Edie followed Alyssa without really knowing why. Maybe it was the gleam in her eyes. Or the way she spoke with such certainty, as if the world around her had no choice but to bend to her will. Either way, he let himself be guided down that narrow, dim corridor at the back of the inn, poorly lit by yellowish bulbs.
Alyssa opened a black-painted wooden door, covered in band stickers. There were names Edie had never heard before: Sludgewyrm, Galarian Doomcore, Pyroar Howl. A poster showed a hooded figure holding a burning guitar, with the inscription "Infernal Noise Festival – Johto Edition."
"Welcome to our sanctuary," Alyssa said with a mischievous smile, pushing the door open.
The sound that escaped from inside hit Edie like a sledgehammer. A roar of distorted guitars, absurdly fast drums, and guttural screams echoed off the walls. He instinctively covered his ears.
"Holy shit…" he muttered, dizzy.
Inside, the "studio" was actually a renovated basement. Soundproofed walls, stacked amps, an electronic drum kit, microphones, a digital recorder, and purple lighting that gave everything a subterranean lair vibe. A Toxtricity vibrated in the corner, eyes closed, fully immersed in the music blasting from the speakers. A Noivern hung from the ceiling, gently bobbing its head to the rhythm.
Alyssa ran to the makeshift stage and spun in place.
"Isn't it perfect? This is where the soul's screams are born!"
"Screams, alright…" Edie muttered under his breath.
She turned off the music with a tap on her phone, and the silence was almost a physical relief. Edie slowly lowered his hands, blinking like he'd just returned from a sonic attack.
"You okay?" she asked, laughing. "You look kinda pale."
"Didn't expect this," he admitted, looking around, trying to pretend he wasn't dizzy. "You said you'd been singing since you were five. I thought it was more… pop, or something."
"Pop?" Alyssa made a disgusted face, like he'd insulted her mother. "God forbid. This is real art, Edie. Soul. Fury. Life!"
She grabbed the mic and let out a deafening guttural scream. Toxtricity answered with a sharp chord and Noivern snored in approval.
"So… it's like your style?" Edie tried to understand, still hearing a ringing in his ears.
"It's metal. Pure, honest, intense." She turned to him, excited. "And you're going to adapt. Every band needs contrast. You've got a melodic, emotional vibe. I'm the storm. It'll work, trust me!"
Before Edie could protest, a side door opened, revealing an old man with messy white hair, a thick mustache, wearing an Iron Mawile t-shirt and Gengar plush slippers. He held a steaming mug with the words "Coffee and Chaos."
Edie recognized him from the inn's check-in — it was hard to believe it was the same man, the contrast in outfits a bit unsettling.
"Yelling again, Aly? You're gonna scare the guests!" the old man said in a raspy but firm voice.
"Relax, Grandpa! The soundproofing's still holding. This is Edie, my new guitarist."
The old man squinted at Edie. For a moment, Edie thought he was going to yell at him, but he just gave a slight nod and muttered:
"The kid from 03? Looks like he suffers. That's good for metal."
Without another word, he turned and disappeared back through the door.
"Your grandpa is… the innkeeper?" Edie asked, stunned.
"Yup! He says the world only goes to hell when we stop playing loud. So he supports me. In a weird way, but still."
Edie sighed, sitting on one of the beanbags scattered across the floor.
"Look, I don't know if I can keep up with this style… I like softer stuff, with melody, with lyrics. I don't know how to scream into a mic or strike a demon pose."
Alyssa walked over, her eyes still sparkling with excitement, but her tone now gentler.
"You don't have to change, Edie. Just keep up with me. We can make something new. Mix styles. Fuse worlds. Ever thought of that?"
He looked at her for a few seconds. Despite the pounding in his head and the sound still echoing in his memory, something about that girl made him… curious. She was intense, sure, and a little crazy, but maybe that was exactly what he needed.
Worst case, he had nothing to lose — and maybe he'd even have some fun along the way.
"I… I can try," he said at last.
Alyssa cheered, jumped up, and grabbed his hand.
"That's the spirit! I knew you'd say yes!"
He laughed, not sure if he was making the best decision of his life… or the worst.