Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 191: Star Players, Part Twenty

Lianna stepped into the familiar confines of her dorm room.

She found the rest of her friends gathered there, all looking like they’d been in the middle of a conversation before Enverna noticed she came in.

With a smile blooming on her face, she said:

"Welcome back. How’d it go?"

Lianna returned the smile easily before standing opposite her in front of the coffee table.

"I found a few things out. Something sorta big."

As she recounted her conversation with Elina and the revelation about this potential new guild, a ripple of surprise passed through the room.

Caroline and Enverna exchanged knowing glances.

"We heard something similar," Enverna responded.

"Really?"

"I heard someone mention it while we were walking around," Caroline added, her brow furrowing with concern. "A guild made up of a bunch of Children of Mana. They reached out to one member of the Shields of Saren to ask him about joining. They barely gave him any details."

Lianna blinked.

"Did you hear where their guild is?"

"It was *a* location," Caroline responded. "Probably not their main base, but a location nonetheless."

"We figured it would be worth investigating," Enverna said. "What did you find out?"

"Pretty much that," Lianna said.

"Uh... So, what do we do?" Zura asked. "Do we just... go over there and tear shit up?"

Lianna’s mind raced with possibilities as she considered their next move.

If this "guild" of sorts was the source of their recent troubles, part of the answer was obvious.

Still, there was someone Lianna wanted to consult.

"I think we need to take this information to Miss Taylor," Lianna said finally, her voice firm with determination. "She’ll know what to do next."

Everyone nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting a mix of concern and resolve.

---

{January 26}

In a spacious training room, the sound of clashing weapons echoed as Lianna and Enverna engaged in their final preparations for the exhibition match.

With practiced grace, Enverna lunged forward, her spear poised to strike, while Lianna deftly sidestepped the attack, her movements fluid and precise.

Their spar continued with relentless intensity, each of them pushing themselves to their limits as they exchanged blows. Sweat glistened on their skin as they moved, their focus unwavering as they honed their skills for the upcoming challenge.

After what felt like an eternity of training, Enverna finally called for a break, her chest heaving with exertion. She leaned against the wall, her spear resting against her shoulder as she caught her breath.

"We should take a breather," Enverna suggested, her voice slightly strained from the intensity of their training session.

Lianna nodded in agreement, her muscles aching from the exertion.

As they sat down to rest, Enverna turned to her with a thoughtful expression.

"So, how do you feel about the guild of Children of Mana we’ll be investigating?" Enverna asked, her tone serious.

"Huh?"

"I mean," Enverna muttered, "a group of Children of Mana, like the Starsign Association... What do you think?"

Lianna’s expression hardened a little.

"I don’t ’think’ anything about them," she replied bluntly, her voice tinged with anger. "They aren’t a real guild anyway. They’re nothing more than murderers.

Her fists clenched at her sides as she spoke, her resolve firm and unwavering.

"If anything, I’m eager to take them down and put an end to them."

Enverna nodded in understanding, her own determination mirroring Lianna’s.

"I feel the same way," she agreed, her gaze unwavering as she met Lianna’s eyes.

As Lianna wiped the sweat from her brow, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

With a glance at the screen, she saw it was Miss Taylor. Swiping to answer, she brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello, Miss Taylor," Lianna greeted, a little breathless from all the exercise.

"Lianna, it’s time," Miss Taylor’s voice came through the line, firm and determined. "A car will be arriving shortly to take you and Enverna to the meeting location."

Lianna’s pulse quickened at the prospect of their impending confrontation.

"We’ll be ready," she affirmed, her tone resolute.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Miss Taylor spoke again.

"And how are you feeling, Lianna?" she inquired, her tone gentle yet probing. "About our... incoming mission, I mean. Are you alright?"

Lianna felt a surge of frustration at the question, a familiar echo of the one Enverna had asked her earlier.

"I’m feeling fine," she replied tersely, her emotions roiling beneath the surface. "I just want to stop these people."

[What is with these questions!?]

Miss Taylor’s response was measured.

"I understand," she said simply, her voice tinged with empathy. "Just remember that we are only heading over there to do some scouting. The actual plan to stop these people begins tomorrow."

"I know." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Very well. Good luck."

With a final assurance that they would do their best, Lianna ended the call.

Soon, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. Lianna and Enverna exchanged a glance filled with silent determination.

With a shared nod, they approached the vehicle and climbed into the backseat, settling in for the journey ahead.

The soft hum of the engine filled the air as the car pulled away from the curb, the city streets passing by in a blur of lights and shadows.

In the confines of the car, a sense of anticipation hung heavy, mingling with the tension that coiled in the pit of Lianna’s stomach.

As they rode in silence, Lianna couldn’t shake the memories that flooded her mind.

The shock of losing Xi, the sudden attacks on her friends, and the constant threat that loomed over them.

Each recollection served as a stark reminder of the stakes they faced and the urgency of their mission.

With a steadying breath, Lianna turned her gaze to the window.

Hopefully, she and the girls could find some information out tonight.

[... If we could end this before tomorrow, I’d like that too,] she thought, with a minor amount of bloodlust running through her veins.