In hindsight, it was probably extremely stupid to run towards a screaming person.

Mud splatters flew in all directions as Lorelei sprinted through the garden. She had no idea what kind of dangers Castor was facing right now. Her non-existent combat skills were probably not going to be of much help, whoever the enemy was. But it didn’t matter.

Reason had long ago left Lorelei’s mind. All that remained was an urge bordering on madness, born from instinct and years of training. 'You are a physician - a guardian of life. We physicians are nobler than the noblest knights, for we face and drive away Death itself. To run away when someone is in need is a grave sin and by doing so you are no different than a murderer', always said Master Levi.

These words had filled her world as a child and given purpose to her bleak existence. As a physician, she las obliged to save life and this duty had been ingrained into the very core of her being through days and years of tireless work and dedication. Even when she was dead tired, sad, desperate, afraid, disgusted, angry, or in pain, her noble vocation saved her from losing herself in the darkness. And now, as all these feelings churned into her chest and were one stray thought away from robbing her of her humanitt, the sense of urgency and danger made her act upon her teachings.

So she ran, as fast as she could, as far away as possible from the thoughts of him.

No matter what awaited her, it was nothing compared to the dark emotions that threatened to devour her.

She was proven wrong very quickly.

When her head peeked from between the dripping, low-hanging branches, her eyes immediately spotted Castor’s trembling figure crawling backward on the gravel path. A woman, dressed in the drenched black and white habit of a priestess slowly walked toward him. Even from a distance, one could see that there was something strange in the priestess’ dragging gait.

“Hei!” Lorelei shouted and prepared to step forth. At that moment, the other woman abruptly turned around.

“D-dear Fathers!” The words fell from Lorelei’s lips as the breath remained stuck in her chest.

What was supposed to stand before her was a person. And yet, the paler than snow skin and the dark veins crawling beneath it did not belong to a living being. The creature reminded her a bit of the dhrowghost, except it wasn’t as haggard. Its eyes were also not completely black but possessed glowing blood-red pupils. And more than anything else, the figure here seemed corporeal and not an apparition, judging by the water dripping from its hair and clothes.

Before Lorelei could comprehend what she was seeing and what was such a creature doing on hallowed grounds, the thing hissed like an angry cat and suddenly pranced at her. In three big jumps, it closed the distance and was almost upon the petrified Lorelei. She could see the fiend's unnaturally long, needle-like claws. It licked its lips with a purple tongue, leaving saliva and bloodstains behind.

A strong hand grabbed Lorelei by the collar and pulled her back. At the same time, a well-aimed kick sent the creature flying until it crashed into a nearby tree.

“Merhek! You keep your dirty claws away, you brazga!” Neli’s furious scream sounded like music in Lorelei’s ears. The old Marzbanati threw a brief glance over her shoulder before returning all her attention to the enemy. “It didn’t get you, right?”

“I-it didn’t,” stuttered Lorelei and dared to take a breath.

“Oi, little Castor! Were you bitten?”

“N-no.” Castor’s thin voice was even shakier than Lorelei’s.

“Swear upon your Gods!”

“I s-swear! In the names of the Fathers, it didn’t reach me.”

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Neli’s strained features relaxed a bit, but her gaze remained vigilant. From some unknown hidden pocket in her robes, she pulled out a dagger and gave it to Lorelei.

“Watch my back. And don’t hesitate to stab the Firmon kid if he starts acting oddly.”

“What?”

“W-what!?”

Lorelei and Castor glared at the Marzbanati and their faces paled even more. Neli clicked her tongue and fiddled with the ornate silver belt of her garments. With an almost inaudible clank the buckle sprang open. The old woman pulled sharply and with a snap, the belt unwinded and tore through the air.

“We are backing slowly,” Neli studied the twitching of the fiend’s body, “before that damn bloodsucker gathers its wits. The chapel where they hold Rasha is nearby. We should be safe there.”

“W-what is this thing!?” Lorelei’s teeth clattered, but it wasn’t only from the cold. Her wet fingers gripped the slippery handle of the dagger before motioning with it towards the old woman. “You are in more need of a weapon. You should take it back. I don’t know how to use a blade.”

“You point and stab.” Neli bent her knees slightly, lowering her stance. “Besides, I have something better than this toothpick. Now get ready, you two. Stay behind me and start running towards the chapel when I tell you. Here it comes!”

The priestess-like monster had finally scrambled to its feet. Gnashing its teeth with a sound similar to metal scraping against bone, it darted toward them with inhuman speed. But Neli was even faster.

The metal belt in her hand jumped to life like a silver snake and drew an arch through the rain curtain. A fountain of reddish-black blood gushed from the fiend’s chest, the force of the sudden impact making it spin around. But the old Marzbanati wasn't finished. She twisted her wrist and the deadly ribbon of the belt flashed again, cutting the creature's head off.

It all happened in less than a minute. Lorelei blinked and rubbed her eyes, still trying to understand how a belt could cut down a person. Next to her, Castor had scrambled up to his trembling feet and was gawking at the Marzbanati with incredulous reverence.

“This should keep it down.” Neli exhaled and spat on the ground. “May the evil djinn feast on you, you venomous ghoul!”

“Y-you really killed a v-vapir in a single swing!?” whispered Castor, unable to hide his admiration.

“Two swings. I’m a bit rusty,” huffed Neli with a wry smile and ushered toe two away from the corpse. “Besides, this thing is too weak, so it must be a kin-vapir and not the real thing.”

“Kin-vapir?” Lorelei furrowed her brows, recalling the texts on Binshi folklore and magic she had read in Ildemar. “So there is a much stronger cursed-one creating those things? And a shaman that has placed the curse?”

“I believe so. And I’m betting my head it’s connected to that girl Bessie you spoke of.”

“But… these are hallowed grounds!” whimpered Castor and his whole body shook. “The powers of the Two Fathers should purify evil spirits and malicious magic. A-and yet… a priestess was turned into… into…”

The youth bit his lips. They all thought the same thing - how powerful of a shaman should the creator of the curse be to be able to overcome the Church’s protection in the very House of the Gods?

The sudden sound of breaking branches snapped them from their contemplation. Below the trees, Lorelei spotted several novices and another priest slowly making their way toward them. And to her horror, all their eyes glowed blood red.

“Merhek!” she cursed.

“Say that again.” Even with her dark complexion, Neli looked pale. “Now you run like the djinn are chasing you. I’ll make sure they’ll have a hard time following you.”

“No!” Lorelei grabbed her arm. “I can’t-”

“Enough drama! If you want me to live, do as I say. I can't protect you and chop heads freely. Go!”

There were a thousand more things Lorelei wanted to say and do. But it was all meaningless. If only she could do something to help. But she was not a warrior, nor a priestess, nor a shaman…

A flash of realization shook her.

“I’ll be back! Don’t die!” Lorelei gathered her skirts in one hand and grabbed Castor's wrist with the other. “Come with me. I need your help!”

Without further hesitation and without turning back, Lorelei sprinted towards the chapel where Rasha slept.