Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 90: Mana Ties, Part Two

{Enverna}

No matter where she went, the news was unavoidable.

"They’re saying that it was an inside job. That the president got taken down by her own guards!"

As she pulled some ropes down on one of the odd machines she’d been learning to use for the past couple of months, she heard a couple of guildmates.

"It’s just so weird that no one caught it, you know? No cameras, no witnesses. Nothing."

"They’re obviously hiding something."

[Indeed, they are,] Enverna thought, going about her business.

The first thing Enverna and Lianna were told after that man came and killed Aria right in front of them was that they were never there.

Mainly, as a request of the administrator.

[Who even is she?] Enverna wondered, continuing her exercise. [I mean, it is understandable that the leader of a guild would have some influence but... To be able to tell the president’s own guards to look the other way? That is incredible, isn’t it?]

A while later, Enverna exited the gym and took a walk around the headquarters.

She wanted to clear her mind up but that moment kept popping up in her thoughts, over and over again.

Enverna’s footsteps echoed softly in the quiet halls as she made her way back to her dorm room. The weight of recent events lingered in the air, casting a somber tone over the halls. As she approached her door, she noticed the soft glow of light emanating from the living room.

Pushing the door open, Enverna entered to find Lianna sitting on the couch, her expression a mix of exhaustion and contemplation.

The holographic TV screen displayed a news report on the president’s assassination, the details of the event replaying in what felt like an endless loop.

"Good afternoon," Enverna greeted, her voice a gentle murmur.

Lianna looked up, her eyes meeting Enverna’s.

She sighed, turning the TV off.

"I still can’t believe it. The president... gone, just like that."

Enverna joined Lianna on the couch, their shoulders brushing lightly. Enverna almost felt guilty due to the electric tingles in her body that caused.

"I hoped we’d be able to save her, but... I suppose that wasn’t very realistic. There was only so much we could have done."

Lianna leaned back, staring into the distance.

"I guess. I wish I could have done more, though. I-I don’t know, maybe if we’d covered the exits beforehand. Or, alerted some people."

"Perhaps all we would have done was make them change plans," Enverna replied. She reached out, gently squeezing Lianna’s hand. "You did everything you could. We both did. The situation was chaotic, and that man was no ordinary foe. We couldn’t have predicted his every move."

"I know... but it doesn’t make it any easier," Lianna admitted, her eyes reflecting a mixture of frustration and sadness.

Enverna turned toward her.

"We’re still amateurs. We’ll get better with time."

Lianna met Enverna’s gaze, finding solace in the warmth of her eyes.

"I hope we have enough time for that to happen."

Lianna then rested her head against Enverna’s shoulder. Enverna stiffened up for only a moment before relaxing again.

[This level of closeness... Was it always so addicting?]

The moment made Enverna’s mouth open as a few very troublesome words threatened to spill out.

She wanted to tell her about the realization she had. How she’d figured out her own tastes. How she wanted some help... exploring them.

But...

[Perhaps now is not the time.]

Suddenly, Lianna’s body tensed. She pulled away slightly, her eyes widening in alarm.

Enverna furrowed her brow. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Is something wrong?"

Then, Lianna shot up from the couch, her eyes scanning the room.

"Uh, I-I’ll be right back!"

And, just like that, she ran right out of the room, leaving a baffled Enverna behind.

The girl sighed, sinking into the couch.

[Just having her next to me feels nice... Is this really what liking women is like? Or, am I an odd case?]

---

{Lianna}

Lianna’s footsteps echoed through the corridors as she sprinted through the guild headquarters.

The urgent rhythm of her heart mirrored the urgency of the situation. She had left Enverna in the dorm room, and now, fueled by a mixture of fear and determination, she raced toward the back of the guild.

Mainly, because the following message had popped up.

Quest gained!

{Stop Zura from being assassinated outside the guild within the next couple of minutes}

{Reward: 10 RP}

[Crap, crap, crap!]

Lianna approached the rear entrance.

Standing by the gates, she saw her. Zura, head low and with a thoughtful look on her face, was walking toward the guild slowly.

And, right behind her was a figure wearing a mask and a black jacket, holding a dagger.

"Zura, watch out!"

Zura, startled by the warning, instinctively twisted to face the threat just as Lianna drew her bow.

The assassin wasted no time, closing in with deadly precision.

