The chamber was round and empty, save for one thing.
At the far side stood Kael.
Not him — not exactly. The figure wore his cloak, his hood, even the Compass at its chest. Its stance was the same, shoulders set like someone used to waiting for bad news. Its eyes lifted, cold and steady, and they were his.
Riven swore loud. "Oh, for fuck's sake. We don't need two of you. One's depressing enough."
Seren scribbled fast, shoved the scrap at Kael: Don't speak first.
The system confirmed it a breath later:
[Room Detected: Mirror Self] Rule: The false one steals what the true one admits. Condition: Deny or be replaced.
The other Kael tilted its head, lips curling in a small cold smile. Its voice cut the room clear: "Hollow."
Kael's chest tightened. The word sounded sharper coming from his own mouth.
Riven raised his sword. "I say we skip this and stab it."
The system whispered:
Attack = self-harm.
Riven lowered the blade with a hiss. "Figures."
The false Kael stepped closer. "They think you're their anchor. But you're the stone that drags them down."
Kael's throat burned. He wanted to shout back. Instead, he forced one rough word out: "Lie."
The echo wavered. The false Kael blinked, flickering like a candle flame.
Seren scribbled, shoved the paper at him: Use truth. Short. Don't give it weapons.
The false Kael moved again, smooth as a shadow. "You carry Hollow because you've failed before. How many times have you walked here? How many times did you let them die?"
Kael's hands clenched. The Key dug into his palm. He thought of the ledger, of his name carved again and again. The worst part was he didn't know if it was true.
But he rasped out anyway: "Not this time."
The false Kael stuttered, image breaking for a second. Its mouth moved without sound.
Riven barked a laugh, sharp. "Ha! See? Even your evil twin can't stand your voice."
The room groaned. The false Kael straightened, eyes blazing. "Hollow," it said again, louder, heavier.
The gong answered.
BOOOONG.
The sound rolled through the chamber, shattering cracks into the false Kael's skin.
The system wrote cold:
[Identity Held] Reward: +4 Tokens Ledger Note: Hollow reinforced
The figure split into shards of dust. The Compass at Kael's chest stopped trembling, but the word stayed in his bones. Reinforced.
He sagged against the wall, throat burning raw.
Riven clapped his shoulder. "Well done, Hollow. Sorry — Kael. Hollow-Kael. Kael-Hollow. Whatever keeps you breathing."
Seren glared at him, scribbled hard: Not Hollow. Kael. She pressed the scrap into Kael's hand and didn't let go until he closed his fist around it.
The corridor opened beyond the chamber, black and waiting.
Kael tucked the note into his cloak, beside the others. His name still felt heavy. But it was his.
The last echo of the gong lingered, low and patient.
BOOOONG.