With bated breath, Lorelei’s gaze followed Duncan and Neli as they carefully approached Noah. The pair was moving forward slowly, making no unnecessary motions as if they were closing in on a wild animal. When the distance between them shrank to two steps, all abruptly stopped, alerted by some unseen, unheard signal, and exchanging tense glances.
From her safe hiding place behind the column, Lorelei could see the red in Noah’s eyes. His arms hung loosely along his body, his hands - trembling slightly, almost like he couldn’t decide whether to ball them into fists. From time to time, a small twitch ran over his face, creating the eerie feeling that under the surface two entities were fighting for control.
None of this escaped Neli and Duncan’s sharp eyes and their weariness grew. The old knight put his right hand behind his back and his fingers twisted in a chain of signs, the meaning of which Lorelei didn’t know. The message, however, seemed apparent to Lucas and Rish.
“Castor, come next to me. Hurry!” whispered the young knight with the corner of his mouth.
The two men positioned themselves even closer to Lorelei, their backs creating a wall and obscuring most of the view. In turn, Rish slowly squatted on the ground and picked up a glass shard. She then turned to Lorelei and gave her a sign to keep silent as she quickly poked her finger.
Lorelei had to bite her lips when she sensed the glass biting into her skin, but she wasn’t given the chance to ask any questions. Rish drained five drops of blood in her palm and then mixed them with the blood from her own wounded thumb. Without hesitation, she took a piece of debris and drew a red symbol on its surface while whispering an incantation. After learning Binshi-ka for some time, Lorelei could somewhat understand the words of the hex:
“Blood of our blood, beeth a shield. Keeping evil at bay, thou shalt not yield.”
“Rish, what are you doing!?” she muttered under her breath, seeing her friend grabbing for another large stone and repeating the process.
“Taking precautions,” replied the Binshi without looking up as she quickly arranged five blood-covered shards in a circle around Lorelei’s feet. “Promise me that whatever happens, you won’t leave the boundaries of the barrier.”
“What did you do?” Lorelei stretched out a hand but was met by an invisible resistance. “Why did you…?”
Her words were cut short by Neli, who took one more step towards the looming figure of Noah.
“You did great, shekri.” The old Marzbanati’s voice was soft and soothing. “Let go of the power.”
“Indeed. You sure squished that soul-sucker for good, my boy,” chimed Duncan, his eyes following Noah’s every move without blinking. “But it’s time to go home. Release Nerodris, my boy.”
Noah flinched but didn’t respond.
“You’ve burdened your body enough, my child.” Neli braved one more step. Her fingers gently caressed Noah’s cheek. “We are all safe thanks to you. You did enough, shekri. Let it all go. Rest.”
Very slowly, Noah’s left hand inched up until it covered Neli’s palm. The muscles of his jaw tightened. Everyone held their breath.
“Your fingers are cold, mother.” Noah’s voice resounded under the vaults - tired and gravely, but otherwise unmistakably human.
Lorelei released a jagged breath and her gaze blurred. She secretly wiped her cheeks, the weight in her chest beginning to dissolve. Compared to her, Neli felt no need to hide her tears.
“Shekri! You’re fine?! You really are fine!”
“You doubted me?” a wry smile crept on his lips.
“Sure did. And still do.” Duncan’s tone remained cold and serious as he carefully approached. “Especially with that thing still on you.”
“It’s sad you thought that just a shred of power could gain control over me, old man.” Noah’s smile grew brighter. Before their very eyes, the glass-like armor that covered his body began to fade until there was no trace of it. The red in his eyes also drained away. “Are you convinced now?”
“And the aftereffects?” The frown didn’t leave the old knight’s face.
“I’m dead tired, my body hurts like it has been trampled, and I’m starving.” Noah clapped Duncan’s shoulder and chuckled. “But I dare say it was worth it.”
“It was insane, that’s what it was!”
