Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 32 - 31- Fourth-ranked

There was something about the woman beside him. She hasn’t revealed her face, yet she appears alluring.

The way she walked, that delicate waist swaying side by side, and the way she carried herself...something was about her that didn’t allow Adrian to look away from her.

"I assume you have fallen for me," the lady giggled as she held the cup of iced tea in her hands and side-glanced at Adrian.

He wasn’t a naive teenager to get flustered. Without removing his gaze from her eyes, he told her, "Fallen...no. Captivated, yes. You are stunning." He complimented honestly.

Beautiful things need to be praised.

"Fufu~I am quite pleased with how honest your eyes are. They know where to look." She teased, her head tilted, which made her red locks fall over her eyes.

"Did you not find it disturbing to be stared at?"

"I am used to it. And you are nothing but like other onlookers in my eyes."

Adrian’s left brow rose, as he said, "Then I assume you approach every other stranger and invite them out for a date regularly as well?"

The girl was taken aback, and it could be seen by her raised brows.

"I called you out...well, that’s true." Leaning closer, she asked, "But do you hate it...my company?"

Adrian smiled knowingly as he sipped on the remaining drink.

The lady got her answer...as she said, "Your eyes are honest. I like that part of you."

She took her previous spot, leaning against the wall as they stood in a short alley and saw others passing by.

After a brief pause, she asked, "Are you a Runesmith?"

Adrian was surprised, "By how purposely you approached me, I thought you already know who I am."

Adrian could tell that she wasn’t just a passerby who got interested in the pencil he was holding and approached him. Well, it was idiotic on his part to accompany her, but until now, there hasn’t been any sign of danger from her.

With her eyes turned slant, mischievously, she asked, "Do I get the freedom to act clueless here?"

"And why would you get that?" Adrian asked.

The girl leaned closer, her womanly fragrance overwhelming him and her hot breath vivid on his face. With her voice turning dangerously low she whispered, "Because I am beautiful."

...okay, Adrian’s heart might have skipped a beat and he forced himself to look away.

"...well, it’s not a secretive job. I work at the academy as the Professor of Runes."

"I guessed so. You give that professional man’s vibe." She nodded, taking her distance.

"What about you?" He asked as he threw the container into the dustbin.

The lady heaved a sigh, "Just a wanderer, traveling through cities and enjoying my life. I occasionally work as a Warden to afford my travel expenses."

Adrian got curious, "What rank are you?"

The lady asked back, "Guess."

Adrian hummed..."I have no means of assessing someone unless I see their Armament so I can’t tell." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"That’s so...then here."

Adrian momentary flinched when she pulled out the long blade

It wasn’t a dagger exactly ..more like Dirk. A long slim blade that was well polished and maintained. A handle was of the same width as the blade and a leather belt for perfect grip.

Adrian frowned as he wordlessly took the weapon from her and instantly heard her saying, "Be careful with the blade. Poison coated."

Adrian nodded, but the first thing he touched was the blade; after all, that’s where the runes are inscribed.

"Woah..." Adrian was taken aback...the letters were so neatly inscribed that he felt he was seeing the runes written in the book. No extra markings, no residual mana, and the runes were so compact that Adrian could add four more patterns on this 40-centimeter blade.

Adrian ran his finger up the runes and smirked, "It’s not poison coated...your affinity is with poison."

The lady was...speechless. Her eyes widened as she asked, "You read it so easily? I thought inscribing such tiny letters would make it difficult. And the Dark element isn’t that common, you know."

Adrian didn’t respond to her. Someone who has been reading about the first Thread so closely for the last few days could identify the letters easily.

The book doesn’t complicate things and because of repetitive examples of what runes could be used for different elements, Adrian identified it easily.

After a bit of pause, he asked, "Second Thread...huh." Adrian was looking at a Second-grade armament for the second time—the first one belonged to Ariana.

"You identified the Second-thread means you know how to bind it as well, I assume?" The lady’s eyes narrowed, observing the man closely.

Adrian was about to respond to her, when suddenly,

"HELP! HE TOOK AWAY MY DAUGHTER!"

Someone shouted, and the two of them flinched.

Without a word, the redhead yanked the blade from Adrian’s hand and bolted out of the alley, Adrian right behind her.

They burst into the crowded street and saw a man barreling through the crowd, clutching a little girl to his chest. Every step he took made the ground tremble—he was clearly more than human.

"We need to—" Adrian began, but froze as the woman beside him seemed to vanish, replaced by a blur of motion.

In the next instant, she sprang forward in long, powerful strides, rising high enough that the moon shone straight behind her. Her veil drifted around her like a silver mist, and her hair framed her face in a glowing halo.

For a heartbeat, the crowd stopped in its tracks. People mid-panic forgot to run, their eyes drawn to her graceful form. She spun once in the air—her body curved like a dancer, every movement light and sure.

Then came the sharp hiss of steel.

SHLINK

The blade flew from her hand in a perfect arc, slicing through the night toward its mark. Adrian held his breath as he watched it fly.

And it hit.

SQUELCH

The blade sank into the back of the man’s knee with a sickening thud. He cried out and collapsed, dropping the girl. Instantly, bystanders rushed forward, scooping her up and carrying her to safety.

Tap

The woman landed gently on the pavement, her feet barely making a sound. She turned to Adrian, one brow lifted, her eyes bright in the moonlight.

He could only whisper, hoarse with awe, "Fourth Ranked Warden, Ruby Vermilion. The Head of House Vermilion. The youngest Runesmithing to establish the third thread....why are you here?"

The lady, Ruby, grinned, "I will tell you the next time we meet." And with that, she becomes one with the shadows and disappeared.

°°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Her image...would take some time to find.

Thanks for reading.