianna’s lips brushed against her skin.

Each tender kiss visibly produced desire and anticipation, Lianna’s heart beginning to speed a little more rapidly as Enverna leaned into her touch.

With each lingering kiss, she felt Enverna melting into her embrace, her thoughts consumed by the intoxicating warmth that enveloped her.

As Lianna’s lips continued their tantalizing journey, tracing a path lower and lower still, now Enverna’s pulse quickened with a newfound intensity. The soft press of Lianna’s mouth against her own sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing through her, her senses ablaze with the electric thrill of their shared intimacy.

Lost in the dizzying whirlwind of sensation, Enverna surrendered herself entirely to the moment.

Until the door swung open.

Startled, both Lianna and Enverna turned to see Zura standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with surprise.

Clearing her throat awkwardly, Zura hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Um... Sorry to interrupt," she stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I just... Uh, forgot something."

Lianna and Enverna exchanged a sheepish glance, a shared understanding passing between them as they realized the implications of Zura’s unexpected arrival. Hastily pulling away from each other, they straightened up, trying to compose themselves as best they could under the circumstances.

"No worries, Zura," Lianna replied, her voice slightly strained as she forced a smile. "What did you forget?"

Zura glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on the floor for a moment before she seemed to remember what she had come for.

"Uh... Nothing, actually, don’t mind me," she said.

Lianna nodded, trying to ignore the lingering flush of embarrassment that colored her cheeks.

"Right, wonderful."

Then, Zura pulled the door closed behind her with a soft click.

As the sound of Zura’s footsteps faded down the hallway, an awkward silence settled over the room, punctuated only by the soft rustle of fabric and the gentle hum of the inn’s surroundings.

---

{Enverna}

Vayn invited the girls to a boxing gym to work on their technique.

The atmosphere in the boxing gym crackled with energy as Enverna and Lianna joined Zura and Vayn for one of their intense training sessions.

"Good, stay quick," Vayn told Enverna. "You slip up for even a second, you’re dead."

"Is she always this, uhm, demanding?" Lianna asked from afar.

"Yep," Zura replied.

Enverna focused on her footwork, weaving in and out with precision as she sought to find an opening in Vayn’s defenses.

With each strike from Vayn’s blades, she analyzed her opponent’s movements, seeking out weaknesses to exploit, but was unable to find any.

Later, Lianna’s bow was a blur of motion as she fired off arrows... None of them getting even near the targets set up around the gym.

"Have you done no training at all? Come on, hit them!" Vayn called out.

[Well... You’re not *that* wrong,] Enverna thought.

That said, Lianna’s movements were fluid and graceful. Enverna wasn’t too sure why that was.

As the training session progressed, Zura also offered guidance and feedback, pointing out areas where Enverna and Lianna could improve.

Vayn looked quite proud of her.

Despite their determination, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration at their inability to overcome Vayn’s formidable defense, but the lady said that would happen eventually.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as Caroline entered the gym, her presence immediately drawing the attention of the group.

"Like I said," Vayn told them quietly as she approached, "you guys aren’t difficult to track."

There was a palpable tension in the air, a result from that outburst she had, as she approached, her expression betraying her hesitation.

Enverna glanced up, her brow furrowing in surprise at Caroline’s unexpected appearance.

Caroline cleared her throat, her gaze shifting nervously between the group.

"Enverna," she began, her voice hesitant yet determined. "I need your help. May I speak with you?"

Enverna glared.

[It better be important.]

---

The tension between Caroline and Enverna hung heavy in the air as they walked along the quiet streets, the soft murmur of their footsteps the only sound breaking the silence.

Enverna’s expression remained guarded as Caroline spoke, her gaze fixed ahead with an intensity that belied her internal turmoil. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this conversation would be anything but straightforward.

As they reached a secluded spot, Caroline turned to face Enverna, her eyes searching for any sign of agreement in the younger woman’s steely gaze.

Enverna’s glare didn’t waver, her expression unreadable as she waited for Caroline to start.

Caroline took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She knew she had to choose her words carefully, aware of the delicate balance hanging in the air between them.

"The Divine Council has been asking me to come to the palace," Caroline confessed, her voice betraying a hint of hesitation. "But I’m hesitant to do so, given the connection the church seems to have with our enemies. If it is true that our enemies are the church themselves and this was not just a specifically fanatical group, then... That would simply be akin to me stepping into a trap."

Enverna’s brow furrowed in thought as she processed Caroline’s words, her mind racing with the implications of what she was suggesting. She understood the gravity of the situation all too well, knowing that any misstep could have dire consequences for them all.

"So, what do you want from me?" Enverna asked, her tone guarded as she searched Caroline’s eyes for any hint of deception.

Caroline wasted no time in getting to the point, her words coming out in a rush as she laid bare her fears and uncertainties.

"I need you to come with me," Caroline admitted, her voice tinged with desperation. "I can’t do this alone, Enverna. I need someone I can trust by my side."

Enverna’s gaze softened at Caroline’s plea, a flicker of sympathy crossing her features as she considered the other woman’s request. She knew she couldn’t just ignore Caroline’s call for help, no matter how much she may have wanted to, but, obviously, something else came to mind.

"I alone would be of little help," Enverna conceded, her voice tinged with resignation. "But I can’t go without Lianna."

Caroline hesitated, her expression conflicted as she weighed Enverna’s words. She knew the risks of bringing Lianna into the fold, but she also understood the importance of having someone with her who she could trust implicitly.

For a moment, silence hung heavy between them, the weight of their unspoken fears and uncertainties pressing down upon them like a suffocating blanket.

Just as Enverna was about to turn away, Caroline reached out, her hand catching Enverna’s arm in a firm grip.

"Fine," Caroline relented, her voice barely above a whisper. "Bring Lianna."

With a silent nod of agreement, Enverna turned to leave, her heart heavy.

As they parted ways, Enverna couldn’t shake the feeling that this was about to change their lives in ways they couldn’t possibly imagine.