Annabelle was standing inside the gymnasium.
There was sothing that made her curious.
Her Darling ntioned getting involved in a battle.
Last night, a battle happened here too.
She investigated and asked a few questions of the students. And it turned out that only four teachers were actually engaged in battle. The fifth was nearly useless after the first explosion.
She cross-checked and got the sa answer.
The world was big, yes. She knew that out there her Darling might have fought another battle, yes.
However, there was a chance too, right? That the only Runesmith who fought on the school grounds last night...could be her...
"Anna?" Ruby’s voice broke her trance as she turned to look at her.
"Ruby, tell sothing...how good of a Runesmith your crush is?"
Ruby’s eyes widened as she hurriedly approached her and reprimanded, "Don’t just casually regard him as my crush."
"Doesn’t matter. Just tell ." Annabelle insisted.
Ruby frowned, "Well, he is unique and different. The Tower invited him, and so did I."
Annabelle nodded. Unique she said.
Now that’s sothing interesting.
"What exactly are you thinking, Anna?" Ruby asked suspiciously.
Anna rested her hands on her waist, "I have a feeling...maybe my Darling is close to , but I can’t see him." She said while looking at Adrian in the distance.
Ruby’s eyes stretched slightly but then she retained her calm and said, "You an to say...Adrian?"
Annabelle nodded but then, "He once said Ruby in the chat, a woman nad Ruby...but you said you weren’t with Adrian at that ti?"
Ruby felt her heart turning heavy in nodding to that question, "Yes...I wasn’t with him at that ti." She really was cursing herself to lie here.
Her sister, who has been searching for her Darling for so many years, was so close to him, but Ruby was keeping her away from him.
And it felt worse when she easily believed in her, "If you are saying so, then maybe I am just reading into it a little too much."
Annabelle shook her head and said, "Well, I got what I ca for. I can start my hunt from here."
Ruby humd in surprise, "What did you find?"
Annabelle knelt before removing the wooden floor and scooping so warm blood onto her finger.
"This...belongs to that Acolyte?" The redhead asked.
While nodding, Annabelle inford, "It’s still warm and didn’t turn dry despite the incident taking place more than twelve hours ago." With her expression turning serious, she added, "I was hoping it would not be the case, but I think your man has gotten the attention of an everliving."
Ruby’s brows drew closer, "Those who sacrifice people to renew their vitality. I thought they were part of the myth."
Annabelle shook her head, "Not many of them exist, but they do exist. And given how repulsive this blood slls, I am certain that Adrian fought against an Everliving."
With her gaze hardening, she added, "And sohow he miraculously survived."
....
"So...are you leaving already?" Adrian asked as he and Ruby walked side by side toward the main gates of the school.
"Yes. Since the situation here is under control and Anna has left to search for the perpetrator, I think I should return."
Adrian was stunned to hear that Annabelle had already discerned whom Adrian was fighting against, and she left to search for him imdiately.
But following the surprise, he felt slightly relieved that since the strongest Warden is at it, Abraham wouldn’t focus on him for the ti being.
They walked in silence for a few monts before Ruby turned to look at him. "Adrian...can I request sothing from you?"
Adrian humd, "Yes. What is it?" He believed it was sothing related to Runesmithing.
But, "If possible, reveal your identity to Anna." Her request took him by surprise.
Lowering her gaze, she added, "It pains to lie to her. She trusts so blindly that the thought of how she would react upon finding the truth haunts ."
"Back then, I agreed... because I didn’t want her to have you entirely to herself. But now I see it clearly—her feelings for you far outweigh the affection I thought I had."
Adrian didn’t say anything and just stared at the woman.
"I won’t force you, but if it’s not too inconvenient, tell her. She deserves to know." And with that, she turned and left.
Adrian stared at her distancing back, before a soft sigh seeped through his lips.
’Tell her, huh...I am not sure what change it would bring to and my life...’
It wasn’t like Adrian was going to hide things from Annabelle all his life. He knew that was impossible.
What he fears is Ariana’s feelings.
Annabelle was obsessed with him for so unknown reason. Sothing happened in their past lives that made her so affectionate towards him.
But now, Adrian has soone he loves.
Would Annabelle understand that? He doubted.
Then...shouldn’t before telling Annabelle anything, he has to talk to Ariana.
’Alright...I will tell Ariana about everything-’
[I suggest you otherwise, host.]
The system stopped him, making Adrian frown, ’What do you an? She is not soone related to my past life, is she?’
[If you share the mories you have seen, the relationship you carry with the server mbers, you would be giving a very biased and unjustified view. And all because you haven’t rembered who they are and how much they mattered to you.]
[But sooner or later, you will unlock your mories, and then, you might regret rushing things and setting a narrative before a person who is completely unrelated to your whole situation.]
"...." The system has so dangerous convincing powers.
It ans to say, hastily putting his perception of Annabelle before Ariana might make things awkward and uncomfortable in the future.
What if after regaining his mories, he grows fond of Annabelle too? Won’t he appear like a liar?
’No wait...if I grew affectionate towards another woman, won’t I be regarded as a cheater?’
Adrian rubbed his brows. This was difficult.
However, more than that, he needs to focus on gaining his mories.
And for that, he must learn the fourth thread within ten days now.
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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