Chapter 183 - A Dilemma

“I understand that you don’t recognize me. My face is covered and my voice has changed. And the situation is this.” He sighed faintly, standing at an angle. “But still, I’m a little disappointed.”

“…?”

“Do you still not know who I am?” the man asked, slowly raising his hand. He took off his hood. His pale hand fixed his disheveled black hair, and his golden eyes softly bent as he called her former name that even Rhema did not know. “Ramhita.”

“It’s been a long time.” Benhiramsmiled. Azriel stopped breathing. She could not think of anything or take any action. She used to look in the mirror and imagine what her dead twin brother would look like if he were alive. The man before her was a little taller and colder than the person in her imagination. Other than that, he was exactly the same. He had the same face, black hair, and golden eyes as her. Only their height, gender, and mana inside their bodies were different. She looked full of golden stars, and he looked hollow and pitch-black except for his left arm. At last, Azriel realized the meaning of the black hole she saw with her dragon eye. It looked hollow because Benhiram’s mana was absorbed into her in their mother’s womb. With that mana, she was born with her dragon eye open just as Rhema said that all dragon eye wizards were twins. It felt like everything around her was going fuzzy.

Azriel called him with shaking lips, “…Benhiram”

It was her other half—her only family, the one who named her for the first time, the one who died after hiding her, and the one who had all of his mana taken by her in their mother’s womb. Her twin brother nodded with a kind face just like when they were young. “Yes, Ramhita.”

She hadn’t heard that name in 12 years, and hearing it plunged her into the past. She recalled the cold arm that she grabbed from a pool of blood. Her eyes welled up. She babbled, “Yo-you were alive…”

“You thought I was dead. I thought so.” Benhiram approached her. Azriel’s mana that filled the surroundings had long since scattered and vanished. Standing defenselessly, she could only look up at him.

Benhiram came close to her and patted her hair. “I’ve been looking for you. I found you only recently.”

She felt like tearing up at his gentle touch. ‘Is he really Benhiram? Really? Was my brother alive? Could it be an illusion or delusion?’ It felt impossible, but she was so happy that she wanted to believe it unconditionally. And yet, that feeling made it seem too good to be true. She was confused.

‘No. This can’t be an illusion.’

Rhema was the only one who could use illusion magic so powerful. Above all, no one but Benhiram knew the name Ramhita. She had not even told Rhema that name. So, it truly, truly meant that her twin brother came back alive. Benhiram gave a smile—one that reached his eyes—as if confirming his existence.

“It was difficult to find you because you changed your name. You were using a different name,” he said.

“Ah… That’s—”

“Didn’t you like the name I gave you?” he asked with a smile on his face. However, his words carried a subtle coldness.

Azriel reflexively shook her head. “No, Benhiram. It’s not like that.”

“Did you hate me, Ramhita? Did you want to forget me? Is that why you changed your name?” he asked.

“No! You know that’s not true!” she cried.

“Is that so? Then, why don’t you look happy? I am so glad to meet you again.” Benhiram smiled brightly. It was a clear and beautiful smile. His warm, shining golden eyes resembled hers.

“I’m glad that you seem well.” He stroked her cheek with his leather-gloved hand.

Seeing his bright smile, Azriel felt as if she had been transported to her childhood. She wanted to burst into tears in her brother’s embrace. Azriel closed her eyes as if to turn away. Only then, she could think.