Chapter 608 - 607- A promise
"So, you are going after all," Raven said as they walked side by side.
"It’s the only option I have now. This isn’t just about saving Forgelet’s worlds. It’s for the sake of my own sanity as well. There are questions I’ve been carrying for ages, and I can’t ignore them any longer."
Querella knew her husband better than anyone. Any question left unanswered would continue to gnaw at him until he either uncovered the truth himself or found someone who could. He was a scholar through and through.
And this time, the questions revolved around his very identity and the changes taking place within him. Anyone in his position would want answers. Not only to understand where they came from, but to prepare for whatever future awaited them.
"How is she?" Adrian asked as they came to a stop at the terrace.
The sky remained as gloomy as ever, but at least one thing had improved.
Life had begun to return.
Far below, more people could be seen walking through the streets, their presence bringing a faint sense of normalcy back to the capital.
Thanks to the artifacts Adrian had created, not only the capital but countless towns and cities across the realm now had their own sustainable sources of food production.
And the guardian Adrian had entrusted with protecting this land ensured that no apostle would ever again threaten the hope its people had fought so hard to reclaim.
The recovery was slow, but steady.
"Evilyn?" Querella asked. "She’s doing well. I’ve given her plenty of space and enough tools to keep herself occupied."
"Tools?" Adrian asked, raising a brow.
"Yes. The ones you left behind, along with the materials we couldn’t use while building the greenhouse." She let out a quiet sigh before continuing, "I believe the best way to keep a creator’s mind from wandering is to give them something to create."
Adrian nodded in agreement. "You’re right."
What surprised him was that the system hadn’t imposed any restrictions on her.
Back in his home world, it had explicitly warned him not to let Evilyn invent anything. Anything she created would far surpass that world’s technological level, disrupting its natural progression.
Perhaps this world was different.
Since no deity governed it, the system might have become more lenient. Or perhaps it had simply taken pity on the poor girl.
"Anyway, when are you leaving?" Raven asked, turning to face him.
"I’ll head back first and meet Bella, Ariana, and a few others. After that, I’ll make my way to the prison."
Adrian would, without a doubt, leave behind every safeguard he could think of. Traps, reinforcements, artifacts, and defensive tools. Even if the deities launched another assault, those he left behind would not be caught unprepared.
He had no idea how long he would be gone.
That was precisely why he intended to ensure their defenses were as flawless as possible before departing.
"You know, Adrian..." Raven said softly, letting her hand slide along the guardrail until her fingers brushed against his. "Sometimes, I just want to say something completely irrational and make things difficult for you."
A faint smile tugged at Adrian’s lips.
"Believe me, I’d love to see that." He let out a quiet chuckle before his expression turned gentle. "But not this time, Raven. Just this once, please understand. I promise, after this... no more unnecessary risks."
She turned her eyes toward him.
"Do you promise you won’t put yourself in danger after this?"
"Unless it’s to protect the people I care about, then no." He answered without the slightest hesitation. "I swear."
Raven let out a quiet sigh.
As long as either side continued to exist, danger would never truly disappear.
Expecting Adrian to stop risking his life was little more than an impossible wish.
She had tried countless times to convince herself that all of this was leading them toward a better future.
But her heart was irrational.
No matter how hard she reasoned with it, it refused to be at peace.
Even now, the certainty in his voice, the promise he had made to return safely, and the unwavering strength she knew he possessed were still not enough to calm the fear buried deep within her.
Perhaps that was why she had never once doubted her feelings for him.
"My Lord," Raven said softly as she turned to face him, gently cupping his cheeks.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, not of despair, but of resolve. Gathering every ounce of courage she had, she spoke with quiet determination.
"This is the command of your wife. Never forget it, even if your journey takes you to the very end of this world."
"You have to come back alive. Back to me. Back to your home."
Adrian did not answer immediately.
For several silent moments, he simply gazed into her dark, glistening eyes.
Then, wrapping his hand around hers where it rested against his face, he leaned forward and whispered,
"I promise."
A gentle kiss landed on her forehead before he slowly pulled away and vanished.
Querella bit her lower lip, keeping her head lowered as she clung to the lingering warmth for just a second longer.
Only then did she lift her gaze, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"I live every day hoping for a future with you. If something were to happen..."
She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.
She didn’t have to.
She already knew how that story would end.
....
Returning to his own world, Adrian found himself standing before the academy.
He had come to meet someone.
Ariana, Ruby, and Annabelle were still at the mansion, leaving only one person he wanted to bid farewell to before he departed.
"She should be in the common hall."
He planned to find her there and invite her to his workshop, where they could speak without interruption.
Just then, he sensed someone approaching.
By the time he turned around, the person had already stopped in front of him.
"Allen?"
Shock flickered across Adrian’s face. It wasn’t Allen’s sudden appearance that surprised him, but how silently he had closed the distance. Somehow, the young man had concealed his presence so well that Adrian had barely noticed him until the very end.
Allen’s eyes were bloodshot, as though he hadn’t slept for days.
A frown crossed Adrian’s face.
"What happened?"
Allen slowly reached out and grabbed the front of Adrian’s shirt. His hand trembled as he struggled to get the words out.
"...Professor..."
His voice cracked.
"Please..."
He tightened his grip, desperation filling his eyes.
"Please... help me."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.