The Runesmith

'This is fucking crazy. Did I get infected by some virus? Getting Robert out of that carriage was one thing… but this is just…'

Roland had freed his brother from house arrest, and it had been surprisingly easy. The guards and Wentworth hadn't anticipated any complications, and they didn't have the manpower to spare. His father had taken the official royal troops on a detour to rescue his son but couldn't do the same when returning to his estate. Instead, he had left behind one of his elite units, which Roland neutralized with a few well-placed sleeping bombs. It wasn't overly difficult, and he made sure not to trigger any hidden beacons that might alert others to his presence.

Most people wouldn't believe someone could take down thirty knights without killing a single one, so he had at least some time before they woke up. Once they did, they would likely inform Wentworth, and possibly the count. His father might eventually question the count about Robert's escape, or perhaps he had a mole somewhere who would relay the information. Either way, Roland knew he didn't have much time to complete this reckless mission - it was now or never.

'Maybe I should grab Robert and return in a month or two instead?'

He thought, starting to get cold feet. This estate had far more variables, making the situation tricky but possible. He had run countless calculations in his head, and while his victory seemed plausible, it wasn't within a range that allowed him to feel safe. He wondered why his approach to these situations had begun to change. He was still largely cold and calculating, but emotions were creeping in more than before. He wasn't alone anymore, and perhaps deep down, he no longer wanted to be.

'Am I just turning into an old geezer? I would probably be forty-seven by now…'

His true age was much greater than people assumed, and he wondered if he was simply becoming more emotional as he grew older. At times, he felt more like an older sibling or even an uncle to those around him. Logically, it might be better to let Lucille return to the tower. Even if she married someone in the coming months, they could likely sneak in and rescue her later. However, his brother would probably object to such a plan, and Roland himself had doubts about Graham's mental stability.

While Graham didn't seem to be involved with any cults Roland knew of, he was uncomfortably at ease with using blood crystals. Graham would undoubtedly know that Robert was still out there, likely plotting to take his daughter away. This could push him to do something vile to keep her under control - a very real possibility. Striking now seemed like the best course of action, as no one would expect someone like him to be reckless enough to try.

"Is this really necessary? Won't they know it's us?"

Roland sighed at the question but quickly replied.

"They might suspect, but they won't have proof. That's what matters."

"Okay… but what are you doing?"

"What does it look like?"

"You're making a small hole with magic... but why?"

Robert returned from behind a bush, wearing an odd outfit: chainmail armor concealed beneath a heavy, dark-orange robe. His head was still uncovered, but Roland handed him a helmet that would cover his entire face. Unlike the goblin mask Roland used, this one resembled the evolved goblin form and once worn, would even disguise his brother's voice. Even if they were discovered, no one could prove it was them.

"Yes, it's a hole. Did you know some magical barriers extend underground?"

"Uh... sure?"

"But did you know they're much weaker if you go deep enough?"

Roland added, focusing on the ground. Runes glowed on his metallic glove as he created a small circular hole, no wider than a gold coin. He fed a cable through the hole, extending it from his spatial rune, slowly snaking it downward and then upward until it surfaced a few meters away.

Robert, watching this unfold, was puzzled by the long wire emerging on the other side. He knew there was some kind of invisible magical barrier in front of the bush where they were hiding, but he wasn't sure what the point of all this was. Then, he noticed a small mechanical creature resembling a spider crawling toward the cable. It connected to a tiny port at the creature's rear.

"There we go, we're connected."

Roland nodded, finally standing up. But his brother only had more questions.

"Connected… to what?"

"I suppose you could call it the runic web. We don't have time for me to explain this but this connection is essential to reach Lucille without being detected. We need to let her know about the plan, or she'll think we're some villains trying to abduct her in the middle of the night."

"I see, that does make sense…"

Robert had already spoken to Lucille through holograms before, so this wasn't entirely unfamiliar to him. Roland, however, was doing this for a more important reason - to confirm whether Lucille was truly willing to go through with this. He assumed she wanted to leave, but he needed to make sure she fully understood the gravity of the situation and what it would mean for both her and his brother's future. The path they would take would make them live like commoners and he wasn't sure if she would be fine with abandoning it all.

"There we go…"

As before, Lucille used the golem that had snuck into her tower to communicate. Time was running out, so Roland decided against activating the holographic projector and instead stuck to just using their voices. He used his own armor and the back of his wrists as a microphone.

"Lucille, can you hear me?"

