A child is born onto a board. Nobody hands the child a rulebook. The child watches. When I do **this**, Mother withdraws affection. When I do **that**, Father becomes angry. When I remain quiet, conflict stops. When I achieve something, people praise me. When I disobey, something painful happens. When I please them, I am safe. And so the child begins reverse-engineering the game. Not from written rules. From **patterns**. Eventually: If I perform, I receive attention. becomes **Achievement creates worth.** And: If I comply, conflict decreases. becomes **Obedience creates safety.** And: If I become what they want, they don’t leave. becomes **Self-erasure creates belonging.** The child has done exactly what Bozorgmehr supposedly did. He has inferred the invisible rules governing the board. Except there is a terrible difference. **The rules he discovers may not be true.** They may simply be the rules of the household. Or the culture. Or the institution. Or the abusive relationship. Or the family system. And the Traveler may mistake: **the rules of the board** for **the laws of reality.** That distinction is enormous.