Chapter 28 – Mystery Dungeon

Chapter 28 – Mystery Dungeon (Leon)

“…So… cold,” Leon mumbled. All around him was a muted void with a chilling, gray ground. The landscape was featureless, stretching out into a vast, endless dusk. Snowflakes swirled around him– tiny white crystals draining warmth out of the air. He held himself, shivering to keep warm. He walked through the field, toward the distant red horizon, searching for anything, or anyone, to help stave off the cold.

Each step was heavier than the last. Each flake stung and numbed his scales. Each breath drained his warmth. Would it be easier to just stop here? He held himself tightly and closed his eyes…

…

…A small blue light illuminated the void. Leon glanced up and spotted a pillar of flame, burning steadily. He approached it, enduring icy whirlwinds coiling around him. With each step he felt warmth, pulling him closer to the blue fire. The snowflakes slowly receded. As Leon neared the flames, they began to shimmer and shift.

The blue fire morphed and formed a looking glass, casting a reflection. At first, it seemed like Leon was staring at himself. Yet as he squinted he noticed it wasn’t quite like him. The Totodile in the fire was smaller. Younger. He wore a face that Leon had seen before, but had been too afraid to imagine.

“…Dave?” Leon rasped.

The young Totodile stared back at him, eyes alight with curiosity.

Leon extended his hand, reaching out to the infernal mirror.

The image fractured like cracked ice. Blue flames wrapped all around, coiling into a spiral. The fire dissipated, inviting darkness to flood back in.

The heat vanished. Frozen flakes swirled around the duskfield once more, their cold weighing Leon down. He sat on the ground, pulling his legs in, holding on to what little warmth remained. Loneliness loomed like a dark cloud over his head. A gust of wind coaxed shivers out of him.

…

That same wind carried a faint sound. Footsteps. Leon glanced up.

Five blurred figures had appeared in the distance, standing against the dusk. They drew near, coming into focus. Before long, they formed a half-circle around Leon.

William, Corvo, Chase, Enzo, and Andrew. They all leaned down, offering Leon their hands.

He reached up, placing his own hand in their collective grip. With their combined strength, Leon rose to his feet. As he stood, the ground between them flickered with orange light. It bloomed into a new flame, casting a soft radiance on Leon and his friends. Once again, the fire shimmered and morphed into a looking glass. This time, Leon’s reflection showed him a new species.

A Charmander.

William, Corvo, Chase, Enzo, and Andrew all stepped closer to the fire. As they did, the Charmander reached out toward Leon, beckoning him.

Leon reached out, too.

As their hands met, everything blurred and brightened. The void faded, morphing into tangible walls and a ceiling. Leon blinked, rising back to consciousness.

“Another dream…” His outstretched arm fell back to the bed.

First there was that dream about riding in a boat that cracked apart. Then there was that other dream about a dark corridor, which also fractured and fell apart. Did any of them mean anything?

Leon didn’t know about those distant dreams, but last night’s was easier to understand. He sat up in bed, glancing at the window. Just before he went to sleep, he listened to Corvo and William talking to each other. Then, Leon had a turn to talk to Corvo himself.

---

“So, what’s up?” Corvo said as he closed the window behind him.

“Well… a few things.” Leon reached over and clicked a lamp on. A small flame bloomed within its glass, casting a soft glow throughout the room. In that light, Corvo had no trace of smugness, or that shark-like grin he had when they met. He was just… himself.

Leon took a deep breath. He knew this was coming, but he still felt unprepared. “I guess I’d rather not dance around it. We haven’t really gotten along since we met.”

“Yeah,” Corvo scratched his collar, averting his eyes. “You could say that.”

No denial. No attempt to defend himself.

A surge of anger swelled within Leon. He was tempted to lay into Corvo. To list off all of the ways the Snivy had wronged him and his brother. To blame him for driving a wedge between him and Jacob, which ultimately led to his brother’s kidnapping.

But as he thought of Jacob, and the last words they shared, Leon let his anger subside like waves returning to the ocean. He had something else in mind.

“I never thought we’d work together like this,” Leon began, keeping his tone soft. “I don’t agree with some of the things you do. But… you’ve been a big help this past week. I wanna thank you for that.”

Corvo nodded. “Hardly ever fought for folks other than myself. Gotta be honest, it actually feels pretty good. I’m glad I’ve been able to help.” He glanced away, wearing a guilty expression. “…But, if you think it doesn’t make up for all I’ve done, well… I don’t blame ya, brother.”

Leon lowered his head. The story he told about Dave, and the mon who said he could save him, was still fresh in his mind. “…Mercer did something terrible to me. Something I can never forgive.”

Corvo tilted his head away further. He offered no words.

Leon walked over to him, each footstep audible on the hardwood floor. Slowly, he lifted his head up. The Snivy met his gaze.

“Corvo… You’re not like Mercer.”

Corvo glanced down. “I dunno about that. Remember those jewels I showed off, to getcha to fetch that elixir for me? I… I knew it coulda landed you and Jake in jail. I didn’t think about how badly I coulda screwed you over. Or Andrew’s dad. I just… thought about my next meal.”

The reminder stirred Leon’s anger again, tempting him to raise his voice. “Yeah. I’m not happy about that,” he admitted.

A memory stirred within him. His first proper job for the guild, working with Chase and Aleister. The Lucario’s words resonated in his mind. “In truth, the presence of an outlaw in society… reflects more on society than the outlaw himself.”

Leon softened his expression and spoke. “But… You’ve been trying to change. I’ve been so wary about your bad side, I never stopped to think that you might have a good side coming out.”

Corvo nodded. “You’re not wrong for that, brother. I wouldn’t trust me either, heh.”

“Isn’t this what Will was talking about, though? ‘Learn from the past, don’t live in it’?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Leon glanced out the window, gazing at the stars. A week ago, he never would’ve imagined working with anyone other than Jacob. He was so focused on keeping his brother close, holding their bond in a closed fist, that he squeezed out of his grasp. Things might have been different, if he instead opened his hand.

And maybe, just maybe, the same was true for some old, cynical beliefs that Leon held close.

“I’ve never trusted anyone except family,” Leon explained. “Always assumed the worst in other folks– thanks to Mercer, among other mons. But, after everything you and the other guys have done this past week? Risking yourselves like this, just to help me and my brother?”

Corvo shrugged. “I reckon it’s the least I can do, right?”

“No,” Leon shook his head. “You’ve done more than that. You’ve done more than I could ever ask for. Got us out of the guild, helped us navigate, and pay for supplies, the ferry ride, and our stay here, at this inn.”

A light smile formed on Corvo’s face. There was no trace of ill-intent. No hint of any tricks behind his grin. Only gladness.

Turbulence stirred within Leon. Here he was, praising a con mon. After everything Corvo had done, Leon was talking to him like he was a friend. This was crazy, right? This had to be a mistake. Corvo was just waiting for him to let his guard down, that’s just the kind of mon he is.

Yet… There was something else stirring within Leon. He didn’t want to be guarded all the time. He didn’t want to assume the worst in everyone. But most of all, he didn’t want to turn away someone who could be a true, genuine friend. If he did the same to Jacob when they met, what kind of mon would that make Leon?

“You might still feel guilty,” Leon spoke. “But I want you to know something.”

He placed a hand on Corvo’s shoulder, getting the Snivy’s full attention. The turbulence within him swelled, like some part of him wanted to stop himself. But Leon’s mind was made up.

“Corvo, I forgive you.”

Corvo’s eyes widened, his face frozen with surprise.

“And if you wanna stick with us after this,” Leon continued, “I’m okay with that.”

At those words, Corvo’s smile grew. He flicked his coin in the air, then caught it as it fell.

“That’s all I could ask for, brother.”

---

Leon had gone to bed shortly after Corvo left, falling asleep quickly. Something about their conversation made him feel… broken? Not like he had been hurt– it was actually the opposite. He felt as though he had just healed an old, open wound. That he left behind something that had weighed him down for so long, he forgot how heavy it was.

So he sat up, swung his legs around and sprung off of the bed. Soft daylight flowed into the room through the window. It was early morning, with the sky cast in a muted gray of overcast clouds.

Leon reached for the side table, grabbing Jacob’s pocket watch.

Pop.

The watch read 7:30 AM.

Click.

A nagging feeling gnawed at him, telling him he was unprepared for whatever would come next. But waiting wasn’t going to make today any easier.

“Hang in there, Jacob,” he said to himself. “We’re coming for you.”

With renewed resolve, he grabbed his bag and made his way to the door.

On the balcony, the aroma of the innkeepers’ breakfast wafted throughout the lodge. Just as Leon took in the scent of fresh-baked bread, the other doors on the second floor opened up. Andrew, Chase, Enzo, William, and Corvo, all emerged from their rooms around the same time.

“Morning guys,” Leon called, waving.

“Hey Leon,” they called back with mixed degrees of energy.

“Good morning!” The female Bibarel, Maria, called from downstairs. “Carlos and I just finished baking. You’re all free to join us, our treat!”

Free food before they left? That sounded like a good idea. After all, there’d be no point in leaving with anything less than their full strength. The others must have had the same idea, as they all moved toward the stairs in unison.

The fire pit had been freshly cleaned of old ashes, and was lit again with crackling logs. Carlos and Maria offered crescent rolls with butter, little wheels of Gogoat cheese, and platters of red and blue berries. Leon and the team helped themselves to a little bit of everything, and they all sat down in the same seats that they took last night.

“This is delicious,” Leon said, finishing his first roll.

“Thanks for the breakfast!” Andrew said to the Bibarels, who stood near the check-in counter.

“You’re all welcome,” Maria said warmly. “We don’t get guests often, so we cherish who we get.”

Carlos nodded in agreement. “We’re gonna head out back for some fresh wood. Be back in a minute. Leave summa the cheese for us, m’kay?”

As the innkeepers left, the others quietly ate their breakfast. They didn’t say anything, or offer many gestures.

Leon sensed a lingering tension among the team, despite the hospitality they’ve been given. They seemed to avoid eye contact, almost like everyone was waiting for someone else to speak up. It could’ve been apprehension from where they were going today.

But Leon sensed that there was more to it than just that.

“So,” he began. “About last night.”

They all turned their heads toward him.

“Y-yeah?” Chase said.

“What about it?” Andrew asked.

Leon glanced down. “Well… I wasn’t planning on mentioning my brother. Dave. He just came up, and…” He blew out a sigh. There was no taking back what he shared last night. A piece of his past was an open secret now, along with all the sorrow that came with it.

“It’s alright, Leon,” William assured.

“Something like that,” Andrew added, “is never easy to talk about.”

“Yeah, it isn’t,” Leon agreed. “I didn’t wanna talk about him cuz I thought it’d hurt. I mean, it did hurt, thinking of him again. But at the same time, I feel a bit… better? In a weird way, I feel like I’ve taken off a bandage.”

Now that he spoke it aloud, it was like how he opened up to Corvo last night.

“I getcha,” Corvo said. “Sometimes, pretendin’ like something doesn’t hurt just makes it hurt more.”

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” Chase said.

Corvo shook his head. “Just somethin’ I realized recently.”

Leon nodded at him, recalling their conversation. “It’s like I was carrying around this burden for such a long time. It’s still there, but somehow, it’s easier to carry now. If that makes sense.

Around the fire pit his teammates nodded.

“While we’re at it, there’s another thing I wanted to mention,” Leon continued.

They all turned to him again, giving him their undivided attention.

“Before… this happened,” Leon spoke slowly. “Jacob and I, well, we butted-heads. He said that I don’t trust anyone. That I wanted to be friends with only him, and never trust anyone else.” He shook his head. “After all this time, I realized something. He was right.”

One at a time, Leon met the eyes of each of his teammates. “I admit, even now I don’t feel as comfortable as I would be with just Jacob. But this past week has been an eye-opener for me. I’m gonna do better. For my sake, and Jacob’s.” His expression softened. “And I have you guys to thank for that.”

At those words, most of the tension seemed to have melted. Maybe it was just Leon’s relief, getting his grief off of his chest. But maybe that was enough to get his friends to ease their shoulders and enjoy breakfast before they left.

Friends. The mons around Leon were his friends. It seemed strange, but not unpleasant.

The inn’s door opened, and the Bibarels walked in with chopped logs.

“We’re back,” Carlos announced, hefting a stack of firewood.

“I hope you all have enjoyed your breakfast.” Maria said, approaching the fire pit with a log. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a group as large as yours.” She placed her wood on the fire, creating a spiral of embers as the flames grew.

“We may stay again sometime,” William said.

“You’d be most welcome to,” Maria said warmly.

“So,” Carlos joined as he set his logs aside. “Mind if we ask where the six of you are headed?”

Leon turned to face them. While he resolved to be more open with others, maybe telling the innkeepers that they were going to rescue his kidnapped brother wasn’t such a good idea. “We’re going east,” he explained. “Gonna meet a friend of ours at the Silver Shore.”

Suddenly, the Bibarel couple made shocked faces and stared at each other. It was almost as if Leon did mention that his brother was kidnapped.

“Oh dear,” Maria said quietly. “Have I heard you right? You’re going to the Silver Shore?”

“We are,” William confirmed. “Is there a problem?”

“That shore,” Carlos spoke in a hard voice. “It has… a reputation in our village.” He slowly paced, walking around the fire pit. “Just about everyone in Harvest has tales about that gray coast. None of ‘em are good. They’re the kinds of stories parents tell to scare their kids. Except, it’s not just youngins they scare.”

“Carlos,” Maria interrupted. “Please, there’s no need to frighten them.” After a deep breath, she sighed. “But I admit, I would be concerned for you all, too.”

Leon scratched his neck. “Well, what kinds of tales are there?”

The couple traded glances, as if they were silently asking who should go first. Carlos approached the fire and spoke up.

“They say that, on some nights, you can see towers looming over the shore.” Shadows flickered across his face, highlighting his weathered features.

“Towers?” Andrew repeated. “You’ve seen them yourself?”

“I haven’t,” Carlos shook his head. “But once, a neighbor said he did. He was deep in his cups at the time, but he said… How did he describe them?”

“That they pierced the sky,” Maria added. “And each one had an eye.” She spread her arms for emphasis. “Staring down at whoever passed by.”

“W-what’s inside the towers?” Chase asked nervously.

“No one knows,” Carlos answered. “No one’s been mad enough to go near.”

William tapped his bone club. “And you’ve said they appear at night?”

“That’s what most of them say,” Maria answered. “When Carlos and I moved here, we took walks on the beach– never at night, of course. We had heard the stories, and I didn’t believe them at first, but…” She turned her head away. “A few times, something felt wrong out there. Like there was lightning in the air. It made my fur stand up.”

“And I heard whispers,” Carlos added. “Or something like whispers. It coulda been the wind and the waves, I dunno. Yet… there was somethin’ unnatural about it. I can’t put my finger on it, but it was like someone was tryin’ to reach out to us.”

Corvo folded his arms. “Or tell ya to keep out,” he proposed.

“Could be,” Carlos agreed. “We didn’t stick around long enough to find out.”

Leon rested his head in his hands, contemplating. The locals believed that the Silver Shore was haunted, and it just so happened to be the place where they’d encounter his brother’s kidnappers: the Eidolons. The place where they had him held for ransom, in that so-called ‘Mystery Dungeon.’

It couldn’t be a coincidence.

“It may be best,” Maria continued, “if you met your friend someplace safer.”

If only it were that easy.

“We would if we could,” Leon replied. “It’s a long story, but we have to go there. Our friend, he’s…” Leon swallowed. “He’s in trouble. And now… I wonder if it has anything to do with those stories you’ve mentioned.”

The hostess formed a sour expression, like a parent who wanted to stop their kid from getting into trouble, but couldn’t. Yet her eyes also conveyed a sense of understanding, as if she knew there was something bigger going on than he was telling her. Her gaze reminded Leon of his own mom, back in Bethany.

He thought of his own parents. Mom and Dad probably got his letter by now, telling them about Jacob. They had no idea what happened after that. Jacob, their own son, being kidnapped by lunatics, and their other son joining a ragtag team, heading off on a breakneck rescue mission to save him. How would they react, if they could see him now?

“Between the six of us,” William said to Maria, “we should be alright.”

“If you’re certain, dears,” the Bibarel said. “But before you go, may we give you something?”

“What is it?” Leon asked.

Carlos took that as a cue to retrieve something from behind the check-in counter. He searched a bit, then returned with something in his paws.

“Whenever Carlos and I were caught in rain or snow, we’d share this scarf,” Maria explained. “We don’t travel so much anymore, and haven’t used it in ages. But maybe you could use it?”

Carlos held the scarf out for Leon. It was yellow and white, with pink tips on its edges: a Weather Band. He had no idea how exactly it worked, but he knew that it would shield against most weather effects. It was like a psychic raincoat.

“Are you sure about this?” Leon asked. “I mean, I appreciate it. But you’d give away something so valuable to a… a stranger?”

“That’s not what matters to us,” Carlos answered.

“You’re a mon who’d get more use out of this than we would,” Maria added. “We’d feel better knowing you have a bit of protection. The tales of the Silver Shore may be superstition, and I sincerely hope they are. But the storms there are very real.”

“There’s something else in here, too.” Carlos unwrapped the scarf, revealing a small seed under the fabric. “An Energy Seed, if you need a bit of a kick.”

Leon traced his eyes over the seed, wrapped in the scarf like a gift. These two Bibarels, offering something so valuable to him– a stranger they had known for less than a day. They didn’t even know his name, yet they offered him so much kindness.

Hesitantly, he reached out. Part of him wanted to say that he couldn’t accept it. Another part of him thought there might’ve been a catch, or that this could somehow be a trick. But he didn’t listen to those old, knee-jerk thoughts. Instead, he listened to a new thought.

“If Jacob were here, what would he do?”

So he grabbed the scarf-wrapped seed, holding them gingerly as he accepted the gift. “…I don’t know what to say,” Leon uttered. “Or how to thank you.”

“Thank us by staying safe, dear,” Maria nodded.

“And put those to good use,” Carlos added.

“We will,” Leon replied. “Thank you. Both of you.”

He turned to his team, and they were all looking on with warm faces. Leon smiled back at them.

“Well, I’m ready to go whenever you guys are.”

---

The team left the village of Harvest, walking east toward the Silver Shore. The sky remained a dull gray, its normal blue eclipsed by a wide layer of clouds. Rolling hills of grass and goldenrod dotted the landscape, with a light wind swaying the plants. Besides the six of them, no mons were in sight.

Leon adjusted his Weather Band, the soft cloth wrapped around his neck. He could feel the fabric on his scales, though whether or not it actually blocked out weather effects remained to be seen. He wasn’t hoping to get caught in the rain, though. He glanced over his shoulder.

“So, how is everyone?” he asked.

William, Andrew, Corvo, Chase, and Enzo all wore stony expressions.

“Kinda nervous,” Andrew admitted.

“We’ve come a long way,” William added. “Faced many challenges. Now our journey is nearly over. It feels… odd.”

“Yeah, and we’re going to a haunted beach,” Corvo said. “Like the Eidolons weren’t bad enough.”

“Those strange stories, and the Eidolons being there…” Leon said. “Call it a hunch, but I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

Enzo cocked his head. “You think they made those towers.”

“We don’t know what they can do,” Leon said. “So, I’m expecting anything.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll get through it,” Chase nodded. “Would be nice to know what we’re up against, but…” he shrugged, shifting the bulb on his back.

“How about you, Leon?” William asked. “Are you feeling alright?”

Leon thought about it for a moment, parsing through his emotions.

“…As alright as I can be, I suppose.” He pushed aside a stalk of goldenrod. “It’s weird, cuz this whole time my mind’s been on Jacob, you know? Getting him home safe, that’s what matters. But at the same time, I’m kinda sad that we’re nearly there. Cuz despite everything, this past week has actually been fun.”

Once again he glanced back at the others. “I hope you guys have enjoyed it, too.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” William said.

“I’m used to danger,” Corvo added, flicking his coin– ding! “Only this time the danger’s for a good cause.”

“Bringing family back together,” Andrew nodded.

“Yeah, we won’t leave Jacob’s flame out in the cold!” Chase cheered. “Nothing can stop us.”

“Except a ‘haunted beach,’” Enzo deadpanned.

Leon was tempted to say that superstition wouldn’t stop him. Yet he thought of something else, and quietly laughed.

“A haunted beach,” he echoed. “Can you imagine? We come all this way across the province, then hear some stories about someplace being haunted, and we just went… ‘Oh, well, nevermind. Let’s go home folks.’”

“Wait, what?” Andrew tilted his head.

“Imagine explaining that to the guild,” Leon continued. “We waltz in all like, ‘oh hey, yeah, we broke out of the guild, crossed a desert, climbed a mountain, and even solved a hostage situation. But just before we got to Jake, we saw some scary sand and cut our losses.’”

Chase snorted, and Corvo chuckled.

“Oh boy,” William said. “Imagine telling that to Jacob.”

Leon snapped his fingers. “Yeah! ‘Sorry bro. We can handle a Bisharp and his Pawniard minions. But stepping on a seashell? Can’t do it.’”

The others laughed, dissolving any leftover tension. Even Enzo seemed a bit amused.

“That’d be nuts,” Leon concluded. “Coming all this way and giving up just for that .”

“We’re not,” Enzo clarified. “Just being cautious.”

“Yeah, that’s fair,” Andrew said.

“We’ll be fine,” William assured. “We’ve got each other covered.”

The team went on, crossing more rolling hills in relative quiet. No one else said anything, probably because there was nothing left to say. Meanwhile, Leon tried to imagine what they might face when they got to the shore. Did the Eidolons have a lair near this ‘Mystery Dungeon’? What would a Mystery Dungeon look like, anyway? Minutes later, a noise caught his attention, and he raised a hand beside his head.

“Listen,” he said, “you guys hear that?”

The group stopped. The noise was faint, but distinct: the subtle sound of waves washing ashore, then receding, like the inhale and exhale of the sea.

“We’re nearly there,” Leon said plainly. He steeled his resolve– this was it. “Let’s go.”

All together they followed Leon over the small hill. Winds rolled across the land, shaking grass around their feet and carrying the scent of sea salt. Leon’s heart thumped against his ribs, his anticipation welling up. He thought back to how the Guildmaster described Mystery Dungeons.

“Bizarre spaces that defy reality itself.”

They reached the hilltop, and the Silver Shore came into view.

A vast, desaturated landscape sprawled out before them. Down below, the sands were silver, as the shore’s name suggested. The ocean stretched out toward the horizon, its water was a gray reflection of the overcast sky. Foamy waves unfolded themselves against the sand, smoothing out the land before sliding back.

“This is the place,” Leon said.

“What are we looking for?” Chase asked.

“The Guildmaster mentioned a ‘clifftop castle,’” William answered. “And the innkeepers mentioned ‘towers’ in their stories. Anything of the sort should be easily visible.”

Leon looked to the south, where the sands stretched beyond the range of his vision. A few crab-like mons moved like dots in the distance, but otherwise there was nothing distinct. He then glanced north, where the landscape shifted into rocky cliffs. Basalt pillars loomed over the beach, chiseled by countless years of storms and waves assaulting the land. The water beneath it was dotted with jagged stones.

Yet there was no castle, or any other structures in sight.

He looked left and right several times, hoping to spot something he might’ve missed. But nothing changed.

“Are we sure this is the right place?” Leon asked. “Where’s that ‘castle’?”

“It’s possible that it’s south of us,” William offered. “After all, their message did not specify a precise location on the shore.”

They collectively stared down the southside shore. If they walked that way, it could be miles before they spotted anything.

Leon expelled a sigh. “There’s gotta be something we’re missing. C’mon, let’s get down there.”

He led the group down the hill, moving from grass to sand as they stepped onto the beach. The gray sand was chilling beneath their feet, in stark contrast to the desert sand they had traversed days ago. Dark seaweed littered the shoreline, and a strange odor lingered in the air.

“I’ve heard of walks on the beach, but this ain’t all that romantic,” Corvo commented.

“Any chance the castle is underwater?” Chase offered. “There’s a few myths about sunken cities.”

“Let’s treat that as a last resort,” Leon said. “Spread out a bit, see what we can find.”

The team fanned out, searching the vicinity for anything strange. While the other checked the sand dunes and nearby hills, Leon’s attention was drawn north, toward the basalt pillars. They looked like plain rocks, soaring above sea-polished gravel scattered over the sand. There was nothing notable about them, yet…

Leon stepped closer. Were those rocks… shimmering? The air wavered like desert heat, though it was nowhere near hot enough for that. Was that just the mist weaving around them? Wait, when did that mist appear?

He blinked. The rocks looked normal. Leon shook his head and glanced down. Between him and the towers were scattered pebbles and a large piece of driftwood, the size of a small tree. How it got there was anyone’s guess.

Something flashed. Leon turned toward the water. Something glimmered beneath the waves. Tiny green orbs flickered in and out, dim as candles in a window.

A few snapping noises caught his attention.

“You still there, Leon?” Andrew asked.

Leon blinked. “Huh?” He turned to the others, who were looking at him expectantly.

“Were you daydreaming?” William asked.

Leon shook his head. “Naw, I was looking over at those cliffs,” he pointed. “There’s something weird about them.”

“…Looks plain,” Enzo said.

“I swear there’s something up with them,” Leon insisted. “I’m getting a closer look.”

He moved ahead. With each step, the mist became more visible. Long white strands twisted around the rock towers, forming bizarre shapes. Leon blinked, trying to see if he was imagining the shapes of cracks and lightning bolts, yet they persisted.

The stone pillars subtly shifted. They grew into sharp, geometric shapes, as if invisible hands were carving them. They faded from slate gray to oily black, and shifted into precise, crystalline angles. The towers grew taller while new ones materialized around them, filling the once-empty space. White dots appeared near the top of the towers, darkening their surroundings as if they were absorbing light.

The air itself suddenly felt more charged. It was like anticipating a static shock before touching charged metal, felt all over Leon’s body. The scent of salt faded, giving way to an enigmatic odor that made his snout twitch, like a fire burning something that it shouldn’t. Even the sand beneath his feet felt wrong. It wasn’t silky but solid. His footprints no longer sank and left impressions.

“Are… are you guys seeing this, too?” he rasped.

They were silent, but their heads were craned upward, watching the same distortion unfold before them.

The rock pillars were no more. In their place stood crystal walls, ramparts, and towers with cone roofs, reminiscent of skybound thorns. They all combined to form an oily-black architecture, with walls writhing like dark liquid contained within glass. Each window had a white orb, draining the surrounding light and peering down like several eyes. Trails of mist snaked around the towers, sending ripples down the black walls, like a gale blowing over a pond. Was it a trick of the wind, or were there whispers in the air, carried out and lost at the endless sea?

A cold chill shot down Leon’s spine.

“This is… the Mystery Dungeon…” he breathed. His heartbeat hammered in his chest. The looming darkness seemed almost… alive. Like a menacing predator standing off with its prey after mutual discovery.

“This is… much more than what I had imagined,” Andrew said.

“Like a fever dream,” Corvo mentioned.

“It looks cold…” Chase shivered.

“Hmm,” Enzo grunted. 

“How do we get inside?” William asked. 

 Leon craned his head around the ebony walls and serrated towers. Besides the white orbs, circling mist, and occasional oily shimmer, he could see no other features.

“I don’t see any doors.”

“How about that boat?” Andrew pointed.

Leon looked over. He rubbed his eyes. The driftwood he saw earlier had changed. It was no longer a water-peeled tree– it was a boat, one large enough to hold all six of them. And it had oars, too.

“That wasn’t there a second ago,” Leon said.

“How did it get here, then?” William asked.

“I have no idea,” Leon shook his head. “But maybe we can use it to find a way in? Row around the… whatever this thing is.”

The group exchanged glances, then looked in the direction opposite of the water. A sheer cliff loomed over them, too tall to try climbing. And the castle itself had no apparent doors. Seeing no other course of action, they nodded and moved collectively to the boat.

Andrew, Corvo, Chase, and Enzo reluctantly climbed in. Leon and William pushed the vessel toward the water, waves reaching out to meet the craft halfway. Foamy brine licked at the bow, helping pull the boat into the current.

Leon and William gave it one last push before climbing up and over, boarding the boat as it was carried into the receding waves.

Beneath the water, more green lights pulsed, fading in and out of view. Above them, the white orbs of the castle continued to peer at them, as if watching their movement… Leon tried his best to ignore it as he grabbed an oar and began paddling.

Andrew took the other oar, rowing along with Leon.

“Let’s get some distance,” Leon said, “see if we can watch it from afar.”

They rowed over the dark water. The only sounds were the waves, the wind, and the whispers. Leon wasn’t sure if the last one was real or imaginary. He figured that everyone had the same question on their minds: what will they find inside? There was no way to tell, but he hoped that they’d find Jacob in there.

He pulled his backpack around and reached into it, feeling its contents. His palm passed over a smooth piece of metal– the pocket watch was still there. He closed his bag and held it tight, as if afraid it might fall in the water, and resumed rowing.

All of this trouble, just for his brother’s favorite trinket. These Eidolons were insane.

“See anything yet?” Chase asked.

Their heads craned over to the dark castle. From a distance, some of the distortion faded and the illusion of normal, rocky cliffs flickered in and out of view. But the outline of a menacing fortress was still there. And the hanging fog seemed to thicken, obscuring their view of the shore.

“Toward the middle,” William pointed. “Is that some kind of tunnel?”

Indeed, a wide, circular hole was drilled into the side of the castle, on the same level as the water. Yet it was too dark to see if it led anywhere.

Leon shook his head. “I don’t trust it. We should keep rowing. Andrew, help us get to the other side?”

“Yeah,” the Axew replied, and kept rowing.

As much as he didn’t want to, Leon forced himself to look up at the towers. If Jacob really was in there, then the Eidolons probably had him locked in one of those towers. They’d have to climb their way up. If they were lucky, maybe they could find a gate at a higher elevation.

“What’s this?” Enzo spoke up.

Leon glanced around. The boat had spun around. They weren’t moving around to the other side of the castle– they were moving toward it. They were facing the tunnel they had spotted.

“What are you guys doing?” Chase asked.

“I-I don’t know!” Andrew stammered.

“We’re not controlling it…!” Leon remarked. He and Andrew paddled the water even harder, but nothing changed. It was as if the boat itself was being guided by a giant, invisible hand. The vessel glided along the water toward the citadel. The green lights beneath the waves flashed like stars in an upside-down sky.

Leon padded harder and harder, but his oar refused to breach the water. The sea below shimmered like shards of sapphire. He swung his backpack around, holding it tightly. “I think we gotta jump!”

“No way!” Enzo protested.

“C’mon, take my hand!”

Leon reached out to Enzo, but he was far away. He stretched further, but got no closer.

No one was within reach of each other. Not anymore. They were far apart, even though they were in the same boat. Leon tried to blink the illusion away. It was no illusion.

“Hey! Where you all goin’!?” Corvo called.

“Hang on!” Leon called back. “We gotta regroup! We gotta–”

Sea water lapped at Leon’s feet. He glanced down.

The boat’s wooden planks cracked and fractured apart like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Reflexively, Leon kicked his feet as if he was already in the water. The boat pieces fell away into the cold, unforgiving depths. Leon flailed… but felt no water.

He dared to open his eyes, and saw that he was levitating just above the sea. William, Corvo, Andrew, Chase, and Enzo, they were all suspended mid-air, too.

“W-what the hell?!” Corvo yipped.

“The castle, it’s getting closer!” Chase called.

“No… it’s not moving toward us,” Leon said.

They were moving toward it , like puppets pulled by invisible strings.

“Can anyone move?” William asked, voice rising.

Everyone strained visibly against whatever force held them, but to no avail.

A flash of light blinded them, leaving spots in Leon’s vision. Seconds later his vision adjusted, fading from black.

The tunnel had erupted into a spiraling vortex– black like the night sky, and white like pure sunlight. The cosmic spiral glistened and gleamed, as if it was somewhere between a liquid and a gas. Luminous green orbs raced past as he and everyone else were drawn in closer, and silver light creeped into his vision, threatening to envelop his senses.

His mind sparked. Leon had seen this before. Their very first night at the Wolfhaven Guild. He had seen this exact event play out in his own dreams. He almost laughed.

The others kept shouting. He couldn’t hear what they were saying. The silver light grew ever brighter, forcing him to shut his eyes from its sheer intensity.

Something enveloped him. 

An otherworldly ringing filled his ears. 

Silence.

Blackness.

Nothing.