Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 56
“Could you give us some details?”
The man in the baseball cap, named Bennett Lowell, pressed on.
“Um...”
Mia hesitated a bit, paused, then shook her head. “We hold a festival every year here in Weaver’s Hollow, with the village head leading the rituals themselves. They can shift depending on the god’s mood, which means the preparations change too.”
“So I don’t know the exact details, but the village head should explain everything to you tonight.”
Noticing their faces turning uneasy, she added with a smile, “Don’t worry, folks; the ceremony isn’t tough. As long as you cooperate, it’ll go off without a hitch.”
Ethan sank into thought: the mission required surviving five days in Weaver’s Hollow, and this festival lasted five days too.
He’d never believe there was no connection, convinced the event held some dark secret that put their lives at risk, or perhaps...
He asked directly, “What happens if the festival fails?”
The question hung in the air, creating a heavy silence. Mia, usually so cheerful and easygoing, now wore a shadowed expression, standing frozen with deep fear in her eyes.
After a long moment, she shook her head vigorously, as if casting off the dread, and forced a smile. “Oh, nothing really; those are just old tales to scare folks. We don’t even believe them ourselves.”
“What I’ve heard is that we must hold this god-worshipping festival every year on this day, and if it’s interrupted or fails, the god’s wrath descends, dooming the whole village.”
“But if it were that serious, the place would’ve vanished long ago, so relax. Just think of it as a trip to experience local culture.”
Her reassurance backfired, leaving everyone looking even more serious.
Anyone who dismissed the festival would be a fool.
Clearly, their survival hinged on it; the task likely involved helping the village head pull it off successfully.
“Right, since we’re here to assist, we should learn about your beliefs.”
Ethan continued, “Not knowing could lead to breaking taboos. Could you explain the origins of your faith and what rules we need to follow?”
His words drew surprised glances from several people.
Here was someone in this eerie world with rock-solid nerves, showing no trace of anxiety.
His questions cut straight to the essentials, quickly drawing out exactly what they wanted to know.
Mia didn’t hold back and soon laid out the full story for them.
It turned out this land hadn’t started as a village but as barren wilderness ruled by Arachnis.
The villagers’ ancestors were refugees who wandered onto it.
At first, they feared the god who claimed the territory and dared not stay long.
But Arachnis didn’t mind humans at all, showing kindness instead by granting them the land and blessing them with good weather and bountiful harvests year after year.
Grateful for the gift, the villagers built a temple for Arachnis in the village, honoring it through generations.
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