Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 156: Children of Mana, Part Thirty-Nine

{Lianna}

{December 28}

A day remained before the time arrived for Lianna and her friends to go confront Jack at the village he’d designated.

The atmosphere in Miss Taylor’s living room was tense, the air thick with anticipation and the weight of looming confrontation.

Lianna sat upright, her expression serious yet determined, flanked by her companions who mirrored varying degrees of resolve.

Miss Taylor, the epitome of composed authority, stood at the forefront, her gaze sweeping across the assembled group before she began to speak.

"Our situation is clear, and time is short," she started, her voice carrying a commanding tone that brooked no argument. "Let’s go over the facts, shall we?"

She began to pace around her home.

"The church is fragmented. Many have, unfortunately, fallen victim to Jack’s lies, but a significant portion of the church is openly opposing him. Some of these people have decided to join us, and we will be able to count on their help tomorrow."

She kept going, gloved hands clasped together as she looked back at everyone.

"Lianna’s newfound mastery over the artifact is a pivotal advantage, but Lianna lacks the proficiency to control more than a few Fiends at a time. Still, it’s great that she can do that."

Lianna gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Athene’s presence among us," she nodded towards the armored figure, "has added some weight to our cause. Now, our position when it comes to the law practically mirrors Jack’s won, provided that she’s in the area."

Athene, clad in her formidable armor, remained silent but nodded in agreement. Her eyes gleamed with steely determination, a silent vow to uphold justice against all odds.

Miss Taylor continued, her words laced with urgency.

"We should assume Jack has his own friends, as well. I imagine some powerful individuals might show up to face us in that village. Caroline and I both have people monitoring the area, so we should know all about the people who walk in and out. Still, Jack may have some surprises in store."

The room fell into a brief silence, each member lost in their thoughts.

"Now," Miss Taylor clapped her hands, "information has been collected, allegiances have been made, equipment has been purchased, and blades have been sharpened. All that’s left is to figure out what we should do with all of this."

Athene was quick to raise her hand like this was a class in school.

Miss Taylor nodded at her.

"Yes?"

"It’s bad to assume all our enemies will be from Garriden," she stated. "The church’s reach covers pretty much the entirety of the world."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, we can probably expect a small army to be waiting for us, one composed of both humans and Fiends, alongside a man who’s absorbed the power of multiple high-level individuals," Athene said. "We need more help."

"Is that right?" Miss Taylor murmured. "Very well. I’ll make some calls."

"Do you have that many friends to count on?" Athene raised a brow at her.

"Eh," Miss Taylor shrugged. "I’ve got a few. Still, you are correct. We do need assistance."

"Can’t you get the guild involved?" Zura asked. "Make it a mission. Put a price on Jack’s head."

"No," Miss Taylor replied. "First of all, given that we are dealing with an opponent who can quite literally absorb people, although we certainly require a few more bodies I think we should still keep our numbers relatively small."

"So, you think we *should* be outnumbered?" Desmond asked.

"I think that would be ideal," Miss Taylor nodded. "Besides, we’re all skilled enough to where I think saying we should each take out 5 or 6 individuals each is not a tall order. If anyone can make it work, I’d wager we could."

Lianna agreed, but it was still scary to contemplate going into a fight purposefully undermanned.

"Very well," Athene said, her gaze steely and unwavering, stood tall. "I’ll reach out to those willing to challenge Jack’s authority, while, of course, keeping our numbers reasonable. We’ll have to make sure they too are well equipped."

"I’ll handle it," Lianna nodded. "Though, I... I might need to go fight some Fiends for some, uh, practice before tomorrow."

"I will head out with you," Miss Taylor stated. "Anything else?"

No one spoke up.

Miss Taylor concluded the meeting then with one final set of statements.

"Tomorrow, we act. Today, we prepare. Together, we face whatever comes our way. Good luck, everyone."

---

{Caroline}

The evening had drawn its dusky curtain over the quiet streets of Garriden as Caroline paced restlessly in her home.

Her mind, usually honed for battle or strategizing, now wrestled with worries of a different kind. Her family’s safety, a constant concern since the attack on Enverna’s home, gnawed at her thoughts.

Each step across the familiar wooden floor echoed her unease. The soft glow of the lamp by her side cast shifting shadows across the walls, mirroring the turmoil within her. She halted by the window, staring out at the starlit sky, seeking solace in its silent expanse.

Then, something else came to her mind.

She sighed, wrestling with the decision internally.

[Should I really...?]

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to have a proper discussion.

Finally, she arrived at one conclusion.

There was, honestly, a chance she’d die tomorrow. She wanted to get this out of the way.

So, she went out to go speak to Karla one final time. She had one question she wanted to ask. That was all.

The night air was crisp against her skin as Caroline made her way through familiar streets, the distant sounds of Garriden’s nocturnal life weaving a backdrop to her thoughts. Arriving at the Astorfell’s doorstep, she hesitated briefly, fingers curling against the wood before she knocked, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet night.

Moments passed, stretching into anxious heartbeats, until the door creaked open to reveal Karla’s figure, a mix of surprise and wariness in her gaze.

"Caroline?" She sounded so shocked.

"Karla," Caroline began, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability beneath its usual strength, "may we speak?"

Karla’s expression softened marginally, a silent invitation as she stepped back.

Words hung unspoken between them, heavy with the weight of unaddressed grievances and unspoken worries.