Lianna’s released two arrows in quick succession. The projectiles sliced through the air, aimed at the assassin’s vital points. However, the enemy was no ordinary adversary. With unnatural agility, the assassin dodged the arrows with a swift sidestep.

The attack did what Lianna wanted, though, preventing the opponent from harming Zura.

The assassin, now aware of Lianna’s presence, redirected their focus. With a menacing grace, they closed the distance, a gleaming dagger in hand. Only, Lianna was the target now.

In the midst of the confrontation, Zura swiftly accessed her Inventory as well, summoning her mace and shield into her hands.

The weapons materialized with a soft hum, and in a flash, she positioned herself between Lianna and the approaching attacker.

Lianna took a deep breath. She repositioned herself, finding a clear line of sight to the assassin. As the enemy lunged toward Zura, Lianna drew her bowstring with precision, aiming for an opening.

The arrows whistled through the air once more, seeking vulnerable points on the assassin’s form. Zura coincidentally coordinated her movements with Lianna’s attacks. The combination was enough to put the attacker firmly on the defensive.

The assassin, undeterred, demonstrated acrobatic prowess, seamlessly dodging and parrying the relentless barrage, but could not get back to attacking the way they’d been trying to.

Lianna’s arrows struck the edges of his hood, revealing glimpses of a determined and ruthless man beneath.

Zura, holding her shield and mace, pressed forward. She swung her mace in powerful arcs, aiming for the assassin’s midsection.

The clash of metal on metal reverberated through the corridor as the assassin skillfully deflected Zura’s strikes with just his dagger.

Lianna, her focus unbroken, continued to shoot arrows as often as she could without endangering Zura.

Slowly, guildmates began to notice what was happening.

A couple of them joined the fray, attacking the man as well.

"Tsk!" He clicked his tongue, pushing away the newcomers. He wasn’t retreating just yet, though. The man was committed to ending Zura’s life.

Zura, however, finally found an opening.

With a swift sidestep, she positioned herself to the side of the assailant and delivered a forceful blow to his exposed flank.

"AGH!"

The impact staggered the assassin.

The other guildies ran in, sensing an opportunity to put him down for good.

Knowing it was almost over for him, the assassin finally gave up, jumping away and running off into the streets.

Zura lowered her mace, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of determination and concern, breathing heavily.

"Zura, are you alright?" Lianna asked, rushing over to her side.

"I’m fine. Thanks for the help."

Lianna, adrenaline still coursing through her veins, nodded with a smile.

"You’re welcome. But... What the hell was that? What just happened?"

Zura sighed, her gaze fixed on the distant echoes of the guild activity.

"Well... I have my suspicions. It might be my past catching up with me."

Lianna furrowed her brow.

"Your past? What do you mean?"

Zura hesitated for a moment before choosing her words carefully.

"Before I joined the guild, I was part of a gang. People involved in less-than-legal activities. I joined the Watchful because I wanted to leave that shit behind but... They didn’t like that idea."

Lianna’s eyes widened in realization.

"You think your old gang is trying to eliminate you?"

Zura nodded.

"You know that amulet I was carrying?" Lianna nodded. "My old boss gave it to me."

Lianna’s eyes widened upon hearing that. Zura continued, though she averted her eyes.

"He was the one who told me to join the tournament. He told me to try to win first place, gave me that amulet, and said if I did I’d get a fuck-ton of money."

"You... You couldn’t say no?"

Zura smirked.

"Lianna, come on. Politely disagreeing with stuff is not exactly something you can do in that world." Zura sighed. "I did what I was asked. They tried to blow me up. I survived, though, and now... Well, if I had to guess I’d say they probably want to tie up loose ends."

Lianna’s mind raced as she processed the gravity of the situation.

"So, what do we do now?" Lianna asked, determined to support her guildmate and friend.

Zura sighed, her gaze shifting between the shadows.

"I don’t know. I mean... I guess I’m just fucked, aren’t I? It’s not like they’re going to stop trying to kill me. If I go to the police I’ll probably be dead even faster."

Lianna considered that option.

[Yeah... Whatever group or faction or whatever was responsible for this would probably be twice as pissed off if she actually ratted them out... But, then, what do we do?]

"Thanks for the help, Lianna. You’re... You’re a good friend," Zura stated. "I’ll figure something out, though."

On that note, Zura went to walk away.

Lianna’s eyes then widened.

She thought of something.

"WAIT!"

"Huh?"

"I have an idea!"