Noah just waved his hand. Giving a peck on Neli’s cheek, he then turned to Lucas, Castor, and Rish, who were still encircling Lorelei and hadn’t moved a muscle.
“You did an excellent job protecting my wife.” With a slow but steady gate, he strode toward them. “Now step aside.”
“My lord…” Lucas hesitated and threw a questioning look at Duncan.
“Your actions are commendable, but you can relax now.” Noah smiled brightly and opened his arms in a placating gesture. “We have all been through a lot and I won’t say no to some much-needed help. Lorelei, could you come and look at my ankle? I think I have overstrained it.”
Lorelei hesitated. There was something bothering her in his plea, in his smile, in his stride. Something that tugged on a primordial string deep in her soul and made it ring a warning. In the pit of her stomach, the light of the holy powers swirled faster as streams of energy spread anew to every corner of her body.
It was Castor who dressed her uncertainty into words.
“S-stay put, my lady!” Bloody tears and a golden glow mixed in the youth’s eyes. His free hand grabbed Lucas’ shoulder and held him in place. He then pointed his staff at Noah. “We aren’t out of danger yet. There’s still something surrounding him.”
“No! You must be mistaken!” Neli gasped and was about to rush after Noah but Duncan barred her way.
“What do you see, lad?”
“Come now, this isn’t the time to jest. Did you overexert yourself, little Firmon?” Noah tilted his head, his smile ever-present. “All that blood dripping down your face doesn’t seem very healthy. Your vision must be dwindling.”
“Please, my lady!” Clenching his teeth, Castor threw a glance over his shoulder. “Trust me! I think… I’m sure it isn’t the Duke speaking.”
“I… know.”
Just two words, but even uttering them broke Lorelei’s heart. But it was the truth. The moment Noah walked toward them, she had known. She rubbed her eyes. The blur around Noah she had noticed and dismissed as a result of her tear-clouded vision was still there like a haze on a hot summer day - swirling and coiling around his legs, arms and shoulders. Like a swarm of invisible snakes cocooning him.
Lorelei shivered.
“Come now! What has gotten into you all? It’s me! I’m fine…” Noah’s smile grew even wider. Uncannily wide. His gaze collided with Lorelei’s and for the briefest of moments, she could see a red flicker in its gray depths. He then limped a step forward. “But my ankle does hurt a lot. I really need help from my beloved medicus.”
“He calls me his ‘fair physician’, you ugly snake!” shouted Lorelei, anger and fear blazing in her heart. “What have you done to him, you fiend!?”
The sound of her scream hadn’t died out when Noah moved. Spinning around, he took the distance separating him and Neli in an instant. His first punch landed in thin air as the old woman dodged it by a hair’s breadth. The second one connected with Duncan’s crossed arms as he had wedged himself between them. Without hesitation, Neli’s foot came flying from the side, aimed at Noah’s temple. A low thud was followed by a scream as he grabbed the Marzbanait’s ankle and threw her to the side with such force that her body slammed hard against Duncan. The two rolled on the ground and remained lying there.
Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, Noah was already standing before Lucas and Castor. An inhumanly strong backhand slap connected with the young knight’s jaw. There was a loud knack, Lucas spun, and folded on the floor. Using the momentum, Noah twisted around and attacked Castor, who barely managed to block the onslaught with his staff.
“Keep him busy!” screamed Rish.
With her bloody finger, the young shaman began inscribing rows of sigils on her own arms, chanting so fast that Lorelei couldn’t even understand the words. In the meantime, Castor swung the staff, jabbing and slashing in a desperate attempt to land a hit on Noah. Alas, his efforts were futile. Scared out of sane thought, Lorelei could only observe how Noah would twist his body to the side or slightly bend backward, letting the golden staff fly past him. A few times he dove under Castor’s attacks, getting so close to the youth that their bodies almost touched, before quickly retreating to a safe distance. The cold, vicious grin never left his face even for a second, as if all this was just a pastime for him.
