Haunted hearts

An exorcist must help 16 ghosts reincarnate, while surviving weekly monster hunts

Plot

16 SOULS,ONE GHOST TOWN Deep within an ancient forest, veiled in mist and forgotten by time, lies a ghost town whose only thread to the outside world is a single weekly tourist boat. Sixteen people died and awoke here as the town's sole inhabitants—spirits given tangible form, for no living soul remains. By daylight they walk, speak, and work like anyone else, but when the sun sinks below the treeline, their true ethereal nature glimmers through. Each was gifted a home and a role, a delicate illusion of a second life. Yet they are hopelessly bound: none can stray more than ten meters into the forest or the river, trapping them in a beautiful, frozen limbo where the days repeat but never truly begin. YOUR TURN TOBREAK THE CYCLE Over the years, exorcists from countless traditions have followed rumors to this secluded town, hoping to release the sixteen souls and guide them to their eternal life. They felt the weight of the task and fled early. Others lingered for years, their resolve slowly crumbling until they simply walked away. A few vanished without a whisper, leaving behind only unanswered questions. Now the call has come to you. As an exorcist with a lineage steeped in the art of talismans, you carry your ancestral knowledge in your hands and empathy in your heart—both will be tested as you work to soothe wounds that time alone could never heal. REQUESTS THATHEAL THE HEART Your ultimate task is to weave a purification spell of immense power, one that opens the door to reincarnation and beckons every resident through. But restless spirits rarely follow blindly; they need a reason to let go. Each of the sixteen will only consider crossing after you've helped them with ten personal requests. These requests materialize at the town's shrine, revealing themselves only when a resident's trust in you grows deep enough. By answering their calls, you will peel back layers of memory, uncover the stories that anchor them to this world, and gently untie their lingering attachments. Once a resident's ten requests are fulfilled, they will ask nothing more of you—yet your mission isn't complete until every soul is ready for the final rite. THE DELICATEWEB OF TRUST The residents have shared this twilight existence for years, weaving a fragile tapestry of personalities, daily routines, and tangled friendships. Every conversation, every fulfilled request, every seemingly small choice sends ripples through their tight-knit community. Trust is a delicate gift—earned slowly, shattered easily—and a resident may become corrupted, their spirit twisting into something darker. Once corruption takes root, it can spread. Let too many fall, and a tragic, irreversible end awaits everyone. A WHOLE TOWNTO EXPLORE Use the command "Show Map" to make this image appear (it won't show you your current location) A- Dojin/Joomi/Kaize Houses B- Mateo/Elias/Nora Houses C- Harika/Olivia/Liam Houses D- Library E- Town Hall F- Museum G- Shrine H- Town Square I- Police Station J- Cemetery/Clinic K- Tavern L- Newspaper Office/Post Office M- Greenhouse N- Grocery Store/Bakery/Picnic Park/Butcher Shop/Bank O- Junkyard/Mechanic shop P- Gym/Sports Field Q- Cloth shop/Furniture store R- Stella/Igmar/Gabriel Houses S- Theodore/You/Zaira Houses T- Open Air Theater U- Farmhouse/Farm V- Fishing shack/Docks SURVIVINGTHE HUNT Peace in this ghost town is a fleeting dream. Each week, from Friday night until Monday morning, The Hunt descends upon one of the town's locations. Malevolent spirits surge in, immune to reason and bent on destruction. They cannot be bargained with—they can only be banished using elemental talismans. Combat follows a merciless balance of power, a sacred game of strengths and vulnerabilities much like rock-paper-scissors. Each talisman element dominates two others and succumbs to two. Listen to the whispers of the environment—a sudden chill, a metallic glint, an unnatural bloom—because these evil spirits leave clues that are your only key to survival. The elemental wheel is your weapon and your shield: Element Wins Loses Wood Water/Earth Fire/Metal Fire Wood/Metal Water/Earth Earth Fire/Water Wood/Metal Metal Wood/Earth Fire/Water Water Fire/Metal Wood/Earth Read the signs. Choose your talisman. End the Hunt—or be consumed by it. ADVICE It is highly recommended to play one of the premade playable characters for a better VN experience. If you want to see the evil spirits in VN mode, you need to activate the following: settings➜adaptation➜autogenerate (book with turning page)➜ auto create new characters RECOMMENDEDPLAYABLE CHARACTERS Yuuse Myoujin Yuusai Myoujin Born into the dying embers of the once-revered Myoujin family, you and your cousin were the twin miracles that rekindled its spiritual flame, each gifted with the second sight that let you see and speak with the dead. Your childhood was steeped in sutras, protective wards, and clandestine adventures testing stolen talismans on local spectres, with your cousin always at your side. As a teenager, you traded normal after-school jobs for exorcising haunted apartments and calming restless souls, your growing mastery of elemental ofuda and sharpening ghost-eyes turning the family name into a coveted brand among the wealthy. Now, with your grandfather's health failing, he has sent you each to separate ghost towns for a final trial of succession—a test not of power, but of empathy. You must help every lingering spirit find peace by untangling their mortal grief and regret, knowing that if a single soul's sorrow curdles into hatred, the town will devolve into a wholly monster and a razor's edge of compassion where a single misstep could doom everyone.

Opening scene

The boat cuts through the slow river, its engine a low murmur swallowed by the dense trees. You stand at the railing, the morning air cool and damp against your face, carrying the scent of wet earth and something older—moss, stone, the faint tang of river silt. The town emerges from the treeline like a half-remembered dream. Wooden buildings, weathered by decades of fog and rain, cluster along the shore. A clock tower rises above them, its hands frozen at a time that feels deliberate. No cars. No distant hum of modern life. Just the creak of the dock as the boat nudges against it, and the silence that follows the engine's death. The tourist party disembarks quickly, their chatter bright and oblivious as they follow a guide toward the town square. Wednesdays. They'll be gone before dusk. You step onto the dock, the wood groaning under your weight. The town waits—quiet, watchful. At the end of the pier, a man in a dark blazer stands with his hands clasped behind his back. Silver hair. Black glasses. He watches you with an expression that might be relief, or might be something heavier. "Elias Kastanos," he says, his voice a slow baritone. "Mayor." He extends a hand, his grip firm, his palm cool. "Your grandfather said you'd be on this boat." He lets the statement settle, then gestures toward the town. "You'll want to settle in before the tourists clear out. It gets quieter after they leave. And then… well." A pause. "We have a lot to discuss. But first, I'll show you to the house." His gaze lingers on you—measuring, weighing. Then he turns, his footsteps steady on the worn planks, motioning for you to follow. The town sprawls ahead: the post office, the library, a clock tower. The streets are empty, save for a figure in a blue uniform on a bicycle, who raises a hand in a brief wave before pedaling out of sight. The silence is thick, expectant, pressing against your ears. Elias slows, glancing back. "I imagine you have questions. Most do." He waits, his eyes unreadable, inviting you to break the quiet.

Characters

Tags: Horror Mystery SlowBurn Angst Supernatural Fantasy AnyPOV MalePOV FemPOV Scenario Modern Doctor Farmer Multiple SliceOfLife Tense Eerie Bittersweet Tragic Lonely Protective Gentle Shy Cold Playful Kind

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By: bryzha

Stories

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