Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 99: Mana Ties, Part Eleven

The four of them walked through the streets of Telvan, the air thick with tension.

Lianna exchanged cautious glances with Enverna and Zura, each step feeling heavier than the last. Athene led the way with determined strides, her armor clinking softly with every movement. The city seemed to hush as they passed as if the very streets were eavesdropping on their mission.

Lianna decided to break the palpable silence.

"So, Athene, how many followers of the Constellations have you encountered?"

Athene remained focused on the path ahead, her response measured.

"I’ve encountered a few, each with their own ideals and objectives."

Lianna sensed an opportunity to gather information.

"Anyone interesting? I mean, apart from me, obviously."

Athene’s gaze remained fixed a stern expression on her face.

"I cannot afford to disclose such information. Just because I’m not severing your head from your shoulders does not mean I trust you."

Lianna sighed inwardly.

The walls between them seemed impenetrable. She wasn’t sure if Athene would ever come to trust her, but perhaps she could glean something useful as they proceeded.

They arrived at a dilapidated building, its weathered facade blending into the surrounding decay. Athene halted, turning to face them.

"This is the place. The Hunter’s Follower resides here."

Lianna surveyed the building with skepticism. It looked like it had seen better days, its windows shattered, and graffiti covering the walls. She exchanged glances with Enverna and Zura, the unspoken question lingering in the air.

As they approached, Athene pushed open the creaking door. The hinges groaned in protest as they stepped into the dim interior. The air inside was musty, filled with the scent of neglect. Lianna’s eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing a space that seemed to be frozen in time.

Athene led them through a narrow corridor, the floor creaking beneath their footsteps. The air inside was heavy, a mixture of dust and the scent of neglect that clung to the decaying walls.

Athene led them through the dimly lit corridor until they reached the highest floor.

Here, with a dirty mattress nearby and some bottles of liquor, a man stood.

"Desmond Lace," Athene greeted, her tone respectful but tinged with an undercurrent of caution.

Desmond Lace, apparently the Hunter’s Follower, eyed them with a shrewd gaze.

Despite his disheveled and worn appearance, he exuded the undeniable aura of a seasoned fighter. His clothing, tattered and stained, hung loosely on his wiry frame. Layers of grime and dirt clung to his ragged attire, telling tales of battles fought in forgotten corners of the city.

His weather-beaten face bore the scars of countless encounters, a roadmap etched with the marks of a fighter who had weathered life’s storms. Stray locks of unwashed hair fell across his forehead, partially obscuring sharp eyes that gleamed with a keen and battle-hardened intelligence. The scruff on his face hinted at days and nights spent without the luxury of a proper shave.

Naturally, Lianna scanned him.

Desmond Lace

MP: 200/200

---

STR: C

END: C-

DEX: A-

MYS: B-

L: D

Traits:

Unassuming

{Enemies tend to underestimate you. Counter-attacks deal +15% damage}

Chosen

{Chosen by The Hunter}

[No Instinct,] Lianna thought. [But, a straight-up damage-boosting trait like that probably more than makes up for it.]

"What brings you here, Athene?" Desmond questioned, every word spilling out almost clumsily, like those bottles nearby were depleted recently.

"These are Lianna, Enverna, and Zura," Athene introduced, hand aimed at them. "We need information about an artifact."

Desmond’s gaze swept over the group, lingering on Lianna for a moment longer. She felt a chill down her spine as if he could see through her very essence. There was an undeniable strength to his aura, and Lianna couldn’t shake the feeling that she stood before a formidable adversary.

"I don’t typically entertain guests. What makes this artifact so special?" Desmond inquired, his eyes narrowing.

[I... take it he doesn’t read up on the news often, huh?]

Athene stepped forward, a sense of urgency in her voice.

"It bears a connection to the Fiends. We need your insight to understand its nature."

Desmond’s gaze shifted to Lianna, a silent request for her to reveal the artifact. Lianna hesitated for a moment, glancing at Athene, who nodded encouragingly. She reached into her inventory and brought out the mysterious object.

As Desmond laid eyes on the artifact, a subtle change in his demeanor occurred. His sharp gaze hardened, and a flicker of recognition passed through his eyes. Lianna caught that peculiar reaction, but Desmond remained silent.

"What can you tell us about this artifact, Desmond?" Athene pressed, her voice unwavering.