After a short while, however, the whole fight seemingly began to bore Noah.
“What a persistent little bug you are,” he snorted while dancing around his opponent. “You think that a drained mock-artifact could do something to us?”
Saying that, he suddenly stopped. Castor’s next attack, aimed at his shoulder, landed in his open palm. A strong yank made the youth lurch forward where he was met by Noah’s foot. The merciless kick pressed out all the air from Castor’s lungs. He collided heavily with the column next to Lorelei, barely managing to stay on his feet.
“Did you know,” Noah changed his grip on the staff, “that with enough force even a blunt piece of trash like this can become a passable spear?”
“Stop it!” Lorelei screamed, but this only seemed to delight Noah even more.
“Come out and stop us then.”
“Over my dead body!”
The last shout came from Rish, who leaped from behind and landed on Noah’s back. She grabbed the sides of his head and the bloody sigils that now covered both of her arms up to the elbows wriggled and began flowing from her skin into Noah’s.
“Blood of my blood, Light of my Light, sealeth the Darkness of soul in a plight. Purging the Evil, beeth a guide, giveth us back what slumbers inside.”
A pained scream shook the air as silver-red markings covered Noah’s face. His features twisted in agony, only to relax the very next second. His agonizing holler turned into a mad giggle.
“Trying to seal us!? It’s been a long time since we had such a brazen meal.”
Tossing aside Castor’s staff, Noah grabbed the young shaman’s wrists and flung her over his head. Rish hit the stone slabs hard. Her cry was almost immediately stifled by Noah’s large hand. Gripping her neck, Noah lifted up the struggling Binshi like she was a ragdoll. From where his fingers touched her bare skin, blue veins bulged up and spread across her face. Rish’s mouth opened in a silent scream, her legs helplessly kicking in the air.
“Put her down!” cried Lorelei and grabbed her own staff with both hands as her legs bent under her.
“You are not in a position to shout demands.” Noah tilted his head with an evil glint in his eye. “But we might consider leaving her half-eaten if you get out of that barrier.”
“Don’t… do… it!” wheezed Rish. “It… can’t… breach… your blood!”
“True.” Noah shrugged and squeezed harder until Rish’s movements died down to weak twitches. “But are you willing to watch your friend die a very slow and painful death?”
“Why are you doing this!?” Lorelei swallowed, trying to calm the shaking of her knees.
“You took him away from usss once already!” There was an audible hiss mixing with Noah’s words. “You make the vessel weak! You are dangerousss! You mussst die for him to get stronger! What’sss your choice?”
Lorelei licked her lips. There had to be a solution. A way for all of them to walk out of this alive. Her frozen mind couldn’t think of it. But the thing in Noah’s body was right - she couldn’t just stay and watch Rish die.
“A-alright!” She exhaled and her shoulders slumped. “Let her go. I’m coming out.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Without saying a word, Noah flicked his wrist, tossing Rish aside. It took Lorelei every last bit of will not to run to her friend and check on her. Instead, she took a step back away from them, feeling the pressure of the barrier around her skin as she left the protection circle. Her heart drummed in her chest and with it, the vortex of holy powers spun like a miniature hurricane.
“S-so now what?” the tremor of her voice couldn’t be hidden.
“Now we kill you.” Like a cat playing with its food, Noah slowly strode toward her, leaving the motionless Rish behind. “We kill you ssslowly. We rip you apart and make him watch. We bathe him in your blood, tempering him, turning him into the perfect vesssel.”
“You are vile!”
“No.” Blackish-red mist crawled around Noah’s body, creating again the translucent image of an armor. Scale-like plates enveloped his legs and torso. Gauntlets with sharp claws covered his hands. Only his face remained bare, but the twisted expression it had donned was akin to a grotesque mask. “We are doing what we are meant to do - protect the vesssel. Feelingsss blind him. Feelingsss make him reject the will and powersss of the sssaintsss. Die for usss!”
