14 The Lover's Clarification
As they made it back home, with the nighttime chill setting in, Lianna went through her message for what had to be the 10th time.
"Hm... The benefits truly are incredible, but that requirement... We'll have to think about a way to work that out," Enverna stated. "For example, we should try to test how far apart we can be before the benefits are taken away. Depending on the distance, it could be a minor inconvenience or something we constantly need to keep track of."
"You're right," Lianna replied quietly. Her mind wandered as she listened.
"We can do that tomorrow, however. We'll notice naturally anyway as we go train in our courses."
Admittedly, Lianna felt like the time apart would be necessary. She needed some time to think. To process all of this.
Enverna yawned, covering her mouth with an elegant hand as she walked to the bedroom.
Lianna went with her.
"The day passed by so quickly, did it not?" She asked as Lianna went in as well, sounding quite happy. "Feels like before we knew it, the moons had come out... And yet, the city is still so bright!" She looked out the window, bathed in multiple colors from both the sky and the lampposts outside. "You can't see much at all in Garriden at this time. "
[Wait a second...]
Lianna then noticed something rather problematic. Something she probably should have noticed earlier but simply hadn't.
"Hm? What is...?" At that moment, Enverna noticed it as well. "Oh..." Her eyes fell on the same thing Lianna's did.
[Yeah...]
"I-I suppose they made a mistake!" She laughed awkwardly. "Um, it would appear they forgot to include an extra bed."
Indeed, the bedroom meant for the two of them only had one of those common pieces of furniture.
However, it also had a noticeable lack of space for another one to fit. Which, led Lianna to the conclusion:
"I, uh, don't think it's a mistake..."
"O-Oh," Enverna laughed nervously, looking around. "I... I see..."
With a sigh, Lianna turned around.
"It's fine," she told her. "I can just sleep on the couch if it would make you too uncomfortable to-"
"N-No," Enverna protested and Lianna stopped. "There is nothing strange about two women sharing a bed. Nothing strange at all! I'm fine with..."
Lianna shook her head with a smile.
[Oh yeah?]
Naturally, she walked up to the girl with a calm smile. Gently, Lianna grasped one of Enverna's hands.
And, all of Enverna's confidence faded with just that touch. Lianna let go and the girl took her hand back so quickly, that it was like Lianna had burned her.
Placing a hand on the girl's shoulder next, with a great amount of sympathy in her voice, Lianna told her:
"Don't force yourself. I'll just sleep on the couch tonight. It's fine. I get that, uh... Things are different where you're from. I'll wait for you to get used to me."
"But... I do not want to kick you out of the room," Enverna said quietly.
Enverna fidgeted with her hands, sounding so guilty.
It was an incredibly charming sight.
"It's okay," Lianna told her, backing away once again. "Trust me. Have a good night."
She closed the door behind her, sighing.
A message appeared in front of her.
RP Gained: 5
RP: 5
[Oh,] Lianna blinked. [I did the thing. I didn't even notice.]
---
The next time Lianna opened her eyes, she wasn't in that dorm room.
She found herself in a white void. There was nothing at all around her. When she looked down, she could not even see her own body.
[Am I dreaming?]
- Indeed.
Words appeared in front of her, forming one letter at a time.
- However, the conversation you and I are going to have right now is quite real.
Given everything that had happened recently, Lianna had a good guess as to who this was.
[Are you... The Lover?]
- ....
- Yes.
- I suppose this allows us to skip that part but, to be honest, I was kind of looking forward to seeing your shocked face when I told you.
- I am a little disappointed you're being so calm right now.
[Sorry.]
- Oh well. Anyway, yes. I am The Lover, and I am here to elaborate on that one, minor part of the messages I've sent you. The part about the world being in need of assistance.
[Oh, right... I forgot about that.]
- That is understandable, given that you've been getting accustomed to the company of your lover. It must be fun, no?
