"You–"
The man tried to speak, but Damian wasn't listening anymore.
His legs gave out, dropping him to his knees on the stone, his hair falling completely forward to hide his face.
"I was so glad when my memories awakened."
His voice came out quieter now, but no less broken.
"Finally, after that wretched life, after being alone for decades, after dying alone with nobody who cared..."
His hands pressed flat against the ground.
"I finally had a family… I finally had people who loved me. A family who actually gave a damn whether I lived or died."
His breathing hitched.
"But then I found out about my real family. That they'd all been massacred. That my father had sacrificed his life just to buy a few more minutes for his wife and sons to escape."
One hand moved to press against his chest, right over his heart.
"My mother! She had to seal my bloodline and walk to her death carrying a decoy baby! Just so I could LIVE! Just so the enemies couldn't track me and finish the job!"
