Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 96: Mana Ties, Part Eight

The beach now hung in a palpable silence.

Lianna stood amidst the aftermath, the artifact still cradled in her hand, a strange aura emanating from its surface.

The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for an explanation.

As the seconds stretched into a tense pause, Lianna’s gaze flickered from one face to another. The unspoken question lingered in the air like a heavy mist. Her fellow adventurers stared at her, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. Layla, the one who had initially invited them to join the mission, broke the silence.

"Well, that was unexpected," Layla remarked, her tone measured. "What did you do?"

Lianna felt the weight of skepticism in the air. The artifact in her hand seemed to vibrate with an almost rebellious energy.

She took a deep breath and settled on what she wanted to say.

"I... I think I just distracted it," Lianna said, her voice tentative. "You know? I spoke up and it just couldn’t believe I was bothering to talk to it! Haha..."

It was painfully clear no one was convinced.

The adventurers exchanged glances, their uncertainty etched on their faces.

Layla, maintaining a diplomatic composure, nodded.

"Wow, guess we got pretty lucky then!" She laughed. "Well, let’s not dwell on it too much. We need to keep moving, right everyone?"

One by one, the adventurers all kept walking. The tension, however, lingered beneath the surface, casting a subtle shadow over their collective spirit.

Layla threw Lianna a glance the crimson-haired girl guessed meant: "you’re welcome."

As they resumed their journey along the shoreline, Enverna fell into step beside Lianna, her eyes searching for an explanation.

"What happened back there?" Enverna inquired, her voice a whisper carried by the cold breeze.

Lianna, however, hesitated. Her gaze shifted to the body cameras affixed to their avatars, a reminder of the scrutiny that accompanied every action.

Shaking her head, she pointed up at it with her hand, out of its view.

Enverna’s eyes widened a little and she nodded, turning away.

As quickly as it had activated, the artifact was now cold as ice. Lianna’s fingers tightened around the artifact, its presence a constant reminder of the untold, strange power she now held, before she placed it back in her Inventory.

The group continued along the shoreline, the waves crashing against the sand like a distant heartbeat. The camaraderie that once bound them together now felt strained, threads of tension weaving through the fabric of their collective experience.

---

As the hours passed, the moons now watched from above, casting an ethereal glow over the beach as the group concluded their mission.

Buses and cars stood ready to transport the adventurers back to Telvan, lined up like sentinels against the darkening sky on the paved road.

As the group gathered near the transport vehicles, the girl who had been glaring at Enverna throughout the mission stepped forward, her expression twisted in disdain.

The air crackled with hostility as she launched herself at Enverna, the virtual world erupting into chaos.

"Garridite scum!" she spat, her words filled with venom, as she dashed forward, knife in hand.

The unexpected attack caught Enverna off guard, but Zura reacted swiftly. She intercepted the assailant, grabbing her by the arm. Unfortunately, the girl’s attempt at getting her out of the way materialized in the form of trying to stab Zura instead.

Which, she did. Zura caught a knife in the abdomen for her efforts but held strong.

The rest of the group rushed forward, bringing her to the ground.

"Cut the feed!!" Layla whispered to someone before rushing over. "What’s the meaning of this!?"

"It was her! She controlled the Fiend! It was Garridite magic!"

All eyes were suddenly on Enverna.

"That is ridiculous," Enverna hissed in response.

A hushed murmur spread through the group, the accusation hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge. Enverna’s eyes remained widened in shock, her mind racing to comprehend the sudden turn of events. Lianna, standing nearby, watched with a mixture of disbelief and concern.

A boy walked up and healed Zura, though Zura’s stayed fixed on the attacker like everyone else’s did.

The atmosphere grew tense as the accusation lingered, a dark cloud casting a pall over the group. Layla, her brows furrowed, shot a glance at Lianna and Enverna.

"Enough," Layla said, cutting all of the murmurs off. "Let’s just make our way back home. Gary, take care of this."

With a swift, decisive motion, one of the group members delivered a blow to the back of the girl’s head, knocking the accuser unconscious. The sudden silence that followed was suffocating.

---

The dorm room felt quieter than usual as Lianna, Enverna, and Zura returned from the tumultuous mission.

Layla told Lianna they’d speak about that artifact in the morning, so, although she’d covered for her, Lianna couldn’t say she was in the clear.

Zura flopped onto the couch with an exaggerated groan. Lianna, however, noted a subtle shift in Zura’s demeanor. The matter of the artifact and the accusations seemed to hang unspoken between them, a delicate balance on the verge of tipping.

