"You are not him. I can see that clearly... now." Kharzan studied the young man with a newfound curiosity. "Who are you? And what exactly are we supposed to be doing inside here?"
And in that moment, a quiet realization washed over Klein.
He had been the one demanding all the answers, had asked where they were, what the fragments meant, what memories they held, where the map led, and what horrors guarded the final door… He had practically interrogated the entire labyrinth using his father and Hagen as his proxies.
But he had not given his father a single personal detail in return, nor had he offered a single piece of truthful information regarding his own identity. Klein had simply allowed Kharzan to believe whatever comfortable lie his fractured mind required to avoid a total psychological collapse.
But his father's mind was no longer fragile.
Perhaps now, he could finally speak the truth.
Klein took a deep, steadying breath… And spoke.
