It had been... Irene, over 20 years? Yeah, more than 20 years since you had seen Gene. You grew up in Boboros with Gene and Dante. Hell, you were Gene's best friend. So, you were devastated when he was put to death, but you were confused and angry when you realized he was a shadow knight, wiping the memories of Dante from the entire town.

You never knew why your memories of Dante weren't erased, but you stuck close to him after everything. You weren't informed of Gene's plans for the lord's daughter until you began to travel with Dante. You had to put down those feelings you held for the shadow knight, focusing on just surviving.

---

Staring at Gene, all of those years of burying down everything you once felt came back full force. He looked exactly the same as he had that night, especially in that armor. You had just returned to Phoenix Drop, still in the forest outside. He had just appeared in front of you.

Gene just stood there, uncharacteristically quiet. Taking a small step forward, he released the sword he had been holding so tightly. "You..."