Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 63: Storm of Hearts, Part Nineteen

{Mel}

Days passed like slow-dripping molasses, each moment weighed down by the burdens Mel carried within.

She sat alone in her dorm room, shadows cast by the dim light seemed to echo the darkness that clung to her thoughts. She hadn’t spoken to either Lianna or Enverna. How could she, after what she’d done? Of course, she couldn’t.

The air was thick with a palpable sense of guilt, regret, and shame that enveloped her like a suffocating shroud.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Mel replayed the events of the ruin exploration in her mind like a haunting melody. The echoes of The Tyrant’s tempting whispers lingered, a ghostly reminder of the choice she had made. The weight of her decision pressed on her shoulders, a heavy burden she couldn’t shake.

"I could have been powerful," Mel muttered to the empty room, her voice a mere whisper in the silence. "I could have been more than this... this weakling."

As things were, however, she ended up with nothing. No friends, no power, nothing.

The room seemed to absorb her words, offering no solace or rebuttal. She buried her face in her hands, fingers entangled in her hair as if trying to grasp onto something tangible amidst the intangible regret that permeated her thoughts.

Images of Enverna’s eyes, filled with terror, flashed before her. That terror wasn’t aimed at a Fiend, at a monster, but at her.

At the same time, Lianna’s comforting words echoed in her ears, a stark contrast to the condemning whispers of The Tyrant. In the quiet solitude, Mel grappled with the choices that defined her and the person she saw herself becoming.

"I let them down," Mel confessed, her voice choked with self-disappointment. "I let myself down." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The room remained silent, offering no judgment but serving as a witness to the inner turmoil that raged within her. The walls seemed to close in, amplifying the intensity of her emotions.

Eventually, however, she had to walk out. It was time for her weekly class.

The bustling hallways of the academy were filled with students hurrying to their classes, the vibrant energy of the place starkly contrasting with the turmoil still lingering within Mel. As she navigated through the crowd, lost in her thoughts, a familiar sight caught her attention.

There they were, Lianna and Enverna, strolling together with an easy camaraderie that seemed to mock the internal chaos Mel felt.

Lianna’s infectious smile radiated genuine happiness, a stark contrast to the shadows that clung to Mel’s own emotions. Enverna, on the other hand, exuded a refined confidence, her poise suggesting a silent strength that Mel couldn’t help but envy.

Lianna spotted Mel amidst all the other people walking back and forth, and waved cheerfully, her smile unwavering. Enverna saw her as well and nodded. Though her nod was polite, it carried an unspoken weight.

Mel met Enverna’s gaze, and in that brief exchange, a complex tapestry of emotions unfolded.

[I... I still haven’t apologized properly. Maybe later.]

Layers unraveled of understanding, gratitude, and a hint of melancholy, a silent acknowledgment of the events in the ruins.

Mel sighed, a heavy exhale that aimed to release some of the tension gripping her.

The contrast between their paths was palpable. As Lianna and Enverna continued down the hall, Mel resumed her solitary journey, the weight of her choices still a burden she carried.

Mel took her usual seat in the classroom, the familiar surroundings offering a sense of normalcy amid the recent turmoil.

As Instructor Walker droned on about the finer points of packing bags in cars, "No, seriously, this too is an art form!", Mel found herself drifting into her own thoughts, the lecture acting as a dull background noise.

Amid the monotony, Lianna’s mischievous whisper cut through the lecture like a ray of sunlight.

"You wanna go for a drink or two later?"

Mel turned to find Lianna leaning slightly in her direction, a playful glint in her eyes. The contrast between the mundane lecture and Lianna’s mischievous expression was enough to draw a faint smile from Mel.

Lianna’s words, though whispered, carried a sense of camaraderie that hadn’t waned despite the recent events in the ruins. It was a simple act of casual friendship, a reminder of the connection they shared beyond the challenges they faced. Mel appreciated the brief respite from the weight on her shoulders.

But, she refused.

"I-I think I’ll just stay home..."

"Alright, alright. Suit yourself. But, I do have to let you know, they say alcohol loosens people’s tongues and, I don’t know about you, but that does sound like a massive buff to eating pussy."

Mel’s face turned as red as ever as Lianna held back a free-spirited cackle.

After all that happened, Lianna was still joking around like that.

Incredible.

After the class was over, Mel re-entered her dorm room on her own, as she declined Lianna’s offers to hang out.

She needed some time to sort her own thoughts out.

Her eyes widened, however, at the unexpected sight of the Watchful Guild’s administrator sitting on her couch.

"Hey."

The green-haired woman looked up, her smile easygoing, and gestured for Mel to sit with her hands, clad in white gloves.

Mel’s heart threatened to burst out of her chest.

"Good afternoon, Mel. Good afternoon. Mind if we have a brief chat?"