The last thing Lorelei saw was Noah’s legs bending for a jump. She closed her eyes and wrapped her hands around the golden staff, anticipating the pain. A gust of wind brushed past her cheek. The seconds trickled excruciatingly slow, but no pain came.
Lorelei dared a peek between her lashes before her eyes abruptly ripped open.
Noah’s clawed hand hung inches from her temple, shaking like a withered branch during a storm. His face was so close to hers that she could see every speck of dust and grime, now being washed by the streams of tears. Large veins pulsated on his neck and temples, his quaking body seemingly frozen mid-motion.
“R… un!” The moan escaped his lips, his warm, gray eyes peering into hers. “Ple… ase. Run!”
“N-Noah?”
With a roar, Noah pulled back his hand and dug its claws into his own tigh.
“Run, Lorelei!” His cry shook her to the core.
The armor enveloping his body blurred and wriggled, miniature red-black snakes moving on its surface. The air was filled with their hisses.
“Fool!”
“That wench isss hurting you!”
“That woman makesss your heart ache!”
“You feel ssstupid guilt because of her!”
“You dull the power in your blood for her?”
“You deny the sssaint's might for her!?”
“Who are you to dissscard a gift from the Heavensss for her!?”
“Screw your Heavens!” Noah’s clawed fingers dug even deeper into his leg, red droplets falling on the shattered floor. Turning his head with immense effort, he gave Lorelei one final, pleading glance. “Go!”
Her knees nearly giving out with each step, she slowly backed away, not letting Noah out of her sight. A pained smile bloomed on his lips, and this time it was a warm, genuine one.
The snakes hissed angrily and coiled over his body.
“Weak!”
“The vesssel is too weak!”
“A weak vesssel mussst be tempered.”
“A weak vesssel mussst be reforged.”
“Only a strong vessel can fulfill the will of the Heavensss!”
“Pain isss a good method.”
“No. He isss too ssstubborn for pain. We’ve tried.”
“He opposesss usss because of desire.”
“Then if we give him what he wantsss…?”
“When the fruit isss no-longer forbidden, it loosesss itsss tassste.”
An agonizing cry tore Noah’s throat, forcing Lorelei to stop in her tracks. Before her terrified eyes, his body contorted as if pulled by invisible strings. He fell on his knees, clutching his head, and the black snakes began forming something akin to a crown around his brow. Their whisper mixed with his howls.
“Devour her!”
“No!”
“Break her! You know you want it!”
“N-no!”
“She can’t resissst usss! Jussst do it.”
“Make her yoursss and the pain will ssstop. We’ll help.”
“You know it’sss easy.”
“You jussst did it with the other one.”
“And thisss one you truly desire.”
Lorelei couldn’t breathe. Pain, disgust, and fear petrified her and made her unable to avert her gaze. On the floor, Noah had become eerily quiet. Only his broken breaths could be heard. Then a growl squeezed through his teeth:
“I… won’t… hurt… again! Not anyone…. Never… her!”
“If you don’t want her to die, sssubdue her!”
“You have the power to do asss you please.”
“It isss your reward.”
“Kill or devour her. You know which one isss the lessser evil.”
“Screw… you! You’d… have… to kill… me first!”
“Unexpected.”
“A failure!?”
“There isss another way.”
“A vesssel without consciousssnesss isss too chaotic.”
“It diesss too sssoon.”
“Ssstill better than no vesssel.”
“Until we find a more sssuitable one.”
Noah’s body convulsed. His cries became even louder. The surface of the phantom armor churned like a bucket full of worms. The little snakes slithered over his skin and began covering his face.
Looking at him writhing on the floor, Lorelei wanted to scream too. She wanted her petrified body to move. Not to escape. To save nim! She had thought that she hated him. That she never wanted to see him again. He had hurt her so much. Betrayed her. But now it all didn’t matter. His pain was her pain. His cries were the ones of her heart. Those damn snakes wanted to take him away from her! She had no idea what to do. How to stop that thing from devouring him? But staying and doing nothing was out of the question.
