Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 158: Children of Mana, Part Forty-One

The pursuit was relentless as the Fiends closed in on the group, their fleshy, gross forms casting ominous shadows against the bright sky.

Lianna’s heart raced with a mix of fear and determination as she focused on the task at hand.

[How the hell do we stop these things?] She thought, combing over different options. The thought of taking her bow out and launching out arrows from atop this sear was almost enough to make Lianna laugh out loud.

Instead, she went for:

"I’ll try to control them," Lianna shouted over the rushing wind, her voice carrying a note of urgency.

"Be careful, Lianna," Enverna said.

Miss Taylor expertly maneuvered the sear, angling it closer to the encroaching threat while maintaining a safe distance.

The wind whipped around them, carrying with it the distinct sound of beating wings and enraged screeches.

Lianna extended her senses, reaching out with her artifact to establish a mental connection with the Fiends.

Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to bend their will to her command, a bead of sweat forming on her temple.

But as she delved deeper, she realized the distance was still too great.

Her control over the Fiends wavered, their minds slipping beyond her reach. Frustration gnawed at her, but she remained focused, determined to find a solution.

"We need to get closer," Lianna called out to Miss Taylor, her voice cutting through the chaos of their aerial battle.

Miss Taylor nodded, her eyes narrowing with determination. She guided the sear closer, pushing its limits in an effort to bridge the gap between Lianna and the Fiends.

As they closed in, the Fiends launched a coordinated attack, their claws and talons aimed at the vulnerable sear. Enverna tensed, her muscles coiled as she braced for impact.

A Fiend’s claws grazed the side of the sear, eliciting a sharp gasp from Enverna as the force threatened to knock her off balance. Lianna’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening with concern as she fought to maintain her focus amid the chaos.

"We’re too close!" Enverna shouted, her voice tinged with urgency.

Lianna gritted her teeth, her mind racing for a solution. The risk was high, but they needed to push through if they were to survive this harrowing encounter.

"Keep going, Miss Taylor!" Lianna urged, her determination unwavering.

With a deft hand, Miss Taylor navigated the sear through the perilous skies, dodging attacks and weaving between the oncoming Fiends. The sear jolted as another attack landed, but Miss Taylor’s steady hand kept them airborne.

With each passing moment, they drew nearer to the Fiends, their dark forms growing clearer in the sky. Lianna’s focus intensified, her connection with her artifact pulsing with renewed energy.

As the gap finally closed, Lianna seized the opportunity. With a surge of concentration, she extended her influence once more, reaching out to one of the closest Fiends with unwavering determination.

A moment of tense silence followed as Lianna’s control took hold. The Fiend hesitated in its flight, its movements faltering as Lianna’s mental command asserted itself. With a focused directive, she commanded:

[TAKE THE OTHERS OUT!]

The skies erupted into chaos as the controlled Fiend clashed with its former allies, a whirlwind of feathers and fury engulfing their pursuers.

Lianna’s heart pounded with a mix of relief and triumph, her efforts paying off in the heat of battle.

"We did it," Miss Taylor remarked. "Well done, Li-"

As Miss Taylor began her congratulatory words, a sudden impact rocked their sear from below, catching them all off guard.

Lianna’s grip on Enverna’s waist tightened reflexively, her eyes widening in shock as she felt herself losing balance. The jolt was fierce enough to knock her off.

"No!" Lianna’s cry mixed with the rush of wind as she toppled backward off the sear, her heart lurching into her throat.

She was falling.

For a terrifying moment, the world seemed to blur around her as she plummeted through the skies, the ground below rushing up to meet her. Panic threatened to overwhelm her senses as she braced for the inevitable impact.

But just as despair threatened to take hold, a familiar shape streaked beneath her.

Miss Taylor, atop her sear, with quick reflexes born of experience, swooped down and caught Lianna mid-fall, Lianna falling on the animal’s back.

Lianna’s breath caught in her throat, a surge of gratitude flooding her veins as she clung tightly to it.

[HOLY SHIT!]

