Return of the Legendary Runesmith - Chapter 396

Chapter 396: Chapter 395- Ashamed
“Hmm, I understand,” Adrian murmured, nodding as he read through the report Annabelle had brought. He listened quietly while she explained her observations from the Barren Lands.

The raven-haired woman finally asked, “Should we be concerned, Darling?”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If these reports are accurate… then yes, we should be.”

He leaned back, recalling the shelves of old tomes stored within the Time Chamber—books that chronicled the history of the ancient creatures born from the Hollow Side. Even from what he had read briefly, he understood one thing clearly: those beings were unlike any monsters that roamed their realm.

The mortal plane—the realm of life and death—granted purpose to all living beings. But the Hollow Side… it was different. Those creatures existed as empty vessels, blank slates that awaited a master’s command. Whoever summoned them bestowed upon them emotion, intention, and purpose—something to cling to until that purpose was fulfilled… or until death claimed them.

Never in recorded history had there been a sorcerer capable of summoning more than a hundred Hollow creatures at once. But then again, *Darkness* had never been an ordinary being.

It was a transcendent existence—one that had reached godhood while still tethered to mortal flesh. Too powerful to be slain by humans, yet beyond the reach of divine judgment due to the ancient Law of Non-Interference.

“Why are they still here, though?” Annabelle asked softly, brow furrowed. “Shouldn’t they have perished or returned to the Hollow Side once their master was gone?”

Adrian remained silent for a moment, his gaze distant. The Darkness had been said to be eradicated by the Hero—the very one whose reincarnation now studied at Runebound Academy. Yet… rumors whispered otherwise.

Finally, he spoke, voice low while his eyes remained unfocused. “Darkness left scars far deeper than its death could erase. Its ideology, its will, its shadow… they linger even now. Perhaps that lingering presence, that echo of belief, is enough to keep those ancient creatures bound to this world.”

But even as he said it, Adrian’s eyes dimmed slightly. It was only a theory—a fragile attempt to explain something that should have been impossible. And in his heart, he wasn’t convinced at all.

Annabelle soon asked, “I don’t understand, though—why have they suddenly surfaced now?”

Adrian hummed thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair.

They were sitting inside his office, where multiple sound-blocking artifacts ensured complete privacy. That was precisely why Adrian could speak freely without worrying about eavesdroppers.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stared quietly at the flickering lamp on his desk before finally asking, “Hey, Bella… what do you know about the witches?”

Annabelle blinked at the sudden shift in topic. She could tell this wasn’t a casual question.

Unlike Adrian, who had only regained fragments of his past life, Annabelle remembered everything. Every sight, every sound, every betrayal. That was exactly why he wanted to hear her perspective.

The blue-eyed woman crossed her arms, her gaze growing distant. “They were branded as traitors,” she began softly, “because the world believed they were hiding Darkness. But…” —her tone sharpened— “it was also widely speculated that the Divine Apostles fabricated the accusation.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly as she continued.

“You know how people always viewed witches—as an ominous race, shrouded in mystery and fear. Their isolated settlements, their rituals, their affinity with the unseen… it all made them a difficult target. That’s why, when the Apostles got a chance they branded the witches as traitors. And the world was more than eager to believe.”

Her voice turned colder, quieter. “That false accusation led to the Witch Purge. Entire generations wiped out… for a crime they never committed.”

Adrian hummed, his tone thoughtful yet edged with suspicion. “You really believe they didn’t commit the crime they were charged for?”

That question caught Annabelle off guard. Her brows furrowed, and she gave him a long look. “Darling… are you actually suspecting your own ancestors?”

Adrian let out a quiet chuckle, resting his chin on his hand. “No, Bella. I’m just curious to know your perspective.” Leaning forward slightly, he continued, “From what you observed back then… was there *any* chance the witches were harboring the Darkness?”

Annabelle leaned back in her seat, her gaze turning sharp. “…Are you implying that because the witches might’ve been connected to the Darkness, your awakening somehow caused the ancient creatures to stir from their slumber?”

