Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 559 - 558- Confession(1)

Evening was approaching.

The family of four and their lone guest gathered for lunch together. Unlike the tense discussions earlier in the reception hall and the serious conversation Elana had with her mother, the atmosphere during the meal was noticeably lighter.

The conversation flowed easily, with occasional laughter and relaxed exchanges.

Adrian, being himself, spoke only when someone addressed him directly or when his opinion felt necessary to the topic at hand.

With both Elana and her mother remaining relatively quiet most of the time, the conversation might have grown awkward if not for the Duke, who proved to be quite the talkative host.

From what Adrian had observed, Charles possessed a good head on his shoulders.

The young man seemed well aware of the world around him. He followed recent events closely, understood the issues shaping society, and academically he appeared sharp and thoughtful.

"So," Adrian said after a moment, slightly raising his brows, "you want to join Runebound as well?"

He was not arrogant enough to believe that Runebound was the best academy available.

While its faculty and management were respectable, the academy still struggled with its reputation. Many believed that talented and powerful students should treat Runebound as their last option. The reason was simple: the academy's poor performance in most competitions over the years.

The situation had improved somewhat during the past year, but public opinion took time to change.

Charles nodded seriously before replying, "I want to follow in my sister's footsteps."

Elana let out a small sigh. "You don't have to do that, Charles. You should create your own path."

Charles's shoulders drooped slightly, interpreting her words as reluctance to see him join the academy.

Adrian, however, understood both perspectives.

"Elana," he said gently, turning toward the silver-haired girl, "your brother admires the warrior you've become. That's why he wishes to walk the same path."

Elana blinked in surprise and turned toward Charles.

"Is that true?"

Charles nodded eagerly, his eyes bright. "Yes. I want to carry on big sister's legacy and become the face of Runebound after you graduate."

Elana hadn't realized her brother admired her that deeply.

She glanced at Adrian and gave him a small, grateful nod.

Adrian returned it with a quiet smile before shifting his attention to Nolan. "Has he obtained his first armament yet?"

Nolan shook his head. "Actually, we were just discussing that before you both arrived."

Adrian hummed thoughtfully and turned to the young man. "What's your elemental affinity, Charles?"

Charles hesitated.

The question clearly made him uncomfortable, but after a brief pause he answered, "It's a variant of the air element… sound."

Adrian's brows lifted in mild surprise. "That's quite a powerful affinity."

He said nothing further, sensing the boy's reluctance to reveal more.

Before the moment could pass, Elana spoke up.

"Why don't you let Professor Adrian craft your armament, Charles?"

The suggestion left Charles caught between two conflicting emotions.

On one hand, he didn't want to refuse his elder sister.

On the other hand, the idea of Adrian becoming the tuner of his very first armament made him visibly uneasy.

Adrian let out a light chuckle and said to Elana, "It's alright, Elana. He has every right to be careful about who he chooses to tune his armament. Remember, your first armament is more than just a weapon. It becomes a memory you carry for the rest of your life."

In truth, Adrian had spared Charles from making a rushed decision.

But when Charles noticed his sister's brows drawing slightly together, panic flickered across his face.

Had he offended her?

Should he accept the offer after all?

Before he could say anything, Natasha spoke.

"I've heard that you rarely provide your armaments to the public… or even to your students. Is that true?"

Adrian nodded calmly. "Yes. I'm actually restricted from doing so by both the headmistress and the central authority."

Natasha's brows rose in surprise, while Charles's eyes widened.

Elana added, "Isn't that for the best, Professor? Your armaments have the potential to change the outcome of an entire war."

Nolan nodded in agreement. "I've witnessed it myself. That's why I agreed with the decision to closely monitor the armaments you supply to the Towers."

Charles leaned back slightly in his chair.

He hadn't realized Adrian was that influential—so much so that he was restricted from freely distributing his creations.

What exactly are those hands capable of making?

the youngest among them wondered quietly.

After that, the conversation gradually shifted toward Elana.

They spoke about her academic progress over the past months, the research she had been involved in, and eventually about her performance during the final assessment. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Adrian did not reveal anything directly. Instead, he answered their questions with carefully chosen words and subtle hints. Still, those small remarks were more than enough for Nolan and Natasha to understand that their daughter was very likely to retain her position as the top ranker in this final stage as well.

Of course, they had never doubted Elana in the first place.

Even if she had struggled or failed to perform at her best for some unforeseen reason, neither Nolan nor Natasha seemed like the kind of parents who would harshly criticize their child over it. Their pride in her remained steady, quiet but unwavering.

Once the meal was finished, the five of them slowly made their way back to the reception hall.

The earlier warmth of the dining table faded slightly as they settled into their seats again, the atmosphere returning to something more formal.

Adrian glanced around the room briefly.

He could feel that this was the right moment.

The perfect time to bring up the real reason behind his sudden visit.

Adrian glanced at Elana and the nervous look she returned made it clear that it was on her mind too.

The two elders read the room before Nolan asked, "Is there something you want to say, Professor?"

Adrian sighed and then began, "Well, yes. I accompanied Elana since it was something she couldn't talk about all alone."

Natasha's brows elevated, "What exactly is the matter that you need your Professor's help in discussing it with us?"

Elana lowered her gaze and took a deep breath.

Finally, she confessed, "Mother...father...Charles...I..."

°°°°°°°

...am pregnant. Jk, ofc.

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.