"Oh, father, what is that you're-"
"Shhh! Quiet, Icarus. Can't have any of the guards finding out."
"Right, sorry… It's just that they look so beautiful, father, I couldn't help myself."
"Beautiful, you say? Well, now I'm left questioning your eyesight; quite the ghastly looking things if you ask me."
"Nonsense! You could never make anything that isn't beautiful, father."
"Yes, well… questionable beauty aside, they don't work. At least, not for the moment. I think I know where I went wrong; just need to wait for the next batch of bronze, and I'll try again."
"I don't recall Minos ordering you to create-"
"And you would be right in saying that Minos didn't order anything of the sort. Exactly why I can't afford to have him find out; he's monstrous, not stupid."
"But father, he'll kill you if he finds out you're not working on-"
"Which is why he will never find out. Trust me, Icarus. I just need a bit more time, but I promise you, we're getting out of here."
"I've never doubted you, father. I know that whatever it ends up being, you'll make it work. You always do..."
The pliers dropped to the ground with a light, metallic clang. Just now, that- It had been so… real. As if he had been standing right behind me, just like he used to. But it couldn't be. I knew that. I was working on wires, not wings. Not those wings. Why had I thought the wires were wings?
"…Five minutes" I let out a slight sigh. "You get five minutes, and not a second longer."
I didn't have time for even that, really. I could feel my magical energy being drained. I needed to get all the wiring I'd need done as soon as possible. For the child's plan to work, I would need to expand the labyrinth. Even if it was just one corridor, it would expand the overall size, and thus the overall cost. If this didn't work, I might not even last until the next day.
"…It will work. I'll make it work…"
Not that I could take all the credit for this. The child's idea, while… different… was sound. Conceptually, at least. Comparing the concept to the system in the computer he left behind, I couldn't see any reason as to why it wouldn't work. Just had to move fast enough; get everything set up before I ended up draining myself completely.
I hated it.
I hated that I had not thought of this myself. Converting the labyrinth into one of these computer things, in terms of how it was powered… There was no excuse as to how I didn't reach such a possibility myself!
"Beautiful… Absolutely beautiful…"
"They look so beautiful, father."
Why…? Was this just another twisted joke by the gods?! Why can't I unsee it! Ever since his stupid antics with the door, I can't unsee it! Not fully… And now it wasn't just Icarus.
"Hey, uncle! Look what I made! See how by making this one change here, it works far more efficiently now?"
"…Yes, child, I see it…"
"What do you think? I know everyone else is telling me it's amazing, but compared to your words it's just empty praise."
"…It is… fine work, for a beginner. You still have lots to learn though."
"I see. I figured as much. So, how do you think I can improve it further?"
How would I know, child?!
"Hey, uncle! What are you working on over there? Can I see? Can I help with anything?"
Go away… Just go away already!
"People are saying I'll surpass even you someday uncle. Isn't that funny? Do you think I could do it, someday? Surpass even you?"
Shut up… shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!
"If you change this to be more like this here, it'll work, uncle. Trust me on this one."
"…Do you though? Or is it that you just think you do?"
"Get out of my head already!"
A long ringing sound echoed throughout the workshop. I was breathing heavily when the world came back into focus. That was… that had been a hammer I just threw. That's why I could see a hammer on the ground now…
Why...? Why him too?!
That questioning mind, thinking it was helping, when it just made everything worse! As if he thought he knew more than me. Knew better than me. Was better than me, of all people! No one was better than me! How could he know how my labyrinth works better than I do?! He couldn't! No one could! No one!
…But this was his idea, wasn't it…? His idea, not mine…
Why…? Why did this child remind me so much of him? Of them?! That innocent, childlike wonder, masking the mind that never stopped working beneath… I hate it. I hate it, hate it, HATE IT!
"The boy had my blessing; my protection. You stole everything from him. There will be no running from this, Daedalus. Just as you stole everything from him, I will steal everything from you."
"Curse you, Daedalus! Death will not be the end of me! I'll be waiting for you; I'll have my revenge! Even you can't escape death! No monster can!"
"Get. Out. Of. My. Head! All of you! You're all nothing next to me! I'm Daedalus; greatest mind to ever live! Your vengeance?! Take from me?! I'm coming for you! All of you! It'll be my revenge! I will win this war, mark my words! I will have them back!"
…I will have them back… I will have them back…
…Five minutes… That was five minutes… Block them out. Block them all out. Drown yourself in your work; your vengeance. As you always did. As you always do…
