Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Solitary Longings / Story
The tide of enemies has receded, leaving the once-peaceful fishing village in ruins. Among the wreckage lie the faint silhouettes of villagers' bodies.
The rain shows no sign of stopping, its bone-chilling drops carrying an unsettling malice.
The guards gather the crowd together while a priestess chants soothing prayers.
Your Holiness, we've swept the surrounding beaches clean. No other survivors were found.
Where is Lamia? Has anyone seen her?
I-I'm here... I'm fine.
Thank god you're safe. Good thing the guards acted just in time. Things would have surely been a lot worse had you been harmed.
Let's be ready to leave. We must return to prepare for the next ritual—this disaster must be contained quickly. And...
The priestess pauses, tilting her head as if checking for something.
The crowd parts to either side as she points in a certain direction, revealing someone standing in their midst.
Child, what is your name?
I... I'm Begonia.
Begonia, consider yourself lucky for being the Chosen One. Would you join us for the sacred ritual?
So you want me to take part in the ritual... like how you asked Lamia to take part in the past rituals?
No... you are far luckier than Lamia. You shall stand beside Him—which is the highest honor one can ever imagine.
I-I don't quite understand. You mean the Sea God will stop being angry if I participate in the ritual?
Yes, the people of this city will remember your contribution.
Fine. I'll go with you.
Begonia nods with childlike innocence and steps forward.
You stand between Begonia and the priestess. Seeing this, the guards immediately raise their weapons.
Who are you? How dare you show such disrespect toward Her Holiness?!
...We are merely offering her the privilege to serve God.
You gently pull Begonia back protectively.
How dare you show such disrespect toward Her Holiness?!
Lamia stops the guard right when he steps forward ready to teach you a lesson.
No! [player name] is my friend, not someone from here! Please, don't hurt [player name]!
Ah, an outsider. No wonder... You've seen what happened in the village today. We'll only be seeing more tragedies like that if we don't hold a ritual.
I'll forgive your insolence for Lamia's sake. You know nothing of this city's history, nor do you understand the terrible wrath of the Sea God.
Eh? I... I know that. It takes rituals to quell the Sea God's wrath. Didn't I tell you about this before?
Eh? Well... Uhm...
Lamia freezes for a moment. Your question seems to have torn down a facade that's always been there, revealing the ugly truth beneath.
Ngh... please... don't... ugh... gurgle... ngh...
Huff... Please... spare me... no... please... I beg you... let me g—AAGH!
Mmh... so this... this is how I can be with Him? How wonderful...
I... I think I... probably did?
Lamia speaks with uncertainty, her words hovering between an answer and a question to herself.
The question strikes Lamia like the thunder from earlier, jolting her back to her senses.
To Lamia, everything that's happened probably didn't happen for the first time—except she doesn't remember any of them.
Enough.
The priestess moves past Lamia and positions herself between you and her.
We don't have a choice. There's bound to be more victims if we don't perform a ritual now, and I don't believe you have what it takes to face that.
The guards advance menacingly as the priestess speaks—all while you remain perfectly composed, showing not a hint of fear or hesitation.
Perfectly calm, you raise your hand.
What?!
With it, you turn and gently pat Begonia's head, your face showing not a trace of impulse or anger.
They can tell without a doubt that this is all carefully calculated... and yet...
W-why...?
If you will... Wait, what's that supposed to mean?
With those words, you walk toward the guards with unwavering resolve.
