The chamber seemed to close in around them, the air thick with tension. Xavier's heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the secrets he had guarded so fiercely. He had believed that his enigmatic abilities were hidden from prying eyes, but the figure before him had shattered that illusion.
"You've hidden it well," the figure's voice was a mixture of fascination and triumph. "But you can't conceal the truth from me, Xavier."
Xavier's throat was dry, his voice a mere whisper as he finally spoke the words he had avoided for so long. "How do you know?"
The figure's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Because I was there when it happened. I saw the puppeteers take you, watched as they conducted their experiments."