Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Adrian sat in the medical room, carefully applying potion to the gash on Ruby's arm.

His brows knit together as he finally broke the silence.

"Why did you fight her?"

When he'd found them, both Ruby and Sarah were already battered, each having landed heavy blows on the other. Thankfully, Sarah hadn't been carrying her armament—if she had, things could have gotten much worse.

Sarah was now resting in her own room, getting healed and clearly upset. She had made it clear she didn't want to be anywhere near Ruby.

Adrian's voice was calm but firm.

"You're good friends with Miss Boridicus, aren't you? Then why attack her?"

Ruby kept her eyes on the floor.

"Hearing about someone being tormented… and then finding out that person is someone close to you—they're two very different feelings."

Adrian let out a quiet sigh. So… she knew.

He continued tending to her wound, his hand moving in steady circles as he dabbed the potion on.

"I've long forgotten what happened between us, Ruby. And why drag yourself into it? It was between me and her."

The last thing he wanted was for two friends to turn on each other because of him.

He knew Ruby and Sarah had been close for years. He'd even heard that Vermillion Ruby had once trained under Sarah's father. For her to fight someone she'd known for so long—over something that had happened ages ago—just didn't make sense to him.

Ruby's voice was low but full of heat.

"When I heard… that the person she used to bully was you… I couldn't hold back. I wanted to hurt her somehow. To make her bleed. To make her cry. I just wanted her to feel—if only for a moment—what you must have felt back then."

At that moment, Adrian felt such raw anger radiating from Ruby that it caught him off guard.

How could she be this furious… for someone else?

Were they just good friends? Yes, he had sensed a faint attraction from her before—but nothing that hinted at feelings this deep.

He leaned back slightly, his voice dropping to a quieter tone.

"Ruby… I—"

"You don't need to say anything, Adrian." Her eyes held no regret. "I'm not sorry for what I've done. She deserved worse. And if you're wondering why I attacked her… it's because I love you."

"...!!"

Adrian's eyes widened.

He hadn't expected her to just come out and say it—so bluntly, so fearlessly.

But Ruby didn't stop there. Her voice carried a steady resolve.

"If there was ever any doubt in my heart, today cleared it. I don't know what exactly made me fall for you, but I can't deny it anymore. I'm head over heels for you, Adrian… even though I know you already love someone else."

She rose to her feet in one swift motion.

"And since I don't want to hear your rejection… I'll take my leave. See you later."

And just like that, she was gone.

Adrian sat frozen, the quiet of the medical room pressing in around him. He glanced down at the potion in his hand—he hadn't even treated the rest of her injuries.

But right now, her wounds weren't what filled his mind.

'Now… how am I supposed to face her?'

°°°°°°°

"Gaaahh! I'm such an idiot!"

Ruby wanted to slam her head against the wall—over and over—until she bled.

She couldn't believe it.

She couldn't believe it!

She had actually confessed her feelings.

She'd told him she loved him!

It hadn't been planned. It wasn't some carefully thought-out moment. She'd just been so wound up, so agitated, that the words spilled out before she could stop them.

She didn't regret fighting Sarah—not one bit. But what came after… that was never part of the plan.

Her original idea was simple: take things slow. Inch her way into his heart, little by little. And only when she had carved a space for herself there, would she lay her feelings bare.

But no… she had to go and ruin it.

She clenched her fists.

"I've screwed it… completely screwed it. He's going to avoid me for sure now."

With a sharp smack, she slapped her palm against her face and muttered curses under her breath.

Plopping on the bed, the redhead muttered under her breath, 'Wish you had been here, Anna. I really need you right now.'

….

Sarah still couldn't believe what had happened.

She sat in her room, her personal assistant tending to the cuts and bruises across her face and torso. The deeper wounds throbbed with each touch of the ointment—a reminder of the shock that had left her open to Ruby's strikes.

Never, not even in her wildest dreams, would she have imagined Ruby turning on her so suddenly.

"Exactly what kind of relationship does she have with Adrian?" Sarah muttered, her brows knitting together.

Her secretary, who had been quietly working, finally spoke.

"I have heard that Miss Vermillion has visited the Runebound a few times in recent weeks, my lady."

Sarah's frown deepened.

"Ruby visited the Runebound? Was it… because of Adrian?"

"Possibly, my lady," the secretary replied. "They are both runesmiths. And considering Sir Adrian's recent accomplishments, it wouldn't be surprising if he caught Miss Vermillion's attention."

Sarah hummed in thought, though her expression stayed hard.

She had been hearing Adrian's name far too often lately. Even her father had mentioned him several times, noting the unique methods he'd introduced to the craft of runesmithing.

How a man she once considered talentless had suddenly become the talk of their world, she didn't know. But she couldn't deny it—Adrian's name was spreading fast through the runesmithing community.

After a brief silence, Sarah asked, "Did you find out who his fiancée is?"

She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that Adrian wasn't just dating someone—he was engaged.

Her secretary nodded. "It's his cousin, Ariana. Headmistress of the Runebound Academy… and the seventh-ranked Warden."

Sarah blinked, stunned.

"…What the—? Ariana is his fiancée?"

How in the world was that guy suddenly surrounded by such remarkable women?

First, Ruby had shown interest in him—so much so that she'd attacked Sarah over him. And now, a woman Sarah genuinely admired, a prominent figure in the Warden world, was not only close to him… but his partner?

Crossing one leg over the other, the violet-eyed woman narrowed her gaze.

"What exactly did they see in him?"

The guy she knew was…nothing but a loser. Sure, he had changed but to be fawned upon by two such amazing people?

'I think I should pay more attention to him from now on.'

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.