Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 72: Names, Part One

Enverna stepped through the door, her footsteps thudding against the floor unsteadily, almost at the same rate her heart beat in her chest.

The air in the apartment held a warmth that had turned familiar over the last couple of months, the lingering scent of her new, shared life.

As she entered the living room, a scene unfolded that, under ordinary circumstances, would have been nothing more than the embodiment of the word "regular".

Lianna sat on the couch, engrossed in the glow of the television.

"Oh. You’re back," Lianna perked up a little. "How’d your dinner go?"

The soft flicker of the screen painted a gentle illumination on her features. It was an image of simple domesticity, comfortable and serene. Yet, for Enverna, it was a sight that carried an unexpected weight, now that her understanding of herself had shifted.

Now, as her eyes naturally went to the girl’s exposed legs as all she wore was a tank top and some shorts, the feeling that bloomed in her heart was one of understanding. Realization had been flooding her veins ever since she left that restaurant, coupled with some guilt.

Guilt because Enverna couldn’t be this way. She had an image to uphold, a family reputation to build upon.

"Envy?"

"Mm? Uhm, y-yes, it was... It was alright."

She hesitated, standing in the doorway and observing the scene.

Lianna, oblivious to Enverna’s internal turmoil, patted the empty space on the couch beside her. The invitation, usually a welcome gesture, felt like a challenge today.

The realization that she was drawn to women, a truth that had been revealed through the impromptu experiment with Xi, left her grappling with a sense of uncertainty.

Lianna looked at her, a twinkle of curiosity in her eyes. By the time Enverna managed to sink into the seat next to her, it appeared Lianna had caught on to the fact that something was amiss.

"That’s it? Just alright? After everything that happened, I was a little worried Xi was going to threaten you or something."

"No, no. It was... Fine."

Lianna shifted on the couch, glancing back at the TV.

"So, I went to talk to the administrator."

"Mhm."

"Yeah, and I tried to check her status, you know, like we discussed before."

"Mhm."

"But the weirdest thing happened. I couldn’t."

"Mhm?"

"It was like my ability just didn’t work on her."

"Mm!"

Enverna nodded, her thoughts seemingly attentive to Lianna’s words, but her eyes were nowhere near her fiance’s face.

Lianna noticed the distracted expression on Enverna’s face.

"Hey, what’s going on? You seem a bit off."

Enverna blinked, her attention snapping back to the conversation.

"Oh, uh, it’s nothing. Just a lot on my mind, I guess."

Lianna tilted her head, concern etched on her face.

"You sure? You’ve been acting a bit different since we got back."

Enverna managed a small smile, attempting to brush off the concern.

"Really, Lianna, it’s nothing to worry about. I just need a moment to collect my thoughts."

Lianna nodded, accepting the explanation, but a lingering unease hung in the air. Enverna excused herself, rising from the couch.

"I’ll be right back. Just need a quick break."

Heading to the bathroom, Enverna closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she took a deep breath.

The revelation of her own feelings, the kiss with Xi, it all swirled in her mind, leaving her in a state of confusion.

She wasn’t sure how to navigate this newfound aspect of herself, especially in the context of her relationship with Lianna.

Splashing cold water on her face, she met her own gaze in the mirror, searching for clarity.

[Am I really so... unnatural?]

She could almost hear Verana scolding her. If her relatives found out about this, there was a chance they’d hire someone to bring Enverna back home against her will, Constellation be damned.

Giving a defeated sigh, Enverna turned away.

[Just...Ignore it. Entering that realm will do no good for you.]

Soon, Enverna was right back on the couch.

As the movie Lianna was watching continued to play on the screen, Lianna settled on the couch next to Enverna. The atmosphere, usually cozy and familiar, felt different tonight. Enverna’s mind was a tumultuous sea of thoughts, and the film became a mere backdrop to the internal struggles she grappled with.

Lianna tried to gauge Enverna’s reactions throughout the movie, occasionally sharing glances that went unnoticed by her partner, lost in her own contemplation. The plot unfolded, characters faced challenges, and yet, for Enverna, the details failed to anchor in her memory.

