2.4 Famine Village

Even if the sun shined the moment they had left the ship, the sky quickly dulled on their way inland, the sun covered with a thin wisp of cloud and persistent fog.

At first glance, all they could see were shades of grey, like a movie without colour.

Thanh Van's gaze thinned, eyes trailing the bumpy stone-embedded road that twisted and turned between the close-knit houses.

There was not a single rat scuttling about or a cockroach in sight. Not a bird that would cast a shadow as it flew by. Not even a caw of a crow would fill the silence.

There was no life aside from the villagers.

Were they going to be cannibalised? Maybe the inn will slaughter them in their baths and cook them as food- Thanh Van rather enjoyed the idea.

However, this was not what he had expected when the system said it would surprise him. He had played through at least a dozen of famine village scenarios.

He really needed to have a talk with the system once scenario one was over. Somehow, everything seemed… lukewarm.

Aching to ordering extra spicy noodles and receiving a bowl of hot water instead.

As if the system had sensed Thanh Van's dismay, the NPC briefly turned back to look at the players, hollow eyes settling over Thanh Van for a tad too long.

"It has been months since we had eaten well." A flash of hunger appeared on his gaunt visage before he smiled that perfectly unkind smile, yellow-stained teeth a little too long, glaring against the lifeless skin.

The players shifted awkwardly before his gaze.

"But thanks to you and your hard work, we finally have enough to survive the next few months."

So… this is a famine village!

Thanh Van's fingers itched to punch the priest right on his nose. He could have sworn that he tasted the faint scent of copper lingering in the air. Moist and velvety.

"We have an inn for your men and you to stay in. Bath and clean clothes are ready and waiting. Please," the priest's smile reached the downturned tips of his eyes now. "In celebration of your arrival, we will have a feast tonight by the village fountain. There will be music and food-"

Bath? Clean clothes and even a feast?

The words sounded like music to the players' ears, their stomachs growling beasts, mouths salivating. Kruger's stomach too was a brewing storm, and awkwardly, he raised his hand to scratch at his four-o'clock shadow. He could eat an entire horse at this point.

Considering none of these people had eaten in the last 48 hours, Thanh Van was not surprised when there was no hesitation in the players' eyes.

It was either eat or die of hunger before the scenario even started.

"We will be there." Kruger said, and the rest looked like ducklings bobbing their heads in agreement.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." The NPC looked terrifyingly pleased with itself as it stopped in its tracks. They had arrived at the large building in the back of the village, only a hill away from the looming church. "Now please, take your rest at our inn. Later tonight, we shall feast!"

Thanh Van gaped at the inn that the priest was excitedly pointing to. The players seemed to have noticed it too, gulps of fear resounding in the silence.

Ah… Thanh Van tried his best not to roll his eyes into scrambled egg inside his skull.

***

The slaughterhouse made a rather comfy inn.

Hooks hung from the ceiling, the dark rust suspiciously crimson under the flickering oil lamp. The moist earth beneath their feet sank with every step. It had been recently turned over, the waft of fresh soil tickling their noses.

These NPC villagers had washed away the signs of slaughter, but the coppery scent of blood and faeces still lingered in the air. It seeped from the cracks in the stone walls, from the blood-soaked wood, from the hooks that clinked as they swayed in the light wind.

The shadows cast by the lamp flickered with even the slightest of wind, the long obscured shadows painting over the cotton bed sheets, over the beds that had been laid out in rows, running along the two walls, over the long faces that had turned ghastly grey upon entering.

The promised hot bath waited for them at the back of the repurposed slaughterhouse, hidden behind a few mouldy haystacks.

The baths were actually a few large barrels filled with murky, cold water. In the shadowy corner, the water looked uncanny to tubs of blood.

It was silently agreed that none of the players needed a bath that night. Instead, they changed their clothes to clean ones the villagers had stacked over the beds, praying that they didn't smell too bad.

Upon entry, Thanh Van had chosen the furthest bed from the door, closest to the baths and laid down, back against the others, acting as if he was exhausted and had drifted to sleep.

He wasn't interested in talking with the rest of the players, more curious about the current situation they were tossed in. Surely there must be more?

A bed next to his creaked miserably, and the familiar feeling of being watched washed over his entire body - from his exposed ankles to his tapering waist, only stopping at his messy lavender hair.

Sergeant Kruger's presence was hard to ignore, but Thanh Van enjoyed playing the long game. There was no fun in getting what one wanted in one sitting.

Stare away, sergeant. Edge this figure to the back of your skull so that it haunts you even in your dreams!

Thanh Van let his body shiver ever so slightly as if the cold actually bothered him. His small frame curled into a foetal position, pitiful.

Sure enough, another heave came from the bed behind him, the wood sighing with relief when the mountainous man stood up.

Not a second later, a quilt was pulled over Thanh Van's sleeping figure, the shadow crouching over him ever so briefly before it disappeared from his side.

Gotcha. Thanh Van smiled to himself.