Return of the Legendary Runesmith - Chapter 397

Chapter 397: Chapter 396- Talk to me
Ariana couldn’t quite understand why Adrian suddenly wanted to see their new house. Still, considering everything that had happened between them, she followed him quietly.

Guilt weighed heavily on her heart—more than what he might have seen in her eyes.

She had once told him, without hesitation, that no matter what happened, she would always be there for him. Ariana had truly believed she was the last person who would abandon him when things got complicated.

And yet, she had done exactly that.

Saying something and living up to those words—she now realized—were two entirely different things.

When he nearly lost control yesterday, what was her role as his partner? To understand what pushed him to that point, to talk to him, to help him find his ground again.

But what did she do? She ran. Like a frightened child.

She couldn’t even look at herself in the mirror this morning.

When Adrian called out to her last night, she had been awake. There was no way she could’ve fallen asleep after what happened between them. In truth, she hadn’t slept more than a few minutes.

And instead of telling him she wasn’t angry, instead of reassuring him, she chose to run away—leaving him to deal with his thoughts alone.

Adrian was still fragile about that day—the day he lost his life and awakened his core. He still carried the weight of the pain he caused her and Ruby. So, it was obvious that what happened last night must’ve shaken him deeply as well.

Yes, Ruby and Ariana had suffered. But it wasn’t only them who were left scarred.

And yet… despite knowing all of that, Ariana had turned her back on him.

“Hmm, this seems nice.”

Adrian’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see him standing near the small pond, admiring it.

She had it made recently—because there was a similar one back home, one he had always loved.

“You even added such beautiful fish,” he said with a soft smile, crouching down to watch them swim.

“They’re pretty rare, aren’t they?” Adrian asked, a hint of childlike wonder gleaming in his eyes as he turned to her.

Ariana nodded slowly. “Yes… I asked someone to bring them from another continent.”

*Because I knew you would like them,* she almost added—but stopped herself. Even she wasn’t sure why.

Adrian smiled as he stood and brushed his hands together. “Won’t you show me around? How have you decorated our home?”

Their home.

They had bought the house two months ago, right after their engagement—a place where they could spend time together, away from the academy, yet not too far from it either.

It sat on the gentle slope just beyond the marketplace, overlooking the distant towers of the academy. The villa, though the most expensive one in the area, wasn’t nearly as grand as Count Lockwood’s estate.

Still, it was beautiful in its simplicity—two floors capped with a conical roof, warm wooden interiors, and a quiet charm that made it feel alive.

Ariana stepped toward the door and pushed it open, the faint scent of pinewood and fresh paint greeting them.

Adrian followed her inside, his footsteps soft against the polished floor.

The moment they stepped inside, a gentle warmth welcomed them. The faint glow from the small chandelier above mixed with the sunlight filtering through cream-colored curtains, filling the room with a soft, golden hue.

Ariana had spent weeks putting this place together. She didn’t go for luxury—just comfort. The kind that made you want to stay a little longer.

The wooden floor was partly covered with a thick, sand-colored carpet that muffled their footsteps. A low sofa set in muted brown rested near the fireplace, its cushions slightly uneven from how often she’d sat there, lost in thought.

A small bookshelf stood by the corner, holding a mix of spell journals and a few old novels Adrian had once mentioned liking.

By the window, she had placed two chairs and a small round table—her favorite spot to sit with tea while watching the street downhill. A vase with white lilies stood at the center, their scent faint but pleasant.

The walls were simple, pale beige, but she had hung a few framed sketches—ones she drew herself.

There were hand drawn paintings of the two as well, one of which belonged to that time when Ariana used to be a shy girl and Adrian a bully.

Little things that didn’t draw too much attention but filled the room with their touch.

Adrian slowly turned in a circle, taking it all in. Everything was quiet, yet alive—the warmth of the wood, the faint scent of tea leaves, the softness of the carpet beneath his boots.

“You changed quite a lot,” he said finally, a small smile curving his lips.

Ariana shrugged, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Just a few things… I wanted it to feel like home.”

Soon, she added softly, “I’ve set up a workshop in the backyard.” All the supplies from the Tower were stored there, along with the new equipment she had bought especially for him.

She thought he’d be eager to see it, but instead, Adrian leaned back with a faint sigh. “Forget about that for now. Let me just enjoy some peace here.”

He dropped onto the couch, sinking into its soft cushions.

Then he looked at her, lifting his right arm slightly. “Mind joining me?”

Ariana caught the flicker of hesitation in his eyes—like he was afraid she might turn him down.

And that single moment… broke her heart.

Without a word, she walked over and sat beside him. Her gaze lingered on his face before she spoke quietly, “I’ve hurt you, haven’t I?”

Adrian let out a quiet sigh. “Yes, you did,” he admitted. “But not because you left me there alone… or because you didn’t answer when I called out to you last night.”

He drew another breath, slower this time, as if choosing his words carefully. “What really hurt me was that you didn’t wait for me in the morning. That…I didn’t expect.”

His voice carried both pain and quiet disappointment.

Ariana lowered her head, saying nothing. There was no excuse she could offer—no words that could soften the truth he had just spoken.

After a moment, he continued, his tone gentler. “You know what I love about us, Aria? It’s that we’ve always understood each other. Back when we weren’t even together, we used to argue all the time—but we never stopped talking things through.”

He gave a small, wistful smile. “Not once or twice, but probably hundreds of times we’ve fought over something.”

From Adrian’s refusal to return home from the academy, to Ariana’s stubborn insistence on continuing her duties as a Warden—they had clashed over big things, small things, and everything in between.

Yet through it all, they had always found their way back to each other.

“But the first time we got into a situation as a couple,” Adrian said quietly, “you thought it was a good idea to avoid me altogether?”

Ariana lowered her gaze and nodded. “Yes… I was a coward,” she admitted. “And I’m sorry for that. I should’ve waited for you. But it wasn’t easy, Adrian. Facing you after how I acted—after leaving you like that and then pretending nothing happened—it wasn’t easy. It was disrespectful, and I truly regret it.”

Adrian’s expression softened. “I understand, Aria,” he said gently. “And trust me, I don’t hold it against you. I know what must’ve been going through your mind. I’ve seen with my own eyes what I did to you and Ruby that day. That’s why I understand your reaction.”

He turned toward her, taking her hand in his. His grip was firm but warm. “But please,” he said quietly, “if anything like that ever happens again, don’t leave without talking to me. No matter what the situation is, promise me you’ll wait—so we can face it together.”

He leaned forward, his forehead gently resting against hers as he whispered, “I need you, Ariana… more than you realize. That’s why, no matter how far you run, I’ll find you—and tell you this all over again.”

Ariana’s voice trembled, thick with emotion. “You won’t get another chance,” she murmured. “Whatever I’m feeling, I’ll say it to your face this time… instead of running away like a little girl.”

Adrian chuckled softly before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close against his chest.

Ariana sank into his embrace, feeling his warmth melt away the weight that had been pressing on her heart.

She had been tense all morning—unsure how to face him, how to even begin the conversation. But now, resting in his arms, she finally felt her worries ease.

Maybe this was what it meant to have an understanding partner—someone who didn’t just forgive, but knew exactly what to say, and how to make the broken pieces fit together again.

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A/N:- Their first fight? I didn’t make it long knowing how out of character that would have been. Thanks for reading.