(High Priest's POV)
I stood my ground as the creature kept attacking my barrier. I was already old.
Soon to retire.
Today was going to mark the start of the last week of my service towards the chapel. I knew my work here was not done.
The creature kept lunging at me; my shield started cracking.
It stepped back, grinning as if mocking me with some cruel joke.
"Something wrong, Father?"
"You don't look so good."
It kept mocking me, but I ignored it. Maybe that got to it — it frowned at the fact that I just stood there. It hated being ignored. It wanted an answer.
And I ignored it.
The creature went into a rage, cursing under its breath and vomiting bile liquid onto my barrier.
My body started to give, but I couldn't let it get past.
I tried and tried.
I hoped.
I prayed.
I had faith.
But that was the most I could do.
My barrier broke.
It lunged at me, smiling.
And I accepted my fate.
It slammed me across the chapel courtyard. I lay next to a well, trying my best to pick my staff up.
But it didn't let me. It rushed towards me, its jaws wide open. I didn't want to die. At least I wanted to see their faces one last time — Ronan and Kyle.
I've known them since they were just babies. They looked up to me, had faith in me, and I couldn't let their faith in me be in vain.
I managed to conjure a small barrier with my left hand to at least shield myself from some of the impact.
I was flung across the yard again, hitting a tree. I winced in pain as I could barely move.
"It worked," I thought to myself. At least I didn't die.
The creature slithered towards me, took my right arm in its mouth, and lifted me up, dragging me back to the chapel. It dropped me by the entrance, grinning as it slithered slowly around me in circles.
I was tired. My left side felt cold. My arm was gone. I didn't even notice it until that moment.
It looked me in the eyes. I sat there, resting against the wall.
"You will not win."
That was all I managed to squeeze out of my burning throat. I coughed up blood. I was feeling heavy. My eyes were closing up.
I didn't want to give up. I had faith. But there was nothing this old body of mine could do anymore.
"I'll leave you alive," it whispered, tilting its head. "So you can hear the screams of the children you failed to save."
It slithered away, laughing.
I watched helplessly as it made its way into the chapel, banging on the remaining weak barrier standing between the children and the creature.
And then it broke through, and an explosion erupted from the backlash of its attack.
I saw it.
It was happy.
Elated to see so many children, I saw its eyes brighten up.
It turned its head slowly, tilting it to the side, and gave me one last look.
"Have fun listening, Father."
It mocked me as it slithered away.
I tried to move. I crawled, up until my staff. I clutched it in my right hand, and I prayed.
That was all I could do. That was all there was to do.
Pray.
And it all went dark.