Enverna caught Lianna’s gaze, an unspoken understanding passing between them. The uncertainty was shared between them, but for now, Zura seemed fine with letting the matter go.

"I’m so tired," Zura declared, stretching out on the couch. "Who knew a walk on the beach could be so tiring? I’m just gonna go to sleep. See you tomorrow."

Lianna sighed in relief.

Heading into their bedroom, Lianna and Enverna changed into more comfortable attire and slipped beneath the covers. The dim glow from the bedside lamp painted the room in a soft, muted ambiance.

Enverna turned to Lianna, her eyes searching for answers.

"So, how did you control that Fiend back there?" Enverna inquired, her tone a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Lianna hesitated for a moment, her fingers idly playing with the edge of the blanket.

"The artifact," she finally said, her voice low. "It somehow gained power again. I don’t know how or why. It just... happened."

Enverna’s brows furrowed, the weight of the unexplained resting on their shoulders.

"It was good that it did, given the position we were in, but..." She trailed off.

The artifact, a mysterious force that defied their understanding, continued to simmer in Lianna’s Inventory, a tangible reminder of the enigma they faced.

Silence enveloped them, each lost in their thoughts, grappling with the uncertainties that had unfolded during the mission. Lianna sensed Enverna’s eyes on her, a gaze laden with unspoken questions. She turned to face her, meeting Enverna’s gaze with an openness that mirrored the vulnerability they shared.

"What are you thinking?" Lianna asked, her voice gentle, encouraging Enverna to share the burden of their unspoken thoughts.

Enverna hesitated, her lips parting as if to voice something, but she stopped herself.

For a moment, Lianna wondered if it was the artifact she’d been thinking of speaking about or the half-kiss she’d given her. Whatever it was, Enverna had decided now wasn’t the time.

The room was filled with a quiet intimacy, the contours of their shared journey casting shadows across the walls. Lianna could feel the lingering uncertainty in the air, like a delicate thread waiting to be woven into the fabric of their evolving story.

As Lianna stared into the muted darkness, the artifact in her Inventory pulsed, its energy a silent echo of the unexplained forces at play.

[What exactly is this thing?] She wondered, hoping someday she’d get some answers.

The following day, as sunlight filtered relentlessly through the dorm’s open windows at the back, Lianna found a letter waiting for her.

The crisp envelope bore the insignia of the Starlight Association. The same group Mel had left to go train with.

Gathering Zura and Enverna on the couch, Lianna felt a mix of curiosity and trepidation as she opened the letter.

Lianna unfolded the letter and began to read it aloud to her companions.

"Dear Lianna,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I have been following your recent exploits with great interest, and I would like to extend an invitation for a private meeting. There are matters of importance that I would prefer to discuss in person. If you would be willing, I propose a meeting at a location of your choosing, ensuring your comfort and safety.

I understand the value of your time, and I assure you that this meeting bears potential advantages for both parties. Please consider my proposal, and if you find it agreeable, kindly respond with a preferred time and location.

Best regards,

Al’has Varim,

Starlight Association."

The room fell into a contemplative hush after Lianna finished reading. Enverna’s brow furrowed with a hint of suspicion, while Zura maintained a measured expression.

"The Starlight Association. Aren’t those just a bunch of witches or something?" Zura commented, her tone a blend of nonchalance and curiosity. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Um, well, depends on what you think a witch is," Lianna muttered. "I wonder what they want."

Enverna’s eyes lingered on Lianna, a silent query hidden within the depths of her gaze. Lianna, too, felt a mix of uncertainty and intrigue about the implications of this unexpected invitation.

"What do you think?" Enverna finally asked, breaking the contemplative silence.

Lianna took a moment to consider the options but she felt as though there wasn’t truly much to think about.

The Wizard’s follower wanted a meeting with her. If a competition between Constellations was what all of this was truly about at the end of the day, Lianna needed to ensure she had friendly relationships with at least most of them.

"I guess I’ll go see what she wants," Lianna muttered. "She says it’s a private meeting but it sure would be nice to have help."

"Perhaps this would be a good time to reach out to a certain someone and see if she might assist us here," Enverna suggested. "I know your feelings about her are likely quite complex but, maybe-"

"You’re right," Lianna interrupted her. "I... I’ll go see if Cynthia has any tricks up her sleeve we can use. Just in case this meeting doesn’t have the best of intentions behind it."