Lorelei’s heart grew cold. Her eyes desperately measured up the thick stone slabs and the blackened beams cluttered before the entrance to the temple’s underground.

“We’d need ‘t least four lads to shovel this,” cursed Butcher Bill - the leader of the volunteer cleaning troop, with whom Lorelei had become acquainted.

“Any signs of a cave-in on the floor?” shouted Master Croft, the mason, from afar.

“Nay!” bellowed Butcher Bill in reply. “But there ain’t no door left. The whole scree’s spillin’ down in the cellar.”

“Can you still dig a way down?” Lorelei tried to hide the trembling in her hands by clasping them together.

“Can and will, ‘m lady. We’ll find the Duke in no time. Don’t be worried.” Seeing his Duchess’ distraught expression, the man added. “Our Duke’s a tough nut. He ain’t gonna meet the Fathers ‘cause of some pebbles. He’s fine.”

“Thank you, Master Bill.” Lorelei grabbed the man’s rough hand and shook it, making him blush. “Please, work carefully and call me immediately when you make any progress.”

Letting go of the man, Lorelei slowly walked away, intending not to meddle or distract the diggers in their work. And yet, her heart remained with them, the weight of fear almost crushing it. Whoever had said that ignorance was bliss had likely never faced the horrors of the unknown.

“My Duchess!” Father Ignatus waddled towards her. “Let me accompany you to the women’s dormitorium. You need to give your body and your worries some rest.”

“I hardly could, Father.” She shook her head with determination. “I need something to keep me busy.”

The plump priest gave her a knowing look and hurriedly escorted her to the place where the rest of the surviving clergy and novices had gathered, awaiting instructions.

After exchanging some words with them, Lorelei was promptly presented with a small bag of ointments and bandages and given the say over the rescue efforts. She quickly divided the priests and novices into groups and sent them with the workers from the city to scout the rubble for survivors or to tend to the injured.

Looking after the dispersing parties, Lorelei let out a small, jagged sigh. Her mind went blank for a few seconds while her gaze glanced over the horrific scenes around her.

It was so hard - having to fight the call of her heart in favor of her duty and vocation, but she knew painfully well that she couldn’t help Noah right now. And if her prayers were heard, he wouldn’t need her skills at all. For now, she needed to stop thinking about the tens of horrible accidents that could have befallen him - crushed spine, split skull, punctured lungs, shattered bones, severed limbs, torn veins... Or worse, he could be slowly suffocating, blocked in under the vaults of the crypt.

‘Stop! Stop it! All of this is nonsense!’ she chastised herself and wrapped her arms around her body. ‘This isn’t a cave or a tiny mine shaft. There is likely another way out. And the floor hasn’t been breached. He should be fine. He has to be fine!’

Breathing heavily, she swallowed her anguish and tried thinking about her patients, categorizing the injured and choosing the ones with higher priority that needed immediate attention. The cold logic of this routine task calmed her somewhat, allowing her mind to shake off the trance-like haze that had shackled it.

Lorelei gave her cheeks a strong slap, stirring her spirit and body awake and preparing to take action. But at that very moment, a nagging feeling crawled in the back of her head. She had forgotten something.

Then came the realization.

“Merhek! Oh, damn it! Pricilla!” she moaned and, gathering up her skirts, darted through the ruined hall.

Father Ignatus and the other priests looked confused after her, but before their call could reach her, she was already far away.

Fighting her way through the debris and the panicked people, Lorelei made her way toward the small side chapel. Her gaze wandered around as she prayed to the Gods for the shrine walls to be undamaged. The area where her sister and Lucas were supposed to be was on the opposite side of the entrance to the crypts.

Guilt twisted Lorelei’s heart. She hated Pricilla, but not to spare even a thought on her up to now was wrong, no matter how one looked at it. She would never forgive herself if something had happened to Lucas and her sister.

Along the way, Lorelei called out to Rasha who was helping clear the rubble and she followed her. When the two arrived at the chapel entrance, they saw a large beam blocking the door, but, luckily, there was no other damage.

While Rasha went to find someone to help them move the blockade, Lorelei squeezed herself through the rubble and banged on the door as loudly as she could.

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“Lucas! Pricilla! Do you hear me?”

To her utter horror, only silence followed.

Lorelei’s heart sank. She pressed her forehead against the splintering wood and her fist hammered again and again until it felt numb.

“Lucas! Are you alright? Pricilla! Please, answer me!”

Just as she was about to despair, her ears caught a small tap from the other side.

Waves of relief washed over Lorelei. They were alright!

