Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Ariana had heard plenty about Annabelle—from Adrian himself.

And with every story, a new image of the strongest Warden had taken shape in her mind.

The woman she remembered meeting once had been cold, distant, and unreachable. A warrior who focused only on her duties, not the people around her. Someone who lived without attachments—no desires, no ambitions.

That was why she had turned down offers from nations and Towers alike. She could have claimed anything—power, status, luxury. But instead, she walked away from it all.

She chose to live like a wanderer.

A lone wolf.

Strangely enough, Ariana respected her for that. Despite being the same age, Annabelle had already done things most people could only dream of. She had saved humanity more than once and never once asked for recognition. She simply did her duty, then vanished into silence.

But now, thanks to Adrian, Ariana was seeing another side of her.

Not the cold, unshakable Warden.

But a girl—emotional, caring, and vulnerable—who just wanted to protect the man she loved.

After a long silence, Ariana finally said, "I can relate to you. I didn’t express it as openly as you did, but... I had similar thoughts."

Annabelle glanced at her, eyes shadowed by a storm of emotions. She wasn’t in the mood to talk. Especially not to the woman who had—at least in her eyes—stolen her beloved.