Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 98: Mana Ties, Part Ten

{November 2, 239 2E}

Lianna stared at the glowing screen of her laptop, the harsh light casting a reflection of her own troubled expression.

The rumors and speculations about Lianna and the Children of Mana flooded the online forums like a tidal wave, threatening to drown the simple truth of the matter, that Lianna had no clue how she’d done what she did, beneath a sea of misinformation. The joint social media account she and Enverna had created together was now under siege, bombarded with hateful comments and questions regarding that footage that came out.

"This is getting out of hand," Enverna muttered, her eyes fixed on the screen. "Agh! People are so quick to judge without understanding anything. I hate this."

Lianna sighed, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard.

"Everyone’s an expert, and they think they know everything."

The online forums were a chaotic battleground. Hateful comments multiplied every couple of seconds, incessantly.

Lianna’s eyes flickered across the screen, catching phrases that stung like venom. Of course, most of the comments were aimed at her, specifically.

"She’s probably gotten people killed," Lianna read quietly. "She’s a Fiend herself, in disguise." Lianna sighed. "Great."

Lianna’s frustration mixed with a hint of helplessness. Already, the situation felt like it had spiraled out of control.

All of a sudden, Lianna and Enverna found themselves entangled in a web of hostility.

Enverna’s eyes flicked to a particularly venomous comment, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists.

"They don’t know us. They don’t know what we’ve been through, what we’re trying to do. How can they be so quick to condemn?"

Lianna sympathetically glanced at Enverna, sharing the sentiment but recognizing the futility of arguing with the online horde.

"People fear what they don’t understand. And right now, we’re caught in the crossfire. We can’t control what they say," Lianna said, her voice a mix of frustration and determination. "All we can do is stay true to ourselves."

Enverna nodded a silent agreement.

Enverna’s phone rang abruptly.

"Ugh," Enverna sighed. "Hold on one moment."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as she answered, the distant voices on the other end barely audible. Lianna couldn’t help but flinch at Enverna’s sudden outburst.

"Mother, it is not like that! No, I am not in any danger, I promise. It- you-..." Enverna visibly deflated.

The one-sided conversation continued for a few more moments before Enverna abruptly hung up, her expression etched with frustration.

"What happened?" Lianna inquired, her concern evident.

Enverna exhaled sharply.

"My family. They heard about the rumors, and they want me to separate from you. Apparently, they believe The Lover may have sent me here to feed me to you. Literally, like you’re going to devour me."

"Crazy."

"Insane," Enverna corrected. "It feels as though the whole world suddenly chose this time to fall on top of us." She shook her head. "Well... I suppose it is a minor blessing that we are no strangers to controversy. Though, between this and murder allegations, it is hard to say which case was worse."

"We got through that, though. We’ll make it through this too."

Reassuringly, Lianna held Enverna’s hand.

"Indeed..." Enverna’s voice softened considerably. "We... We can make it through this all, together."

The girl’s face reddened slightly. A similar expression fell upon her to that of when Lianna gave her that "kiss" back at the beach.

Lianna swallowed, leaning forward a little. She’d been putting this off, but she felt like the mood was just right.

"Enverna, can I-"

Someone knocked on their door.

Not their bedroom door, the front door.

[Of course.]

The sound was an unwelcome interruption, but curiosity mingled with annoyance as she rose to answer it.

The door creaked open, revealing...

[Athene?]

The Judicator’s Follower, who Lianna had met at the Player’s Gala.

Apologies for the confusion. Let’s revise the description based on the current context:

Lianna’s eyes widened as she took in the tall figure.

The memory of their previous encounter flashed in her mind, but this was a stark departure from the last time she had seen Athene. Back then, she’d been wearing a black vest and a skirt. The lady before her now was prepared for battle, a vision of strength and determination.

Gleaming armor adorned Athene’s imposing frame, the cold metal contrasting sharply with the determination etched on her face. She wore a metal plate lined with gold, a red cape falling down her back.

