Return of the Legendary Runesmith

CLANG

"Ah!" His eyes flew open, heart pounding against his chest.

The heir of the Vermillion house had felt this kind of fear frequently—since that day.

"Fuu…" He drew in a shaky breath, pushing himself upright, only to realize his shirt clung to him, soaked with sweat.

He was one of the few who had survived that nightmare.

Not as a fighter. Not even as a participant. Just a bystander caught in the crowd.

Yet he had seen it all—men and women cut down before his eyes, Tower Members turning on each other like rabid beasts, children crushed in the chaos. Worst of all, he had felt the hollow weight of complete helplessness.

Rising from the bed, his legs heavy, he drifted toward the window.

Down in the backyard, his sister stood quietly watering the plants, her figure a fragile calm in the morning light.

He exhaled, long and weary, before changing his shirt and heading downstairs.

"You seem rather calm for someone meeting her fiancé today," Damien said, his tone light as he approached.

Ruby turned, her gaze settling on him. She didn't need to ask. Despite his efforts to mask it, she had already seen through him.

"You had another nightmare," she whispered, her brows knitting with quiet concern.

Damien didn't try to play the strong one. He admitted quietly, "Well… It's not like I can control it."

He wasn't weak enough to curl up in a corner and let fear rule him, but he wasn't strong enough either—to simply forget, to walk away untouched from something so scarring.

Ruby set the watering jug aside and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her brother.

Her hand rubbed gently along his back as she whispered, "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Despite the years between them, Ruby and Damien had always been close. They shared burdens as much as joys. She often confided in him about Adrian, and he, in turn, spoke of the struggles he faced at the academy—struggles that came not from his own doing, but from the weight of carrying the Vermillion name.

For a moment, the younger one stayed quiet, his jaw tight, before his voice broke through in a low murmur. "It was bitter… realizing just how weak I could be when it mattered most. I don't want to feel that way again, sister. Not ever."

Ruby pulled back slightly, her hands resting firmly on his shoulders. Her eyes searched his, filled with both strength and sorrow.

"No one wants to be helpless," she said softly. "No one wants their fate decided by someone else's hands. But the only path forward is to grow, step by step. Gain experience. Find allies who will stand with you when the world turns cruel."

A shadow of regret lingered in her heart—regret that her brother had been forced to witness such horrors. But in a way, perhaps it was necessary. This world was harsh and unfair, and he needed to see it for what it truly was.

Only by facing weakness could one come to respect the meaning of strength.

Damien stayed quiet for a while, his thoughts swirling, before finally asking in a low voice, "How was he that strong?"

Ruby blinked, and the first face that rose in her mind was Adrian's.

Her brother continued, brows furrowed. "He didn't just stand against a powerful Acolyte—he even brought down a dragon. Wasn't he supposed to be just… a miraculous Runesmith?"

Ruby's lips curved into a soft smile. "Well, I'm a Runesmith too. And I'm not exactly weak, am I?"

Damien hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. "…You saw it, sis. That kind of strength… It's not something a nameless warden should've been able to muster."

Ruby let out a slow breath, giving a small nod. "You're right about that."

Silence lingered between them, broken only when Damien lifted his gaze and said firmly, "I allow him."

Ruby tilted her head, startled. "Hmm?"

A grin spread across Damien's face. "He's worthy. Worthy to hold your hand, to stand as your partner. I recognize him."

Her eyes widened, and for once, Ruby was left without words. A faint blush touched her cheeks, making her fall completely silent.

Seeing his usually composed sister flustered, Damien chuckled. "The cool sister, turning into a shy maiden… that was fast."

Ruby smacked his shoulder before telling him, "Go take a shower. You are reeking."

….

Sitting inside the carriage, Adrian let out a long sigh.

He was on his way to meet the Vermillion family.

Even though he knew this engagement was nothing more than a facade created for his safety, a knot of unease still formed in his chest.

Thankfully, Lord Vermillion had already told his family the truth—that the engagement was fake. If not, Adrian would have carried the heavy guilt of deceiving Ruby's mother and brother.

Still, there was one more weight pressing on him. Until now, he hadn't told his own father that he was getting engaged again.

Naturally, he planned to reveal everything soon. Only then could his father help soothe his brother's anger, and perhaps even calm Adrian's father-in-law when the time came.

Leaning back against the seat, Adrian pulled out the notes and began to read.

He had only twenty days left. If he failed to master the two steps of the fifth thread within that time, the Time Chamber would close for a long time—and the system would no longer lend him its aid.

So far, he had managed to grasp the first step after countless struggles, but the second step continued to elude him.

He wasn't crushed by the failure, but the disappointment still gnawed at him.

"When will I receive the rest of my memories?" Adrian muttered, half-expecting the same vague response as always—that once he achieved this or that, only then…

But this time, the system's reply was different.

[Once you master the fifth thread, the system will lead you to an armament—an armament you tuned ages ago. One that only you can touch, only you can wield. Within it lies all your memories, your experiences, and your emotions.]

[To connect with that armament, the host must first learn the fifth thread.]

Adrian was surprised by that quick and straightforward response.

So…the memories are stored somewhere, huh?

He crossed his arms on his chest. There are so many things at stake. He had to learn the fifth thread as soon as he could.

Not so long after, the carriage came to a pause before he was informed, "We have arrived."

Adrian sighed before stepping out of the carriage and asking the driver, "Can you help me carry the gifts?"

The man gave a brief bow before taking the boxes and a few were carried by Adrian as the duo moved toward the mansion.

The soldiers at the entrance didn't stop Adrian from entering and a butler instantly stepped forward to carry the gifts.

"Thank you, Mister Bermen." He said with a smile before handing the carriage driver a small pouch of coins.

The butler smiled in response before he began to lead Adrian towards the mansion

While he walked, Adrian noted that there were a few carriages parked inside the premises, urging him to ask, "Is there someone visiting Lord Vermillion?"

The butler responded in a polite tone, "Someone from the Tower, Sir."

Adrian frowned…he had a bad feeling about this unexpected visit.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.