The priest

Lin looks around, there isn’t a single soul in the abandoned, crumbling church. Then, he hears a sound. He hesitates, unsure whether to hide… but it’s already too late. A figure steps out from behind one of the broken pillars. He looks like a priest.The man speaks:

“Good. My spell worked. That’s reassuring… I need your help.”

Lin, confused, says, “Where am I? Who are you? And what do you mean you need my help?”

The priest laughs. “I understand you’re confused...but one question at a time, please.” He pauses for a moment, then continues, “Well, for your first question, welcome to Yuther.” He coughs and clears his throat before going on.

“I’m not sure how best to describe it… you should probably ask an adventurer.” The priest glances at Lin to see if he’s paying attention, then continues.

“As for your second question, I’m Hadar. I’m just a simple priest.” He smiles gently.

“And for your last question...I need you to run an errand for me.”

“What kind of errand?”

Hadar folds his arms behind his back, pacing slowly across the cracked floor.
“There’s a bell. its half-buried in the graveyard of a church north of here. I need you to retrieve it.”

Lin looks at Hadar, confused.
“Why do you need a bell?”

The priest stops pacing.
“It’s a cursed bell that’s been causing all sorts of problems for that church. No one’s been able to do anything about it. The other clergy members couldn’t even get close to it… so I want you to try. I believe you can do it.”

“Sure, I’ll get this cursed bell. But.. why is it cursed?”

Hadar nods, as if expecting the question.
“Well… there was a strange man who came carrying the bell. He just left it there. The priests and priestesses tried to stop him, but he slipped away before they could do anything. The bell remained, and it hasn’t moved since.”

“But won’t I be cursed too if I interact with it?”

The priest looks at him.
“I’m not sure… but you’re our best choice.”

There’s a silence.

“…Fine,” Lin says, still unsure.

Hadar smiles.
“Good. I suppose I should lead you to that church.”
He turns and begins walking outside.

Lin nods and starts following him. They step through the crumbling archway of the abandoned church as they continue walking, Lin glances at Hadar.

“So… how long has it been cursed?”

Hadar doesn’t look back. “im not sure but if i were to  guess its been few decades, maybe longer"

“Great,” Lin mutters. “I’m just supposed to pick it up?”

“No,” Hadar replies “Don’t touch it directly. There’s a cloth thats on the altar. Wrap the bell in that before you do anything.”

Lin looks at him “You said the clergy couldn’t get close. Why would I be any different?”

Hadar stops, suddenly. He turns around, his expression serious now, all traces of lightness gone. “Because you don’t belong here. Yuther hasn’t had an outsider in a long time. The curse... might not recognize you”

“…wait does that mean curses and stuff like those are kind of alive?”

“I guess you can say that” Hadar says.

They keep walking in silence until they arive at the church,it looks older than the abandoned church, but somehow still standing..but the graveyard around it is wild and overgrown. A twisted tree grows at the center, and beneath its roots, something sparkels.

“There,” Hadar says, pointing. “The bell”

Lin swallows, suddenly unsure again. “You’re not coming with me?”

Hadar shakes his head. “I already told you I can’t”

Lin walks forward uncertainly, heading toward the church to retrieve the cloth. He passes a few clergy members who remain silent, watching him with strangely hopeful expressions.

After picking up the cloth, he turns toward the graveyard and begins walking.

He passes leaning gravestones..some split in two, some others names no longer readable. The old tree becomes larger with each step. The wind picks up, brushing through the grass then, beneath the twisting roots, he sees the bronze bell, half submerged in the grass

Despite its stillness, it hums softly… almost as if it’s breathing.