Return of the Legendary Runesmith

"Are you really okay?" Ariana asked softly, her fingers gently threading through his hair.

They had decided to skip dinner. Adrian didn't want to be anywhere else but here, and Ariana hadn't needed a second to agree.

She had never been bullied before—not the way Adrian had. But there were moments… moments when fear had wrapped around her like a vice.

Like that one time she went to the market alone, and a group of thugs cornered her.

She could still recall the paralyzing sense of helplessness. The cold dread in her veins. How small and powerless she had felt in that moment—like a fragile thing that could be broken, tossed aside, and forgotten.

But Adrian had been there.

He came for her that day.

If he hadn't, she would have remembered that incident for a very different, far more terrifying reason.

He was always there.

Back when she was still the shy, soft-spoken girl who avoided crowds and struggled to speak up, Adrian had been her shield. He protected her, scolded her, and guided her until she found the strength to protect herself.

He was one of the reasons she became who she was today—confident, self-reliant, and unafraid to stand her ground.

And she never forgot that.

But now… looking at him resting quietly against her, she realized something that made her chest tighten.

When he needed support… when he needed someone to stand by him, to comfort him the way he had comforted her—there was no one.

Not even his father, his greatest pillar, had been there. Ill and bedridden, he could do nothing.

And Ariana?

Caught up in her studies, her internship, and her growing responsibilities, she had failed to notice just how far Adrian was slipping.

She hadn't been there.

And it shattered her heart just thinking about it.

Melissa had always been distant. And Adrian, with no real friends around him, must have felt like the whole world had quietly turned its back on him.

Lonely. Silently carrying everything.

Ariana's throat tightened.

Her fingers continued to glide through his hair, tender and steady, as if making a silent vow:

Never again.

"I'm fine, Ariana," Adrian said calmly. "After everything—especially that ambush at the academy—I've changed. I've grown. Seeing her today didn't shake me. No fear, no anxiety. Just... a dull ache in my chest. Bitterness, maybe. Nothing more."

Ariana crossed her arms. "Honestly? That's normal. If it were me, I would've walked past her like she didn't even exist."

Adrian chuckled softly. "If I did that, Sarah would probably think she still has power over me. That she still gets under my skin. I'd rather not give her that satisfaction. To me, she's just a stranger now."

Ariana sighed in frustration. His calmness was admirable, but it also made her itch with agitation.

"I just wanted you to know," Adrian continued. "If she ever approaches you and starts saying things… ignore her. Don't let her get to you."

Because the only person whose opinion mattered to him now was standing right in front of him.

He didn't want Ariana to waste a single second of her peace over someone like Sarah.

But Ariana's fingers curled into a fist. "I honestly wish she would come at me with something. I'd give her a reason to regret it."

She might not outrank Sarah, but she sure as hell trusted herself to land at least one solid punch on that pretty little face.

With a sharp scoff, she added, "God help her if Annabelle ever hears about this. That bitch wouldn't make it out in one piece."

Adrian's tone hardened. "Exactly why I need this to stay between us. No matter what. Annabelle can't know about my past with Sarah."

He met Ariana's gaze seriously. "You know how she is—impulsive, short-tempered. The last thing we need is her blowing this out of proportion."

Ariana grinned, "That would be actually fun, no?"

Adrian tilted his head and told her, "Ariana…no. This is not a good idea."

"Fufufu~"

….

At the same time—not too far from where the two lovebirds were sharing their quiet moment—a different kind of meeting was taking place.

Inside a secluded, shadow-draped chamber, a group of shrouded figures sat around a circular table. The temperature was chillingly low, the light dim and sparse. Darkness clung to the corners of the room, cloaking their faces in obscurity. Only vague outlines could be seen—hints of movement, silhouettes of cloaks.

The air was heavy with tension, the kind that crept under the skin and made silence feel deafening.

"I still don't get it," one of them spoke, a male voice laced with irritation. "Why the hell do we need so much planning? They're weaklings—just fools hiding behind enchanted gear. Strip their tools, and they're no stronger than toddlers."

"Tch." Another voice responded—this one female, cold and measured. "You're underestimating them again, Joker. Strong Wardens have gathered for this tournament. We can't afford to be reckless."

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.

"This is our only shot. One mistake, and it's over. No more excuses, no more operations. We'll be dragged back under strict surveillance… and this little project of ours will be buried forever."

Joker leaned back in his seat with a faint scoff, but he didn't argue further. Her warning wasn't exaggeration—it was reality. They had already failed once.

And in their world, failure didn't come with second chances.

"Juggler? Any opinion on the matter?" The woman asked as she turned towards the man on her left.

The room fell silent as they awaited the words of the man who would be leading their operation once again.

The masked individual leaned back in his seat before voicing, "Our goal should remain fixated on that guy…Adrian. We have received the tip and we should pay heed to that."

Joker grunted, "You don't possibly want us to believe a random advice to target a man who isn't even a ranked Warden? I mean, he does have a few interesting toys, but just that. Take that away and what is he?"

The one who had been silent until now, Bishop, spoke this time, "One of the leading Runesmith who is sought by several prominent organizations. Removing him would be beneficial for us in the long run."

A brief silence ensued between the members as no one spoke anything against Bishop's advice.

Then Juggler again spoke up, "We move according to the plan and will pull that man into our trap. Remember, we need to bring either his or Clark's head to the headquarters."

No one said anything after that. The plan was already laid. They just needed to follow the plan and remove a few obstacles from their paths.

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.