Two Paths

"Charles Richards?" Kaizen asked, his voice laden with incredulity. "What are you doing here?"

Charles smiled softly, his eyes shining with a mixture of wisdom and compassion. 

"Klaus Park," Charles began, his voice soft and reassuring, "don't worry. I'm here to help you understand some important things. But before we start, I'd like to congratulate you on your victory against your clone. It was a battle designed to show your own evolution."

Kaizen was still perplexed, trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle that seemed increasingly complicated. 

Charles smiled again, but this time there was a depth in his eyes that hinted at unrevealed secrets. "I have to admit: you're one of the few players who have reached a level of understanding and skill that goes far beyond the ordinary. And that, young man, is something we couldn't ignore."