“Look behind there,” Max said to Boorg, who peeked behind the curtain.

“Nothing,” the big guy said while scratching his head.

“I was definitely sure there would be a chest or something,” Max said, disappointed.

The two of them got from X another new dungeon that had just spawned near Kingsport and it had to be cleared. The guild ensured it was yet another easy one, making it a perfect dungeon for Max to test his skill and level up a bit.

“Let’s keep going,” Max said to Boorg as they continued into the next room.

Max wasn’t in many dungeons as of yet, but he definitely knew that this wasn’t a normal look for a dungeon. Everything was clean, it didn’t stink, there were no rats, the walls were dry, etc. He could actually live here. It was as if they moved inside a palace. Big red curtains were all around them, placed to hide the windows, but in this case, only walls were behind them. The path below their feet was also covered in red carpet, and the best thing of all, it was well-lit. Max didn’t have to strain his eyes to see something, which meant no surprise attacks from the enemy if there were any here.

That is why Max couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“This is too easy,” Max muttered, glancing around.

“Maybe we lucky?” Boorg replied, though his tone suggested that he didn’t believe what he just said. His grip tightened around his axe as they made their way forward.

The next room was just as grand as the last. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling, covering everything in warm light. A long table stretched out before them, set with fine plates and silverware as if a feast were about to begin.

Max approached the table cautiously. “This feels more like a trap than a dungeon. Silver is expensive Boorg, right?” he asked.

Boorg nodded. “Yes. If something not attack us soon, I start smashing to make sure they not hiding.”

Max smirked. But before Boorg could do what he just said, soft music echoed through the room.

“What’s that?” Max whispered, preparing his wand.

The music grew louder, and suddenly, the curtains at the far end of the room opened, revealing a figure dressed in elegant robes. The figure’s face was covered by a mask, and in their hands was a lute, which they played with ease.

“A bard?” Max said, puzzled. “In a dungeon?”

The bard’s song spread across the room, a haunting melody that sent shivers down Max’s and Boorg’s spines. Max could feel the magic fused into the notes. This wasn’t just any ordinary bard - this was someone who knew how to wield magic through music.

Boorg got into his stance. “What we do, Max?”

Max considered their options. “I’m not sure if this bard is friend or foe, but him being inside the dungeon, he is probably a foe. Let’s see what they want.”

The bard’s song slowly came to an end, and they lowered their lute, their masked face turning to face Max and Boorg. “Welcome travelers,” the bard said in a voice that was both calming and unsettling. “You’ve entered a place of trials, but not all trials are as they seem.”

Max exchanged a glance with Boorg. “What do you mean?”

The bard gestured to the table. “This is a dungeon, yes, but one unlike any you have faced before. The challenges here are not of brute strength but of the mind and heart. To proceed, you must confront not only what lies ahead but what lies within.”

Max frowned, trying to figure out what was the meaning behind the bard’s words. “What kind of challenge are we talking about?”

The bard’s mask seemed to shine with happiness. “Sit, and you will find out.”

Max hesitated for a second, his instincts screaming at him that something wasn’t right. But he was curious, a desire in him to understand what kind of test this dungeon was giving them. He looked at Boorg, who gave a small nod, as if to say, “Let’s see where this goes,” or in his words, “Let’s see where goes this.”

“Alright,” Max said, pulling out a chair and sitting at the table. Boorg followed right next to him, his big body making the chair creak under his weight.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As soon as they were seated, the room seemed to shift slightly, as though the walls were closing in, or perhaps that was just the tension building in the air. The bard remained stranding, their lute resting lightly against their side.

“Your first challenge is one of truth,” the bard began, their voice echoing slightly in the wide room. “This dungeon reflects the truths you hide from yourself, the secrets you bury, and the fears you deny. To move forward, you must reveal what you would rather keep hidden.”

Max wasn’t sure he liked where this was going. “What do you mean by, “reveal”?”

The bard tilted their head. “Speak your truth. Share with your companion something you’ve kept from them, something you’ve perhaps kept from yourself. Only then will the path ahead open.”

Max glanced at Boorg, the big man was not one for secrets, always blunt and straightforward. But Max knew there were things he had kept close, things he wasn’t proud of. I mean, who isn’t holding something deep inside from the world?

“Is this really necessary?” Max asked, buying time to think of something.

The bard simply nodded. “The truth is the key. Without it, you will remain trapped here.”

