Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 146: Children of Mana, Part Twenty-Nine

{Caroline}

The inn was bathed in the soft glow of flickering candlelight, casting dancing shadows across the worn wooden floors and weathered walls.

Caroline stepped inside, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting that lined the entryway. The air was heavy with the scent of ale and wood smoke, mingling with the faint aroma of herbs and spices from the kitchen.

Caroline’s eyes swept over the dimly lit interior, taking in the familiar sights of the cozy establishment she had visited many times before.

As she made her way further into the inn, Caroline’s gaze settled upon the table where Enverna and Lianna sat, their heads bent together in quiet conversation.

A child of mana, her features bearing a striking resemblance to Klara but with subtle differences, sat with them. She looked faintly familiar, maybe she’d already met her, Caroline hadn’t made any mental note of her name.

Inhaling sharply, Caroline steeled herself for the task ahead.

She knew she had to tell them what she had learned, regardless of whatever awkward tension lingered between them. With determined steps, she approached the table, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Excuse me," Caroline began, her voice soft yet firm as she interrupted their conversation. "I need to speak with you both."

Enverna’s gaze flicked up at the sound of Caroline’s voice, her expression unreadable. The memory of their last encounter weighed heavily on Caroline’s mind, a pang of guilt tugging at her heart, strangely enough.

Caroline hesitated, uncertain of how to proceed.

She glanced at the child of mana. The woman’s gaze met hers, her violet eyes holding very little reverence for Caroline. Not the type of look she was used to.

"I’m sorry, but can we have a moment alone?" Caroline asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

To her surprise, Enverna shook her head, her expression firm.

"No, whatever you have to say, she should probably hear it too," Enverna replied, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Caroline sighed, her shoulders slumping with resignation.

[Fine.]

"Alright," Caroline said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Listen. I have a bit of information to share."

Taking a deep breath, Caroline began to recount her meeting with the matriarch of House Astorfell, her words tumbling out in a rush as she struggled to convey the gravity of the situation.

She spoke of the rumors she had heard about the church’s desire to "bring back Saren," her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

Naturally, she left out the part about her ex-lover and how seeing her made Caroline cut the meeting with the Astorfell’s short.

Enverna and Lianna listened intently, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief as Caroline’s words washed over them like a wave.

The child of mana, too, listened with rapt attention, her expression unreadable yet strangely serene.

As Caroline finished, having spoken quietly just to make sure no one else in the inn heard her, a heavy silence descended upon the table, broken only by the soft crackle of the nearby fireplace.

The gravity of the situation hung in the air like a weight, pressing down upon them with an almost tangible force.

Finally, Enverna spoke, her voice low yet steady.

"It’s sounding more and more like the church has sided with Jack. If so, we can’t afford to ignore this threat any longer," she said, her gaze meeting Caroline’s with a steely resolve.

"Indeed it does sound like that," Caroline sighed.

Lianna furrowed her brow, concern etched on her features.

"So, what should we do, then? We can’t just sit around and wait for Jack and his buddies to make their move."

Caroline sighed, her gaze distant as she contemplated the question.

"Honestly, the church’s influence in Garriden is so deeply ingrained that if they truly have aligned themselves with him, if they wanted to target us openly, no one would bat an eye," she admitted, frustration lacing her words. "If we want any chance of help, we’ll have to seek it from outside sources."

Lianna nodded and a proud smirk fell upon her features that slightly irritated Caroline just to look at.

"I’m already trying to do that," Lianna replied, determination shining in her eyes. "I’ve reached out to some friends in Telvan. Hopefully, they’ll be able to assist us."

Reluctantly, Caroline replied:

"Good. We’ll need all the help we can get."

Lianna then interjected with:

"Caroline’s right. We shouldn’t stay in one place for too long. It’s only a matter of time before the church catches wind of our plans."

Caroline nodded along, though she was surprised Lianna was even willing to agree with her.

"Yes... it’s a miracle we haven’t been attacked already."

Just then, the child of mana, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, looking at Enverna and Lianna.

"You know, you could spend the night at my inn," she offered, her tone gentle yet firm. "It’s relatively discreet, and we can at least fight together if something happens."

