Ruby stared at the man before her, momentarily lost for words.
Everything about him felt unfamiliar—this was a completely different person.
Medium-length white hair and pale skin stood in stark contrast to the Brand Essen she'd known since childhood.
A memory flickered in her mind.
He had once told her he wasn't the person she was waiting for, that he was someone entirely different.
She had started to suspect as much, especially after noticing the engraving on his shield had changed to a foreign name.
They had spent their days navigating the ruins, facing challenge after challenge. However, they had never found a quiet moment to talk about it.
'This is it… The moment to finally learn the truth.'
She resolved to confront him, ready at last to hear the long-awaited answer.
***
"Is that who you are?"
Brand, with black mist still emitting from his body, faced the question from the woman before him, Ruby.