“Well,” Max began, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m cursed, and it is not just a random curse,” his words were coming out slowly as if they were being dragged from a deep, dark place inside him. “I… I killed my friends. Not directly, but it was my fault. I made a mistake, and they paid the price. The curse is my punishment, to remind me what I have done.”

“Okay,” Boorg said, not fazed by what he just heard.

“Your turn big guy,” the bard said to Boorg.

“I eat all the food on the road, it was not Piggy,” Boorg lowered his gaze.

Max looked up, surprised by Boorg’s words.

“The truth has been spoken. You may now proceed,” the bard looked satisfied with what he heard.

Max stood up. “I guess we move forward.”

Boorg rose as well, clapping Max on the shoulder. “Let’s go!”

They made their way to the next room, and the bard behind them kept sitting. “One more thing,” he said. “Remember, the truth can set you free, but it can also be your greatest burden. Choose wisely what you reveal in the trials to come.”

Max nodded, thinking of what could the next challenges be.

Max and Boorg walked in silence for a while, the air in the passageway cooler and heavier than in the grand hall they had just left. The walls here were different as well. The stone was rough and cold, the only light coming from faintly glowing runes that spread across the walls.

“Sorry, Max,” Boorg said.

“For what?”

“For eating food.”

Max laughed. “No need to be sorry, Boorg. It was just food, we didn’t die of hunger, right?”

Boorg smiled. “True.”

The passageway led them to a large wooden door, reinforced with iron. There was something about it, much darker than they had faced before.

Max took a deep breath and reached for the door handle. “Ready?”

“Yes!” Boorg said, raising his axe.

Max pushed the door open, and they stepped inside. The room was dark, but as soon as they entered, torches along the walls became alive, revealing a circular chamber with a high ceiling. In the center of the room was a large mirror, its surface reflecting the light from the torches but nothing else. No reflection of Max or Boorg, just an empty void.

“This trap?” Boorg muttered, his axe ready.

Max approached the mirror, trying to understand it. “It’s not showing our reflections. Maybe it shows our desires, like in Harry Potter?”

“Hairy Putter?” Boorg looked confused.

“Never mind,” Max said. The surface of the mirror began to melt. The ripples grew until the mirror’s surface was a vortex of light and shadows.

“Stay back,” Max warned Boorg, holding out a hand. But it was too late. The vortex expanded, pulling them both closer until they entered the light.

For a moment, Max felt nothing, the world around him spinning out of control. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped, and he found himself standing in a different place.

He was alone.

Max looked around, confused. The room was gone, replaced by an open field under a gray sky. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, and in the distance, he could see the remains of a village, the buildings reduced to nothingness.

He took a few shaky steps forward, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound of footsteps behind him made Max turn around, and his heart sank as he saw them - his friends, the ones he had killed. They were standing there, just as they had been on that fateful day, their eyes empty and accusing.

“This isn’t real,” Max told himself, but his voice was shaking with doubt. “This is just another part of the dungeon’s trial.”

But it felt real. Too real.

One of his friends, Luther, stepped forward. “You did this, Max. You killed us.”

Max shook his head, backing away. “No, it was an accident! I didn’t mean to—”

“You were careless,” another voice said. “You could shoot straight!”

“But I am much better now!” Max defended himself.

“We are always with you, we know you’re still shit!” Luther said.

“This isn’t part of the trial, we just used the chance to contact you,” another voice said.

“I’m sorry,” Max whispered, his voice breaking. “I’m so, so sorry. I never wanted this to happen.”

“Sorry, isn’t enough, Max. We will get our revenge, just wait,” Luther smirked at him.

“You were always a dick, Luther!” Max was now pissed. “Not only you, all of you fuckers!” he screamed. “You always ignored me, you made fun of everyone that wasn’t part of your stupid little groups, you deserved to die, fuck you!”

“Bitch, I’m gonna slap the living shit out of you,” Meg pushed through trying to reach Max.

“SORRY, I WAS JOKING!” Max closed his eyes screaming in terror.

Max found himself back in the circular chamber with the mirror, gasping for breath.

Boorg was beside him looking concerned. “Max? What happened? You just standing there, doing nothing?”

Max wiped the sweat from his brow. “I had to face some stinky fuckers. From my past. It was… intense.”

“Did you do it?” Boorg asked.

“I don’t think so… I think I only pissed them off even more,” Max looked worried.

Another passageway opened. Max took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was to come next.

“Let’s go,” Max said stepping forward. Boorg followed. Max was glad Boorg was here so he wouldn’t have to walk alone.