Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 73: Names, Part Two

{October 20}

{Zura}

Zura reluctantly treaded the maze of alleys, each one narrower than the last, like the crumbling arteries of a forsaken city.

The once vibrant murals on the walls, now faded and defaced, whispered tales of a bygone era. Graffiti adorned the dilapidated buildings, the scrawled symbols of different gangs marking territories like scars on a wounded beast.

The air hung heavy with the oppressive stench of decay, a cocktail of unwashed bodies, refuse, and the dampness of forgotten dreams. The atmosphere reeked of desperation, a palpable force that seeped into the very essence of the slum’s existence. Residents moved with heads bowed, shoulders slumped under the weight of their hardships, navigating the alleyways with a certain resignation etched into their weary faces.

Approaching the entrance to the small room hiding in plain sight within the dense alley, hidden like a secret treasure within the belly of the slum, Zura felt a mix of anticipation and weariness.

[Let’s just get this over with.]

A burly figure, clad in worn-out leather, regarded her with a mixture of familiarity and disdain.

"Zura, ’bout time you showed up. Got a job for ya," the figure grunted, stepping aside to allow her entry.

"Of course, you fucking do."

The room was sparsely furnished, illuminated by the flickering light of a single, dim bulb. A map of the city adorned one of the walls, marked with various symbols representing illicit activities and potential targets. Zura’s contact, a grizzled man with a patch over one eye, leaned against a rickety table cluttered with maps and notes.

"What’s the job?" Zura asked, her voice low and steady, wanting to just get it over with.

"Standard stuff. We need someone to make a visit to one of our ’benefactors’ and collect what’s owed. A simple shake-down," the man explained, a toothpick dancing between his lips.

Zura’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t protest.

"The pay?"

"Same as usual."

"Well, alright then."

Just like that, Zura turned around.

"Send me the details later. I have a mission to go on."

"You’ve been wastin’ too much time playin’ hero with that guild of yours. It’s a joke, Zura. We got a good thing going here and you’re throwing it away for what? A bunch of boy scout, girl scout, pussies?" he sneered.

Zura’s jaw tightened, but she held her tongue.

"Just make sure you keep your mouth closed tight, alright Hellan?"

Doing just that, she quietly went straight back to her house, just a couple of streets away.

Arriving at her humble dwelling, a small mirror in the bathroom awaited her attention. The lightbulb flickered, casting dancing shadows across the dark, closed-off room, enhancing the contrasts in her features.

Zura met her own gaze, the reflection showcasing light orange hair that stood out against the muted backdrop.

Her brown eyes fell on the scars etched across her face. Painted over cinnamon brown skin, earned in countless fights, some against Fiends but most against the people around her, she understood that she’d probably have more in a bit.

Zura’s clothes, comprised of worn-out leather, were probably going to be in rags by the time she properly began her career.

Finally, Zura sighed and walked away. The bulb flickered for the last time, burning out just as she left the house.

---

"Hello, everyone!" A tiny, energetic lady holding a hammer that was twice her size greeted the players gathered in front of her. "Are you all good to go?"

The prep for this mission lasted all of 2 minutes.

The briefing went like this:

1. There was a group of low-tier adventurers who set out on a mission to kill a Fiend in the Haunted Forest.

2. They were attacked and barely managed to get out by the skin of their teeth, but now they’re stuck because they walked there without any potions or healers.

3. They called for help.

Now, Zura was tagging along with a group of players, intending to go rescue them.

"Before we leave, I do wanna make sure that we’re actually bringing some damn healers. That’s kinda the whole point of the mission. So, please, let me know what your classes are. You don’t have to go into too much detail, just the class is fine."

One by one, they began listing them off.

"Sorcerer."

"Priestess."

"Ranger."

When it came time for Zura to speak, she said:

"Paladin."

Indeed, that was the role she’d slotted into.

Zura Hellan

MP: 20/20

---

STR: C

END: C-

DEX: D

MYS: D

L: F

---

Skills:

Block: 20

Blade: 15

Blunt: 15

Lance: 5

Unarmed: 10

Archery: 5

Sneak: 5

Healing Magic: 5

Combat Magic: 5

Summoning Magic: 5

Utility Magic: 5

---

Traits:

Determination - Passive

{Your relentless work ethic allows you to gain 10% more experience from all activities.}

---

Instincts:

Guardian’s Vigilance (Level 1) - 2-minute cooldown

{Focus on defense, increasing your Block and END stats by 25% for 30 seconds.}

To Zura’s right, a girl almost yelled her class with an arm raised to the sky.

"Scout!"

Zura glanced over and her eyes widened.

[Oh. It’s her.]

A burst of vibrant energy approached as Lianna and Enverna made their way towards the group.

