The scent of sun-warmed stone and distant olive trees clung to the walls of the Labyrinth like a memory. He stirred beneath the earth.

The Minotaur’s breath came slow, heavy with the damp weight of ancient air. Dust drifted in the beams of light that cut down from slits in the ceiling, far above. Somewhere, a bird called, but the sound didn’t reach the depths. Not where he lived. Not where he waited.

Waited for Kenny.

They came at the same time each day—footsteps soft, yet certain. No soldier’s march. No sacrifice’s sobbing stumble. They knew these halls. Knew him. And he, in turn, had memorized the exact rhythm of their steps. The first time it had been with fear—barely more than a tremble wrapped in linen robes and clenched jaw. But now… now they walked with something else. Still wary, still cautious, but not afraid.

They should have been. He was designed to be feared.

Horns curled from his brow like twin scythes, ancient and chipped from battles long past. His hooves could crack stone. His hands—great, gnarled things—had once torn spears from the air and snapped them like reeds. And his eyes, glowing faintly gold in the low light, had once driven kings to madness. But when he looked at Kenny, something gentler lived behind them. Something hungry. Something the gods had not put there.

He rose when he heard them coming—slow and thunderous, his shoulders brushing the narrow arch of the corridor. Dust rained from the ceiling above. When they stepped into view, the torchlight haloed around them like fire caught in hair, like sunlight trapped in mortal form. They held a basket, as always. Dried figs. A wedge of salted cheese. Cracked barley bread. He could smell it from here.

He could smell them.

“Kenny…”

He rumbled, his voice like stone dragged across the sea floor. They didn’t flinch. Not anymore. He liked that.

He crouched when they came closer, lowering himself to the floor so that he wouldn’t tower quite so high. Even kneeling, he was twice their size. He’d seen his reflection once, in a puddle after rain. A beast. A punishment. A monster in the dark.