Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 458 - 457- Family day(2)

"Are you sure about this?" Raven asked on the chat when she read Adrian’s invitation to his world.

Apparently, they were having lunch together and wanted to invite her as well. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Raven felt nervous and hesitant, a faint tension settling in her chest. She did not want to intrude or come in their way. While she had nothing urgent to do, she also did not wish to act hastily and make things awkward by showing up uninvited or at the wrong moment.

[Yes, I am sure.]

The assurance came from the other side, firm and without hesitation.

Heaving a quiet sigh, Raven looked down at herself.

She was wearing presentable clothes, neat and simple, nothing excessive. They were appropriate enough for a casual meeting, and that realization eased her nerves slightly.

That was why she did not overthink it further and instead asked the system, "How long could I stay in his world?"

[If the host does not leak her presence and cause chaos, then four hours.]

Raven smiled wryly. "Cause chaos, huh... what do you think I live for?"

Naturally, there was no response.

Raven had long since gotten used to the system’s blunt and selective behavior toward her. It spoke only when necessary and never indulged her remarks.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and said, "World Transfer."

Her vision shifted instantly. The familiar sensation of being pushed across an immense distance in an impossibly short span weighed heavily on her chest. The pressure was uncomfortable, but she had grown accustomed to it over time. Compared to what she had endured before, this was nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience.

A few moments passed before the movement finally slowed, and she phased through a bright opening that felt warm against her senses.

Soon, her eyes were met with natural brightness.

Before her stood a man she was well familiar with.

"Welcome," he said with a gentle smile as he stepped forward to meet her.

Entering another world always carried a strange sense of displacement, but seeing a familiar face right away made the transition feel smoother, almost comforting.

She smiled back and stepped forward, and the distance between them vanished as they met in a warm hug.

His arms wrapped around her, enveloping her completely.

Raven felt her body relax on instinct, the tension she had carried dissolving as she was confined within his embrace, surrounded by his familiar fragrance. For a brief moment, the world around her faded into the background.

It took a few seconds for her to realize that they were not alone.

She slowly turned her head, her awareness expanding, and her eyes met three beautiful women standing nearby.

She recognized none of them directly, yet she could easily tell who was who.

The first to speak was the one Raven assumed to be Annabelle. "Look at you, clinging to Darling the moment you show up." The cockiness in her tone was unmistakable, mixed with a clear note of complaint.

Smiling without the slightest hint of embarrassment, Raven replied, "Well, I can hug you too if you want."

Annabelle snickered. "No, thanks. I don’t touch my rivals unless I’m attacking them."

Raven could not help but chuckle at her response before turning toward the silver-haired woman.

Taking a few steps forward, she gave a brief yet elegant bow. "Pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot about you, Miss Ariana and Miss Ruby."

The silver-haired woman remained silent for a moment, visibly taken aback. Her gaze lingered on Raven, assessing her with an intensity that was not hostile, merely surprised.

Unlike her, Raven had a dark skin tone, complemented by long, glossy black hair that fell like a curtain along her shoulders. She wore a black one-piece dress that reached her knees, hugging her lithe form in a way that drew the eye naturally, inviting admiration from both men and women alike.

There was confidence in the way she carried herself, the kind that came from a lifetime of being observed and judged. It was not arrogance, but certainty.

"A queen bowing to us... that feels disrespectful," Ruby muttered with a small smile before stepping forward. She gently took Raven’s hand in hers. "I have heard about you too. Good to meet you, Querella."

Raven smiled in response and then glanced at Ariana.

The silver-haired woman simply nodded before saying, "Well, why don’t we sit down while Adrian prepares lunch for us?"

Adrian hummed in agreement. "Alright. You guys relax and eat."

Querella felt a slight sense of awkwardness as Adrian left them alone, but Ruby’s warm and welcoming demeanor helped ease her discomfort.

The four women sat down on the benches, with Ruby choosing a seat beside Querella.

Annabelle was the first to break the quiet. "How are things on your side? I heard you were recently ambushed."

Raven nodded slowly. "Yes... An apostle, apparently, decided that what we are doing goes against the will of God. So they tried to tear down everything we had built."

Ruby’s brows drew together. "An apostle... huh? I have heard bits and pieces about your world and its past. Recently, I have started to realize that whatever we have been taught about deities might not be entirely true."

Raven nodded in agreement. "I never trusted the history books. I have seen too many things that made me realize that no one is truly selfless or benevolent without expecting something in return."

Ariana spoke for the first time to her since Querella had arrived. "I know this is a sensitive topic, but can you tell us why people on your planet ever chose the side of Darkness?"

The atmosphere shifted, growing noticeably heavier.

Raven’s gaze dropped to the ground, and her shoulders sagged slightly as memories surfaced uninvited.

Ariana glanced at Ruby, and the look she received instantly confirmed her regret.

"I... I am sorry," Ariana said quickly. "I shouldn’t have asked that."

Her people had suffered for generations because of that single mistake made by a group long ago. It was only natural that such a question could reopen old wounds.

However, Querella was not a woman who would crumble or lash out when confronted with painful truths.

She shook her head gently. "No, it’s okay." Her voice turned more sober as she continued, "When Darkness was spreading its wings, I was very young. I remember hearing that people began to change, in more ways than one. Fear, desperation, and hope twisted together, and in that chaos, choices were made that could never be taken back."

Everyone listened intently. Even Adrian, who was not too far away, seemed to have divided his focus perfectly between the meat he was preparing and the conversation unfolding before him. Though his hands moved steadily, his attention never truly left their discussion.

Querella leaned back slightly, her gaze distant as she muttered, "I have read journals... of the Death Order."

Ruby’s brows lifted at once, the subtle reaction making it clear what question was forming in her mind. Noticing it, Querella clarified calmly, "Those who devoted themselves to Darkness were regarded as members of the Death Order."

The redhead nodded, her expression serious now, silently urging her to go on.

"In those journals," Raven continued, her voice steady but thoughtful, "they described becoming one with Darkness as something liberating. Not corrupting, not damning, but freeing." She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "They believed it broke the shackles placed upon them and granted them clarity. Clarity about who they truly were and what they were meant to become."

Her brows slowly drew closer as her tone deepened. "For them, becoming one with Darkness was not about surrendering themselves. It was about reclaiming something they believed had been stolen." She exhaled softly. "It felt, to them, like regaining individuality. Like finally being allowed to exist as themselves, rather than as tools shaped by someone else’s will."

Silence followed her words, heavy yet contemplative, as each of them absorbed the weight behind that truth.

Just then, Adrian approached them, holding several dishes as he said, "Alright now, it’s time to eat."

He handed one plate to everyone which was filled with grilled vegetables, mushroom, meat and a special sauce he just made.

Annabelle licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "This looks so appetizing, Darling."

Adrian grinned and said, "So who are you waiting for? Go on, eat it."

Annabelle didn’t need to tell twice before she picked a big chunk of meat and stuffed her mouth with it.

Ariana also used her hand to eat the meat while Ruby and Querella used the fork.

All the four women enjoyed the food and complimented him repeatedly.

Adrian went back to grill some more and Ruby volunteered to make another drink for everyone.

"Ah, I need to go to the restroom. Be right back." Annabelle said before she rested the plate on the bench and dashed away...

...Leaving Querella and Ariana alone.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have enjoyed the story so far, please drop a comment.