The credits rolled, signaling the end of the movie. Enverna blinked, a realization dawning upon her.

"I... I don’t remember much of what happened. Did I miss something important?"

Lianna chuckled softly, a mix of understanding and concern in her eyes.

"Seems like your mind’s wandering tonight. Don’t worry, it wasn’t the most memorable movie anyway."

Enverna managed a weak smile, appreciating Lianna’s attempt to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, maybe I’m just tired. It’s been a long day."

Lianna nodded, placing a comforting hand on Enverna’s shoulder.

"Let’s call it a night then. You need some rest."

They moved to their bedroom, the familiar routine of getting ready for bed providing a sense of normalcy.

However, as they settled beneath the covers, Enverna couldn’t shake the whirlwind of emotions and realizations that enveloped her.

---

{Lianna}

The next morning, Lianna sat across from Enverna in the small kitchen, a bowl of fruit between them as the early day’s sunlight filtered through the window.

Now that Enverna didn’t look quite as shaken by whatever had happened to her, Lianna figured it was a good time to bring up the administrator’s proposition.

"Hey, Envy," Lianna began, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and uncertainty. "So, you know how I talked to the administrator."

"Yes?"

"Well, seems like we’re in for a bit of a challenge."

Enverna looked up from her bowl of fruit, curiosity in her eyes.

"Challenge? What did she say?"

She still sounded a little... out of it, but Lianna kept going.

Lianna took a deep breath.

"She told me that we’re expected to compete in the Annual Guild Assessment. It’s this tournament sort of thing where rookies from different guilds go head-to-head. Apparently, it’s a pretty big deal."

Enverna raised an eyebrow.

"Compete? Against other rookies? That sounds... intense."

Lianna nodded.

"Yeah. I get it, though. It’s a good opportunity for us to showcase our skills. If we perform well, maybe it could even open up new opportunities within the guild."

As the administrator kept reminding Lianna, publicity mattered. Lianna was doing her best to take those words to heart.

Enverna contemplated this information, her mind processing the implications.

"I suppose it makes sense. It’s a chance to prove ourselves and make a name within the guild."

Lianna grinned.

"Exactly! And, well, I’m sure it’s not just about us. The whole guild probably benefits if we do well. Plus, it could be a chance for us to learn more about our abilities and how we can improve."

"I can’t deny that it sounds like an adventure. What’s the format of the tournament?"

Lianna reached for a piece of apple, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I haven’t read through this whole thing yet," Lianna said, putting the pamphlet she’d been given on the table. "But, Apparently, there are two separate competitions. One evaluating combat and one evaluating supportive capabilities. If you win either of them, you get a reward."

Enverna raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of reward are we talking about here?"

Lianna leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"I have no clue. But, I imagine it’s probably some sort of item."

"We should look that up." Enverna smiled back at her, a glimmer of excitement showing in her features. "Sounds like we’re in for an interesting time. When does this tournament take place?"

Lianna glanced at her watch.

"October 25," Lianna hesitated for a moment as if contemplating whether to share another piece of information. Finally, she grinned mischievously and leaned in closer. "Oh, and there’s one more thing. If we both manage to come in first place in our respective competitions, you in the combat tourney and me in the support one, the administrator promised to tell me who she is."

Enverna’s eyes widened with surprise.

"She’ll reveal her identity? That’s... quite the incentive. What do you think she’s hiding?"

Lianna shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Who knows? But I feel like she has to be someone pretty famous if she’s making that big a deal out of it. Honestly, out of curiosity alone, I kinda wanna go through with it. Just off that alone."

Enverna chuckled.

"Indeed. We’ll have to give it our best shot then. That said, you should probably look up what that reward might be."

"On it."

Pulling her phone out, Lianna quickly went online and searched for the previous assessments.

She found a few articles, all of them saying the same thing about the previous assessments.

"Those who emerge victorious are given a class-specific item for them to use, along with a special medal, handed to them personally by..."

Lianna’s eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"... The president herself."

Suddenly, a message appeared.

Quest:

{Prevent the assassination of President Aria on October 25th}

{Reward: Love Rush (Instinct)}