Caroline finally broke the silence, her tone earnest yet tinged with regret.

"I know we haven’t seen eye to eye lately, but... I wanted to ask something."

Karla’s gaze softened further, the lines of tension around her eyes easing slightly.

"What is it?"

Caroline took a deep breath.

Then, she asked:

"Did you ever really love me?"

She hated how weak her voice sounded.

To make matters worse, Karla outright laughed.

Just like she had before, Caroline went to turn and walk away.

However, Karla held her by her wrist.

"Wait, wait! I didn’t mean it like that," she stated. "I just... You came all this way to ask me that?"

"I did," Caroline squeezed out through a tight throat.

Karla shook her head, still smiling.

"Well, yes," she finally responded. "For what it’s worth, I did. Genuinely. I absolutely did."

Hearing that, Caroline’s shoulders slumped a little. The air left her lungs briefly and Caroline felt... Well, she wasn’t too sure.

But, she responded:

"I see."

And then walked away.

---

{Zura}

Vayn and Zura navigated the nighttime road, their footsteps drawing ever closer to their objective.

A brothel.

Zura’s brow furrowed in bemusement as she trailed alongside Vayn, her gaze flitting nervously over the seedy surroundings.

"Remind me again why we’re here?" she asked, voice tinged with uncertainty.

Vayn flashed a mischievous grin, her eyes alight with mischief as she steered Zura towards the entrance.

"Becaaaaause, my dear Zura," she replied, her tone teasing, "I have a strict rule about... indulging in earthly pleasures before embarking on important missions."

Zura raised a brow at her.

"Really? You’re serious?"

Vayn’s laughter rang out.

"Deadly serious," she confirmed, her grin widening. "Trust me, a little relaxation goes a long way in keeping the mind sharp for what lies ahead."

As they entered the dimly lit interior of the brothel, Zura’s discomfort was palpable, her steps hesitant as she cast furtive glances around the room.

The air was so thick with the scent of perfumes that Zura felt drunk the instant she walked inside.

Several women strutted around the area, their provocative attire and sultry gazes inviting patrons to indulge in their company. Zura’s discomfort only grew as she scanned the scene, the unfamiliar surroundings stirring unease within her, proportionally, however, to a growing curiosity within her.

Vayn, however, seemed unfazed by the atmosphere.

"Come on, Zura," she urged, her voice coaxing, "let’s find someone to help take the edge off."

Zura followed Vayn’s lead, her apprehension tempered by a growing sense of curiosity.

As they approached a group of women, Vayn engaged in whispered negotiations, her charming smile earning her a favorable response.

With a quick exchange of currency, Vayn secured the services of one of the women, a sultry beauty whose eyes sparkled with promise.

"You go on ahead, Zura," Vayn said with a playful wink, gesturing towards the private rooms lining the back of the establishment. "I’ll catch up with you later."

Zura hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her gaze, before nodding and disappearing behind the heavy curtain that concealed the intimate chambers beyond.

---

{Enverna}

The dim glow of the room cast gentle shadows across the walls, the soft light flickering like distant stars in the night sky.

Enverna sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze fixed on the floor as random thoughts flooded her mind.

Mel suddenly appeared at the door, a concerned look on her face.

"Hey..." she said softly, her voice a gentle murmur in the quiet room. "How are you feeling?"

Enverna’s shoulders tensed imperceptibly at the sound of Mel’s voice, the weight of her emotions pressing down upon her like a heavy burden.

"I’m fine," she replied, her tone clipped as she forced a small smile. "Just... antsy for tomorrow."

Before Mel could respond, the door creaked open, revealing Lianna standing on the threshold, an odd glint in her eyes.

In her hands, she held a few bottles of alcohol and on her face was her usual mischievous little smile.

"Hey, girls," Lianna said cheerfully, crossing the room with a lightness in her step. "I thought we could use a little liquid courage to calm our nerves before the big day tomorrow. What do you say?"

Enverna glanced up at Lianna’s offer, a flicker of hesitation crossing her features before she nodded slowly, her resolve wavering in the face of Lianna’s infectious enthusiasm.

"Sure."

As they settled in around the small table on the balcony, the mood in the room lightened.

As the night wore on and the cups emptied, Lianna’s affectionate nature began to shine through, her usual playful antics amplified by the intoxicating haze of the alcohol.

With a mischievous grin, she leaned in to kiss Mel on the lips, the unexpected gesture catching them both off guard.

As Lianna’s lips met Mel’s, a surge of electricity seemed to crackle in the air, igniting a fiery passion between them.

Enverna’s heart began to pound in her chest as she watched the two of them, a rush of heat flooding her veins as desire stirred within her.

The sight of Lianna and Mel locked in a passionate embrace stirred something primal within her, igniting a fierce longing that she struggled to contain.

No, she was done trying to contain it. Life was too short for that.

With a boldness she hadn’t known she possessed, Enverna stepped closer, her heart pounding in her chest as she reached out to join them.

Lianna kissed her next, one hand behind both girls’ backs.

The boundaries between them blurred, lost in the intoxicating haze of desire that engulfed them all.

"Ah," Lianna said, pulling back, her satisfaction evident, "I... I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun. Like, not in one day, I mean in general, you know?"

Enverna nodded.

Despite everything that happened recently, she had to agree.

What she had now was something she wanted to fight as hard as she could to protect.

"I know."