The holy power inside her ebbed, resonating with her emotions. It fluttered like a flock of birds, guided by the invisible force of blood and instinct. Golden light seeped from her body, enveloping her from head to toe. It then flowed up the staff in her hand, condensing into a radiant orb at its tip.
Lorelei took a step forward. Around her foot, small pebbles and debris shook, and swirls of dust rose into the air. Another step. The stone moaned and cracked beneath her as if stomped by a giant. With the third step, her words made the air tremble:
“Let him go!”
Noah’s convulsions suddenly stopped. Hundreds of tiny snake heads turned in unison to face her.
“Massstersss?”
“We feel the Massstersss’ powersss!”
“No! Thisss isss our vesssel!”
“We did nothing wrong!”
“Oursss!”
“We did asss we were created.”
“The Massstersss are angry!”
Lorelei ignored the chaotic hissing. In a trance, she lifted her staff. A terrified shriek came from the cluster of serpents. Like a marionette pulled by its strings, Noah scrambled up, his arms unnaturally dangling around his body. He then turned around on his heels and clumsily ran away.
It was a pathetic attempt.
Hastening her step, Lorelei caught up with him in several long strides. She thrust her staff, guided not by conscious thought but by some sort of a primordial knowledge that had awakened ever since she got the holy powers. The sun-like orb atop the golden rod hit Noah between the shoulderblades. For a second, he froze mid-motion as the light penetrated him. Then, his image split in two. A mass of darkness, roughly resembling a human, flew out of his body while Noah collapsed on the floor.
Lorelei hurried past, positioning herself between him and his shadowy afterimage. She then lifted her staff and swung diagonally with all the strength she had, leaving a glowing scar on the creature from shoulder to hip. Its hissing yelp pierced her ears.
“Massstersss! We didn’t recognize You!”
“Mercy!”
“We did it for the cause!”
“You told usss to protect the humansss.”
“We need a vesssel in order to protect.”
“We need a vesssel in order to devour magic.”
“He wasss a fool and denied our power, our protection!”
“He denied You!”
“He chose magic!”
“Shut up!”
Lorelei didn’t shout, but her voice filled the whole of the cathedral. There was a strange reverb in it and power beyond mortal comprehension. Even Lorelei herself wasn’t sure whether she was the one speaking or something else was using her mouth. But she was sure of one thing - there was going to be no mercy. Whether it was the will of some gods, ghosts, or demons, it didn’t matter, because it matched her own desires.
She swung the staff again and again, her scream mixing with the snakes’ terrified hissing. Everywhere the holy powers touched, they left a shimmering scar. And with every scar, the cluster of serpents seemed to shrink and become more translucent. Finally, it shriveled to a murky, bubbling orb in her feet.
Panting heavily, Lorelei stabbed it with the end of her staff, pinning it to the ground. Anger burned in her heart like a blazing fire but there was also elation. She had won! She had succeeded at what even Noah had failed! It was finally over. It was their victory.
She lifted her gaze and looked around. Stripes of oozing blackness still marked the terror of the vapir. The gigantic cobweb where Bishop Petronius hung was still not completely dissolved. Strewn amongst the debris lay the battered and bloody bodies of her friends.
“Why… did all this have to happen?” she muttered as tears welled in her eyes.
“It’sss because he wasss weak,” sounded the most miniscule of hissess. It came not from the sphere in her feet but from somewhere within her heart. “You sssee the horror of magic. It hasss to be cleansed. It hasss to disssappear. For that, our power isss needed. You are a better vesssel than him. More ssselflesss. More pure. You were already blessed by the Massstersss. You can wield usss better. We can help you avenge your friendsss. Punish the evil. We can help you ressstore jussstice. Thisss isss your dessstiny. Thisss-”
“How stupid do you think I am!?” Lorelei laughed and put all her weight on the staff. “All of this was because of power - desiring it, misusing it, stealing it. No more!”