"That... sounds good," Caroline stated, inhaling slowly. "I advise you do that. I will attempt to lay low as well."

"What do you think?" Lianna asked Enverna.

"I agree," Enverna nodded. "Sounds optimal."

"Alright. Well," Lianna turned toward Caroline, "try not to-"

Lianna stopped.

The way her eyes moved up, it was as if she caught sight of something, but Caroline couldn’t see anything.

[Did a fly pop up anywhere?]

Then, with the sweetest smile possible, Lianna said:

"Actually, Caroline, how about you come with us?"

The child of mana, Caroline, and Enverna exchanged incredulous glances at Lianna’s suggestion, their expressions mirroring their shock.

Caroline’s brows furrowed in offense, her pride stung.

The child of mana’s expression mirrored Caroline’s disbelief.

"Lianna, are you serious?"

Enverna remained silent, her gaze fixed on Lianna as if waiting for an explanation.

But Lianna’s smile remained unwavering, her gaze steady as she met Caroline’s incredulous stare.

"Mel, think about it," she urged gently, her voice surprisingly persuasive. "Caroline’s a high-profile target, probably even more so than any of us. She’s probably the first person the church will go after." She turned her gaze to Caroline. "It’s not safe for you to stay at your mansion, especially now."

Caroline opened her mouth to protest, to argue that her family’s estate was fortified and guarded, but Lianna pressed on before she could interject.

"If we’re going to stand any chance against the church, we need to be united," Lianna continued, her tone earnest. "And that means ensuring everyone’s safety, including yours and your family’s."

Mel’s gaze softened. Her eyes lingered on Lianna for a moment before she then turned toward Caroline.

"... I guess you’re right," Mel replied softly. "It makes sense."

Enverna, surprisingly, nodded in agreement as well, her expression contemplative.

Caroline’s pride bristled at the suggestion. The thought of taking refuge at a child of mana’s home was... it almost hurt to even consider.

But, she couldn’t deny that what Lianna said made sense.

With a reluctant sigh, Caroline relented, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Fine," she conceded begrudgingly. "I’ll... I’ll do it."

Lianna’s smile widened in relief, her eyes shining with gratitude.

"Thank you, Caroline," she said sincerely, her voice tinged with genuine appreciation. "I promise you won’t regret this."

---

Caroline’s steps quickened as she made her way through the darkened streets, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming conversation with her family.

[Where can they stay? Ah... I guess they could head to Mr. Carver’s cabin. If he’ll let them.]

She rehearsed the words she would say in her head, mentally preparing herself for their reaction.

But as she turned a corner, her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her.

Caroline’s senses went on high alert, a sense of foreboding creeping over her as she glanced over her shoulder.

Her heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of two figures cloaked in black hoods, their forms shrouded in shadow.

[... What?]

Panic surged through her veins, instinctively recognizing the danger they posed.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Caroline veered to the side, narrowly dodging a flash of silver as a knife whistled through the air where her neck had just been.

Adrenaline coursing through her veins, Caroline reacted with lightning speed.

With a swift motion, she drew her sword from her Inventory, the elegant blade gleaming in the dim light of the street.

The two assailants, caught off guard by Caroline’s sudden counterattack, faltered for a fraction of a second.

It was all the time she needed.

Silently, mechanically, Caroline lunged forward, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Metal clashed against metal as she engaged in a fierce battle with her would-be attackers, her movements fueled by a combination of fear and determination.

The clash of steel echoed through the deserted streets, the sound of their struggle reverberating against the surrounding buildings.

Caroline’s heart pounded in her chest, but having turned this into a standard duel, even if it was against two opponents, the odds were entirely in her favor.

In a flurry of motion, Caroline’s blade found its mark, striking true as it cut through the air with lethal accuracy.

With a guttural cry, one of the assailants fell, crumpling to the ground in a heap. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The other attacker, realizing the futility of their efforts, turned to flee, but Caroline was relentless in her pursuit. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, her sword flashing in the darkness as it delivered the final blow.

Breathing heavily, Caroline stood over the fallen figures, her chest heaving with exertion. The adrenaline began to ebb away, leaving behind a sense of bone-deep weariness.

As she surveyed the scene before her, Lianna’s words echoed in her mind.

[... I guess she was right.]