Compared to Tata appearing here, what she found even more incomprehensible was why the examiner would be brought out by Tata as well.
Even.
Tata was dragging the examiner by his tie, as if coercing him to obey her every command.
This familiar feeling made Carlen reminisce for a moment about that day at the Cardmaker's Association, where the amiable man was similarly dragged away by Tata by his collar.
"No, you are not him, you can't possibly be him!"
Carlen's eyes widened, a trembling smile on her face as she shook her head slightly.
A flurry of clues crossed her mind in an instant, and terrifying thoughts began to surface.
"I'm not."
The examiner could only comfort her, hoping she wouldn't be discouraged.
But this gentle tone, like that used with a child, only made Carlen's mental state crumble further.
"No, no..."
Carlen began to shake her head desperately, as if unable to accept the reality.