Alec had reached the street and stretched, inhaling deeply as the cold night air filled his lungs. For the first time in days, his head felt clear. The streets of New Capita were mostly empty — only the distant murmur of late-night chatter and the clopping of a lone patrol's boots echoed through the alleyways.
He decided to wander. Alone. In the dark.
"Yes, and then the ignorant boy decided that was a terrible idea and went back to bed where he was safe and sound," came a voice — sharp, dry, and unmistakably familiar.
Alec froze mid-step. That voice damned voice had gotten Alec into more trouble than he could count the last time he was anywhere near the capital.
He spun around, scanning the empty street, the dim glow of lanterns stretching shadows across the cobblestones. No one was there.
He should have panicked. He should have. But instead, an odd calm settled over him — the kind that came with recognizing an old ghost.
"I see you're back again," he muttered under his breath.
The voice didn't answer at first, which almost made him laugh. "How long's it been? Twelve years?"
"Thirteen, you ignorant child," it finally replied, and Alec actually jumped.
His pulse quickened as he realized the impossible: the mind demon — the lingering voice that had haunted his early years — had returned. He'd thought it gone for good after leaving the outer city on his last trip out here so far from his village.
"Why now?" Alec whispered.
Before the voice could answer, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Everything all right, lad?" a city guard asked, his tone casual but watchful.
Startled, Alec turned and quickly nodded. "Sorry, sir — couldn't sleep. Just needed some air. I'm heading back now."
The guard studied him for a moment, then nodded and moved on.
As soon as he was out of earshot, the voice sighed in his head. "You let a man sneak up behind you. Again. Pathetic. You could've been gutted and left for the crows. Then who would I have to torment for eternity?"
Alec groaned aloud, rubbing his temples. "I didn't miss this."
"Liar," the voice teased. "You missed me terribly."
"Go to hell."
"I've been there. You'd hate it."
Shaking his head, Alec trudged back toward the inn, ignoring the voice's continued muttering about "complacent mortals and their soft brains." It didn't stop until he fell back into bed — and even then, the faint sound of laughter echoed in the corners of his mind until sleep finally claimed him.
Morning came too soon.
Zoe nearly tore the blankets off him, her voice a shrill mix of excitement and annoyance. "Alec, get up! Come on, the day's wasting!"
Alec groaned, half-burying his face in the pillow. "Five more minutes..."
Zoe tugged him upright by his wrist. "Nope. We've got exploring to do!"
Bleary-eyed, Alec rubbed the sleep from his face. The constant chatter of the voice during the night had left him with little rest, and he was already nursing a headache.
Zoe, however, was buzzing with energy. The capital was a sprawling marvel — she wanted to see everything before their audience with the king, which might take days. Alec couldn't say no to her enthusiasm, though he wished for just one more hour of quiet.
Still, he followed her out, trailing through streets bustling with traders, guards, and travelers. The scent of bread and spices filled the air. The noise, the life — it was overwhelming, but strangely comforting.
Just when Alec thought Zoe was leading him to the market, she veered off-course and dragged him through the heavy oak doors of the Hunters' Guild.
The roar of conversation and clinking mugs hit him like a wave. The hall was packed with mercenaries, scouts, and adventurers — men and women in leather and steel, their laughter echoing beneath the vaulted ceiling.
Zoe made a beeline for the front desk, determination blazing in her eyes.
"We'd like to register as hunters," she told the clerk confidently.
The woman behind the counter, clearly used to eager newcomers, handed them each a form. After signing, they were given small copper plates engraved with their names and basic information.
"We did it!" Zoe cheered, practically bouncing. "We're finally hunters now!"
Alec smiled despite himself. "Guess so."
Before they could bask in their accomplishment, a voice called out behind them. "Alec and Zoe?"
They turned to see a man leading a group of four hunters — a balanced team of seasoned copper plates: a burly warrior, an elf rogue, a cleric, and a mage.
"We'll be your dungeon guides," the warrior said. "First-timers always get assigned one. We'll make sure you don't get yourselves killed before lunch."
"Thanks," Zoe said, offering a polite smile.
Later that day, Alec, Zoe, Zua, and their guides stood before the entrance to a newly discovered dungeon on the outskirts of New Capita.
Carter, the party leader, surveyed the stone archway warily. "All right, team — this one's cleared for copper ranks. Scouts didn't find anything lethal, but stay sharp."
The group moved in, torches lighting the damp tunnels. The air was cold, heavy with moss and the faint stench of rot. Alec swore he felt eyes on him — but when he turned, nothing was there. Just stone and shadow.
Something moved, quick as a whisper, behind a corner. Before Alec could react, Carter called, "Keep up, rookie!"
He jogged to catch up — unaware of the faint glow of red eyes peering from the dark, a toothy inhuman smile, razor sharp teeth bared in a twisted grin beneath those eyes.
Moments later, his foot pressed down — and clicked.
The entire tunnel screamed.
"Shit, A horde trap!" Galla, the elf, shouted, drawing her bow.
Wolves — dozens of them — poured from hidden crevices, their snarls echoing off the walls.
"Those shouldn't be in copper dungeons!" barked Gimmel the dwarf, swinging his axe and decapitating two at once.
In minutes, the floor was slick with blood and fur. The professional hunters tore through the beasts like stormwinds, leaving Alec, Zoe, and Zua staring, weapons barely raised.
"What kind of trap spawns that many?" Galla gasped, wiping sweat from her brow.
"No idea," Carter grunted. "But stay alert — something's wrong here."
They pressed on, fighting through waves of goblins, bats, and more wolves until they reached the second floor. Carter halted, eyes narrowing.
"It's too quiet," Alec murmured.
"Yeah," Carter agreed grimly. "Quiet like this means one of two things — a boss room or an abnormal."
Zua tilted her head. "Abnormal?"
"A monster that's stronger than everything else here. Happens rarely — but when it does, everything nearby goes still."
As they advanced, Alec's gaze caught something on the wall — faint hieroglyphs carved into the stone. They depicted soldiers locked in battle with a dragon, the next panel showed the dragon turning into one lone warrior standing against them all, a strange gear-shaped watch gleaming on his chest. In the last, the warrior shattered into shards of light.
"What the hell is that?" Zoe whispered.
"Some old war, maybe?" Anna the cleric murmured, tracing the carvings. "Looks like they tried to destroy... something divine."
Before she could finish, the ground trembled violently. Dust rained from the ceiling, followed by a booming crash and a wolf's furious howl that rattled the chamber. Everyone turned toward the sealed stone door at the end of the corridor.
"Carter..." Alec said slowly. "Tell me that wasn't—"
"—the boss room?" Carter finished grimly and drew his sword. "Yeah. It was."
The door burst open with a thunderclap of stone and magic, revealing a massive amalgamation of wolf and bear, the monster was wreathed in black and red flames, like that of the demon fire that had burned his home and taken his friends and family from him.
Its growl echoed through the cavern, shaking the air itself.
Carter raised his sword and shouted, "Formation! Protect the rookies!"
Zoe's hand found Alec's as the creature lunged from the darkness, and for a single heartbeat, all Alec could think was that the voice in his head had gone completely, utterly silent.