Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 157: Children of Mana, Part Forty

{December 29}

As Lianna woke up in the morning light filtering through the inn’s window, she found herself in a tangle of limbs with Mel and Enverna.

[Wow...]

A headache quickly introduced itself, but in spite of it, Lianna gave a stupid little grin.

[What a night.]

The intimate moments from the previous day lingered in the air, a mix of contentment and anticipation for the day ahead. The smell of sex was still heavy.

In all honesty, Lianna had gotten quite drunk, so she wasn’t too sure what had happened. If things had turned into a threesome, as the girls’ current position would suggest, or if she went through both Mel and Enverna in turns, but whatever happened it was probably lovely.

Gently, Lianna extricated herself from the embrace, taking a moment to admire the peaceful expressions on her companions’ faces before getting up to start the day.

After dressing and taking a quick shower, Lianna made her way downstairs to the common area for breakfast.

As big a day as this was, Lianna still felt somewhat calm.

[Panic’s probably gonna set in later, but... For now, let’s just enjoy the calm before the storm, shall we?]

It was like the world itself agreed. The inn was quiet at this early hour, with only Caroline and the innkeeper present.

Lianna hesitated for a moment, her usual indifference towards Caroline tugging at her thoughts, but before she could turn away, Caroline noticed her.

And, she called out to her.

"Good morning, Lianna," she said quietly. "Care to join me?"

[What?]

Lianna blinked.

[Is she serious?]

As Caroline raised a brow at her, it became clear she in fact was being serious.

More surprising was the fact that Lianna did join her.

Lianna approached cautiously, taking a seat beside Caroline.

Silence settled between them.

"Lianna, I... I wanted to say sorry," Caroline began, her tone sincere as she met Lianna’s gaze.

"For what?" Lianna asked.

"For... being annoying," Caroline shrugged. Sighing, she added, "today, our lives will be in each other’s hands. We should at least be amicable for once."

Lianna blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.

Caroline’s admission was unexpected, to say the least. She had grown accustomed to Caroline’s usual prejudice, so this sudden change of heart left her surprised.

[Did something happen?]

Whatever it was, Lianna felt like someone out there needed to be thanked. For now, that would be Caroline herself.

"Uh, thanks," Lianna replied, a hint of surprise coloring her tone. "I appreciate that, Caroline."

"Hey," Caroline said to the innkeeper. "Whatever she wants for breakfast, it’s on me."

---

The soft sounds of birds and distant city life created a rather serene backdrop for the serious conversation Lianna and Miss Taylor were having.

Miss Taylor, her usual composed self, approached Lianna as their preparation neared its end, her expression conveying the weight of their impending mission.

Lianna let her know what she wanted to hear before she even asked.

"I’ve made sure everyone has what they need," Lianna affirmed, her voice steady despite the nervous energy bubbling within her. "We’re good to go."

Miss Taylor nodded, her gaze scanning the surroundings briefly before focusing on Lianna.

"Good, good. Now, we must discuss our departure."

Lianna listened intently as Miss Taylor outlined their plan. The others, each of the other Constellation’s Followers, and Lianna’s friends stood by as well.

"Mr. Caldwell will likely have spies informing him of our exit the instant it happens. We should travel separately," she stated. "Slip below his radar and move inconspicuously."

"Agreed," Vayn said, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the street for anyone listening who wasn’t invited.

"I will take you and Enverna to the village on the back of a sear," Miss Taylor continued, referring to the majestic winged creatures known for their speed and stealth. "We can fly directly there before Jack has a chance to do anything to us once he notices. If we’re particularly lucky, traveling this way will also take some of the attention off everyone else."

Lianna nodded in agreement, the image of soaring through the sky on the back of a sear igniting a bit of excitement within her.

But their mode of transport was just one piece of the puzzle.

"Caroline has offered to take Mel, Xi, and Desmond in a truck," Miss Taylor added, her tone thoughtful. "She believes local law enforcement will be less likely to stop her, given her reputation."

The mention of Caroline volunteering surprised Lianna, and it took a moment for her to process the implications.