Enverna’s worried voice reached her ears, and Lianna turned her head to see Enverna’s expression a mix of relief and concern.

"Lianna!" Enverna’s voice was nearly drowned out by the rushing wind, but her eyes conveyed a depth of emotion that words couldn’t capture.

Lianna managed a shaky smile, her heart still racing from the near disaster. The adrenaline-fueled moment seemed to stretch on as Miss Taylor expertly maneuvered the sear back to a stable altitude, the chaos of battle still raging around them.

Enverna shifted closer, her arms encircling Lianna protectively as the sear steadied. In that moment of shared danger and relief, Enverna’s lips found Lianna’s in a desperate, heartfelt kiss.

The kiss was brief yet filled with unspoken words, a testament to the bond they shared and the dangers they faced together. As they pulled apart, Lianna’s eyes met Enverna’s, a silent understanding passing between them amid the chaos of battle.

"We have to keep moving," Miss Taylor’s voice cut through the momentary calm, her eyes scanning the skies for any sign of further threats.

Lianna nodded, her focus sharpening once more as she saw that, throughout all of that, she’d maintained a tight grip on her artifact, determination burning in her gaze.

The encounter had been a stark reminder of the perils they faced, but it also fueled their resolve to confront Jack and his forces head-on.

---

{Caroline}

Caroline sat in the passenger seat of the truck, her eyes scanning the passing scenery with a mix of apprehension and vigilance.

For all her earlier talk about how she’d make sure that the others were safe, she couldn’t deny that out of the three parties, they probably had the highest chance of being attacked.

[As long as we take the focus off everyone else, though, maybe that’s a good thing.]

The journey to the distant village had been tense thus far, each mile bringing them closer to the looming confrontation with Jack and his allies.

With Mel, Desmond, and Xi alongside her in the back, they navigated the winding roads with cautious determination.

Glancing into the side mirror, Caroline’s senses tingled with alertness as she noticed distant vehicles growing closer, rapidly overtaking them. The others noticed before she did.

"We’ve got company," Desmond called out, his voice cutting through the loud hum of the engine.

The driver, already on edge from the tense atmosphere, tensed further at his words, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

Caroline leaned out to peer back at them.

[Agh... Suppose this was to be expected."

"What’s the play, Caroline?" Desmond asked, his tone edged with urgency.

Caroline’s mind raced as she assessed the situation.

"We can’t outrun them," she stated firmly, her gaze flicking back to the approaching vehicles. "We’re just gonna have to fight them."

Someone here agreed with that notion.

At the back of the truck, Mel had been quietly preparing, her eyes closed. Caroline’s gaze strayed toward her and she could see mana gathering around the girl’s body.

As the hostile vehicles closed in, their intent unmistakable, Mel rose to her feet with a determined expression.

The first car surged forward, aiming to ram into their truck and halt their progress.

The driver cursed and swerved, but the impact was imminent.

Without hesitation, Mel unleashed her magic. A torrent of electric energy that erupted from her hands with dazzling brilliance.

The arcane lightning streaked through the air, striking the oncoming vehicles with devastating force.

"..."

Caroline’s breath caught in her throat as explosions blossomed along the road, metal and debris scattering in the aftermath. The adversaries’ cars were soon engulfed in flames, their engines sputtering and halting in the chaos.

"Whoa," Xi exclaimed, her eyes wide as she too witnessed Mel’s sudden display of power.

Desmond let out a low whistle, his admiration evident.

"Well done," he praised, a grin tugging at his lips despite the tension.

Mel, her features flushed with exertion, nodded with a hint of satisfaction.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice steady despite the adrenaline clearly coursing through her veins.

As the danger subsided and their truck continued forward, Caroline couldn’t help but feel a surge of respect for her.

She never would have expected to have been aided by a child of mana like this, but at the same time, it had happened more than once recently.

Caroline sighed.

"Good job," Caroline finally stated. Mel’s purple eyes landed on her from the back. "Keep it up, please."

"I will do my best," Mel chuckled softly, her gaze lingering on the road ahead, ever watchful for any further signs of trouble.