“Hypocrite! You have been touched by the Massstersss, received Their might, and yet dare to deny your predessstination!?”
“I do.” Lorelei closed her eyes. “And your Masters’ might, they can just have it back!”
“NO!”
Lorelei no longer listened. The holy powers inside her blazed like a fiery typhoon. They wanted to be set free and she wasn’t going to stop them.
A brilliant light engulfed everything for a few minutes. All sounds and shapes disappeared, as all there was was a sea of white. Then, like a receding tide, the brilliance gave way to shadows and silhouettes. Soon, all that was left were wisps of glittering mist hanging between the debris. The slight rustling of rain returned, and with it, all other noises burst in a nauseating cacophony.
“Holy…! What was this?!”
The unfamiliar male voice startled Lorelei. Her eyes opened with immense effort and a blurred group of people entered her vision. Most of them were clad in black, although there were a couple of regular black-and-white habits mixed among them. Several of the newcomers carried golden spears exuding a weak golden shimmer, highly reminiscent of her staff.
The man helming the group approached cautiously, his spear tip pointing at Lorelei.
“There are people here urgently needing help, Father,” she said drowsily, using her staff as a crutch. “Unfortunately, I’m in no condition to assist you.”
“Don’t move!” The man’s expression turned grim. “Who are you? How did you conjure that light!?”
“Duchess!” Another cry echoed in the cathedral, and this time, the voice was familiar.
“Father Infirmarian.” Lorelei greeted the old priest with a nod. “It’s good you are here. Bishop Petronius is barely alive. But if you hurry, you’ll save him. The rest…” she paused and closed her eyes for a moment,” are not critical. But the Duke’s bleeding needs to be stopped immediately.”
“Stop that magic!” The black-clad man pressed the tip of his spear to her neck. “I saw it. The mist just moved. It was your doing!”
“It was.” Lorelei’s tone became sharp. She grabbed the tip of his weapon. The moment she did that, its glow diminished and in turn, her eyes sparkled with a golden sheen.
“T-the holy powers…!”
“I know you have questions.” Her hand didn’t loosen its grip. “But I have neither the desire nor the strength to entertain your curiosity right now. There are more urgent matters to be dealt with. If you intend to kill me or imprison me, you are free to do so. Although I strongly believe that you’ll regret it soon enough. Take care of the injured first and we’ll talk later. After all, I won’t be running away.”
“You want me to believe you!?”
“Do as you please. But in the meantime,” she turned to the infirmarian, “Father, would you mind lending me your shoulder? I’ll be fainting now.”
“No, wait a minute! You-” Before the black-clad man could finish, Lorelei’s body swayed and fell into the open arms of the infirmarian. “What’s she doing now!?”
“The poor child fainted,” replied the cleric. “Oh, in the Fathers’ names! Put the weapon away, Valente.”
“But she could be connected to the vap-”
“She is the Duchess of Norden! And if you aren’t blind or stupid, you should be able to distinguish between holy powers and hexes. As for the vapir…” The infirmarian’s eyes wandered around.
“Pardon the intrusion, Your Eminences.” Another Night Brother stepped in. “There seems to be no malicious presence anywhere.”
“Search around thoroughly!” snapped Diakon Valente. “Half of you position relics to secure the perimeter. The other half - check under every stone. Everyone who can’t use a relic should help with the injured. And no one is leaving here before a thorough purification.”
“Understood!”
After the Night Brother left, Valente turned back to the infirmarian. His eyes fell on Lorelei who was sleeping peacefully in his arms.
“If you are right and this is all her doing, we should…”
“We should wait to hear from His Highness and the other parties involved first, before making conclusions.” The old cleric pierced the Night Brother with his eyes. “You haven’t been here for long, so take this as friendly advice. The Beast of Norden doesn’t take kindly to anyone who meddles in his affairs. Especially should they concern his own wife.”