His father didn't respond and simply smiled at him.
That smile…
Adrian's blood ran cold. It wasn't right. It stretched too far, too calmly, without reaching the eyes.
He stepped back. "You're not my father."
The study shimmered. Just like the mirror. Just like the garden.
"Adrian," the Patriarch said suddenly, rising to his feet. "You've been under stress. Come, sit. I'll make some tea. Let us speak as father and son."
Adrian stared in disbelief as his father walked over to the kettle. He poured steaming water into two jade cups.
But there was no steam. No sound. No scent of tea.
It was all fake.
******
Meanwhile, in another part of the maze, Julian and his group had just finished dealing with the crossbow formation array.
Luckily for them, none of them were killed. However, they did suffer varying degrees of injuries.
