Perry moved forward cautiously, each step light as he consciously lowered his breathing, fearful of alarming the unknown presence ahead. Dense grass swayed lightly in the breeze, obstructing his view and casting a shadowy, oppressive atmosphere over the area. His hand gripped the water sword tightly, cold sweat trickling down his forehead as he weighed each step forward. Suddenly, he heard a faint sound, like someone softly calling his name. Though the voice sounded somewhat familiar, he didn't dare respond impulsively. He decided to observe before acting.
He stood silently in a concealed area, hidden behind the grass, eyes fixed ahead. A low voice came through the air, with a hint of searching: "Henry! Is that you?" Perry didn't respond, remaining focused and lifting his sword slightly, prepared for anything.
Then, he noticed movement in the grass ahead; the rustling grew louder. Perry held his breath, his eyes narrowing as his heartbeat quickened. The figure seemed to sense his presence, pausing for a moment before cautiously approaching. Through the grass, a figure's outline gradually emerged. As he pushed aside the thick leaves, his face came into view. Perry's tense nerves relaxed slightly—it was Fido.
"Henry, why didn't you answer when I called?" Fido's voice held a trace of confusion, even a bit of worry. He shuddered when he saw Perry's guarded expression.
Perry exhaled slightly but kept his distance, asking coldly, "Are you really Fido?"
Fido looked baffled by Perry's suspicion and hurriedly pulled a silver fruit knife from his pocket, raising it in the air. "Of course I'm real! Would I be holding silver if I were suspicious?"
Seeing the silver knife, Perry finally relaxed, lowering his sword. He frowned slightly and asked, "Then where were you just now? Why did you suddenly disappear?"
"You're the one who vanished behind me!" Fido shrugged, sounding both innocent and exasperated at Perry's questions. "Remember, whenever we encounter strange situations like this, just flash something silver, and it'll avoid a lot of trouble." With that, he slipped the knife back into his pocket.
"But this wasn't just an ordinary hassle…" Perry replied quietly, a grim look in his eyes. "Just now, there was this guy wearing a creepy mask. When I responded to him, he started chasing me and tried to force that terrifying mask onto my face. I ended up cutting the mask with my water sword, and both he and the mask vanished, leaving only a pool of black sludge."
Fido stroked his chin, deep in thought, as though searching his memory for some old tale. He spoke slowly, with a hint of foreboding in his tone: "Hmm… that sounds like the legend of the 'Responding Scarecrow.'" He paused, then continued, "It's an ancient cursed game, said to be triggered by some eerie ritual. They say some summon scarecrows in tall fields of grass, hiding them in the shadows, where they take the place of the summoner, calling out names in an eerie, urgent tone. Anyone who responds triggers the curse."
Fido glanced at the ground thoughtfully before meeting Perry's gaze. "The game's rules are ruthless. Once you respond to the scarecrow's call, it appears before you, mask and all, and pursues you relentlessly. That mask isn't an ordinary item; it's an accursed artifact filled with malicious energy. The cursed 'pursuer' can't remove the mask—they must find the person who responded to their call and force the mask onto them, passing the curse along. Otherwise, they're trapped in that field, never able to leave."
A chill ran down Perry's spine as he remembered the mad gleam in the masked figure's eyes, bloodshot and wild. He grew even more vigilant. "So, if the cursed pursuer fails to catch the responder, they're bound by the curse within a certain range?"
"Exactly." Fido nodded, a hint of worry in his eyes as he continued, "Legend says the game's end is always horrifying. The scarecrow reappears again and again, each response triggering a new chase, creating an endless loop. Over time, the masked pursuer becomes twisted and deranged, losing all sense of self and becoming nothing more than a cursed shell. Some say people who've encountered this game never fully recover; a shadow of fear lingers in their eyes forever."
Perry couldn't help but shiver, feeling the curse's cruel, invisible malice. It seemed that anyone who responded was ensnared, unable to escape the curse's pull.
Seeing Perry's grim expression, Fido sighed and said, "So it's best not to respond to strange calls, especially in desolate grasslands… You did respond, didn't you?"
I'm just telling you this because I'm being chased!
Perry nodded, his expression darkening as the weight on his chest grew. He swallowed reflexively, regretting his reckless response. He turned to Fido and whispered, "Does cutting the mask actually break the curse? I shattered it, and the man collapsed, dissolving into black water… Does that mean I… killed him?"
Fido also looked somewhat nervous upon hearing this, but he still tried to reassure Perry, speaking calmly, "Don't worry, you probably didn't kill anyone. If it dissolved into black water, it wasn't human but some sort of summoned scarecrow. These scarecrows are just vessels for curses, usually covered in strange runes to maintain their form. They may look human, but they're really just puppets controlled by the one who cast the spell."
Hearing this, Perry let out a small sigh of relief, trying to suppress his anxiety. "That's good… but since both the mask and the scarecrow have disappeared, does that mean the curse is over?"