Mel, still processing the surreal situation, nodded nervously and took a seat across from the administrator.

"I... I didn’t mean for it to go that way. It just..." Mel began to say, but the administrator held a hand up. Mel stopped talking.

"First things first, I want you to know I’m not here to throw the rulebook at you."

Mel took a moment to breathe.

"You’re not?"

"No. I heard about what happened in the ruins. You... definitely fucked up, but then you helped out. Admittedly, I was going to punish you but a certain someone made a suggestion and I’ve deemed it to be a decent idea to take it. Now, make no mistake, Mel. You’re going to be on thin ice for a while given what happened between you and Enverna, but for now, I’m here to tell you something else."

Mel couldn’t help but relax, though.

She didn’t want to go back to living on the streets. Keeping the roof over her head was all she could ask for.

"Life’s full of unexpected twists, isn’t it?" The administrator asked. "Look, regardless of what I decide to do later, for now, I’m here with an offer. An offer on behalf of a different organization."

Mel’s brows furrowed.

The administrator passed along a card. Mel squinted down at it, seeing an unfamiliar organization’s name on it.

"An offer?"

"Yeah. Apparently, some folks think you’ve got potential, Mel. Here. There’s this place called the Starsign Association. They’re, basically, a group of mages who are... like you. Go see them tomorrow morning. Hear them out. Personally, if what I heard is true... I think spending some time with them will do you nothing but good."

"B-But..." Mel’s eyes went from the card up to the administrator and then back to the card. "How- why do they even know me?"

"Why do you think?" The administrator asked. "Lianna reached out to them."

---

{The Next Day}

As Mel stepped onto the beach, the sight of a dark tower against the horizon drew her attention. The structure, sleek and modern, seemed out of place against the natural beauty of the beach. Cautiously, she approached, unsure of what to expect.

Upon reaching the tower’s entrance, she was greeted by an unusual sight. A woman, previously invisible, manifested before her. The mysterious figure extended a welcoming hand, her features shifting and changing as though composed of shifting shadows.

"You’re Mel, aren’t you?"

"Uh... Yeah."

"Welcome. We’ve been expecting you."

Guided by the invisible woman, Mel entered the tower. The interior was unlike anything she had seen before, a blend of enigmatic elegance and cutting-edge design.

As she ascended in the elevator, anticipation mingled with trepidation.

When the doors opened at the top, a lady with a blindfold greeted her, her smile carrying an alluring hint of mystery. The woman’s presence was commanding, and her blindfold seemed to enhance rather than hinder her perception.

"Mel, I presume? Greetings. My name is Al’has Varim, it is a pleasure to meet you."

---

Later that night, Mel stood outside Lianna’s dorm room, hesitating for a moment before knocking. When the door opened, Lianna looked up with a smile, but her expression shifted as she noticed the solemnity in Mel’s eyes.

"Hey, Mel. What’s up?"

Mel took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking.

"Um... Hi. I... I wanted to tell you something."

Lianna’s brow furrowed in concern, sensing the gravity of the moment.

"Is something wrong? You look serious."

"I’ve been offered an opportunity to join the Starsign Association." Lianna’s brows shot up, clearly trying to act surprised and hide a proud smile. "Um... It’s a good opportunity, I think," Mel said quietly. "The initial period sort of requires me to stay there, though. So... I’m going to be there for a while."

Lianna’s eyes widened with actual surprise, and a hint of sadness crept into her voice.

"You’re leaving?"

Perhaps she thought Mel would only be visiting them on occasion.

Mel nodded.

"For a little while... Yeah. I-I’ve thought about this a lot. I... I think I need some time to figure myself out," Mel murmured. "And, uh, I’m hoping this will help."

Lianna’s expression softened, a mix of understanding and sadness.

"Wow," she sounded rather surprised. "It’s going to feel pretty weird without you around here."

"I think- well, i-if you want," she corrected, "I’d like to see you again after that. And Enverna, too. I... I owe her an apology. Right now, though... I don’t have the courage to see you two and just pretend everything is normal. I need this."

Lianna managed a small smile, though a hint of sadness lingered.

Then, she took a step forward, wrapping her arms around her. As per usual, her embrace was so warm it threatened to set Mel on fire.

As Lianna pulled away, it dawned on Mel just how badly she was going to miss this.

[I’ll be back, though,] she told herself. [And... When I am, I hope I’ll be a better person.]

"Promise you’ll stay safe out there, okay?"

Mel nodded, genuine warmth in her eyes.

"I will be."

Mel moved to turn away but Lianna held onto her.

Before Mel knew it, soft lips were touching her own. Mel’s eyes went wide.

"What?" Lianna asked once she stepped back. "You didn’t think I was going to let you go without a kiss, did you?"

[...]

Yes, Mel really was going to miss this girl.

"Take care, Mel."

"... Goodbye."