Before August stood a pale-faced figure clad in a golden-black warrior robe that seemed to absorb the light around him. The robe, intricately embroidered with arcane symbols, marked the man as a member of the true-blooded Brander lineage. His features, sharpened and angular, bore the unmistakable hallmarks of nobility: high cheekbones, a chiselled jawline, and a confidence that oozed from his very presence. He might not have towered over August, who stood tall and imposing, but the raw, terrifying energy emanating from him eclipsed any concerns regarding height.