Fido, however, shook his head, his expression grim, with a hint of helplessness and concern. "It's not that simple! Even though you cut down the mask, that doesn't break the curse. The scarecrow will reappear, and the game will repeat again and again until the player finds the scarecrow and places the mask back on its head. Only then can the curse truly end."
Perry's eyes widened in shock, feeling a mixture of unease and anger. "What?! So I'm a 'player' now?" He muttered a low curse, feeling incredibly unlucky—he had only responded out of curiosity, and now he was trapped in this strange game.
Fido sighed, patting Perry's shoulder in a show of comfort, though his tone remained resigned. "By responding to its call, you essentially accepted the rules of the game. Leaving won't be so easy now. To be honest, I've come to these fields many times and never encountered anything like this, but you… it seems your luck really isn't the best." He glanced around, a hint of unease surfacing in his mind as well.
Hearing this, Perry's mood grew even heavier. His sharp eyes scanned the dense straw field around them, sensing a stifling and dangerous aura in this eerie place. The air held a faint dampness mixed with the scent of decay, sending chills down his spine. Gripping his water sword tightly, he tried to remain calm, asking quietly, "Isn't there any other way to break this curse?"
Fido thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "The rules of the game are said to be ancient and strict. You either find the scarecrow and return the mask to it, or you find the source of the curse—a bloody small glass doll that was enchanted. The doll is usually hidden somewhere in these fields, and only by finding it can the curse be lifted. But, that thing is tiny. Finding it in this endless field… won't be easy."
Hearing this made Perry even more anxious, feeling a sense of helplessness. This straw field seemed peaceful, but concealed countless dangers. He didn't know how many more scarecrows he'd encounter, but since he was now caught in the game, he had no choice but to find the small doll or return the mask if he ever hoped to escape.
At that moment, a strange rustling came from behind them, as if something was creeping closer, carrying an eerie aura. Perry and Fido both held their breath, looking cautiously in the direction of the sound.
"Whatever happens, we'd better get out of here quickly," Perry said, a chill running through him as he glanced uneasily around.
Before he could finish speaking, a low, sinister laugh suddenly echoed from the grass behind them. The laugh grew louder, clearer, and closer. "Found you… hehehe… found you…"
Perry whipped around, clutching his water sword tightly, his eyes fixed warily in the direction of the eerie rustling. His heartbeat quickened. "Could that curse be after us again?" he muttered, a thin layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Looking out over the vast, endless stalks of tall grass, Perry knew that finding the little straw doll here was like searching for a needle in a haystack. He furrowed his brow, a determined look flashing in his eyes. Fortunately, he had one crucial skill that might help him—"Plant Control." Taking a deep breath, Perry placed his hand on one of the black stalks of grass, softly calling upon his skill. He felt a warm magic pulse from his fingertips into the field, forming a faint connection with the surrounding plants.
With the flow of his magic, the tall grass seemed to come alive, swaying gently, slowly spreading out in all directions. Perry hoped these plants would help him search the area, find the curse's source, and even entangle any approaching scarecrows, buying him more time.
"Whatever happens, we just need to run for now!" Perry said, controlling the plants to scout around them while pulling Fido along to quickly escape. He needed to keep in contact with the grass to maintain control, which drained his energy rapidly, but it was their only hope. His fingers continuously brushed against the grass blades around him as he anxiously used his magic, feeling his stamina steadily draining.
As Perry continued to channel his magic, he quickly felt his energy draining. His fingers began to go numb, and cold sweat trickled down his face. His body grew weaker, as if the grass beneath him was greedily absorbing every ounce of magic he poured into it. Clenching his teeth, he steadied himself, struggling to maintain his connection to the grass and forcing himself to stay calm. "No matter what, let's find the exit first!" he thought.
"Stay close! I remember the way out!" Fido shouted, darting ahead to lead the way. The two of them dashed through the thick grass, the angry hissing of entangled scarecrows echoing around them.
While Perry controlled the plants to scout the area, he held tightly onto Fido. He knew that if the scarecrows caught up, his depleted magic reserves would leave him vulnerable. Every few steps, Perry reached out to the surrounding grass, sending out small bursts of magic to maintain control, his fingers trembling as his breathing grew heavier. His strength was being drained relentlessly, and his vision began to blur.
Perry forced himself to maintain his magic, though his steps became increasingly unsteady. He anxiously wondered how much longer he could hold on, but he had no other choice.
As they ran, the sounds of scarecrows struggling against the plants grew more distant. Perry knew he didn't have much left; his hand was numb, and his control over the plants was weakening. Just then, he sensed a faint pulse of magic—a weak, blood-scented aura coming from a patch of grass nearby.
"I feel it... the little grass doll is just ahead!" Perry muttered, gritting his teeth as he sprinted toward the area.