The roof of the chapel was clearly visible above the treetops - so near, yet so impossibly far away.

While running alongside the muddy path, Lorelei dared to throw a glance over her shoulder. In the twilight of the storm, Neli’s whip-like sword looked like a coiling lightning flash. It flickered and snaked its way between the attacking creatures. With every twist and precisely calculated strike, deep gashes opened on the fiends’ skin, forcing them to jerk back and hiss in pain and fury. Tar-like blood oozed out of the wounds, releasing streams of dark smoke that shrouded them like an ominous cloak. And amidst the dark smoke, Neli was dancing - her body and the sword united as one in a beautiful and lethal dance on the border between life and death.

But despite her prowess, the Marzbanati was slowly being pushed back. The monster priests didn't seem to care about wounds or missing chunks of flesh. Their claws tore at the old woman's gowns, leaving them in tatters. Her feet slipped in the mud and, a couple of times, she escaped the creatures’ attacks by a hair’s breadth.

Lorelei forced herself to look away and willed her legs to run faster. No matter what misgivings she had about Neli, seeing her torn to pieces by some demons was not something she wished for.

‘You simply rely on a gut feeling. Will your idea even work?’ hissed the voice of doubt in her heart. She had no idea. But it was better than doing nothing and just standing there, awaiting the inevitable.

‘Why struggle? Why suffer for her? For any of them? Just give up. It will only hurt more if you postpone the end. Haven’t you been hurt enough? Just run away. Far away from here and from all of them!’ The whisper of despondency tried to halt her pace.

Yes. Her heart hurt. Her soul was like a bird without wings. But giving up on herself was one thing. Condemning others without even trying to do something, was something completely different. Wallowing in misery and desperation could wait until she had exhausted all options.

For now, she had to run!

Reaching the steps of the chapel, Lorelei and Castor stormed in in a whirlwind of raindrops and mud splatters.

“H-help! Father Ignatus!” Lorelei panted, trying to push the words out of her tightened throat. “We need your…”

Her voice trailed into silence as she took in the inside of the chapel. Excluding the shining prison barrier and the vague silhouette of Rasha behind it, the chapel was completely empty. There was no trace of the guardian priests, not even a novice was to be seen.

“Where is everybody!?” Castor spoke her thoughts aloud, barely able to catch a breath. “You… don’t think those things outside got to them?”

No! Dear Fathers! Why was this happening? Lorelei wanted to cry. The only hope they had to push back those things; the only chance there was to save Neli, ley in Rasha's hands. The curse or hex, or whatever it was that had turned both priests and novices into bloodthirsty monsters, obviously was impervious to holy powers, so they could only hope a Binshi could purify them. But now…

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Lorelei chewed on her lips, frantically looking around.

“As an acolyte to Saint Oronte, can’t you find another way to dispel the barrier?” Her question made the youth flinch.

“I…” Castor swallowed hard and stepped closer to the dome of light. “I need to have a better look.”

“Hurry. Neli doesn’t have much time.”

Castor dipped his head and his eyes peered into the light. Next to him, Lorelei nervously paced back and forth, her heart running wild. Every second they delayed, Neli’s chances of survival grew slimmer. Besides… what about the others? How many of these creatures were there? Were Sir Duncan and the rest of the knights safe? And what about the Father Infirmarian who was running around, fulfilling her orders?

‘And what about… him?’ her weak, bleeding heart whispered, ignoring the attempts of her mind to erase any thought of that man’s existence. He didn’t deserve her worry. He… he was the Beast of Norden - he was going to be fine.

He had to be fine!

Castor’s whimper called for her attention. The youth stood swaying before the barrier, his shoulders slightly hunched, and his palms covering his face. Lorelei gasped, seeing the bloody tears smeared on his cheeks. His eyes glowed dimly with a light similar to the one coming from the barrier.

“I’m sorry, my lady,” he cried out hoarsely. “I couldn’t find a way. The holy energy just flows endlessly between the poles like… like a river. There is no incantation or weakness to break the flow from the outside. I really tried. Sorry!”

“You did your best.” Lorelei hugged him and gently guided him to a prayer cushion on the floor.

“What now?" Castor pressed his forehead against his knees and trembled. "Maybe if we look for a priest...”

‘And what are the chances we won’t become monster food before that?’ Lorelei thought but remained silent.

It seemed like Castor had come to the same conclusion. He squared his shoulders and rubbed the bloody tears from his eyes.

“No, it's a stupid idea. We don't have time to search blindly. The only way to break the barrier would be to channel the energy into a different path than the current one. I’ll do it.”

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

The youth lowered his head without responding. Lorelei’s eyes rounded.

“No!”

“But it's the only way to let Lady Rasha out.”

“You will die.” Lorelei stood up and towered over him. Father Ignatus’ words flashed in her mind:

‘We priests learn through practice and meditation to thin out our heart-chains to simulate a near-death state and channel the energy from the higher realms.’

She couldn’t demand Castor to sacrifice his life. And what if it didn’t work for him? He was no priest. He had neither the training nor the ability to channel the divine power correctly. What if he gave his life for nothing and the barrier didn’t break? No. There was a better way.

Turning her back on the stupefied youth, Lorelei tried to calm down her shaking knees. Fear burned in the pit of her stomach and froze her limbs. But she knew there was truly no other way. After all, her body was designed to be a divine vessel in the first place. She had the highest chance to accept the holy powers and break the barrier. What was going to happen to her after that…

Lorelei shook her head and with one big stride closed the distance to one of the glowing golden poles.

Castor screamed the very moment her fingers touched the cool metal surface and then the world exploded in golden sparks.