Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 103 - 102- I love you(2)

Ever since Carter saw her perform in the contest, he hadn’t been able to look away—not then, and not now.

Her strength. Her beauty. The way she moved with grace, yet stood firm, like nothing could shake her. That distant air she carried, like the world around her, didn’t matter—not even the person standing in front of her. She spoke her mind, even when facing royalty, and never once looked unsure.

Everything about her had left him breathless.

From that day on, she lived in his thoughts. He spoke about her to his parents and shared how he felt—how strongly he felt. He told them he wanted to marry her.

Carter had never been in love before. And when it finally happened, it wasn’t soft or slow. He fell hard. Deep. So deep, there was no way back.

And now, after all this time, he was standing before her—ready to lay everything bare.

He knew she might say no. In fact, he expected it. After all, they had met only once. She didn’t seem like someone who’d say yes just like that.

But still, he had to try. Even if it meant offering her everything he had... just for a chance.

He was ready to give it his all—to win her heart, no matter how long it took. He didn’t have much experience with love, but his mother always told him that women appreciated honesty and kindness. And those, he believed, he could give her without fail.

But instead of the rejection or hesitation he had braced himself for, she surprised him with a simple request.

"Get up," she said gently.

Carter stood, quickly obeying her words. She turned away, walking toward the window with slow, thoughtful steps. The light framed her figure as she crossed her arms, still facing away from him.

Then, in a calm voice that held no emotion, she asked, "I assume you fell for me after seeing me in the contest?"

"Yes," Carter replied without a second of doubt. "That’s why I asked my parents to come here today."

She gave a soft hum, almost like she already expected that answer. And then, she asked something that made his heart pause.

"What if you hadn’t seen me that day?"

Carter let out a soft chuckle. "Maybe it was fate that led me to see you that day," he said. "But being here now... that’s my choice. This is something I did on my own."

Elana didn’t respond right away. She stared out the window for a moment longer before finally speaking.

"The truth is... I was never supposed to be in that contest."

Carter’s smile faded. Her words caught him off guard, but he stayed quiet, sensing there was more—something deeper.

"Four months before the contest," she continued, her voice steady but distant, "I was ranked twenty-seventh in the physical assessment. Just... average. Nothing special. I had no motivation left to keep going. I was ready to quit everything and return home."

Carter stood frozen, her words settling in like a heavyweight.

The girl he had seen fight like a storm, so composed, so powerful... had once been ready to give up?

She turned around and looked directly at him, her eyes calm but clear. "So no, it wasn’t fate that put me there that day. It was someone’s effort. Someone who refused to let me break."

She paused as if reliving the memory.

"That day, in the gym... I was done. I was tired, frustrated, and just... empty. I had no reason left to stay. Only a long list of reasons to walk away."

Then, her voice softened.

"But he showed up. Out of nowhere, he walked into my life and gave me something no one else did... something that had been taken from me over and over again since I entered Academy."

She looked at Carter with a faint, almost nostalgic smile.

"He gave me hope."

Elana’s voice grew lighter now—softer, almost like a breeze brushing gently against a quiet evening.

"He saw me at my worst," she said, eyes distant with memory. "He helped me rise from that... helped me become the person I am today. One of the final contestants of Champion’s Ascent. The strongest student at Runebound Academy. And now, the runner-up of the Aegis Cup."

She paused, her breath slow and steady, before continuing.

"He made me someone I can finally face in the mirror. Someone worthy of carrying the Stronghart name."

A quiet breath escaped her lips as she added, "And in return... he asked for nothing."

Her eyes softened as her voice dipped even lower, almost a whisper now. "When I stood in the spotlight, he remained in the shadows. Watching me from the sidelines. Always there... but never asking for recognition. That’s just who he is."

A gentle smile tugged at the corners of her lips, uninvited but sincere, as she recalled the man who changed her life—who had given her the strength to begin again.

The man she couldn’t imagine living without.

Carter remained silent for a brief moment, before asking, "Is he the same person who saved you and healed you after the ambush?"

Elana blinked in surprise, "How do you know?"

Carter dryly chuckled, "Your voice softened when you mentioned him...I noticed."

Elana’s ears turned hot.

But she can’t help it.

Rubbing the back of his head, he asked, "So...you are already in love with someone, huh?"

Elana gave a straightforward answer, "Yes. That’s why I called you out and cleared things before your family or mine could have led this conversation in a strange direction.?

Carter exhaled a sigh and remained silent for a moment.

His left brow suddenly elevated as he asked, "What if I had considered this an insult, and this conversation would have led to conflict between the two nations?"

His tone was light and he didn’t mean whatever he said. He just gave her a hypothetical situation...but never expected her response to be so...bold.

"I can fight the world to be with him. So surely, two nations couldn’t shake my will."

Carter parted his lips but then sealed them.

She is so cool... ugh!

He gave a short laugh, before telling her, "I understand the extent of your love. In front of your feelings, I feel mine were just...an impulse...infatuation which I should have controlled better."

Elana didn’t say anything to that, but inwardly, she agreed. After all, she missed Adrian’s classes today because of his impulsive decision.

In the end, he just offered his hand and said, "Nice meeting you, Elana. I hope we can at least be on friendly terms."

She met his hand and said, "If only you could handle the situation outside without an drama."

Carter laughed, "Don’t worry, I will do something about it."

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A/N:- Be a man like Carter not Allen. Thanks for reading.