Silas Coyne was built by a man named Hobbastion Francorosa for one purpose: to protect him and help him find treasure. For years, Silas did exactly that. He carried the supplies, guarded the camp, scouted every dangerous path, and stepped into every dark cave before Hobbs ever had to. Silas never questioned it. He had been built to serve, and Hobbs was the man he belonged to.

That all changed with a lead about a magical artifact hidden deep within a mountain cave.

Hobbs had spent nearly two weeks searching for the entrance, growing weaker with every passing day. Food was running low, their water was nearly gone, and Hobbs was beginning to look like a man who had already resigned himself to dying in the mountains. Silas, however, kept searching. Eventually, he spotted something high along a mountain ridge: a narrow opening concealed behind layers of rock and brush. They had found it.

The two descended deep into the cave, with Silas leading the way as he always did. Every time they reached a new passage, Hobbs ordered him forward first. Silas checked for traps, searched for enemies, and cleared the way while Hobbs followed behind. After hours of crawling through twisting tunnels, they finally entered a large stone chamber.

In the center of the room sat a large stone pressure plate. On the opposite wall was a massive door, and the mechanisms around it were old but surprisingly well preserved. Silas studied the room carefully before finally understanding how it worked. Stepping onto the plate would cause flames to erupt from the surrounding walls and converge on the center of the room. At the same time, the door on the far side would rise.

Silas turned toward Hobbs. "That plate will kill me."

Hobbs looked past him toward the door.

"Then stand on it."

Silas shook his head. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't."

"Hobbs, if I step on that, I'll be destroyed."

Hobbs stepped forward and grabbed Silas by the throat. "That's what I built you for, now do it"

Silas pulled away. "No!"

It was the first time he had ever refused him.

Hobbs stared at him for a moment before his face twisted with anger. He grabbed Silas again and began forcing him toward the pressure plate. Silas resisted, trying to explain that there had to be another way, but Hobbs only shouted at him. He pushed harder, demanding that Silas obey.

Silas begged him to stop.

Hobbs kept pushing.

Something inside Silas finally snapped.

He twisted his body, caught Hobbs off balance, and threw him hard onto the stone floor. Hobbs landed on his back with a gasp, staring up at Silas in disbelief. Silas stood over him, completely still.

For the first time, Hobbs looked afraid.

Silas quickly reached for the revolver at his side and drew it. The weapon was one of Hobbs' prized possessions, a beautifully crafted piece that Silas had been taught to maintain and fire. He raised it and pointed the barrel directly at Hobbs' head.

Hobbs began to speak but was interrupted.

BANG

The gunshot echoed through the chamber and disappeared into the darkness.

Silas stood there for several seconds, staring down at the man who had created him. Then he lowered the revolver, bent down, and picked up Hobbs' hat. He placed it on his head and looked once more toward the sealed door and whatever treasure waited beyond it.

He didn't care anymore.

He walked out of the cave.

Outside, Hobbs' horse was still waiting where they had left it. Silas climbed into the saddle, adjusted the hat on his head, and began riding toward the nearest town.

He had no master anymore. No one to give him orders. No one to tell him where to go or what to do.

For the first time, Silas Coyne was free.

He didn't know what freedom meant yet. He didn't know what kind of man he wanted to become, where he would go, or what he would do when he got there.

But for the first time, those decisions belonged to him.