She couldn't see this Constellation, but she imagined the woman having a smirk on her face as she typed:
- To have been lonely for so long and now have the chance to fill that hole in your heart... It must feel nice.
[So, you have been watching me.]
- All your life.
- And, I have solved the problem.
- You're welcome.
Lianna had a hard time being grateful, however.
[So, you forced a very, very straight girl from halfway across Sylverin to marry me? I don't know... I'm not really too happy about that.]
- Lianna, do you truly believe I would assign someone to my chosen follower who is incompatible with them?
- Please, give me more credit than that.
It was hard to do so, given how noticeably Enverna's general attitude shifted the instant Lianna drew close to her.
Still, the Constellation typed:
- Enverna is unaware of her own sexuality and her own feelings because she has never had to think about them before. This side of life has not been relevant to her up until, quite literally, a few days ago.
- Have patience.
[Hm...] Lianna considered those words. She wanted them to be true, but judging by what she'd seen from Enverna so far, she simply could not be too sure.
- Do not falter.
- The world literally depends on it.
Hearing that, Lianna pulled back a little.
[What do you mean?]
- ...
- Give me a moment. I need to be selective with my words or the System will sever our connection permanently.
[Holy shit, seriously?]
- ...
- Alright, let's try this...
- The Fiend problem is going to become a lot worse. Worse in a civilization-ending, world-ending, sort of way.
- You and Enverna are the key to preventing that from happening.
Those sentences, typed out so damn calmly, was enough to stun Lianna into silence.
- Listening? Good.
- Originally, your civilization was doomed to die to the Fiends no matter what you did.
[Why?]
- Because you were all, mistakenly, going to come to the conclusion that... other threats, threats the System prevents me from revealing to you now, needed to be beaten first. That assessment would get you all killed.
- Not anymore, though. Because I am now involved, things have changed.
- There is still the possibility of failure, but there is also the possibility of success.
- Approximately one year from now, the date may change depending on your choices, humanity will face a great threat.
- Whether you win or lose depends on how you and Enverna prepare yourselves. And, understand this, growing closer and bonding with one another is part of that preparation.
- Together, you both can save the world.
- I am here, writing to you at this present moment, to let you know in advance so that you will, as you would so humorously say, "get your shit together."
Lianna was at a loss for words.
Sure, she and anyone else could guess that a Constellation would not have chosen to bless her for no reason.
However, to think that the fate of the world would rest on her shoulders...
[That's crazy.]
- That is precisely the reaction I anticipated.
- Luckily, the world's impending doom will be doing quite a bit to provide proof! So, here you go. Scanning this timeline, I've seen 5 events that ultimately contributed the most to the world's destruction. It will be up to you to prevent these events from occurring.
- They are as follows:
- 1. The Birth of Darkness.
- Unfortunately, Enverna lacks the skill and power to prevent this from happening. And, she simply does not have enough time to train and grow strong enough to stop it. This event is inevitable, but I tell you about it because it will serve as proof of the world's coming destruction.
- All four other events *are* preventable, depending on both your choices and Enverna's.
- 2. The Ascencion of the Storm Fiend.
- 3. The Assassination of President Aria.
- 4. The Fall of Garriden.
- 5. The Rise of the King of Fiends.
Lianna read through them one by one, growing increasingly more confused.
- One or two of these events happening will not result in the world's end, but if too many happen, then all will be lost.
- But, again, you both have it in you to stop all of those last four events.
- As she grows closer to you, Enverna will gain the potential to be the strongest Player in the world. As you grow closer to her, you will gain insight on par with that of a Constellation like myself, wielding information as your sword.
Lianna took this all in and responded:
[You're seriously telling me that the entire fate of the world depends solely on us?]
- I am.
- Understand something, though.
- Conventional training will do nothing for you, Lianna.
- You are my Follower now. You are The Lover's Incarnation.
- That means your ability to gain power will be tied to one simple question.
- How much love can you gather?
