Closing her eyes, Lorelei took a long breath. The holy powers trapped in her body swirled around her heart - vigorous, warm, and deadly. There wasn’t even a morsel of the kin-vapir’s curse to be found, all the miasma being purified in a blink. Only warmth remained, just like when Yanosh had quelled the clashing forces of the dhrowghost and Shana’s powers. No, if she actually listened to her body carefully, it had become even more vigorous and resilient since the last time she was inflicted by magic. As if every time she came in contact with those unnatural powers, her being had been reforged and polished, elevated to new heights.

Indeed, the previously weak sparkles she had noticed when the Binshi were casting their magic, the blurry outlines of ghosts and the dreadful miasma of curses were now much clearer. And after the accident with the Star of Norden, her encounter with Orhana’s spirit on the Dream Plane, and facing Noah’s monstrous appearance in Nerodris’ inner world, she had somehow slowly started to get used to all those out-of-body experiences and travels that a normal human couldn’t even dream of.

‘So that’s a divine vessel for a saint to inhabit,’ she thought with some dismay.

No doubt about it, she was the perfect husk for a being of power to inhabit. Even now, after harboring the powers of the Heavens for such a short while, she was beginning to be able to sense the world in a different way. If she concentrated really hard, she could almost discern something like a thin silvery-gold shimmer surrounding every living thing - from the soil to the trees, flowers, and even her companions. The minuscule dust flew in the air, entering and exiting all their bodies with every breath without bringing them harm or leaving a trace behind. Wrong. The sparkling snowflakes were rushing towards Rasha’s body at a faster pace, and she was exhaling fewer back out.

‘Like Gregor that one time…’

Lorelei’s eyes squinted, seeing a thin veil of darkness pulsating around the young shaman.

“Rish, was your soul harmed? There is something… nasty clinging to you. Did it come from that thing?”

“Yeah, it happens when lifting a cur… se…” Her friend stuttered mid-sentence and her eyes became even rounder. “You can see this!? How? Why? Mir-Mama, Lorelei, I hope that explanation of yours is a darn good one!”

Next to her, Castor frowned, remnants of bloody tears still marring his youthful face.

“So it wasn’t a coincidence. You did see the kin-vapir’s curse flying towards us and willingly stood in its way?!”

“Yes.”

“Huh? What? Seriously? Are you looking for death!?” Rish was equally appalled and furious.

“It was the best choice, considering the situation… I think.” Lorelei fidgeted a bit, not sure how to proceed for a few moments before completely giving up. “My chances of remaining unharmed after coming in contact with that black thing were much better than Castor’s, with all the holy powers packed in me-”

“W-wait a moment!” Castor suddenly swirled on his heels and grabbed her shoulders, the golden sheen in his eyes flaring up again. “I thought they were just remnants from the channeling…. D-duchess, do you… do you still have all of the holy powers from that barrier?”

“I do.”

With a yelp, Castor released her and jumped backward like she had burned him. His bloodshot gaze, however, didn’t leave her.

“I-impossible!” The youth shook his head and the words shot out of his mouth in a half-coherent avalanche. “The might of the Heavens…. It is too much for a mortal’s body to handle. There is no way…. Even trained priests and acolytes of the saints can only channel the powers into an inanimate object to create artifacts… or let it flow freely as a purifying blessing!”

Licking his lips, he stared at Lorelei unblinkingly.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Duchess, be honest. You… you are not human, right?”

“What crap are you spouting!?” Rish growled at him and grabbed her hand. “Tell him, Lorelei!”

“For now, I am still human. I-”

“For now?” The young Binshi tightened her grip. “You know, this isn’t the time for pranks! Were you cursed? Did someone put a hex on you? Did-”

“Give her a chance to speak, child.” Neli’s weakened voice silenced everyone in an instant. A huffing disheveled heap of mud and tattered clothes, she struggled her way into a sitting position and grimaced as her shoulder began bleeding again. She pressed her wound and smiled at Lorelei. “You were saying, little bird?”

“You aren’t fit enough to strain yourself like that!” replied Lorelei matter-of-factly, earning herself an even wider grin.

“Don’t dodge the question.”

“I’m not.” Lorelei exhaled and looked sadly at her friend. “I am not under a curse or a hex, Rish. My body is built special. It can easily absorb and, as it seems, contain powers.”

“Goodness!” gasped Castor, oblivious to Neli’s burning glare. “Could it be? So you really are a saint!”

“I’m not a saint yet.” Lorelei chewed on her lip and continued. “I’m not a saint but a vessel, should some higher being decide to descend. But it seems that after coming in contact with both hexes and holy powers, I can do… more than a regular human.”

Silence spread over the garden. The loud drums of her heart rang in Lorelei's ears. She could feel Rish’s fingers twitching around her wrist and knew that in a moment it would all be…

“But… you are still you, right?” Her friend’s question came as a surprise. The young shaman tilted her head and studied her carefully. “The one inside, your soul, is still yours? Has to be. It doesn’t feel different.”

“I am still me. For now…”

With a sudden pull, Rish dragged her in a bear hug.

“Thank the Mother, you made me worry for nothing!”

“No, wait!” Lorelei struggled weakly and felt the untimely burning of tears. “Didn’t you hear me? I can turn into something that is magic’s, yours, natural enemy! I can harm you and Rasha, and everyone!”

“Or not.” The Binshi pulled away and grinned. “I’ll personally kick the ass of any ghost, apparition or saint that tries to steal your body, so don’t worry.”

“But-”

“Don’t you have anything better to do than eat yourself up for something that might never happen?”

“Well said,” wheezed Neli. “And as we are on the topic, we do have more important things to do right now. We caught a nice breather, but we still have a vapir to hunt. Oi, little Firmon, close that gaping mouth and give me a hand, if you please.”

The Marzbanati’s words quickly sobered them up. Castor and Lorelei scrambled to help the old woman up.

“I still think it would be best for you to stay here and rest.” The physician in Lorelei couldn’t be silenced even by the slew of emotions. “Any further strain might damage your shoulder permanently or even endanger your life.”

“I’ve lived through worse.” Neli just waved her hand. “I once carried a certain brooding little prince through half the capital with three arrows sticking from my back. A little demonic stab is nothing.”

By the mention of Noah Lorelei’s chest tightened. She didn’t want to remember him. Think of him. She wanted nothing more than never to see him again. And yet his image appeared again and again before her eyes - disheveled black hair and sword in hand, fighting a wall of dark tendrils and an eerie white monster in the form of a child. What about now? Was he also facing a horde of kin-vapirs or was he oblivious to their current plight?

“So now what?” asked Castor in a breaking voice and Lorelei noticed that the youth was doing his best to keep some distance and not look her in the eyes. “Should we contact the guardian priests?”

“Judging by this,” Neli waved her hand at the destroyed garden, “they don't seem to be of much use. We better first regroup with the Duke and see it from there.”

Lorelei opened her mouth to ask how they were going to find Noah in the labyrinth of corridors and buildings of the temple complex, when a tremor shook the air. Rish grabbed on to her and prevented her from toppling down, as did Castor and Neli. Lorelei’s ears popped and the sweet scent of decaying flesh permeated the air.

“Merhek!” cursed Neli and pointed somewhere behind Lorelei’s shoulder. “Now that even I can see. Who wants to bet that we are going to find Noah and the old badger right about there?”

Turning around, Lorelei spotted a solid column of black smoke rising in the air over the south wing of the cloister.

She bet Neli was right.