Traveling to the far east side of Barou, Caleb and his group slowly approach the holy temple. A large cross with a statue of the Goddess is erected at the top of the building. Gleaming with silver support beams at the base, guided by the large stairs to the entrance. Dismounting off the horses, Lukia helps Caleb to his feet.

Caleb's face sweated profusely, and heat gathered around his body and his head. His body was growing weaker as time progressed, resembling an illness. Everyone looked at him worried, and Gale took the first step to give him a shoulder.

"Herk, you are the best person here to ask them to dispel the curse. Could you go ahead, and we'll bring Caleb shortly after?"

Herk nodded at his friend. "Leave it to me." Following up the stairs, Herk approached the main doors, where two paladins stood guard. One held a shield and spear, and the other a single greatsword. The one with the sword approached the cleric and held out his hand.

Herk bowed and showed his holy symbol of the Goddess. The paladin with the spear raised his weapon and pointed it at Herk. The voice muffled behind the heavy helm and armor, but it echos through the slits. "State your business. The temple recently had an altercation with a thief, and we have no time to waste on someone visiting."

Herk raised his hands and apologized for the intrusion. "Forgive me, but my companion has been cursed by powerful witchcraft. If I may speak to the head priest to commission a holy baptism, we will leave as soon as we came."

The sharp tip of the spear poked at his chest. The other paladin raised his visor, revealing a veteran warrior of light, and his long mustache that slips past his lips. Scars adorn his face, and his left eye is completely blind from a large gash across his face. He grabs his fellow soldier's spear and knocks on the big door four times.

Turning his attention to Herk once more, he speaks. "If that is your business, I will let the high priest hear your plea."

Clasping his hands, Herk thanks the man without shame. Meanwhile, Yann lifts the young boy in his arms. Caleb protests the treatment but soon leans back in his arms. His vision grows blurry, and his body shivers.

Lukia walks alongside the giant warrior and presses her hand to his cheek, feeling it burning hot as the curse slowly crawls further along his skin. The swamp green color sickening Caleb's skin had consumed most of his body.

Ivian stayed at the back of the group, unsure how to help. Gale led Yann and the others up the stairs, where the high priest greeted Herk. A man with short grey hair and a long black robe. His holy symbol is adorned with high amounts of jewels and pieces, showing the highly decorated priest's achievements.

"A baptism? That won't be an issue. Do you have the coin to offer such services?"

Herk takes out his personal coin purse; the coins rattle in the bag. "We have been given a great sum of funds for our journey; we have more than enough to spare to save our friend."

The man nods and turns to see the approaching troop. "Is this your companion? A boy?" Concerned for his health, the priest quickly examines the curse marks along Caleb's neck and chest.

The paladins approach the priest. "Father Kharl, what if they are working with that thief who infiltrated the temple just a few days ago?"

Kharl stops the two paladins in place and looks at Herk. "Are you a true cleric of the Goddess?"

"Yes, Father, I am nothing but a humble follower of her words." Kharl approaches Herk and takes his holy symbol to examine its authenticity. A low hum escapes his lips.

With a soft sigh, Kharl turns to his guards. "Let them in and prepare a baptism. This one holds no secrets in the eyes of the Goddess." Without question, the paladins salute and open the doors for the party. Joining Father Kharl further in the temple, he asks questions about what happened. Lukia is the first to speak and explain the Stalker that attacked her and Caleb.

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"A wicked creature indeed. Witchcraft is powerful, but I shall aid this child. Please, set him near the pool and await while I bless it." Kharl, with the help of the paladins, takes off his robe, revealing a tight black vest with holy sigils engraved in the clothing. Herk spots the tattoos on his arms.

"Those are paladin oaths; you were a holy knight?"

"A long time ago, I aided in the war against the last Demon King. I have fought both body and spirit to gain the Goddess' favor. Her power flows through me every day. However, bloodshed is still bloodshed, and I carry these sigils as a reminder of my contribution to her. Enough pointless banter, I need to focus my prayers.

