Chapter 30: The Cursed Village

The village of Briar Hollow sat deep in the mountains, nestled in a valley where the trees grew thick and the air hung heavy with mist. The village was quiet, almost unnaturally so, and as Ryuto and his party approached, the oppressive silence weighed on them like a shroud. The only sound came from the crunch of their boots on the leaf-strewn path as they neared the village gate, which stood slightly ajar, creaking in the gentle breeze.

Nina broke the silence first, her voice a mixture of curiosity and unease. "This place gives me the creeps. It's like… like even the birds are too scared to make noise."

Celeste nodded, her expression grim. "The villagers must be terrified. From what we've heard, people have been disappearing, and those who come back… don't remember anything."

Ryuto looked ahead, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "The mayor's letter said the shadows are stealing their memories. We need to figure out what's causing this."