Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 199: Star Players, Part Twenty-Eight

{Lianna}

As Lianna and Enverna basked in the aftermath of their hard-fought victory, the atmosphere buzzed with congratulatory energy. The crowd roared and the flash of the cameras around them was almost blinding.

The organizer of the event approached them, extending his hand in warm acknowledgment of their triumph. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Lianna accepted his praise with a gracious smile, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Her gaze lingered on the stage, where a dark stain marred the otherwise pristine surface. It was a poignant reminder of the violence that had unfolded during their final showdown.

While she felt a sense of satisfaction at Dante’s defeat, there lingered a tinge of regret that she and Enverna hadn’t been able to vanquish the entire couple.

[Hopefully, we don’t see that girl again.]

As they were presented with their trophy and the prize money, Lianna’s mind wandered, distracted by the weight of recent events.

She barely registered the accolades being showered upon them, her thoughts consumed by the message awaiting her on her phone.

Soon, they walked away from the stage.

"Well done, Lianna," Enverna said as they went into the stadium’s halls. "Hopefully, we dealt that guild of theirs a blow today. Maybe... Lianna?"

Lianna retrieved her phone, her heart pounding with apprehension as she unlocked the screen.

The words that greeted her sent a chill down her spine, leaving her speechless and numb with disbelief.

"Lianna?"

Enverna’s concerned voice broke through her reverie, prompting Lianna to tear her gaze away from the screen.

Unable to find the words to convey the devastating news, she simply showed Enverna the message, her expression reflecting the shock and sorrow that gripped her soul.

In that moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis, and Lianna struggled to comprehend the magnitude of their loss.

"That’s... That’s impossible," Enverna muttered.

Lianna fell to her knees.

The words on the phone had one simple statement.

Cynthia Taylor had died.

---

{Two Days Later}

The somber atmosphere of Miss Taylor’s funeral enveloped the gathered mourners as they paid their final respects to the beloved leader of the Watchful.

Her time ended up being the shortest stint as a guildmaster in Telvan history, apparently.

Lianna stood alongside her friends, surrounded by a sea of faces, yet feeling utterly alone in her grief.

As the crowd dispersed, Lianna remained rooted to the spot, her thoughts consumed by the weight of their loss. Her loss.

Miss Taylor’s visage was still fresh in her mind. The easy, confident smiles she’d casually give Lianna every time she went into her office. The earnest tone she spoke with when she’d told Lianna she wanted to be there for her now since she hadn’t been there earlier in her life.

And now, that had been taken away.

Once again, Lianna was made an orphan.

Her fists clenched at her sides. Lianna was biting down on her own cheeks hard enough to draw blood.

Enverna, Mel, Zura, and Caroline approached her, their presence offering a semblance of solace in the midst of their shared sorrow.

Enverna’s voice broke through the silence, her words a gentle reassurance amid the palpable sadness that hung in the air.

"We’ll find her, Lianna," she said, her tone filled with conviction. "We’ll make sure she pays for what she’s done."

Lianna shook her head, her expression weary and resigned.

"I’m not so sure we even can anymore," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "If she’s gained Miss Taylor’s Trait, then... then it’s only a matter of time before she becomes too much to deal with."

Enverna furrowed her brow, her concern evident as she searched Lianna’s eyes for clarity.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

Lianna sighed, her gaze distant as she struggled to articulate her fears.

"Miss Taylor’s Trait was called Seed of Heaven," Lianna began to explain, her voice soft. "I’d never seen anything like it. It allowed her to grow stronger and increase her skills at an insane rate. If this girl has inherited that power, then... then, now, we’re on a time limit. At some point, especially if she keeps getting other peoples’ abilities, there’s going to come a time where we can’t do anything."

The gravity of Lianna’s words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their already heavy hearts.

Enverna exchanged a solemn glance with the others, the weight of their collective grief mirrored in their shared apprehension.

"We can’t just sit back and do nothing," Mel interjected, her voice tinged with frustration. "We have to do something, Lianna. We can’t let her get away with this."

Lianna nodded, her expression pained yet resolute.

"I know," she replied, her voice heavy with determination. "Trust me, I know."

"We merely need to be quick but cautious," Enverna said. "Rushing in blindly could cost us everything. We need to plan, to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead."

Zura stepped forward, her gaze unwavering as she voiced her agreement.

"She’s right," she said, her voice steady and sure. "We need to be smart about this. We can’t let our emotions cloud our judgment."

Caroline nodded in silent agreement, her features drawn with concern.

"We’ll find a way," she said, her voice a quiet reassurance amid the turmoil of their grief. "Together, we’ll find justice for Miss Taylor."

With a solemn nod, Lianna turned to face her allies, her expression grave and determined.

"We need to take this seriously. More than before," she sighed, trembling with barely restrained anger. "Miss Taylor’s passing is a-" she choked up, "-a big blow, but we can pull through, as long as we put everything we’ve got into this."

Her words hung heavy in the air, the weight of their collective grief and determination palpable as they stood together, united in their resolve.

Enverna stepped forward, her eyes flashing with determination.

"Agreed," she said, her voice echoing Lianna’s conviction. "We can’t afford to underestimate our enemy."

Mel and Zura exchanged a knowing glance, their resolve mirrored in the set of their jaws and the determined glint in their eyes.

"We’ll do whatever it takes," Mel declared, her voice firm and unwavering.

Caroline nodded in agreement, her features set with determination.

"I’ve seen you girls beat the odds before. We’ll find a way," she said, her voice a quiet yet steadfast reassurance.

With a shared sense of purpose, the group stood united, their determination unwavering as they prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.