[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-return-of-the-legendary-runesmith":3,"chapter-return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-485":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Return of the Legendary Runesmith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1562710,2026,"Chapter 485 - 483- Gossip and plans","return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-485",485,"\u003Cp>\"It would be a mess,\" Ariana muttered, sinking into her seat as she let out a long breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"True, but we can’t avoid this,\" Adrian reminded her. \"If what we were told is true, ignoring it now would only lead to a disaster far too widespread to contain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were talking about Borodicus Clark’s creation, something they needed to assess and eventually suppress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana frowned. \"What if the general masses interfere? The idea would sound appealing to those who can’t use mana.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana was the tool that made one self-dependent. Those who lacked it would, without a doubt, grow desperate to get their hands on Clark’s creation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s exactly why I’ll need to make a tough decision,\" Adrian said thoughtfully. \"One that might make Mister Clark hostile toward me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana grinned. \"Well, that was always a given.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian shrugged before asking, \"How do you feel now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana sighed. \"Normal, I guess... just a little tired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded. \"Your body is recovering. Come, let me take you to bed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head. \"No, I can manage. For now, why don’t you go meet Raven?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian paused. \"Um... well—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana stood and walked toward him, stopping at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting his gaze, she said softly, \"She must be worried, Adrian. Last time, you rushed off without properly explaining anything to her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian nodded. \"You’re right, but...\" He cupped her cheek tenderly, almost nervously, and murmured, \"...the fact is, you were attacked both times when I wasn’t around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana narrowed her eyes. \"Don’t tell me you’re starting to see Querella as some kind of bad omen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He corrected her at once. \"No, that’s not it. I believe someone informed Nytharos that I wasn’t around, and that’s what allowed him to target you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana could feel his anxiety. It wasn’t in his eyes; his entire body radiated the hesitation he carried at the thought of leaving her side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a time when he had relied on her, sought her protection, and now their roles had reversed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made her smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Adrian, look at me,\" she said, both hands firmly holding his face. \"I’m safe, and the danger is gone now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But another version of him has appeared, one I can’t trust at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, but you can trust me, right?\" Ariana asked, her eyes warm and persuasive. \"I’ve recently been forced to acknowledge my limits. If I believe I can’t face an enemy, I’ll simply escape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tilted her hand slightly, her gaze falling to the ring on her thumb. \"You didn’t make this artifact just for show, did you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian gave a small shake of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana smiled. \"Then trust me. I can protect myself, Adrian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man lowered his head and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana let her arms drop, then gently took his hands. \"Querella needs you just as much as I do. She’s your responsibility too, remember?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian slowly nodded before lifting his gaze to meet hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll tell Annabelle to come over, at least for today. Tomorrow, the three of us will go to the exhibition together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana knew he wouldn’t be convinced otherwise, so she simply nodded. \"Do whatever you think is necessary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruby was in a daze. Waking from a midday slumber, she found it hard to focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts kept drifting back to what she had seen in her dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a grown woman, she felt a little embarrassed to have had a wet dream, though part of the blame lay with her fiancé, who had left her with quite a memorable parting gift a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They kissed!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at that silly grin of yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grumpy voice snapped her out of it. Ruby turned to see her friend standing there with her arms crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s with that jealous look? And... where are you going?\" Ruby asked. Annabelle wasn’t wearing her usual oversized clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First of all, I am not jealous, okay. My relationship with Darling is much stronger and more sacred than you could ever imagine.\" Knowing a sarcastic remark was coming, Annabelle quickly added, \"And secondly, I’m going back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruby hummed in question. \"Why so suddenly? Weren’t Ariana and Adrian coming over tomorrow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annabelle sighed. \"Change of plans. Darling is going to see Raven, so he asked me to stay with Ariana.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruby felt a slight heaviness in her chest at the thought of Adrian spending time with Querella. Still, he had already been honest about how much Raven meant to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she couldn’t shake the feeling right away, Ruby tried her best to accept this new reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you want me to come along? I don’t have any more work to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annabelle grinned. \"Pajama party?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruby tilted her head. \"What’s that supposed to mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annabelle let out a small \"ehehe\" before replying, \"I came across the term recently. It’s nothing special, just girls gossiping all night in silly nightgowns.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruby smiled wryly. \"So there’s a dress code too?\" Humming thoughtfully, she added, \"I can do that, but can you convince Ariana as well? With her personality, I can barely imagine her agreeing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annabelle rested her hands on her hips. \"Leave that to me. You just grab your things and let’s charge to Runebound right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks a lot, Sylvie. I couldn’t have finished my papers without you.\" Olivia said, her head bowed slightly as the two sat across from each other at the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were in Sylvie’s room. Olivia had arrived earlier with an urgent request to help revise history lessons for the upcoming exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sylvie smiled faintly. \"You helped me with anatomy and botany too, so it’s not like I did you a favor or anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Olivia was quite smart. As the current President of the Student Council, it was only natural. So, they often help each other in studies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Sylvie’s gaze fell on a letter she had earlier stuffed into her jacket, now hanging on the rack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey... are you free tomorrow?\" she asked. \"My father wants me to attend some kind of exhibition by Sir Borodicus. I was thinking of taking you and Allen with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a rune enthusiast, Sylvie was slightly excited to see what it was. And if it’s Borodicus she believes she would see Professor Adrian there tomorrow as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Olivia tilted her head. \"Are you sure? The invitation seems to be limited to specific individuals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry about that,\" Sylvie assured her. \"If you two want to come, just bring Allen and wait for me at the entrance early tomorrow morning, before breakfast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>°°°°°°°°°°\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A\u002FN:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far, please drop a comment or review. It helps.\u003C\u002Fp>",1111,"2026-06-06T07:53:02.438Z",1,"novelbin.me","2a8999b43715739efc119cbae1b418f02cfa764320fd92281e6a7c6a5ce75096","return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-486","return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-484",595,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freturn-of-the-legendary-runesmith-cover.jpg"]