Adrian shrugged, his expression calm but unreadable. “We can’t ignore the possibility.”

Annabelle sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’d say you’re overthinking this, Darling. The witches never hid that vile creature. They only kept their witchcraft secret because they knew how dangerous it was. But their seclusion didn’t sit well with the Apostles—after all, that meant they didn’t worship any god. That alone made them heretics in the eyes of the Church.”

Adrian nodded slowly, absorbing her words. Her certainty carried weight—like someone who *knew* rather than speculated.

Maybe she was right. Maybe he *was* trying to connect threads that didn’t exist. But a part of him couldn’t let go of that gnawing feeling—like an invisible hand was moving pieces behind the curtain.

*Hmm… this is turning grim.*

If those ancient beings were truly awakening now—beings that should’ve only surfaced during the final battle—then something had gone terribly wrong.

He remembered it vividly. During the climactic war, when Allen challenged Nytharos—the fallen god—those creatures had been summoned from the depths of the world, each one serving as a general of destruction.

The chaos that followed was unlike anything recorded in history.

Having preserved their mana for centuries, those beings had evolved beyond monsters—they were now forces of nature, each one a calamity in its own right.

If they were stirring *now*, something in the balance of the world had shifted.

Adrian’s gaze darkened. Whatever was triggering their reawakening… he needed to find it—and destroy it—before humanity was forced to face horrors it wasn’t ready for.

Especially when Allen, the reincarnated Hero, was nowhere near strong enough to stand against them yet.

Just then—

*Knock, knock.*

Adrian’s brows lifted slightly. “Who is it?” he asked, his tone calm but alert. He was ready to signal Annabelle to hide in the bathroom if necessary.

But the voice from the other side made him relax. “It’s me.”

Annabelle glanced at him, and after receiving a small nod, she walked to the door and opened it.

Standing there was Ariana, holding a file in her hand.

“Did you rest?” she asked as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

Annabelle smiled faintly. “Not really.”

Ariana sighed, a hint of concern in her voice. “You’ve been traveling for hours. Go eat the food I left in my room and make sure you rest properly, alright?”

Annabelle nodded softly. “Understood.”

Once that brief exchange ended, Ariana turned her gaze toward Adrian.

For a few long seconds, silence filled the room. Neither spoke.

The air between them was heavy—thick with unspoken thoughts.

Ever since the previous night, they hadn’t exchanged a single word. And earlier this morning, Ariana had already left before Adrian even woke up.

Feeling the tension, Annabelle stepped away from them, moving toward the window behind Adrian. Her intuition told her she wasn’t meant to be here right now.

“I’ll take my leave,” she said gently. Though she longed to stay with her darling, she wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the tension between him and Ariana.

She didn’t know what had happened—but she could tell something *had*.

Once they were alone, Ariana placed the file on the table with a soft *thud.*

“Borodicus Clark has invited you to a celebration,” she said quietly, “to announce his new invention.”

Adrian didn’t even glance at the file. His eyes stayed on her, calm but searching.

Ariana avoided his gaze, her fingers fidgeting slightly at her side. She looked as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the courage to.

Finally, Adrian broke the silence. “Have I become that unbearable,” he asked softly, “that you can’t even look at me?”

Her shoulders stiffened. She bit her lip, her hands curling into tight fists before she whispered, “More like… I’m too ashamed of myself to look at you.”

Adrian’s expression softened slightly as she continued, her voice trembling.

“I’ve been thinking about what happened last night,” she confessed. “I practically blamed you for something you had no control over. And then, even when I was awake, I pretended not to hear you. This morning too… I left early because I couldn’t bring myself to face you.”

Her voice cracked slightly toward the end, the guilt she’d been suppressing finally showing through.

Adrian rose from his seat and asked, “Do you have time? I want you to show me the renovation you did to our new house.”

Ariana was baffled by the suggestion but he was already moving toward the door so she just dumbly followed him.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far…you know what you have to do.