Chapter four: A welcomed guest

William barely had time to process the Catalyst's words before footsteps echoed through the cave's entrance. Slow, measured, deliberate. Someone else was here.

A boy, around his age, emerged from the shadows. His clothes were worn but sturdy, a mix of scavenged leather and reinforced cloth. His dark hair was cut short, and his sharp eyes flicked over William with quiet curiosity. He carried a weapon—some kind of spear strapped to his back—but he hadn't reached for it. Yet.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the boy smirked. "Didn't think I'd run into company out here."

William stayed on guard but didn't move. "Same."

The boy stepped closer, hands loose at his sides, not exactly friendly but not openly hostile either. "You after the core too?"

William nodded. No point in lying.

The boy let out a breath, somewhere between amusement and frustration. "Figures. Guess that means we're rivals, huh?"

William considered that. "Depends. You planning to fight me for it?"

A pause. The boy's smirk widened just a little. "Not unless I have to. You?"

William shook his head. He didn't want to fight someone unless it was necessary.

The boy hummed, seemingly satisfied. He glanced at the cave, at the shifting colors of the crystals. "Crazy, isn't it? The way the world ended up. People killing monsters, monsters killing people. Everyone is chasing power just to stay alive." His voice was casual, but there was something else beneath it.

"Yeah," William said quietly. "It is."

William shifted his weight, eyeing Max carefully. "When did you wake up?"

Max exhaled through his nose, tilting his head in thought. "Couple weeks ago, I think. Hard to keep track sometimes." He shrugged. "Left the Safe Zone last week."

William's brows furrowed. "You left that fast?"

Max smirked. "Didn't see much of a point in staying. Not like sitting around was gonna do me any good."

William hesitated. "I never left."

Max's smirk faltered just a little, replaced by something unreadable. "Not once?"

William shook his head. "No, not until now."

Max was quiet for a moment, then let out a low whistle. "Damn. Must've been nice."

"It wasn't," William said flatly.

Max glanced at him, eyes sharp but not unkind. "Yeah," he muttered. "Didn't think so."

[You are wasting time.]

The Catalyst's voice cut through their conversation, neither impatient nor harsh—just a simple statement of fact. William tensed, reminded that the Wendigo was still waiting.

Max, on the other hand, just sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. He glanced at William. "I was looking for something strong to base my core on anyway. The one the Catalyst wanted me to use was too weak."

William frowned. "You get to choose?"

Max gave him a look. "You didn't?"

William shook his head. "It never gave me an option."

That made Max pause. He studied William, something unreadable flickering across his face. Then, after a moment, he said, "Hold up. Has it… talked to you?"

William stiffened. "Yeah."

Max blinked. "Like, full sentences?"

William nodded slowly. "Yeah. Has it… talked to you?"

Max stared at him for a long second, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Huh." His smirk was gone now, replaced by something far more serious. "It only gets straight to the point with me. Short commands. Not full sentences." He frowned, the casual air from before slipping away. 

"What's that mean?"

William felt a chill creep down his spine. "I don't know." His voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "I've been getting... instructions. Like, it's guiding me."

Max muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. "Guiding you, huh?" His eyes narrowed, lips pressed tight for a moment. "That's new."

The silence stretched between them, and for a heartbeat, it felt like the world had shifted—like something had just changed in the air. Then Max shook his head, as if clearing the thoughts away.

"Well, whatever's going on, it's not gonna stop us from getting that core." He clapped his hands together, his usual nonchalance returning. "But we need to finish this. No more delays."

William nodded, glancing toward the cave entrance again. He had a sense that time was running out.

Max's voice cut through the tension, a little lighter now. "You lead, I'll follow. Let's see what this Wendigo's got."