Impatient to wait for help to arrive, Lorelei pressed her back against the wooden beam barring the door and pushed with all her might. It felt like fighting with an unbudging rock. Droplets of sweat appeared on her forehead and smeared the dust and grime on her face, but she didn’t give up.

After a few excruciating moments, she suddenly felt the pressure of the beam disappearing from her back. With the unexpected relief came Rasha’s voice:

“Better leave the heavy lifting to us, my lady. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

Looking around, Lorelei saw two more people next to the young warrior, all with their backs pressed against the beam and feet propped on the chapel door. With a lot of grunting and teeth-gritting, the timber quaked under their combined strength and slowly began to move. After what seemed like ages, the pillar finally hit the ground with a loud bang and the entrance to the chapel was now free.

Lorelei didn’t waste even a second. She pulled the bent and deformed door, fighting and cursing as it scraped and wedged itself against the rough floor. Just then, someone pushed from the inside.

Tumbling backward, Lorelei crashed into Rasha who steadied her.

From the gap between the door and the cracking wall, the blond head of Sir Lucas peeked out. His blue eyes widened and he looked at his surroundings in disbelief, assessing the situation. His expression turned grimmer by the second as the full horror of the situation unfolded before him.

“Damn! What happened here?” He then saw Lorelei and hurriedly stumbled out, relief and worry fighting for dominance on his face. “Your Highness! What are you doing here? It’s dangerous!”

“Good luck in telling her that!” grumbled Rasha but was quickly interrupted by Lorelei.

“Lucas, are you unharmed? Where is Pricilla?”

“Nothing wrong on my end. Although Your Highness’ sister got quite the fright.”

The young knight turned around and scuttled back into the chapel. Not long after, he brought out the shaking Pricilla, who looked like she was about to faint. And faint she did the moment her eyes landed on the surrounding devastation. Lucas caught her before she could hurt herself, and Lorelei hurriedly checked her sister’s condition.

“She just suffered a major shock, but she’ll be fine,” concluded Lorelei and sighed with relief. “Ask one of the priests and bring her to the women’s dormitorium. When you finish, come back here. I need all the hands I can get.”

“Then you should come with us, my lady. The Duke would hardly like you to linger in such a dangerous place.” The young knight frowned but his mistress cut any further protests.

“The Duke isn’t the one having a say on the matter right now. Go, don’t delay further.”

As she was about to run away and look for other survivors, Lorelei stopped in her tracks and turned back to Lucas with some confusion.

“Just noticed. Where is Pricilla’s servant girl?”

“She wasn’t with us.” The young knight bit his lips and glanced at all the surrounding destruction. “Your sister claimed she’s out on an errand…”

“Then let’s hope she was far away when-”

Her words were drowned by a metallic screech and loud rumble.

Lifting her head, Lorelei saw the tusk-like remnants of the tower that previously balanced on the edge of the broken dome. The huge chunk of stone and wood was slowly tilting and raining pebbles and mortar. Petrified, Lorelei could only watch as it slid down and fell atop the giant pile of debris, piercing it like a gigantic spear.

The unstable rubble shook and small fragments flew everywhere before it froze - tilted and moaning like a chunk of snow that was a breath away from becoming an avalanche. Lorelei could see with horror the trajectory it was going to take - right to where the helpless Master Croft and a large number of survivors had gathered.

There was no time to think.

Without a word, Lorelei sprinted through the desolated nave and prayed to be on time.

The rubble was faster.

She was just a few paces away when the pile’s frail equilibrium broke. The rumbling landslide drowned the shouts of the people and Lorelei’s own cries.

She had gambled and failed. Her path was taking her straight in the range of the thundering avalanche. All decisiveness and bravery left her. She closed her eyes, resigned and unable to alter the momentum of her run. Then came the impact.

Lorelei’s body slammed painfully on the ground, pinned down by something heavy. The air left her lungs and she knew that, any moment now, the sharp rubble would slice her skin and crush her bones.

It didn’t.

Lorelei felt the warm raindrops of the raging storm falling on her face. The whisper of a quiet voice caressed her ears.

“You are acquiring the bad habit of getting yourself in the thicket of trouble.”

Opening her eyes abruptly, Lorelei saw Noah’s face inches from her own. His features were strained, his lips twisted in a mocking half-smile, but there was tenderness and relief in his gaze. He lowered his forehead and pressed it against hers.

“You should be more careful.” His voice died down to a whisper. “Next time, I might not make it in time.”

“S-sory,” stuttered Lorelei. “I won’t do something like that again.”

“You are such a bad liar.” Noah chuckled and moved slightly backward.

And then Lorelei finally saw them. The fine red droplets trickled down his brow and rained on her face - so warm, so many, and so precious.