Unspoken Thoughts

Hesperia walked at the front of the group, but her mind was elsewhere.

The air still felt heavy, as if the Mysterious Presence had left behind a lingering imprint.

"You are incomplete."

"We have awaited you, Master."

The words echoed, pressing against her thoughts.

She hadn't told the others what she heard.

Not yet.

Mara flipped her dagger idly in her fingers, breaking the silence. "Alright. Let's just admit it. That was weird as hell."

Ren groaned. "You're just now admitting that?"

Denzel pushed up his glasses. "There was no logical pattern to the event. If we assume the System operates on a set of rules, then that… wasn't part of it."

Hesperia glanced at him. "You mean it wasn't a System-made anomaly?"

Denzel nodded. "If it was, the System would have classified it. Instead, it hesitated."

Mara whistled. "That's reassuring."

Ren rolled his shoulders. "Either way, it's gone. Or it backed off. Which means we should focus on getting out of this dungeon alive."

No one disagreed.

But Hesperia wasn't sure it was gone at all.

The tunnel stretched ahead, smoother than before.

The jagged, ancient ruins had given way to polished stone. No cracks. No erosion.

It felt untouched.

Too untouched.

Mara let out an annoyed sigh. "Is it just me, or does this place look new?"

Denzel ran a hand along the wall. "It shouldn't be. But it is."

Ren frowned. "I hate that. I hate everything about that."

Hesperia agreed.

Why did this place feel so… preserved?

It was as if time had never touched it.

Or as if something had reset it.

She exhaled. No. Not reset. Preserved.

She didn't like the distinction.

As they walked, Hesperia felt it.

A small shift.

Barely noticeable.

Her footsteps were still in rhythm, her breathing controlled.

But something about the air pressure had changed.

Like the tunnel had expanded—without actually growing.

She didn't say anything.

But Denzel stopped walking.

Then, Mara.

Then, Ren.

"…Okay." Mara exhaled. "Not just me, right?"

Ren's hand hovered near his weapon. "I feel it too."

Denzel's eyes narrowed. "The space itself is changing. Not physically. But perceptually."

Hesperia clenched her fists. Not System-made. Not normal dungeon mechanics.

So what was it?

They kept moving.

But the air between them felt tighter.

No one trusted this place anymore.

Ren exhaled sharply. "So, fun question. Anyone else thinking about how we haven't eaten?"

Mara groaned. "Damn it, Ren, now I am."

Denzel checked his interface. "Time tracking is unreliable in dungeons, but by my estimation, we've been here for at least twelve hours."

Hesperia frowned. Twelve hours?

She wasn't even hungry.

None of them were.

Mara crossed her arms. "Okay, now I hate this place even more."

Ren sighed. "That's it. Next town we reach, I'm getting a meal the size of a house."

Mara perked up. "Oh. Oh, I'm holding you to that."

Hesperia barely heard them.

She was too busy thinking about why the System hadn't forced a hunger cycle.

Something was overriding it.

And she didn't know if that was a good thing or not.

The tunnel eventually opened into a larger chamber.

Unlike the rest of the dungeon, it wasn't ominous.

There were stone benches. An inactive fountain.

A place designed for rest.

Ren looked around, suspicious. "So… either this is a trap, or we just found the dungeon's official break room."

Mara stretched. "I don't care. I'm sitting."

Denzel hesitated. "There are no signs of decay."

Hesperia glanced around. He was right.

Even without moisture or light, most dungeons had some kind of wear and tear.

But this place was untouched.

Like someone still maintained it.

She sat down anyway.

The others followed.

For a while, they didn't talk.

Just sat in silence, letting the weight of everything settle.

Then, quietly, Ren spoke.

"…So, uh. Anyone thinking about what happens after this?"

Mara frowned. "After we get out?"

"Yeah." He exhaled. "I mean, what's next?"

Hesperia watched them.

This wasn't just casual talk.

It was the first time they had spoken about the future.

Denzel was the one who answered. "We survive."

Ren scoffed. "Well, yeah. But long-term?"

Mara rested her chin on her palm. "I don't know. I guess… we find a place to settle. A guild. Or maybe we just keep moving."

Denzel pushed up his glasses. "You want stability."

She shrugged. "I want good food and a bed that doesn't suck."

Ren laughed. "Respect."

Then, unexpectedly, Mara looked at Hesperia.

"What about you?"

Hesperia blinked. "What about me?"

Mara tilted her head. "What's your plan?"

Silence.

Hesperia exhaled. "I don't know."

It was the truth.

She wasn't thinking long-term.

She was thinking about the next hour. The next step. The next fight.

Nothing beyond that.

And she had no idea if that was because of who she was…

Or because of what she had already lost.

They stayed there for a while.

Talking about nothing important.

Arguing about pointless things.

Ren made stupid jokes. Mara judged his taste in humor. Denzel corrected their math on literally everything.

For a little while, it felt normal.

Then, finally, they stood.

Mara stretched. "Alright. Break's over."

Ren sighed dramatically. "Back to the nightmare, then."

Denzel nodded. "Let's move."

Hesperia said nothing.

But as she walked ahead, she felt it again.

That strange familiarity.

That unspoken presence.

Watching.

Waiting.

For what, she didn't know.

But she would find out.

One way or another.