Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Chapter 601 - 600- Someone else

"So like... are we getting married today?" Ariana asked, still struggling to believe the proposal she had just received.Of course, she had agreed. She had accepted him as her life partner long ago. The thought of marriage had never bothered her. It simply never came up amidst the endless chaos that seemed to surround their lives.

Yet today, out of nowhere, Adrian had asked her out and, before their date had even properly begun, proposed to her.

"Well, yes." Adrian gave her a sheepish smile. "I’ve already sent letters to our families, apologizing for not informing them beforehand." He rubbed the back of his neck before asking, "You don’t mind them not being present, right?"

Ariana shook her head.

"Uncle is in the Northern Nation representing our country, and Father has gone to the Eastern Region for his vacation. Dragging them back would be unfair."

She paused and glanced at her lover.

"But, Adrian..."

Her steps slowed, and he naturally matched her pace.

Holding his hand, she asked softly, "People usually rush to fulfill their promises when they’re about to go on a dangerous mission."

A weight settled in her chest.

"...Do I need to be worried about this proposal?"

A faint smile appeared on Adrian’s face as he turned fully toward her.

They had reached the end of a lane and stood off to the side, away from the flow of passing pedestrians.

Resting his hands on her shoulders, he spoke in a calm, reassuring voice.

"Dear, my life isn’t mine alone anymore, is it?" His smile deepened slightly. "Before I can even think about embracing death, I’d need the permission of three women. Especially yours."

Ariana placed her hand over the one resting on her right shoulder.

"Then why the rush?" she asked. "I don’t mind getting married, but you’re usually the kind of person who handles things calmly."

Adrian shrugged.

"Because I hate myself for making you wait this long. Father has scolded me about it in so many letters that I’ve lost count." A small chuckle escaped him before his expression softened. "And honestly, our lives are destined to remain tangled in chaos. So instead of waiting for the perfect occasion, I decided to create one."

His voice carried nothing but sincerity. Warmth and excitement shone clearly in his eyes. There was no hidden meaning behind his words, no lingering concern concealed beneath them.

He simply wanted to make her his wife.

Officially.

Today.

Ariana finally smiled, the tension easing from her shoulders.

"Okay, I understand." She looked at him curiously. "Though where is the wedding? There isn’t even a church in this town."

Adrian chuckled.

"Don’t worry about that. Just give them some time to finish the preparations before I take you to the venue."

"Them?"

Ariana raised an eyebrow, but the amused smile on his face made it clear he had no intention of revealing anything yet.

In the end, she gave up trying to pry the answer out of him and decided to simply enjoy the moment.

"Alright then, future husband."

Hooking her arm through his, she leaned against him lightly.

"First, take me somewhere to eat. I’m starving."

Adrian hummed in agreement.

"Sounds good. How about a proper adventurer’s meal?"

Bread, roasted meat, a hearty broth, and fresh juice this early in the morning might have been a little heavy, but considering everything they had planned for today, they would need the energy.

However, Ariana immediately shook her head.

"No. I’ll be wearing a wedding dress later. I can’t let anyone, especially you, see my belly sticking out."

Adrian could have sworn he had just witnessed the cutest pout in existence.

For a moment, he barely managed to suppress the urge to lean forward and peck those slightly curled lips.

Instead, he cleared his throat and said, "Then how about some pancakes and honey milk? Something light. They used to be your favorite."

Ariana’s cheeks warmed faintly.

"Well..." She looked away. "I tried to keep that hidden from you, but not only did you catch me eating them, you still remember."

Adrian chuckled.

"I remember everything when it comes to you."

His voice carried a gentle certainty that made her heart flutter.

"Now, come on. Let’s go."

Without waiting for a response, he took her hand and led her through the streets toward the shop famous for its pancakes.

For once, neither of them thought about the future waiting ahead.

They simply enjoyed the warmth of the morning and the happiness of being together.

....

"How do you feel now?" the nurse asked as Allen slowly pushed himself upright on the bed.

"I... I’m fine." He nodded weakly. "I can think properly now."

Letting out a long sigh, he raised his left hand instinctively.

"Your sword has been taken away," the nurse informed him, somehow guessing what he was searching for. "The instructor will return it once you’ve fully recovered."

However, Allen wasn’t looking for his sword.

If anything, he was afraid of it.

Not because it had hurt him. No, the sword wasn’t sentient.

It was because he had nearly killed someone today.

His chest tightened at the memory.

"How... is she?" he suddenly asked, lifting his head. "Senior Averis? How is she?"

The nurse didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she walked over to the bed across from his and pulled aside the curtain.

Allen’s gaze froze.

There, lying peacefully beneath the white sheets, was Averis.

Asleep... or at least, he hoped she was.

"Her injuries aren’t deep, but you clearly intended them to be far worse."

The nurse’s words struck him like a blow, making him flinch.

"I-I didn’t! I swear!"

His voice rose instinctively.

The nurse merely shrugged.

"Not my words. That’s what the onlookers said." She glanced toward the sleeping Averis. "And from what they described, you were at least planning to amputate her dominant arm."

Allen fell silent.

Slowly, his hand rose to cover his left eye.

What... was wrong with him?

In that moment, he had lost control.

He had seen something.

Something that allowed him to push beyond his own limits.

Under normal circumstances, Averis was the superior warrior. In terms of pure martial skill, she stood above him.

He had lost to her countless times before.

But today...

Something had happened.

As he neared yet another defeat, he saw something.

No.

Someone.

A sword dance unfolded before his eyes, impossibly graceful and terrifyingly lethal. Every movement flowed into the next with perfect balance, carrying a beauty that bordered on madness.

The moment he saw it, Allen knew.

If he imitated those movements, he would win.

Yet he also understood the danger behind them.

That was why he tried to resist.

He truly did.

But his body had other plans.

And now...

’This is messed up. I need to take some time and think about it.’

He lay back down and closed his eyes.

The voice in his head wasn’t enough that now, these memories.

’But who exactly was I in those memories? A warrior? An assassin...no, I was someone greater.’

Slowly, without him realising, Allen was forced by his soul to reach a height which he never was destined to touch.

°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment .