The Runic Alchemist

Chapter 918: Lights of Celebration & Shadows of Guilt

The wedding reception was situated outside the city in an open green field, where the public feast was going on one side.

Dozens of flying platforms were placed high above the festive gathering on the land where songs were playing continously and the youth of Sanctuary were dancing and laughing. The crowd was so overwhelming that they had to use flying platforms for VIP guests who could not be left alone in public due to safety concerns.

A few of the flying platforms, however, were still open for commoners and the general public, justfor them to have an experience of observing the event and glowing city from above. These had waygates so commoners could climb up without flying.

There were so many glowing light orbs hovering above the thousands of people that it was just as bright as midday despite being nighttime.

The massive stage was built upon the open field as a dance floor. Sam and Grace danced alone before everyone to start, several large screens showing the upclose live footage for everyone to see. Then, along with several nobles and practiced officials, the slow dance started.

Once they had enough, the general public joined under strict order and started dancing along to the rhythm of the playing songs. The once romantic songs had now changed to chaotic popular ones, and the dance was more lively and fun now, instead of slow and romantic.

Still, each flying platform had the stage of its own to dance on, and some guests who had come with wives or girlfriends made good use of it.

Most VVIP guests had returned to their countries after the wedding and dinner, but those who remained for the reception were having a blast. Only the Eldoris royal family members, the Demon Queen, and the ex-Faerunian royal house members had remained.

It was strange yet quite fitting watching the Hellstorm dance with his wife amidst the nobles. The flying platform they were on had quite a lively VIP dance stage as well.

There were comfortable padded seats for people to enjoy the view below or above. Sam and Grace had special seats where they were seated, and people were going up to congratulate them one by one.

Damian and Vidalia remained standing near the edge with a glass of alcohol in hand. The view below was much more interesting.

“It was a beautiful event,” Vidalia whispered after taking a sip.

“Any regrets?” Damian asked with a soft smile.

Because their wedding was such a last-minute thing, Damian had offered Vidalia to have it again, along with Sam and Grace, just for the show. But neither of them cared much for keeping up appearances. Damian had asked just as a formality, so she wouldn’t feel left out. But he forgot she was even more solitary a creature than him.

“I was never one for such festivities. Sorry for not agreeing to do this again with them.” She replied.

“I don’t care much for it either,” He said.

“I feel like I have taken something too precious from her.” Her graceful beauty was shadowed with sadness. It had been for a while, and Damian didn’t know what to do about it.

If things hadn’t changed, this marriage probably would have two couples instead of one. But such was life, even the most certain things sometimes refused to just be.

Vidalia’s eyes were focused on Lucian. She was standing other side of the dancing guests with her childhood friends Adrian, Fiona, and Maelor’s young sister Olivia. Damian had heard she convinced her friends not to join the future battle with the Empire from Leon’s side by going so far as to even threaten their families. She had met Maelor and Leon as well, but her words did not change much for them.

Fiona and Adrian had accepted becoming her assistants. Lucian had offered various job offers to many youngsters who were part of noble families siding with Leon. A chance to protect their name and future. Not many accepted, but the number wasn’t insignificant either.

They were proper candidates for the job offered and were not just given any random title. Lucian would not abuse her power like that. Souldealer and Sam were also involved in this effort; he had missed many sanctum high table meetings to finish his shipbuilding work soon.

Lucian glanced towards the two of them for a moment, probably hearing Vidalia’s words, then looked away.

“I have loved her,” Damian said. Vidalia glanced at him.

“Probably ever since the time we were together as kids. I will not insult her sacrifice, which was for the good of Sanctuary and the Mainland as a whole, by offering lacking companionship. She is stronger than that, I know she is. Her life is just starting. With time, hopefully, this will only be a brief forgotten Chapter in her life.”

“I once promised her the world, but I couldn’t fulfill it. So I know my words don’t hold much honor nowdays but still I promise to you, I will never stop fighting for a life with you, no matter what lies ahead. Never again shall I take anything for granted.”

Vidalia brought her hand up, touching his face gently with a smile. “I do not doubt that for a second, Damian Sunblade. It has never been your fault. The sacrifice she made is something I could never do; maybe that’s why I feel lacking compared to her.”

“You shouldn’t feel like that, my lady.” Lazrin Halek approached them with her close Shadowborn companions beside her. “I apologize for eavesdropping, but it didn’t seem like you two were trying to be private.”

“No, it is our fault. Your highness.” Vidalia replied with a polite nod.

“I just heard the story, I don’t understand it all, but I believe a person should not apologize for loving someone. If my facts are correct, you both chose to be with each other. You should respect the union and stop feeling sorry for yourselves.”

Vidalia glanced towards Damian, and they both smiled and then replied together,

“Yes, you are right, my lady.”

Hesitatingly, Souldealer, Einar, Evrin, and even Lucian’s group joined them one by one. Clearly, they all were listening in. Even Alex had left his mother and aunt’s side to join the group.

“I congratulated Sam but never got a chance to congratulate you, Lord Runebreaker,” Said Alex as he approached. “Congratulations on your marriage.”

Damian and Vidalia nodded slightly with a smile.

“For a second, I didn’t recognize Lady Spellmaster here. It’s quite a change in your overall presence. You look gorgeous.” Fiona said with a respectful tone.

“Thank you,” Vidalia replied, “The Eldorian wedding ceremony changes a couple to be more physically compatible with each other. Sometimes the individual with higher mana forces the changes to be one-sided.”

Both a truth mixed with an excuse. Every person hearing should accept that as a reason enough for her changed appearance. There was a president for it in history, so it wasn’t too odd.

“Higher mana than the legendary Spellmaster, your growth must be the greatest miracle of our generation,” Adrian commented with a light smile.

“Your generation?” Lazrin questioned, “A young second-rank human, so around 40-50 years? Transcendent in half a century?”

Adrian smiled proudly, “Actually, we are only around 25 years old. Not just lord Runebreaker, but Lord Stormcaller and Lady Lucian here as well.”

The shadowborn guests had their eyes wide open, “Three transcendents in just under three decades?” One of them murmured.

“They were not present during the war. Only when the three returned did the alliance decide to attack.” Souldealer explained.

“Yes, that explains why I never heard the names of Runebreaker, Stormcaller, and Frostmother during the war. The Lady Einar and Souldealer of Sanctuary is a name more familiar to us.” Lazrin replied.

Then, changing the subject, the demon queen asked, “Lord Runebreaker, I have to return after this, but if it is all right with your people, can we talk about some things before that?”

“Yes,” Damian agreed, “I need to talk about the exploration project as well.”

The shadowborn group had a sparkle in their eyes.

“That was the subject of my query as well,” Lazrin confessed.

Since others were busy celebrating Damian, Vidalia, Lucian, and Souldealer took the shadowborn queen and her companions to the Sanctum’s quiet meeting room.

“First of all, let me ask you. Is this the same exploration project in which Lord Runebreaker offered to find a land for us?” Lazrin asked, and Damian nodded.

That alone was great news for the Shadowborn, but they could not show it openly. They were representing their people after all, and negotiations still needed to be had.

“I heard from the guests that my lord aims to explore the whole world? And to place these unique recievers system of yours as far as you travel?” Another male Shadowborn had white stubble on his chin and glasses, asked.

The guy looked like a buff accountant.

“Yes, everything you have heard is probably true. The rest will be revealed in detail when we prepare official papers.” Damian replied.

“The goal is to travel, find dungeons, and land. More focus on land and traveling the whole world. I wish to ask you, Queen Lazrin, for extending our existing mana contract deals if you are interested in joining us.”

The aged eyes of the demon queen weighed his words in her mind and then replied with,

“We are indeed intrested for the opportunity, but it’s not a question of simple survival for us anymore, so the motivation for risking the lives of our people needs to match in comparison as well.”

Damian smiled at her clever wordplay, “Rest assured, I know the job is extremely dangerous, so the rewards match the risk as well.”