Return of the Legendary Runesmith

"Mm…" Ruby woke with a small jerk, her eyes slowly fluttering open.

Sunlight poured through the window, falling across her face and giving her an almost angelic glow, even though she had only just woken up.

She stretched her arms, parting her lips with a soft yawn.

It took her a moment to remember—she was at her ancestral home.

She had arrived a few days ago and would stay until tomorrow.

This was a yearly ritual, one she always cleared her schedule for.

Ruby never minded it. It was the ceremony held for her late grandparents—a tradition that gathered all the important members of the Vermillion family.

She didn't dislike coming here. In fact, she usually got along well with the children.

But this year felt different.

For the first time, she hadn't wanted to come.

She wanted to be somewhere else. With someone else.

She wanted to spend Adrian's birthday by his side.

She had even talked to him about it, asking what she should do.

And his answer was the reason she was here now.

He told her this ceremony was important, that she should be part of it.

Ruby adored her grandparents, and this was the only time in the whole year she spent more than a few hours with her family. Even her father, always busy traveling across the nation for work, never missed it.

So of course, it was only natural for her to attend too—or so Adrian said.

But deep down, Ruby couldn't help feeling a little hurt.

She knew she was being unreasonable, but a part of her still wanted him to stop her.

Even though she knew he only saw her as someone close, she had hoped for more.

She expected that, as his fiancée, maybe he would want her by his side on his special day.

But again, it all felt foolish, especially with the kind of relationship they had.

Ruby wasn't just an ordinary friend in his eyes, she knew that much.

But she was also nowhere near as important to him as Ariana was.

Haah… overthinking first thing in the morning.

Feeling heavy and drained, Ruby pushed herself out of bed and stepped into the hallway.

Unlike the mansion she usually lived in, this house carried the weight of tradition. Sliding doors, polished wooden floors, old lanterns that had been cared for through generations, and a quiet garden in the back.

The smell of freshly brewed tea drifted through the air, guiding her feet toward the living area where a few family members had gathered.

"Ah, you're awake!"

A young girl with short auburn hair came hopping over to her. It was Lilia, her father's younger sister's daughter.

Ruby scooped the child up into her arms with a bright smile. "Did you pray to Grandpa and Grandma?"

The little one nodded eagerly, her hair bouncing. "Yup, yup! I did!"

Ruby grinned, patting Lilia's head. "Go wake your brother. He's probably still lazing in bed."

The little girl bolted out of the room, no doubt off to ruin a certain Vermillion's sleep. Ruby chuckled softly before settling into a chair.

A maid stepped forward and poured her a cup of tea.

"We were just talking about you," said a woman with long brown hair. Her fingers rested elegantly on her own cup, her lips hidden behind it.

Ruby hummed. "What about me?"

"Your engagement," another voice chimed in. This one belonged to an older woman with the same shade of hair but sharper, hawk-like eyes. "It happened so suddenly, we're still trying to take it in."

Ruby exhaled a small sigh. "Aunt Mary, there's nothing to overthink. When two people truly care for each other and want to spend their lives together, celebrations and formalities stop being all that important."

"Is that so?" The first woman—Tessa, her father's youngest sister—lowered her cup just enough to show a curious smile. "Then tell us, what does your fiancé do? We only know his name. Your mother refused to tell us more, insisting we should hear it from you."

Ruby's lips curved wryly. Was that Mother's way of nudging me closer to the family?

Still, it didn't feel like casual curiosity—it felt more like an interrogation.

But Adrian had always told her not to hide anything about their engagement or each other.

So she answered without hesitation. "He's a professor at the Runebound Academy."

"Heh~ isn't that the nation's best academy? He must be paid really well." Mary leaned forward, eyes glinting. "So? Is he rich?"

Ruby almost laughed at those judging eyes.

But she wasn't a child anymore—she wasn't going to brag about her fiancé just because someone tried to provoke her.

"Enough to buy me a house like this every weekend."

…Well, maybe she bragged a little.

Mary's expression faltered. "An Academy professor doesn't earn that much."

Ruby tilted her head. "Oh? But did I mention he's a better runesmith than me—the same me who's already rejected Celestial Hall's offer twice?"

Mary gasped, her hand flying to her lips. "Wait… could it be? He's the one who was in the news after that incident at the contest?"

Ruby only smiled, offering no answer.

The silence thickened—until Tessa finally spoke, her voice edged with accusation. "So, he marries the heiress of the Vermillion family, yet he doesn't think to come here and introduce himself?"

Ruby's eyes cooled, though her tone stayed level. "This ceremony is important to us, not him. He respects his work, and that's something I admire most about him. He puts his students before appearances. Isn't that what a rational adult should do?"

"You…!"

Tessa's face flushed red. Her husband was also a professor—and he had been here since the first day of the gathering. Ruby's words felt like a direct jab, stoking her fury.

Mary quickly stood, placing a calming hand on her sister's shoulder. "Tess, enough. She doesn't mean it that way."

But Tessa growled, her glare drilling into Ruby. "You heard her too, didn't you? This brat always pretends to be so high and mighty." She slammed her cup down. "Just admit it—your fiancé doesn't give a damn about you."

Ruby chuckled softly, shaking her head.

As she thought, she could never get along with relatives who saw her as nothing more than an eyesore.

With a sigh, she set her teacup down and rose, walking out of the room.

But then—she froze.

Something felt wrong. The air was heavy.

Her gaze flicked to the floor. Her shadow was growing dimmer.

And that's when it hit her.

The sky… why is it darkening, when the sun is still shining so bright?

A crisis was approaching.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.