The Runic Artist Chapter 48: Chapter 367 - Cost of Living

Read chapter 48 of The Runic Artist by Ellake on NovelPedia.

Nate felt the gentle lap of the ocean over his feet as he stood on the shores of the island where Camilla had been born. The ceremony was coming to an end, and, as he kissed his wife while sea water flicked onto both of their brows, he could hear Kiri whistling loudly in the background along with the cheers of over a hundred individuals. Nate leaned back and smiled down at Camilla. “Does it feel any different the second time?” she asked coyly. Nate shook his head in amusement. “Does being half-naked in the ocean as part of the marriage ceremony feel any different? Not really.” He was clearly lying, the smile on his lips giving him away as he teased his wife twice over. The first ceremony, which had been on Galle, was far simpler in terms of location, having been performed in a venue within the Etruan Capital. The guest list had been somewhat similar but, where the Galle wedding had involved politicians and leaders from across Galle, this one included the same for The Heartlands. Of course, not everyone had close ties with the Eternal River or the Risen Sun Sect, but there were enough that at least ten True Divines were present. Grommir stomped over, his feet sinking deep into the sand as he clapped Nate on the shoulder. “Congratulations to you both.” Prim sidled up next to the True Divine Half-ogre and Nate looked between them as he asked. “Is there another wedding on the horizon?” Grommir blushed ever so slightly, but it was Prim who answered for the pair of them. “I think so, young Nathaniel. My dear Grommir has shown me his worth and the gardens of my homeworld look even better with him strolling through them regally in his armour. Thank you for helping him.” Nate played dumb, offering a kind smile as Camilla turned to greet another well wisher. “It was all Grommir, High Gardener. I just helped reveal the ogre within.” Prim gave a secretive smile and led Grommir away. In their place stomped Hurin Starbeard. “Good job, son. Can’t say I see the appeal in a skinny elf, but then you’re a bit of a skinny little fucker yaself so I guess it makes sense.” Nate snorted at the rude dwarf. “Thanks, I think…” Hurin grumbled something unintelligible to himself. “You two enjoy it while ya can, aye? And don’t forget we’ve got a meeting in a month!” “I won’t,” reassured Nate only for Hurin to make way for the next well wisher. In a stream they came, one after another, some he knew, some he loved as friends and family, and some that he’d never met before. They were all relatively polite at a bare minimum, though he could hear in their words that some were angling to forge relations with the Risen Sun Sect by attempting to leverage the Eternal River Sect. To those, Nate was polite but cold, each one leaving looking more than a little unnerved. More than once he caught the whisper of ‘Artist of Last Rites’ on their lips when they thought he couldn’t hear them. Finally the line and well wishes dwindled to just family and friends. Luci beat Kiri to him by turning into light before crashing into Nate with her scaled, humanoid arms spread wide. “Uncle Nate! Congratulations! That’s what I am supposed to say right? This seemed like a lot of work just so you could mate with the blue one! Why not just make her part of your hoard?!” Luci danced from foot to foot, still unable to stand still as Kiri and Gwen snickered behind her. “It’s a little more than that, Luci. Maybe Kiri and Gwen can explain it to you later?” “Good idea!” agreed Luci, rushing off to a now stricken Kiri and a still-laughing Gwen. Nate just waggled his eyebrows at Kiri while his sister flipped him off in response. Next came Frick, marching forward in an incredibly formal black and white suit. His clawed blue feet were hanging out the bottom and kicking up sand like Frick had woken up from a night out partying and found himself on the beach. “I liked the other ceremony more,” stated Frick, hands on hips. Camilla finally managed to extricate herself from the last political invitee an