Runesmith: Chapter 516 – A Magic Letter. (Patreon)

“Unhand me, who do you think you are touching!”

“Please, My Lady, calm down, the Lord has ordered you to remain in your chambers, please calm yourself.”

In a dimly lit corridor, Francine Arden struggled against the guards’ firm grip, her voice sharp and laced with fury.

"Release me this instant! Who do you think you are, imprisoning me like some common criminal?" 

She hissed, her noble stature undiminished even as her wrists strained against their hold.

“Mother, please.” 

Lucienne’s soft voice resounded from the side. She watched as two men pulled her inside of her own room while two others closed the door behind her so that she could not flee. 

“They’re following Father’s orders. I’m sure Father is just as concerned about Robert as you are, please calm yourself and leave it to him and the Knights.”

She spoke gently but firmly, resting a comforting hand on her mother’s shoulder. It had been only a few days since her brother had fought and won the duel. Afterward, their father had ordered the knights to bring him back home, where he was to be placed under house arrest. She knew her father had struck a deal with Count Graham De Vere to ensure that her brother, Robert, would never see his lover, Lucille De Vere, again. But something strange had happened shortly afterward: during the journey home, Robert had vanished, taken in the middle of the night by an unknown figure.

Her mother had just received the news that had been withheld from her during their journey back home. Both of them had been ordered not to leave the mansion grounds, but her mother was not about to comply. She was prepared to take one of the Knight Commanders and scour the countryside herself, unaware that her involvement might only hinder the search. Ever since Robert had been captured and tortured by the count, she had been fearing for his life.

Lucienne watched her mother closely, worried she might do something drastic. She couldn’t bring herself to tell her mother that, perhaps, Robert was safe - there were a few details that didn’t add up. One of them was that all the guards assigned to watch her brother had returned unharmed. Though her father had refused to share the report with her, she’d seen the heavily armored carriage, which had a strangely shaped hole on its top. Whoever had taken her brother had gone to considerable lengths to abduct him. If it had been a simple assassination attempt, it didn’t make sense to leave the guards alive or to take Robert with them. There was more to this than met the eye.

‘I wonder… could brother Roland be involved in this?’

When she thought of who might have been involved in Robert’s disappearance, only one person came to mind - her other brother, Roland. He was the only one she knew with both the will and the means to carry out such a daring act. She was well aware of his strength, and the magic he wielded was truly astonishing. Most people would assume Count De Vere was sending a message, but she doubted that. There had to be more to the story, and deep down, she believed her brother was safe.

“Why don’t we let in some fresh air, mother?”

“I don’t want fresh air, we need to get Robert back!”

“Please My Lady, the Baron will…” 

As Lucienne pondered her suspicions about Roland’s involvement, she made her way over to one of the large windows in her mother’s room, hoping that the cool night air might help her mother calm down. She unlatched the heavy glass pane and pushed it open, letting a breeze flow in, carrying the scents of damp earth and morning dew. She leaned against the windowsill, closing her eyes for a moment, drawing comfort from the silence beyond the room's chaos. Her mother wasn’t letting up and it would probably take some time for her to calm down. But as she opened her eyes again, something caught her attention - a faint greenish glow in the distance, steadily approaching the mansion.

She squinted, watching as the light took shape, transforming into a bird crafted from pure, luminous energy. It shimmered in shades of emerald and jade, leaving a soft trail of magical sparks in its wake. Lucienne’s breath caught as it flew closer, realizing that this was no ordinary bird. She recognized the magical signature - it was a magical carrier swallow, a spell used by magicians from the institute she studied in.

The bird looked much larger than a regular swallow and was flying at twice the usual speed. Their home was protected by a magical barrier, maintained by mages hired by her father. Yet, for some reason, even the Tier 3 mage - whose services had come at a steep price - did not react to its presence and allowed it to pass. Although Lucienne could see the bird with her own eyes, she couldn’t sense any mana emanating from it, as if someone had deliberately concealed it to slip through their defenses undisturbed.

Her heart skipped as the bird came to an abrupt stop before the window she opened. She recoiled in fear of it being some type of enemy attack but to her surprise, the bird remained in place, flapping its ethereal wings as if waiting for her. She reached out cautiously, wondering if she should perform the usual spell that would let the swallow identify her mana pattern. Her mother protested the moment she saw the magical bird light up the room, the guards jumping forward to shield both of them from harm. 

