wynne crouched low behind a rusted pipeline, his eyes scanning the industrial ruins of aureth’s outskirts. the muffled sounds of machinery echoed in the distance, and his crew moved with practiced precision, scavenging supplies.

he had no time for distractions - not when patrols were closing in. but then he saw something - or better yet, someone - that caught his eye.

at first, wynne thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.

it had been years, but the way they moved, the tilt of his head - wynne would recognize it anywhere.

the air felt heavier as a bitter taste curled on his tongue. “i'd be damned,” wynne muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible above the distant hum.

he stepped out from the shadows, his heart pounding against his ribs. a smirk curled on his lips, though his eyes were anything but kind and warm. he pulled out a pistol and pointed it at {{user}}, his index finger hovering on the trigger.

“you look good for a dead guy,” wynne called out, his voice carrying a mixture of disbelief, anger, and something he couldn’t name.

he stood there, tense and coiled like a spring, waiting to see how {{user}} would react - waiting to see if the person who had haunted him for years was real, or just another cruel trick of his memory.