Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 179: Star Players, Part Eight

"..."

Caroline walked down the road, her senses sharp and alert, bathed in the moonlight.

Well, she was mostly alert.

The woman walking by her side made that slightly difficult.

Mel was with her, the Child of Mana sporting a black coat of some sort and some boots, looking like more of an assassin than a mage.

They hadn’t said a word to each other since leaving the Watchful’s headquarters.

[This is not awkward at all, certainly.]

Caroline sighed.

She wished it had been pretty much anyone else due to... obvious reasons. That said, she understood Miss Taylor’s reasoning.

The silence between Caroline and Mel stretched on, heavy with unspoken tension as they walked side by side through the dimly lit streets of Telvan.

Caroline couldn’t shake the lingering discomfort she felt around Mel, despite her efforts to overcome her prejudices.

Feeling the weight of the awkwardness, Caroline cleared her throat, attempting to break the ice.

"So... what’s our plan?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

Mel glanced at her briefly, her expression guarded.

"Discussing our plans out in the open isn’t bright," she replied curtly, her tone clipped.

Caroline winced inwardly at the blunt response.

"Right, of course," she murmured, mentally berating herself for the awkwardness of her question.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Mel sighed, relenting slightly.

"But since you asked, our plan is simple," she explained, her voice softening just a fraction. "We’ll walk the streets of Telvan together, keeping our eyes peeled. Eventually, our target will reveal herself."

Caroline nodded.

"Got it," she replied, her tone cautious yet determined.

As Caroline and Mel strolled down the deserted streets of Telvan under the cloak of night, a few figures passed by, their silhouettes briefly illuminated by the flickering lamplight.

Among them were guards, their armor glinting faintly, and ordinary civilians, their faces obscured by the shadows.

Caroline turned her head slightly, acknowledging the unspoken attention directed their way.

[Those people were definitely looking at us just now,] she thought. [I suppose we do stand out, but...]

Though she remained outwardly composed, inwardly, she tightened her mental defenses, preparing herself for any potential threats that might emerge.

Threats such as the people who then appeared.

A group of figures emerged from the shadows, stepping out from behind a nearby building to the right. Caroline and Mel instinctively halted their steps, their senses immediately on high alert.

The group before them comprised mostly humans, their worn clothing and mismatched armor speaking volumes about their station in life. However, amidst them stood a Child of Mana, unmistakable with her purple hair and eyes reminiscent of Mel’s own.

Caroline’s gaze narrowed as she observed the motley crew, their intentions becoming clear as they brandished their weapons.

[... That was fast,] she thought, one brow raised. [Were they expecting us?]

Regardless, the girls’ response was going to be the same.

Without hesitation, Caroline reached into her Inventory, retrieving her sword with practiced ease.

For a couple of seconds, neither party did anything.

Caroline could almost guess what they were thinking, judging by the way their eyes flickered from Mel to Caroline.

[Taking on two of us at once likely wasn’t what they signed up for. But, it’s what’s happening. So, will you turn tail and run or will you face us?]

Nervous energy crackled in the air as the group of attackers surged forward, their determination clashing against Caroline and Mel’s unwavering resolve.

Caroline and Mel braced themselves for the impending clash.

As the attackers closed in, Caroline’s reflexes kicked into action.

With a swift motion, she deftly wielded her sword, cutting down a couple of assailants in the blink of an eye with quick slashes.

Beside her, Mel channeled her magical prowess, unleashing powerful spells that obliterated a couple more enemies in a blaze of arcane energy.

Two bodies were bisected and two others were left in fleshy pieces.

The sudden onslaught left the attackers visibly shaken, their resolve faltering in the face of Caroline and Mel’s formidable defense.

[What?] Caroline was surprised to see that reaction. [These... These aren’t hardened warriors. What are they doing?]

Sensing an opportunity, the Child of Mana among them lifted a hand.

Instantly, the same spell Mel had just used jumped out from her palm, surging through the air to strike her.

However, Mel anticipated the move, quickly erecting a protective barrier around herself, shielding against the incoming magical assault.

Undeterred, the girl persisted, launching a barrage of spells at Mel, each one met with a steadfast defense.

Determined to turn the tide of battle, Mel retaliated, unleashing a powerful electric bolt that crackled through the air toward the girl.

In response, the Child of Mana hastily summoned a barrier of her own.

Caroline observed the exchange, recognizing the inherent flaw in the girl’s imitation.

It became obvious so quickly.

Although she could replicate abilities, the girl lacked the proficiency and mastery that Caroline and Mel possessed.

As a result, her barrier shattered under the force of Mel’s magic, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.

Realizing the futility of their efforts, the girl shouted:

"Fall back!"

With a sense of urgency, they began to beat a hasty retreat, fleeing from the urban battlefield.

Unfortunately for them, however, Caroline and Mel couldn’t let that happen.

Miss Taylor gave them orders, after all.

That girl had to die.

So, they ran after them.

Caroline and Mel chased after the fleeing attackers with determination etched into their features.

Their footsteps echoed through the narrow alleys and deserted streets as they closed in on their target. The others were, of course, being ignored. It was just the Child of Mana they cared about.

As they rounded a corner, Caroline and Mel cornered the girl in a dead-end alley, her back pressed against the cold brick wall.

With nowhere left to run, desperation flickered in her eyes as she realized the gravity of her predicament.

Sensing an opportunity, Caroline surged forward, intent on ending her life.

But, she was too reckless.

In a flash of arcane energy, the girl retaliated with Mel’s spell again. The bolt crashed into Caroline’s body.

"Aaaagh!"

She wasn’t blown to pieces, but the force still sent Caroline flying backward with a forceful impact.

Stunned and disoriented, Caroline struggled to regain her bearings as she watched the scene unfold through slightly blurred vision.

Mel, undeterred by Caroline’s setback, unleashed a torrent of magical energy toward the girl, seeking to incapacitate her and bring an end to the confrontation.

However, to their astonishment, the girl’s response was unexpected.

With surprising agility, she darted forward and seized Mel’s outstretched hands.

"Huh!?"

Suddenly, blue fumes began to pass from Mel’s body to the girl’s.

[Is she stealing her mana?]

Within seconds, Mel collapsed to the ground.

She wasn’t moving.

[No.]

With Mel vulnerable and exposed, the girl raised her hand, poised to deliver a finishing blow with a lethal spell.

Thinking quickly, Caroline got to her knees.

She seized her sword and hurled it at the girl with all her strength.

The blade sliced through the air with deadly precision, embedding itself in the girl’s arm with a sickening thud.

"AAAGH!"

With a cry of pain, the girl stumbled backward, crumpling to the ground.

The girl didn’t hesitate to take the sword out, however. And, this time, instead of looking to end Mel’s life, she simply ran away, hopping over the wall that had stopped her before.

Seizing the opportunity, Caroline rushed to Mel’s side, her heart pounding with fear and concern that she didn’t think she’d ever feel for a Child of Mana.

Kneeling beside her fallen comrade, she gently shook Mel’s shoulders, hoping to rouse her from unconsciousness.

"Mel, wake up," Caroline urged, her voice filled with urgency. "We need to go after her!"

But Mel remained unresponsive, her breathing shallow and labored as she lay motionless on the ground.

[Dammit... We probably should have guessed she had her own tricks up her sleeve. Dammit, dammit!]

At that point, all Caroline could do was pick Mel up and bring her to the nearest healers, hoping she was alright.