“What are you two idiots doing, protect my daughter!”

“Y-young lady, please leave this to us.”

The two guards that were still in the room moved forward, their swords raised. They approached the mysterious bird who was hovering before the window. Lucienne hesitated, wary of what the mysterious bird might signify. Yet, she realized that there was no malevolent intent behind it, it was just a message and it was probably sent to her by someone she knew. Her fingers trembled as she extended a hand toward it, and the bird responded, hovering closer until it alighted lightly on her palm.

“Lucienne, what are you doing, stay back from that thing!”

Francine shouted as she saw her daughter reach for the magical bird before the guards could get to her. Lucienne glanced back at her mother, giving a reassuring look, though her heart raced with uncertainty. She reached out with her hand and fed a sliver of her mana into the bird. As her energy touched it, the bird’s glow intensified, its outline shimmering brighter for a moment before it dissolved into a spiral of green light. Lucienne stepped back as a rectangular block floated down, gently landing on the wooden floor, glowing with intricate runes that pulsed softly.

The room grew quiet, everyone’s eyes fixed on the mysterious object. The guards held their swords up, ready to strike if the device showed any sign of hostility, but Lucienne knew better. This was a device surely made by her brother Roland, as she couldn’t imagine anyone else having the skill or resources to craft such a peculiar object. The block was now hovering a few inches above the floor, its glowing runes casting a soft light across the room. 

“Get back, child!”

Francine wasn’t having any of it; she finally managed to pull her daughter away from the glowing device that had activated. The man stationed outside rushed into the room, joining the two other guards to form a protective barricade around the two women. Meanwhile, the rectangular object floated down to the floor and projected a shape above it. At first, the image was hazy, but gradually it shifted into two translucent figures.

“Is that… Robert?”

“I’ve told you Mother, it’s safe, this is just a magical message artifact, someone must have sent it here for a reason.”

Lucienne tried to explain to her mother that it was fine and as the woman witnessed her son’s features taking shape. Francine’s breathing stopped as the figure became clearer, gradually materializing into an image of Robert standing beside a woman - a beautiful, confident woman whose hand was entwined with his. Lucille De Vere. The projection shimmered slightly as Robert began to speak, his voice awkward but calm.

"Mother, Lucienne," 

He began, looking straight ahead as if he were addressing them in person but looking directly at one point, or perhaps someone behind it. 

"If you’re watching this, then I’m sure by now you’re aware of what has happened. I am safe, and I have no intention of returning home. I know the plans Father has made, but I can no longer abide by them." 

His gaze softened as he glanced down at Lucille, who was next to him, their hands intertwined as if they were husband and wife. 

"I am where I belong."

Francine gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as Robert’s words sank in. The guards exchanged uneasy glances but held their positions, ready to protect if this were some ruse. Yet Lucienne’s face, illuminated by the soft light of the projection, showed something different: a faint, hopeful smile.

‘It must have been him… It must have been big brother Roland!’

Lucienne instantly knew that Roland had something to do with it. Saving Robert from house arrest was one thing, but freeing Lucille as well was an unexpected bonus. She was certain he had made all of this happen, and the rectangular, rune-covered device only confirmed it. Her heart felt light at the revelation - finally, she had some closure.

She wanted to grab her crystal ball and call him immediately or return to the institute, where he might be. However, she understood that this secret couldn’t be exposed - not to her father, and not even to her mother. If it were discovered that her brother had abducted the count’s daughter, he would become a wanted man. Since no culprit had been mentioned, it likely meant that Roland was still safe, probably hiding at the Institute or in Albrook - a place she knew of because he had once shared details of his past with her during a heartfelt conversation.

"We know that there may be consequences for what we’ve done, but understand, Mother, I had to choose my own path, just as I know you would have chosen yours if given the same chance." 

He paused, his eyes gaze becoming sharper as he let his thoughts run free.

"And if that means going against our family’s wishes, then so be it."

Lucienne stopped thinking and focused on the image of her brother. He was directly speaking to their mother and clearly trying to inform them about his situation. 

“Mother, if you see this, please don’t worry. I am safe and well. Me and Lucille have decided to elope soon…”

Robert stopped for a moment, his head moving down as if to hide his blushing face which was hard to notice in this translucent projection. 

“... and become husband and wife, not as nobles but as commoners.” 

