The Runic Artist Chapter 33: Chapter 352 - Returning Home

Read chapter 33 of The Runic Artist by Ellake on NovelPedia.

Nate stepped out of the portal into the depths of the Artist’s Emporium in Etrua. Camilla’s feet touched the stone floor at the same time as his own and he let the portal close behind him. They had waited another two months on Eternia until Vicoli had returned and said he was ready to begin his pursuit. Nate had supplied the Void Herald with a Regalia that let him Lock and Unlock Space around him before bidding him good luck. With Arikanvil likely on the run and negotiations ongoing between Hurin Starbeard of the Starbreaking Guild and the Empire of Seven Domains for the third artifact, Nate had decided to expedite his return to Galle. The Risen Mountain was left hanging in the air above Islandic on Eternia for when Kiri or the others made their return. It also meant they could use the portal he’d built within it to return to Galle if they so wished. Nate looked around the vault of the Artist’s Emporium and noted that there were a few more mythic items being stored compared to the last time he was here. There was an entire wall that seemed to be devoted to custom, runecrafted designs and sigils. He even thought he saw a couple of Sigils amongst them that he didn’t recognise. He was about to drift closer to them to have a look when Camilla gently touched his shoulder. Such a subtle movement, but she was just reminding him that she was there and he should not get too distracted with his work before he was able to get her set up. With a smile of apology he led the way to the vault door, his Regalia shifting into a white, green, and blue robe. The door opened at a few movements from his mana, and the action just reminded him how accustomed he’d become to working with Divine Energy directly. That was liable to change soon, he reminded himself. Stepping out of the door, he found himself face to face with a team of six guards. At least two of them were mages of some description, with the other four in matching bronze-coloured armour and holding short runecrafted swords that seemed well suited to the tight confines of one of the Emporium’s basement hallways. Their eyes were hard as they stared at Nate, boxing him and Camilla in between the closing vault door and the runecrafted stone walls around them. Nate’s eyes narrowed at the walls as he went over them. Someone had added additional layers of runes into them. The work was decent too. Probably Jacque, he decided. Camilla touched Nate’s shoulder again and he realised he’d been ignoring what the guards were saying. “My sweet artist, I don’t understand what they’re saying,” whispered Camilla, an aura of calm surrounding her like a gentle ocean breeze. Nate spun up some paint which he forged into a ring, wrapping the Sigils of Soul, Copy, Mental, and a few others into the creation before binding the runes together. He held the ring out to Camilla who blatantly pretended to blush while offering him her hand. “I thought you’d choose somewhere nicer than the dungeons beneath your castle, but the answer is still yes.” The smile on her face was so clearly teasing that Nate just laughed rather than rolling his eyes before slipping the ring onto her finger. “I’m not quite there yet, but give it a few more months and we’ll see.” “And pin down the most eligible bachelor in the Heartlands? Possibly our entire Reality? Why, the ladies would be jealous from the Barrakin Seas to Wild’s End.” “Is that actually a place? Wild’s End?” asked Nate. “It is. Though why they call it that is beyond me. It’s barely got half the planet in the Wild Realm. Should be called Wild’s Beginning. But then, the Empire of Seven Domains has always had a very high opinion of themselves.” A cough made Nate turn to face the guards. Right, the guards. “Yes?” he asked in a polite tone. “Sir…would you be so kind as to identify yourself?” asked a brown-robed mage in the back, wearing runecrafted bands that looked like they were meant to empower earth-shaping. Nate opened his mouth but Camilla slipped her arm through his as she c