"Hmm! That place near the cemetery is haunted, kid, don't go poking around there! Years ago, I planned to build a warehouse there. But overnight, all my materials vanished!"
"Vanished? Couldn't someone have taken them?"
"I thought the same and had Harris investigate. But he said anyone who goes near that spot loses stuff. Folks say it's haunted! No one in town dares go there. You should steer clear too! So, wanna settle up?"
Luis thought for a moment before replying, "Sure! Settle it, but keep one Blue Grass out."
Money exchanged hands, and 790 G hit his account. He had cash now! With this, he could start paying off debts and ease into a less strained life. Should he hit the hot spring? The thought crossed his mind, but he dismissed it. Indulging too much would make him lazy. He needed to stay sharp for maximum productivity.
But he couldn't stop thinking about the Harvest Sprites. Haunted? That meant something was up with that place. He wanted to check it again.
Grabbing the Blue Grass and bringing Glimmer along, he set out. It was nearly dark. Though he didn't believe in ghosts, this was a different world, so he was a bit uneasy. Having Glimmer by his side eased his nerves. Looking at the excited pup, thrilled to be out with its master, he murmured, "From now on, I'll take you with me whenever I go out, alright? You must get bored stuck at the farm all day!"
"Woof woof!" Glimmer barked joyfully.
He dashed to the trail by the hill. The place was indeed creepy. Tall grass, eerie silence, and proximity to the cemetery. Taking a deep breath for courage, he pressed forward.
The clearing was unchanged from the afternoon, save for the hooting of an owl adding to the spooky vibe.
"It's just in my head!"
He slapped his cheeks to steady himself and began searching. It was dark, the moon not yet risen, everything cloaked in a shadowy haze, hard to see. After a bit, Glimmer barked sharply. Luis jumped, turning to see a patch of grass shaking in the direction Glimmer faced. Wind? A rabbit?
He approached to check—nothing unusual. Digging around, still no clues.
Suddenly, a shout rang out: "Who's there!"
Luis yelped, sprawling on the ground. A blinding light shone on him. He squinted, and Glimmer, startled, hid behind him. What a coward!
"Hey! I said, who's there!" The voice demanded confirmation.
Not a ghost, then. Luis replied, "It's me! It's me!"
"Who's 'me'? Who are you? What're you snooping around here for at night?"
A man stepped out from behind the flashlight. Tall, wearing a long black coat, his face unclear.
"I'm Luis, the new farmer in town. And you are?"
"Carter! Pastor Carter! Keeper of God's house. What're you doing here at this hour?"
"This afternoon, I passed by here exploring the town and dropped something. Came back to look for it."
"It's dark! Go home, come back tomorrow, it's not too late!"
"Yes, sir! But I heard this place is haunted. If I don't find my stuff today, it might be gone tomorrow."
The pastor chuckled.
"I've been here years, never seen a ghost. This land is blessed by God—no spirits or demons dare show up. Go home, come back tomorrow, and I'll help you look. Deal?"
Luis was a bit disappointed. He agreed, pretending to turn away, deliberately dropping the Blue Grass on the ground. In the dark, Carter didn't notice. Luis had hoped to pry information from the pastor, but it seemed he was hiding something.
After Carter returned to the church, Luis peeked from the bushes where he'd hidden, eyeing the dropped Blue Grass. He'd set a trap.
After waiting, growing bored and ready to leave, he heard a strange noise. He covered Glimmer's mouth to keep it quiet. A blue pointed hat poked out from the grass nearby, bobbing toward the Blue Grass. Just a hat, floating in the air, nothing else visible. When it got close, Luis released Glimmer. The clever pup got the hint, lunging at the hat.
"Aaaaaa! Murder! Murder!"
The hat screeched. After a scuffle, a tiny figure beneath it appeared, sprawled under Glimmer's weight.
"Let me go! Let me go! You dumb dog!"
Luis approached, inspecting the tiny creature. A sly grin spread across his face. His little worker was here.
"What're you staring at? Don't hurt me! I've got brothers. If you hurt me, they'll get you! Let me go!"
"I'll let you go, but you have to take me to your home!" Luis said with a charming, disarming smile.
"No way! Do what you want! I'm not taking you to my brothers!"
"Really? Take me, and I'll give you this Blue Grass."
The Sprite hesitated but stood firm: "No! No! No! You can't trick me! I won't betray my brothers!"
"How about another one tomorrow?" Luis dangled the Blue Grass temptingly.
"Uh… no, no way! If I reveal our hideout, my brothers won't talk to me anymore!"
"One every day, then? I've got plenty of these!" Luis flashed a friendly smile, knowing he was on the right track. Carrot and stick, used right, worked wonders.
"You mean it?"
"Why would I lie?"
The poor little Sprite bowed its head, thinking, then said, "Fine, I'll take you, but you can't hurt my brothers!"
"Deal, I swear on my honor!" How could he hurt them? They were his adorable little workers.
Glimmer released the Sprite. It brushed off its clothes and motioned for Luis to follow. At the center of the clearing, the Sprite reached into the air, pulling it apart like a curtain. A quaint little house appeared. Luis stepped to the gate and opened it.
A vibrant scene unfolded, like stepping into a fairy realm. Tiny beds, tables, chairs—all colorful and neatly arranged in the charming house. The Harvest Sprites, dressed in bright clothes, sat around a long table, focused on their meal. They hadn't noticed Luis. A red-clad Sprite munched and called out, "Staid! What're you doing out there? Come eat, it's getting cold! Hot soup's no good cold!"
Staid, hiding behind Luis's leg, peeked in: "Uh… um, we've got a guest!"
The Harvest Sprites turned, staring at him in surprise, then panic.
"HUMAN!!!"