"Yes? Sir Roland, is that you? Are you alright? My father won't tell me anything, and there's been some kind of commotion..."

"I'm fine. More importantly, I have Robert with me, and we've come to take you away from here."

"Robert is with you? You want to take me away?"

Lucille's voice grew louder when Roland mentioned Robert and their plan to take her. Before he could explain further, his brother couldn't resist jumping in.

"Yes, Lucille, I'm here! I'm fine, and don't worry - we'll get you out of there."

"Get me out? W-what do you mean? What about my father? What's happening?"

Roland quickly placed his hand over Robert's face, shoving him aside from the communication rune. He knew that if these two started talking too much, they'd never get anywhere. While Lucille and Robert had spoken before about possibly running away together, they hadn't made any firm commitment to follow through. Lucille was clearly confused, and she might be afraid that Robert would just end up getting captured again after being freed. She might refuse them in an attempt to protect them both - something they would have to accept, no matter how difficult.

"Listen closely. I can tell that you're still in the same tower. We'll make our way to you and get you out through the window - if that's what you want."

"If she wants?"

Robert reacted, confused at first, but he quickly understood what Roland was getting at.

"I want you to fully understand the situation. If you come with us now, your life as a noble may be over - at least for a while. I know you and Robert want to be together, and I can help you both settle on Dragnis Island, in Valerian territory. I can get you new identities, new work. But you likely won't be able to return home for some time… maybe not ever. Are you prepared for that?"

Roland paused, giving her a moment to absorb the gravity of the decision. All he could offer was a fresh start in Albrook, working with Arthur's people. Robert could become a knight there, and Lucille, who had attained the class of rune mage, could either work at Roland's shop or take on a role similar to Arion's, working with the dwarven craftsmen from the Union. It was a new life, but it would come at the cost of their old ones. They would need to abandon all the previous relationships, their old friends and family members included.

Count Graham would undoubtedly leave no stone unturned in his search for his daughter. The only place that could shield them from his influence was Valerian territory, which belonged to a rival faction - The powerful Aristocats. Even if Graham discovered where they were, his authority wouldn't extend there, and he wouldn't be able to send official forces to retrieve her. However, there was a possibility that the Duke could make a deal with him, so giving them new identities was a must.

"Never... return home?"

She whispered, her voice barely audible.

"But... what about my family? My father..."

Robert shifted uncomfortably, gripping the helmet he had been given. He wanted to comfort her, but he knew Roland was right to make her understand the full gravity of the situation. This wasn't just about escaping the estate - it was about leaving everything behind.

"I know it's difficult."

Roland said gently,

"But look on the bright side: you'll get to be with my blockhead of a brother and won't be used as a bargaining chip to form new alliances."

"That's true…"

Lucille chuckled softly, while Robert protested from the side.

"Hey, I'm not a blockhead… and you should show some respect to your older brother."

"Maybe after you start acting like one."

Roland retorted and then quickly returned to speaking with Lucille.

"You'll be leaving all the good things behind, sure, but also the bad. Sometimes, that's worth it if you want freedom. You can trust me on that - I know it."

Roland knew a thing or two about taking life into his own hands. After more than ten years, he had finally managed to grasp it. He understood that many nobles despised their shallow lives, filled with fake parties and forced smiles. While Lucille needed to be fully aware of the consequences of leaving, it was also important to remind her of what she stood to gain - freedom.

If they wanted, they could eventually leave Albrook altogether, embarking on an even greater journey. And who knew? Count Graham might eventually reconsider his stance. Some fathers were stubborn, but they often came around when their children were involved.

"...Alright, I've made up my mind."

After a little pause, Lucille finally made a decision.

"What will it be then?"

Roland asked, fully prepared to turn this ship around. If she refused then getting Robert back to his father wouldn't be much of a problem and he could resume his life as if he was never rescued in the first place. He was also willing to bring him back to Albrook if he decided to leave the noble life behind but first, they needed to hear what Lucille had to say.

"I want to go with you."

Lucille said, her voice now firm.

"I don't care about the titles, or the estate, or any of it anymore. I just want to be free... and be with Robert."

There was a long silence as Roland let her words settle. He knew the weight of her decision. For her, this wasn't just an impulsive escape; it was a final severing of ties with the life she had been born into.

"Understood,"

Roland finally said, his voice steady.

"We'll get you out. Be ready by the window. We'll be there soon and don't be surprised by what we are wearing and the monster masks."