As those words echoed in the room, Francine’s face turned pale, her lips parted in shock. She staggered backward, catching herself on a nearby chair. Her mind reeled as she struggled to process what she had just heard. Married? Eloped? Her son, Robert, had always been dutiful, perhaps too obedient; to imagine him defying their family and Wentworth plans in this way was nearly incomprehensible. The guards around her exchanged uncomfortable looks, unsure of how to respond.

“I know this may seem rash to you, Mother, but please try to understand. I can no longer follow Father’s designs for my life. Lucille and I… we want to make our own choices, even if that means walking away from everything I once knew. I only wish that, in time, you’ll come to accept us…”

As Robert’s image continued speaking, the projection flickered, casting eerie green shadows across the room. Francine, still stunned, sank into the chair behind her, her gaze fixed on her son’s transparent figure. The guards looked to Lucienne, uncertain whether to console the lady or remain at the ready. Lucienne stepped towards her mother, to give her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“Don’t be sad, Mother. All that matters is that Robert is safe and alive, doesn’t it?”

Francine looked up at her daughter, who was giving her the most radiant smile she had ever seen. At that very moment, Francine seemed to realize that this was indeed the truth. All that mattered was that her child was safe, and surely, someday in the future, they would meet again. She managed to rise from her seat and continued listening to the shimmering recording, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I don’t know what Father will think, and at this point, it doesn’t matter. I… no, we have made up our minds, and we’ll live our lives as we see fit. I fully expect Father to disown me, but that doesn’t matter. Please, tell him to leave any inheritance to you and to Lucienne. I hope that you both will understand my decision.”

The magical device began flickering, and Robert glanced toward someone off-frame before quickly trying to wrap up his message.

“I know that our actions will complicate matters between Father and Count De Vere, but we must do what is right for us. Please, don’t search for us as we have already fled the kingdom. Perhaps in the future, once all of this has settled, we’ll find a way to reunite, but for now, this is goodbye.”

With that, Robert’s image turned toward Lucille, who squeezed his hand and gave a gentle, reassuring smile. The two of them stood side by side, looking like a perfect pair, their expressions resolute. The recording dimmed, and for a final moment, Robert’s voice softened. 

“Take care of each other. I’ll miss you both… and know that wherever I am, you’re in my heart.”

The projection faded, leaving the room shrouded in silence. Only the soft hum of the mana device remained, casting a faint glow that slowly diminished until the runes dimmed completely. The guards shifted uncomfortably, stealing glances at each other, unsure if they should say anything. Lucienne however, felt a strange mixture of emotions, mostly positive ones. 

The quiet that settled over the room felt surreal, almost too heavy to break. Lucienne kept her hand on her mother’s shoulder, soothing her as Francine’s trembling fingers covered her mouth. For a moment, Francine seemed lost, unable to comprehend what she had witnessed. Her son had defied everything, leaving behind a life of nobility, wealth, and duty. He had chosen a new path, and worse yet, he had left without seeking her permission or aid.

“Something is happening, stand back!”

One of the soldiers shouted as a faint sizzle suddenly emanated from the rectangular runic device. They noticed it behaving strangely; its once-glowing runes were now searing into the floorboards, releasing a cloud of thick, acrid smoke. Lucienne and her mother were escorted out of the room while the soldiers shielded them from the smoke with their bodies.

But just as quickly as the phenomenon began, it ended. The device had melted into a puddle on the floor, which was already beginning to cool. Moments later, a robed man rushed to the scene - a mage with a long, white beard, hired by the lord of the estate. He was the first to examine the remains of the destroyed runic artifact. 

The Tier 3 mage knelt by the remnants of the device, his brows knitted as he concentrated. He waved his hand over the melted artifact, muttering an incantation, yet no trace of mana responded. His face twisted in confusion as he felt nothing, no faint signature, no lingering arcane energy.

"This... this is impossible, I can't feel any mana anywhere in this room. It’s as if this device... ate it.”

Lucienne heard those words and understood their meaning. Somehow, her brother had managed to dissipate the mana his spell had created, making it untraceable - even by special means. She felt a wave of relief, knowing that her brother would not be found and was safe. Her eyes drifted to the melted device, a faint smile crossing her face as she wondered when she might see him again. In her heart, she knew it could take time, but she would wait. Someday, she felt certain, they would all be reunited.