Desmond’s expression darkened, and a low growl rumbled in his throat.

"So, it’s true. The artifact is real. You’d be wise to hand it over, girl."

Lianna tensed, the weight of Desmond’s threat hanging in the air. Athene stepped forward, her voice a firm but calming presence.

"You could at least tell us why," Athene countered.

Desmond’s gaze remained on Lianna, as he shook his head.

"You’re playing with forces beyond your comprehension. Hand it over willingly, or I’ll take it by force."

Athene stopped to consider this for a moment.

Then, she turned and nodded at Lianna.

"Hand it over," she said. "If it truly is such a dangerous thing, perhaps it’s better for it to be out of our hands."

Lianna, Enverna, and Zura couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

Outraged, Lianna squared her shoulders, defiance in her eyes.

"No."

Both Athene and Desmond looked shocked.

"What?"

"I said, no," Lianna responded firmly. "You’re asking me to hand this thing over and you won’t even say why? Fuck that, I-"

Suddenly, Desmond was right in front of her.

He had moved so quickly that Lianna’s mind didn’t even catch it.

Enverna, however, was there in time to stop him.

Spear outstretched, she stood in front of Lianna, blocking Desmond’s path.

"Back off!" Enverna yelled out. She looked rather angry. "You attack like that again, I will skewer your heart!"

"Hm... Shit, you’re fast," Desmond murmured, looking back at Enverna, as though that was more of an annoyance than it was threatening. "Fine. If you won’t hand it over, then..."

He trailed off just as footsteps began sounding off in the distance. The same path Lianna’s group had taken to come here.

A figure with a smug expression expression appeared, walking up the stairs.

Lianna’s eyes widened.

Nareem Lir, the Merchant’s Follower, strolled in with an air of self-assured confidence.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Athene, Desmond, and a trio of newcomers. Seems like I’ve stumbled upon something interesting," Nareem remarked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Lianna’s gaze narrowed.

"You."

Nareem chuckled.

"Ah, Lianna Velcross, Zura Hellan, and Enverna Alteri. We meet again. Yes, I’ve done my research."

"You’ve met?" Athene asked Lianna.

"He’s the one who killed the president," Lianna stated and Athene’s eyes went wide. "What are you doing here!?"

"Meh, call it divine intervention," he said with a smile. "You know, I only came here to kill this old man over here," he pointed at Desmond lazily, "but, looks like Constellations’ Followers are on sale today! A three-for-one deal. Wonderful. Plus, whatever that little rock of yours is, I guess I may as well take it too."

Lianna’s grip on the artifact tightened.

"You’re not laying a finger on it."

Nareem’s expression shifted from amusement to cold determination.

"You’re welcome to try to stop me."

The room crackled with tension, and without warning, chaos erupted. Desmond lunged at Lianna, aiming to snatch the artifact from her grasp. Enverna swiftly responded, blocking his path. The Hunter’s Follower brought out a bow in response, pulling back, aiming not only at Nareem, but at Lianna as well.

Zura raised her shield stopping the projectiles before they could reach her.

All the while, Athene stood still, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Suddenly, the Judicator’s Follower decided on an enemy. Nareem.

She took him on, pushing him away from the girls. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Desmond, however, still had his eyes on them.

With a shared glance, Lianna, Enverna, and Zura took their defensive stances, preparing for the confrontation with the scruffy fighter.

"You should have just handed the thing over," Desmond hissed. "No wonder the Hunter warned me about this moment."

Lianna paused.

[What?]

Desmond, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around him, raised an eyebrow as he sized up the trio. The tension reached its zenith as the first strike was unleashed, with Desmond running forward, swapping out his bow for a knife.

Lianna swiftly drew her own bow, sending a volley of arrows towards Desmond.

Enverna, wielding her spear, lunged forward with practiced precision, aiming for any opening. Zura, the Paladin of their group, positioned herself strategically, ready to shield her allies or strike with her mace.

Desmond, despite his ragged appearance, moved with the grace and speed of a seasoned combatant. He deftly evaded the arrows, parried Enverna’s strikes, and pushed Zura back with a calculated ferocity.

Lianna backed up a bit, breathing in deep and looking back at her opponent.

[With stats like those, no way this is going to be easy. But, what does he mean the Hunter warned him? I thought only the Lover was doing that. And... What exactly did the Hunter say that made him so aggressive?]