The Great Myth of the Shadow Village

In the isolated village, nestled deep within the seventeenth-century countryside, a sinister myth had taken root and consumed the collective psyche of the townspeople. The legend spoke of a cursed realm that would materialize amidst the eerie darkness of a solar eclipse, when the sky would turn a foreboding shade of blood-red.

According to the lore, the two realms—the forsaken realm of Sceadu, also known as the shadow village, and the realm of the living—would collide during these rare celestial events, causing the lost village to manifest in the physical world. This haunting presence would linger until the sun broke free from the eclipse's embrace, at which point Sceadu would vanish just as mysteriously as it had appeared. Rumours of the village's deep, malevolent curse and the malicious spirits that roamed its twisted streets had instilled a deep, unshakable fear in the hearts of the townspeople. They adhered strictly to the legend's prescribed survival advice, which had been passed down through generations: "Carry candles with you at all times, of course, not just some ordinary candles, but the candles blessed by the church—they are the only thing that can keep you alive if you find yourself trapped within the realm of Sceadu during an eclipse. Seal your home tightly to prevent anyone from venturing out, for once inside that cursed place, there is no escape. If you are unfortunate enough to be caught in Sceadu, light your candle and find shelter, for the malevolent spirits cannot detect your presence if the flame burns bright. But know this— you are on your own."

Despite these dire warnings, people continued to go missing with each unpredictable appearance of the solar eclipse. I have been living in this isolated place for twenty-four years, yet none of those eclipses have ever appeared. I started to doubt its validity. However, the elder townspeople remained steadfast in their vigilance, constantly reminding the younger generation to heed the warnings and be ever-vigilant. Most of the time, I went out with Vera to collect some wood and catch some fish from the river inside the forest. She and I were very close, and she is definitely my crush. One fateful day, oblivious to the approaching solar eclipse, I, along with my childhood friends Vera, Tom, and Valek, ventured into the nearby forest to gather some firewood and hunt for food to prepare for the harsh winter months ahead. Tom, Valek, and I have known each other since we were born, and we were the best trios with good teamwork. Tom was the eldest of us all, and he was also very skilled in hunting and fighting. Valek and I have learned a lot from him. Then there was Vera's brother, Valek, the smartest and best tactician in our group. Moreover, he is going to be my brother-in-law. We could take it that way. I did hope that he did not mind me courting his sister. Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a thick, ominous fog descended upon this remote land.

− "What's going on? Why is it so dark all of a sudden?" said Vera.

− "What?!!" Tom ghasted.

− "It is not what I think, isn't it?" Valek continued.

− "Oh no, it really is! Then, what are we waiting for?" I replied.

− "Quick!" said Valek.

We were too late to realize that the eclipse had already begun. We immediately dropped any loads on us to lessen our weight. Except for the candles and some jerkies, we were keeping them. Then, we ran hastily back to our village. Unfortunately, we were too late; before we knew it, we had already stumbled upon the eerie village of Sceadu.

− "Damned it!" Tom punched the ground hard.

− "I never thought this to be real. To be honest, I was about to no longer believe in this nonsense. But I was wrong." Valek murmured.

− "We need to get out of here. I don't like the atmosphere in here." Vera trembled in fear.

− "She's right. It feels unpleasant in here," I continued.