Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 34 - 33- Training

[Next morning]

Yesterday, the question and answer session continued for six hours. Believe it or not.

When you gather nine top-ranking students and give them the freedom to ask questions, you get bombarded with questions one after another.

Not many of them asked often but none of them asked less than five questions.

Adrian, having the knowledge of the previous owner of the body, never found himself getting stuck at those questions even once.

The previous owner was a bookish genius. The new one was heading to be a Runesmithing genius.

A perfect blend.

Because Adrian was too tired, he was only able to study for an hour in the Time Chamber before he returned and threw himself on the bed.

This morning, he really didn’t want to wake up early since he was quite tired, but training was important. And Ariana was quite a scary teacher who might stop teaching him if he showed undisciplined behavior.

’That woman tho...’ Adrian couldn’t forget the redhead woman he met in the market.

He, naturally, knew Vermillion Ruby from the novel he read.

She is the fourth-ranked in the world, a very dangerous person to befriend. Not only does she have a track record of never failing her hunts, but she is also a brilliant Runesmith. Someone who can establish the third Thread.

However, the problem was not about her reputation or her history. It was the fact that she appeared quite before her arrival point.

This arc should have only involved the main character and his two heroines along with the four kings of the four nations.

Then...why was she here?

’Does she really travel around mindlessly and coincidentally come across me?’ It wasn’t a speculation but a hopeful thought.

As far as he knows, the lady of the Vermillion house doesn’t approach someone unless she has taken an interest in them. She is a sadistic and arrogant woman who can be quite mean even to the one she loves.

She was never a love interest for the main character since Allen was never exciting for her. She was more like an overpowered side character who became a bridge between Allen and another heroine.

’I should stop thinking about her...if she really is interested in me, I need to remain careful.’

Taking a deep breath, he stopped jogging and wiped his forehead with his wrist.

"Want a towel, sir?" Suddenly, he found someone standing on his left, taking Adrian by surprise.

"Thanks...Elana." he really didn’t sense her.

He accepted the towel and just as he pressed it against his forehead, he flinched slightly, "It’s...cold. Thanks." She used her element to lower the temperature.

Elana’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as she watched him wipe his forehead. The fabric moved slowly across his skin, catching the light sheen of sweat that glistened under it. Then came the part she hadn’t realized she was waiting for—he brought the towel down, brushing it over his face with slow, deliberate strokes.

And then... to his neck.

That slender, tempting neck.

A single droplet of sweat trailed down along his throat, slipping over the curve of his collarbone and disappearing under the fabric of his shirt. Her eyes followed it, caught in a trance. There was something undeniably alluring about the way he moved—so casual, so unaware—yet it stirred something deep in her.

He wrapped the towel loosely around the back of his neck and began wiping it, slow and unhurried like every motion was meant to tease her without even trying. And maybe that’s what made it so irresistible.

Elana swallowed the heat on her face no longer just from the weather.

’How enviable ...’ she took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"It’s wet now ..." Adrian said apologetically, before suggesting, "I will wash it-*snatch*"

Adrian was startled as the towel from his hand disappeared.

He turned toward Elana and found her holding the towel as she said, "No worries, teacher. I will wash it myself." She said and even hid the towel behind her.

Seeing how diligent she was in taking care of her elders, he smiled, "You are a very good child. See you in the class." Saying so, Adrian turned around and began to jog again.

Once he was out of her sight he heaved a sigh, "Need to do something about her." He wasn’t as naive as the older version of himself, who couldn’t differentiate between having the feeling of respect and something more profound than that. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Regardless, he decided to focus on his training for now as he advanced towards his destination.

He reached the indoor training hall three, where Ariana awaited him while holding a staff.

She was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt, which she had tucked in her commando pants.

Her shirt, tightly clinging to her body, accentuated her curves. Not to talk about those toned arms, adorned with several cuts.

Adrian stopped before her, taking a few deep breaths as he asked, "Was I late?"

"I was early today. Anyway, take your weapon." She got into position already.

Adrian went to the weapon rack and picked one for himself.

It was a six-foot-tall staff, which barely reached Adrian’s height.

Adrian has gotten some experience in working with the staff, which was the first step towards mastering a spear.

"Let’s change something here, *crack*" Ariana suddenly broke the staff into two, making it more of two small sticks.

Holding the undamaged part tightly in her grip she said, "Let’s see if you can prevent me from hitting you for a minute."

Adrian nodded with a serious expression...by now, he should be able to do that much.

He stepped into the battle zone, knees bent, left hand gripping the far end of the staff, right hand steady in the middle. His eyes locked on hers.

No signal. No referee.

Just a faint shift in Ariana’s stance—and Adrian moved.

DHAK!

The baton slammed into the floor where he’d been standing a moment ago. Ariana stood tall, one baton in the air, the other grounded behind her. Her stance was razor-sharp.

She smirked. "Read my move... or learned it?"

Adrian said nothing. First lesson: never talk during a fight—unless you’re losing and need a way out.

Ariana came in fast. Too fast.

Her steps were light, her speed almost a blur. Just before she struck, she paused—barely a blink—and Adrian ducked.

Swiif

The baton sliced through the air above his head. In one swift motion, while crouching, he drove his staff toward her stomach—

CRACK!

Blocked.

Her second baton came down like a shield, absorbing the hit.

"Cheeky," she grinned—then fired her knee toward him.

Adrian flinched back just in time, heart racing, and swung his staff in a wide arc.

She didn’t flinch.

Ariana leaned back gracefully, the staff missing her by a breath. Then, with a shift in her weight, she sprang forward—airborne.

Batons crossed. Target: his head.

But Adrian surprised her.

He let go of the staff mid-swing, dropping the weight. Now free, he shifted fast—feet gliding, fist cocked.

Ariana’s eyes widened.

She raised an arm mid-air to defend—

DHAK!

The punch connected.

A shockwave burst out the other side, but somehow, she blocked it—her arm bruised, her face untouched.

Adrian blinked. "You didn’t even stagger..."

Most people land weak. Off balance. An easy target.

But not her.

She landed like a beast. Unshaken. And too damn strong for one punch to stop.

"And you lost ..." She pressed the other baton to push him away—winning the round.

Adrian grumbled, appearing irritated.

Ariana chuckled as she pulled a cigarette from her back pocket, and while she lit it up, she said, "You have improved in decision-making, but you are still too impulsive."

Puffing out the smoke, he added, "Rather than shifting to the left to attack me, if you had tried to get behind me, you have pushed me into a deadlock."

Adrian shook his head, "I knew I didn’t have the time...you are too fast in close combat. I better start to learn using ranged weapons against you."

"Then how about a bow and arrows?"

Adrian hummed, tilting his head, "I have never tried archery...maybe I will?"

Arrows enchanted with runes...that sounds....deadly.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.