The air around her seemed to crackle with a palpable energy, and the glint of a drawn sword in her hand added to the intensity of the moment.

"..."

Lianna couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.

The lady who had once radiated curiosity now stood before them as a force to be reckoned with, prepared for a confrontation that seemed inevitable.

And her sword was drawn, her gaze unyielding.

"W-Wow, Athene! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Lianna questioned nervously as Zura and Enverna both walked up to the door as well.

Athene’s eyes bore into Lianna, the intensity of her gaze unwavering.

"I’ve heard the rumors, seen the accusations. Explain yourself."

Lianna’s jaw tightened, sensing the stern determination emanating from Athene.

"You believe what they’re saying online?"

"I believe in the truth," Athene retorted sharply. "And the truth, Lianna, is what I intend to extract from you."

The air in the room seemed charged, tension sparking between the two. Athene’s presence was forceful, and Lianna, though defiant, couldn’t help but feel the weight of her scrutiny.

"I- well, the rumors are wrong. I don’t have the ability to manipulate Fiends. If I could, do you really think I’d be sitting here all day?"

Lianna’s voice was cut off as Athene threw a hand forward and wrapped it around her throat.

"Hey!" Enverna quickly pulled out Storm. Zura took her mace and shield out as well. Lianna, however, held a hand up, trying to subtly tell them to stay back.

"These words of yours hold little weight. If you truly are no agent of the Fiends, then prove it!"

[How exactly am I supposed to do that!?]

While she was being choked, Lianna considered her options. Eventually, she arrived at one simple argument.

"Do you truly believe The Lover would select an agent of Fiends as her chosen follower?"

Athene hesitated for a moment, her intense gaze locked with Lianna’s. The question seemed to penetrate the armor of her certainty.

Reluctantly, she released her grip on Lianna’s throat.

"Fine. That is enough to give you the benefit of the doubt."

Lianna fell to her knees, coughing.

[Wow... Been a while since I was choked like that. I’m not used to it anymore.]

Athene walked into the dorm room, Enverna and Zura moving aside to allow her entry.

Lianna could feel the lingering tension in the room as she prepared to provide Athene with the explanation she sought.

"Explain yourself. What is the meaning of this artifact you carry?" Athene demanded, her tone impatient.

Lianna took a deep breath, glancing at Enverna for support before beginning her detailed account.

She spoke of their journey to Iceditch Valley, the discovery of the mysterious artifact, and how it had come to be in their possession.

As she recounted their experiences, saving those lost explorers, and encountering Xi, the Peaceful’s follower, Lianna could see Athene absorbing the information, the hard lines of skepticism slowly giving way to something akin to understanding.

"The artifact had been dormant ever since that mission. Until we went to that beach with the Shields of Saren," Lianna concluded, her gaze steady. "Its activation was unexpected, even to us. I didn’t manipulate the Fiends, or, I didn’t mean to. It just happened."

Athene remained silent for a moment, absorbing the information. The weight of her scrutiny lingered, but it seemed transformed. Slowly, a nod of acknowledgment followed.

"You’re implying it activates at will?" Athene inquired, her tone less confrontational.

Lianna nodded.

"Uh, yeah. At least, right now, it seems to have a will of its own. Maybe I did something unintentionally to activate it, but I’m not sure what that would be."

Athene, though still stern, appeared to be processing the information. The atmosphere in the room, once thick with tension, now held a fragile semblance of understanding.

Finally, she said:

"We need help." Athene stood up. "This is an important matter. Before you go anywhere else, we need to figure out how this item works. Simply having it in your possession could be dangerous. Not just for everyone around you, but for you as well. Come. I know someone who may be able to assist us."

She walked back out of the dorm once again, clearly expecting them to follow.

"Huh?" Lianna blinked. "Just like that? Who would even be-"

"The Hunter’s Follower," Athene cut her off. "A man who has likely killed several times the amount of Fiends that you have ever seen. If anyone is likely to help shed light on this issue, I would guess he could."