Lianna’s long, wild crimson hair caught the sunlight, creating an illusion of fiery brilliance against the backdrop of the worn surroundings. Her casual, confident stride resonated with an unconventional charm that defied the subdued atmosphere of the mission.

Naturally, Zura recognized her from the course they shared.

[Ah... And that girl next to her is her wife or some shit?]

Zura hadn’t paid much attention to the rumors, but a small piece of the overall narrative that was spun surrounding these two had naturally made its way to her ears.

Enverna, confident and elegant, walked alongside Lianna. Hers and Zura’s eyes met briefly.

Lianna, apparently, couldn’t contain her curiosity as she approached Zura with an easygoing smile.

"Hey, Zura, right? We’re in the same course!" Lianna’s voice was friendly, and she exuded a casual warmth that seemed at odds with the gritty surroundings.

Zura, however, merely grunted in response, her gaze focused ahead as if Lianna’s presence held little significance.

"I’m aware."

Undeterred, Lianna continued, undeterred by Zura’s apparent disinterest.

"Yeah... Our class is a bit of a snoozefest compared to this, though, huh?"

"I guess so."

Zura’s eyes briefly flickered towards Lianna, acknowledging the shared experience, but she remained mostly silent, a stoic barrier against Lianna’s attempts at conversation.

Lianna chuckled, undeterred by Zura’s reserved demeanor.

"Anyway, we’re on the same mission today. Let’s make it a breeze, yeah?"

Once again, Zura just shrugged.

"Great!"

[... Does her wife have to deal with this energy on a daily basis? What an awful fate.]

---

It ended up being nowhere near as simple as they’d hoped.

"Steady!" The mission leader called out. "Don’t panic!"

That was easier said than done with multiple Fiends in front of them. Zura, however, did as she needed to.

With a heavy mace in one hand and a white shield in the other, she stood at the forefront of their group, staring down a nightmarish enemy. Gross, writhing tentacles vibrated and twisted with excitement as the Fiend drew closer to her.

Most of the others had been taken down already. In order to get to the injured group of adventurers, they’d need to clear these opponents out.

Reacting swiftly to an incoming tentacle slam, Zura protected herself with her shield and dashed forward, using one of her Techniques.

Shield Bash - 15 sec. cooldown

{Momentarily stun an enemy with your shield.}

The creature, visibly dazed, recoiled, providing Enverna with the perfect opportunity. Like a phantom, she darted forward, her spear glinting in the sunlight filtering through the leaves.

With a single, precise strike, Enverna skewered the abominable creature.

The forest fell silent, the only sounds being the rustling leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. Zura, catching her breath, turned her gaze towards Enverna.

She and the girl traded nods, recognizing each other’s performances.

Lianna approached with an approving grin.

"That was awesome! Good job, Envy!"

"As is to be expected of me," Enverna responded while Zura went to loot the body.

Reinforced Plate

{Uncommon}

{Armor}

[Oh,] Zura’s eyes widened as she put it in her Inventory. [Damn. A good drop.

"You did great too, by the way."

Closing the menu, Zura turned and saw Lianna standing before her with a big, annoying smile.

"Thanks," Zura muttered.

Lianna gave her a thumbs-up and (thankfully) walked away.

"Alright, everyone!" The mission leader called out. "Let’s bring those players back home!"

---

As the night settled in, Zura navigated the familiar alleys of her slum, each step weighed down by the echoes of the forest skirmish.

[Maybe I could have done a little better...]

Approaching a ramshackle building tucked away in the corner, she found the figure who had sent her on that harsh task earlier waiting in the dimly lit room. A sense of foreboding gripped her, a heaviness in her chest that mirrored the despondency of her surroundings.

"Back already, Zura? Got the guts to do what needs doin’?" The burly figure sneered, eyeing her with a mixture of impatience and contempt.

Zura’s jaw clenched, her resolve strengthening as she steeled herself for the unpleasant duty ahead.

"Yeah."

"Good. Go get my money."

Moments later, she was turning away from a sobbing mess of a couple, the two of them left in stagnant puddles from a bit of evening rain as Zura walked off with a wad of cash in her hands. Her knuckles were red from having punched the man in the face just now.

"Tsk." Zura clenched her fist. "Don’t wanna get hit? Just hand it the fuck over next time."

As she pressed on, heading back home, her mind wandered back to the forest. The scent of damp earth and the rustle of leaves played on a loop in her thoughts, contrasting sharply with the squalor around her.

What would it be like, she wondered, to have companions who stood by her side not only in battle but in the struggles of everyday life?

To have people she could actually call allies.

[Yeah, right.]

With her task completed, her footsteps were heavy as she retraced her path through the winding alleys.

She arrived at the following conclusion, just as she made it back to the boss’s building.

[Nah... These are the only cards I’ve got.]