Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Gathered at the long dining table, Adrian sat among the Vermillion family, sharing a quiet lunch.

Ruby was seated at his side, while across from them sat Fiona and Damien.

Until now, Adrian had felt nothing but welcome here.

Damien was the quiet type, speaking little, but Adrian could sense that his silence wasn't coldness—just his nature. He didn't seem the least bit troubled by Adrian's presence.

Fiona, on the other hand, was warm and talkative, a woman whose charm filled whatever silence her husband left. Looking at the two of them, Adrian realized Damien must have taken after his father, the man of the house, who also preferred to remain mostly reserved.

Between sips of her drink, Fiona tilted her head, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "Do you really not plan on succeeding your father? You'd make a fine leader—I can tell."

Adrian shook his head with a calm smile. "There's already a successor, one far more fitting than me. I've made my decision clear to Father—I want to devote myself to teaching and learning."

He knew himself too well. Administering a county wasn't for him. Managing a handful of people? Perhaps. But an entire region? The thought alone weighed heavy on him. No, that path wasn't his.

Besides, Melissa's eldest son was already preparing for the throne. Why create another rivalry with his stepmother when he could avoid it altogether?

"Heard you applied as a teacher right after you graduated?" Reid asked casually, lifting his glass. "And during the assessment, you faced some problems?"

Ruby's eyes widened at once, shooting her father a sharp look. Her expression said it all—This is a sensitive topic!

But Reid remained nonchalant, piercing his fork into a piece of meat and raising it to his lips as though he hadn't noticed her warning.

Adrian gave a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his neck. "I was… a bit conceited about my methods. I thought the testing technique they used was inefficient, even inaccurate."

"So you just walked out of the exam?" Reid asked, taking an unhurried sip of wine.

Ruby's gaze darted between the two men like a hawk tracking prey. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "Can we please change the subject? We all know what Adrian is capable of as a Runesmith." Her voice carried both exasperation and protectiveness.

Reid only shrugged. "I was simply trying to know more about my son-in-law."

Ruby's glare deepened, but Fiona leaned in with a gentle smile, defusing the tension. "I heard you have a good relationship with Anna?"

Adrian nodded softly. "Yes… we met by chance a few years ago and stayed in touch. She's been a good friend."

Of course, he couldn't possibly tell them the truth about their bond from a past life. So the story they'd settled on was simple: Annabelle had once needed his help, and from there they began exchanging letters, slowly becoming close.

Fiona's expression softened, her voice carrying both warmth and weight. "You're looking after the two daughters of this house. They may be a little moody at times, with their share of flaws, but I hope you'll care for them sincerely."

Ruby's cheeks warmed at her mother's words. She stole a quick glance at Adrian, unable to hide the faint blush coloring her face.

Adrian's lips curved into a gentle smile as he nodded. "They are both precious to me. You can be rest assured."

…

After lunch, Ruby tugged him away from her parents, guiding him through the quiet halls. She wanted him for herself, away from the watchful eyes of family.

They strolled down the corridor leading toward the mansion's backyard, sunlight spilling in through tall windows.

Ruby broke the silence first. "Thank you for coming here today."

Adrian chuckled lightly. "Why thank me? It's only proper to meet the parents of the girl I'm getting engaged to."

Ruby's lips curved in a sheepish smile. "When you put it like that…" She trailed off, the words she truly wanted to say—it feels like we're really getting engaged—caught in her throat. She kept them tucked away, not wanting to risk the comfort of this moment.

"Did you receive any letter from Sarah?" Adrian asked quietly. "She just… disappeared that day. Ariana told me."

Ruby let out a soft sigh before answering. "You don't just get ranked on the Wardens' list for strength alone—it's also about your contribution to society. Sarah may hold the second rank, but in terms of pure strength… Ariana could likely overpower her."

Her expression darkened, a shadow passing over her eyes. "And during that ambush, Sarah was reminded of it. Reminded how meaningless those ranks really are."

Adrian's brows furrowed with concern. "You know how the Acolytes work. They use emotions like that—doubt, bitterness—to pull people into darkness."

Ruby shook her head firmly. "She's stronger than that. Her mental fortitude won't allow her to be swayed." Her voice grew heavier, tinged with worry despite her certainty. "But… it will take her time to recover from the shock."

Adrian hummed softly in understanding. His thoughts drifted to that day.

The incident had left scars on more than just Sarah. Those few hundred people who had been cornered by the Juggler… they had stood on a bridge with death waiting at both ends. That kind of terror carved itself deep into the soul.

Adrian didn't regret his choice—turning against those people had been necessary. But knowing how broken and traumatized they were now… it left an ache in him all the same.

The silence between them lingered only briefly before Adrian broke it. "Are you working on a project these days?"

Ruby tilted her head, thinking, then gave a small shake. "Not… really. But my subordinates have been working on an artifact."

Adrian hummed in curiosity, prompting her to continue.

"It's an artifact based on the third thread—made for someone with an affinity for Light," Ruby explained.

Adrian's brows lifted in surprise. "Now that… sounds interesting."

He had never built anything beyond a second-grade artifact, much less one designed for the rare Light attribute. In fact, no one in the server possessed Light affinity—except Allen.

Ruby's lips curved into a playful smile, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "Want to come to my workshop? We can build it together."

For a Runesmith like Adrian, there could only be one answer. His own smile spread without hesitation. "Yes."

Just as they turned and started walking, they came across Damien who asked, "Where are you going?"

"To my workshop?"

Damien blinked, somehow that didn't sound strange. Then, he asked, "Unless it's a date, can I come along?"

Adrian nodded, "Yes, you can."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. At least glance at the girl before making the decision…