He cut off the communication, turning to Robert who was now staring at the glowing horizon where Graham's estate loomed. His hands moved the strange helmet over his head and he placed the hood over it to conceal his face.

"She's in so are you ready to take her back?"

"I'm more than ready, just tell me what to do."

Roland nodded, turning his gaze toward the estate. The barrier ahead was a slight obstacle, but he had already prepared countermeasures to slip through it. Soon, a dark mist enveloped him as he stepped back onto the glider. Hovering upward, he extended the ladder down.

"Get on the ladder. You'll be the one keeping Lucille from falling."

The glider wasn't designed to carry many people, and the ladder had been hastily rigged together. Robert would have to hold on tightly, both to the ladder and to Lucille, as they made their escape. He could use some mana to form a protective barrier around them, but that would only drain his energy faster. Flying took a lot out of him, and the runic batteries powering the aircraft would eventually run dry.

Slowly, the two ascended into the air, their forms cloaked by several layers of concealment spells. They moved cautiously, avoiding any noise. As the glider rose toward Lucille's tower, Roland remained hyper-aware of his surroundings. They had slipped through the barrier undetected, but the estate was still crawling with knights and guards. Any wrong move could spell disaster. Luckily, most people were distracted by the recent duel and not fully paying attention to Roland's foolhardy plan. Roland hovered close to the tower where Lucille waited, ensuring the glider maintained altitude and stability despite the added weight of Robert on the ladder.

It was quite late at night but some people were still shuffling around. The estate below was quiet, but tension crackled in the air as if the whole place could wake up at any moment. Roland maintained focus on the glider making sure it flew in the exact motion he wanted. There were several hotspots close to mages that he needed to avoid. He made sure to do it slowly and eventually, they arrived at the tower window.

"Sir Robert, Sir Roland, is that really you?"

"Yeah, not take a step back, I'll make the opening larger."

The tower had been built to contain mages like Lucille. It featured several layers of magical defenses, and while blasting a hole in it was possible, a silent approach was far more prudent. For now, Robert hung from the ladder below, while Roland faced the small window. From within his robe, he pulled out a large rod. It had a grip at the back, but was otherwise a plain black shaft etched with runes. When Roland channeled magic into the grip, a bright light flared from its tip, melting the stone of the tower as he worked to enlarge the opening.

Robert recognized the intense flame as it was the same one that had sliced through the thick ceiling of the carriage. They were enveloped in a thick mist that concealed the glow, and Roland wielded the device with trained precision. It had been designed specifically to avoid triggering any mana signatures. Using it, he could widen the window without setting off the tower's defenses, just as he had when rescuing his brother.

The rock proved easier to cut through, and soon, Lucille stepped back as a large chunk broke free and fell away. As always, the surrounding mist muffled all sounds, creating the perfect conditions for a silent escape. Roland gave her a nod before gliding upwards, giving her and Robert a moment alone. Even without words, Lucille somehow always knew which brother was which. The instant Robert came into view, her eyes filled with tears, and she sprinted forward without hesitation.

Lucille rushed forward, her movements were filled with urgency, driven by emotions she'd been suppressing for far too long. Robert extended his arms, gripping the ladder tightly with one hand while he reached out for her with the other. She leaped into his embrace without hesitation, clinging tightly to him, her tears now streaming down her face. There was no need for words in that moment - their reunion, after everything that had transpired, was enough.

Everything was going smoothly as Roland nodded, signaling that it was time to move away from the tower. Yet, in all his careful calculations, he had overlooked one detail - the sheer volume of tears his future sister-in-law could produce. Her face was drenched, tears spilling down her chin and, to his horror, right towards a patrolling knight below. Roland tried to use his mana to halt the tear's descent, but by the time he noticed, it was already too late.

"...Hm?"

A drop of salty liquid splashed onto the man's helmet as he took a moment to relieve himself in the bushes. This wasn't just any knight, but a tier-3 class holder, entrusted with the important task of watching over the young lady. The subtle vibration of the droplet striking his armor caught his attention instantly. He glanced up, focusing on the source of the disturbance.

His eyes narrowed as he spotted something strange. A dark fog hung in the air, obscuring his view of whatever lay beyond. The longer he stared, the more he realized something was amiss. The fog didn't belong there and his instincts told him that something wasn't right. Eventually, his gaze caught a hint of movement within and prompted him to shout out.

"In… INTRUDERS!"

'Why can't it be plan A for once…'

Roland sighed as the man started shouting, his multiple minds already working on switching to plan B and getting them out of there alive.