Ancient words escape Kharl's lips. Caleb looks over to the priest and watches the water that surrounds him begin to glow brightly in holy light. His body was the epicenter of the magic; his words became a long lullaby of salvation. Lukia and Gale watch as the priest, with the aid of the paladins, set up the baptism. After a few more moments, Kharl extends his hands toward Caleb.

"Remove his cloak and weapons, then give him to me."

Gale hesitates at the request. Lukia looks to Herk, who she trusts the most at this moment. Feeling the tense pressure of the possible outcome, leaves him with no choice but to comply. He reaches and undoes the straps of Caleb's cloak and the weapons, leaving them to the side; the boy's hair is unveiled to be seen. Both paladins look but do not say a word; their judgmental eyes pierce through the helms like daggers toward Caleb. Kharl sees the Nix features on the boy and has a slight grin across his face.

"I understand the secrecy of your actions. However, you are in the presence of the Goddess, Brother; trust me that I won't harm the boy. Please, give him to me before the magic fades." Water drips along his arms as he reaches once more toward Caleb.

With a single motion, Caleb is passed to Kharl. He gently lays his body into the water. The instant his body was submerged in the water, black smoke erupted from his body. Caleb's entire body burned bright and hot, and his screams echoed down the chamber.

"Goddess! I beg of you! Give your grace upon this child, as he is still a child of your love! Free him of his plight and wrap him in your arms! Let his soul be free of the darkness that holds him!" Kharl chants a few more prayers as he lowers him further. All but his head is submerged, and the black smoke inks the water around Kharl. The swamp green marks on his body begin to vanish.

Everyone watches in awe and shock at the visual in front of them. Caleb squirms in pain with each passing second. Herk begins his own prayers in hopes of helping with the baptism. Kharl begins the final phase of curing Caleb as he presses his hand on his chest and slowly lowers Caleb's head past the water.

Bubbles float to the surface, and Kharl holds him down through the struggle and pain. Under the water, Caleb is deaf and unable to see anything other than his own body. A long tunnel of light begins to draw further away from him as he sinks further into darkness.

His breath is cut short as water enters his lungs. Slowly suffocating in the water, he grabs the priest's arms, trying to claw his way back to the surface, but soon, his strength fades, his vision darkens, and his heartbeat slows.

He is drowning.

Gale and Lukia try to stop Kharl, but the paladins raise their weapons to stop their advance.

"You're killing him!" Lukia shouts.

"This must be done in order to rid his curse completely; unless you want him to continue to suffer, don't interfere." Kharl continues to hold Caleb under the water until the bubbles begin to stop slowly. The thrashing stops, and soon, Caleb's entire body stops moving.

Yann doesn't move, and so does Ivian, who decides to let it play out. Herk continues his prayers while the paladins hold back Gale and Lukia. Kharl speaks one final prayer for Caleb as his body grows limp. It is for a moment that nothing happens, Gale and Lukia watch in horror at the possibility that Caleb might die, and Herk's silent prayers fill the temple.

Suddenly, Kharl drags Caleb and holds him above his head. The water from his body splashes around Kharl. Everyone stares at his lifeless body.

"Caleb!"

Upon hearing her words, Caleb snaps to his senses and coughs violently. Vomiting water and holding his chest in pain, the water soon leaves his lungs. Kharl slowly carries him to the pool's edge and lays him on the edge. The paladins let Gale and Lukia go, allowing everyone to gather around Caleb.

"The curse was deeply engrained into him. I had no choice but to drown it out of him. Thankfully, he clings to life strongly. I apologize for scaring you, but I meant no harm to him."

True to his word, any trace of the curse had been removed. Caleb took deep breaths before turning to look at Kharl. "Thank you..."

Kharl nodded peacefully as the paladins helped him out of the dark pool. "Inform the others the pool is tainted; no one is allowed to be near it until I can purify it."

The old paladin salutes and follows through the order. Kharl looks at Caleb for a moment, and an odd look crosses his face briefly before his natural resting face returns. The chamber is filled with the joy of Caleb's companions.

Caleb looks up at the statue of the Goddess and closes his eyes to say a small prayer himself to the Goddess. The only words he could manage were..."Thank you..."