The alarms had dulled, replaced by a constant, rhythmic pulse echoing through the Labyrinth.
Kael paced the edge of his cell, fists clenched.
Lira sat with her back against the far wall, gaze focused and sharp.
"They're here," she said. "Whoever came… they've made it this far."
Kael nodded. "It's a distraction. If we time it right, we can use the next patrol rotation. Disable the field wards. I can overload the lock seal."
Lira tilted her head. "You're sure?"
"No."
"But you're willing."
He looked at her.
"We can't wait anymore."
---
Before they could move — before Kael could even reach the panel — the door slid open with a hiss of cold vapor.
And he stepped in.
Tall. Impossibly composed. Cloaked in violet-gray silk armor that shimmered like ink. His eyes were covered with a thin obsidian blindfold, but he moved as if he saw everything.
Executor Syphar.
"Subjects D-1 and D-9," he said in a voice like cracking glass. "The Matron requests your presence. Immediately."
Kael stood his ground. "What if we refuse?"
Syphar tilted his head slightly. "Then I sever your minds and send the fragments to be reformatted."
Lira stood.
And whispered, "Not yet."
---
They complied.
For now.
But Kael marked every turn of the corridor.
Every guard.
Every glowing node in the walls.
The Labyrinth was alive — and he'd learn how it breathed.
Because next time?
He wouldn't be led.
He'd lead the way out.
---
Meanwhile, above…
Serida's blade hummed as she pressed it into the heart of another Augmented corpse.
They were losing soldiers — but not momentum.
Ailen disabled the wardlock on the central shaft, and the metal floor split open with a mechanical groan. Heat poured out.
"The central node is beneath us," he said. "And likely Kael too."
Ashbourne checked the breach timer. "Five minutes before ward memory resets."
Vexa cracked her knuckles. "Then let's make them remember us."
Serida jumped first.
Down into the dark.
---
Deep below, Executor Syphar guided Kael and Lira into a wide chamber of polished stone.
In its center: a floating platform surrounded by memory conduits, each inscribed with Kael's name in different languages — even those he didn't recognize.
"This is where the truth begins," Syphar whispered.
Kael's blood chilled.
Because for a moment…
He heard himself.
His own voice, long ago, whispering from the walls:
"If I ever forget, bring me here. Remind me of what I did."