In the solemn hallway, Ruvian finally arrived at the location where Julian was supposed to be.
And yes, he was there.
This time, it was the real him.
Tall, no longer trapped in the body of a child, Julian stood with his back facing Ruvian. His short white hair was slightly disheveled, while the dark cloak he wore was the same one Ruvian remembered from their fight, though now it was torn and battered from everything that had happened.
He simply stood before a single enormous portrait, staring at it in complete silence. It was a portrait of his family.
Ruvian finally took a proper look around.
The long hallway was lined from end to end with paintings of generations of Rozenbergs, their cold, dignified faces watching silently from gilded frames.
The Rozenberg family portrait hall.
The sound of Ruvian's footsteps gradually slowed until he finally came to a stop several paces away from Julian. Julian seemed to notice his presence, slowly turning around before fully facing him.