Caroline, known for her disdain towards children of mana, stepping up to ensure Mel’s safety was a gesture that just didn’t make sense.

"Caroline?" Lianna echoed, her eyebrows furrowing slightly in disbelief. "You’re- you’re actually doing this?"

Caroline nodded.

"I am," she stated firmly. "I don’t expect anything unfortunate to happen, so, don’t worry. Your friend will be safe with me."

Lianna nodded.

[Holy crap.]

"And what about Vayn, Zura, and Athene?" Lianna inquired next, curious about their part in the plan.

"We have a hidden path that will lead us out of the city," Vayn began, her voice steady and assured. She glanced at Zura and Athene briefly, silently acknowledging their roles in the upcoming journey. "It’s not as direct as the main roads, but it will keep us off the radar. We’ll navigate through the outskirts and rejoin everyone at the village."

Zura nodded in agreement, her gaze flickering between the others as she mentally reviewed their route.

Athene, ever the warrior, added with a firm nod herself.

"We’ll move swiftly but cautiously. It should be fine."

"Thank you, Vayn," Lianna acknowledged with genuine gratitude. "Your plan sounds solid. We’ll be counting on you to link up with us."

Vayn offered a small but confident smile.

"Won’t let you down, kid."

As the details settled in her mind, Lianna felt a surge of determination mingled with apprehension.

The plan was set, and they were as prepared as they could be.

The group began to assemble, each member taking their designated place for departure. Lianna watched as Caroline led her group toward the waiting truck, her expression unreadable but focused.

Vayn, Zura, and Athene disappeared from view almost immediately, mixing into the wandering crowds of the busy streets.

Turning back to Miss Taylor, Lianna took a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead.

"Let’s go."

With a nod of agreement, Miss Taylor gestured towards the waiting sear, its magnificent wings outstretched in anticipation.

Lianna mounted the creature with Enverna beside her, a sense of camaraderie and purpose settling between them.

Then, the sear took flight gracefully, ascending into the awakening sky as Lianna looked back one last time at Garriden.

[Let’s see how this goes, I guess.]

---

As the three of them soared through the sky on the back of that sear, Lianna couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe mixed with trepidation.

The world looked entirely different from this vantage point, the patchwork of forests, rivers, and villages sprawling beneath them like a living map.

Miss Taylor maintained a focused demeanor, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble.

Lianna admired the way she handled the reins with practiced ease, a testament to her experience navigating these skies.

[Man, I hope I can get one of these myself. I’ll have to put in a lot of work as an adventurer for that to happen.]

Enverna, sitting beside Lianna, shared her wonder, her eyes wide as she took in the vastness of the landscape.

"It’s amazing," she breathed, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Lianna nodded in agreement, her grip tightening slightly on the saddle as they glided through the air.

The peacefulness, however, was short-lived.

A sudden disturbance in the air caught their attention, and Lianna twisted around to look behind them. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted dark shapes rapidly closing in on them.

"Fiends!" Miss Taylor’s voice cut through the wind, her expression hardening with resolve.

Flying Fiends, actually. Twisted creatures that looked like pure flesh moving through the air streaked toward them with malevolent intent.

Their oddly shaped, bent wings beat fiercely, propelling them forward with unnatural speed.

"Brace yourselves!" Miss Taylor shouted, her sear veering sharply to avoid the incoming attack.

Lianna’s heart raced as adrenaline surged through her veins.

The clash was swift and chaotic. Miss Taylor skillfully maneuvered their sears, dodging the Fiends’ swooping attacks and trying to move out of the way.

Despite their efforts, more Fiends appeared on the horizon, drawn by the commotion. The battle escalated into a frenzied dance of claws, wings, and spells against the backdrop of the vast sky.

Miss Taylor’s voice cut through the chaos.

"We need to lose them in the clouds! Hang on!"

She pushed her sear harder, racing toward the cover that could shield them from the relentless pursuit.

Looking back, Lianna’s heart sped up rapidly as she watched those Fiends do their best to catch up.

[Okay... So, it begins.]