The others, waiting in the worshiping hall were both stunned and impressed by the woman's faith & resolve. Some felt a similar tinge of pain in their hearts for the loss of the woman's child, though it wasn't so much that they lost sight of the seriousness of the crime.
The priestess was the one who seemed the most moved by the woman's show of faith. And in a moment she had wrapped her arms around the woman, burying the woman's face into her bosom.
"You'll surely grow from this. Lady Eternia is a kind and just goddess. She will be proud of your resolve." The Priestess said, rubbing the woman's back. "Don't let this moment keep you down. Look to the future." She added.
"Yes, I will, lady mother." The woman said, blubbering behind tears and muffled a little by the priestess' bosom. The woman snuggled in more, getting her feel so to say when…
Roland's hair began to stand on end. He wasn't enamored by the scene in front of him. Instead his senses detected something… "This is… Danger…"
"Everyone, get ready. We've got company." Ralond said in a low yet commanding voice.
With the order to be on guard the tension of the room grew, sweat started dripping from the people's brow. More so from the weaker men and newer priestesses. Then Vitaliana reappeared.
"Hmm, it seems we have company… Good. These are unlike any other foe, they are my mother's enemies. Ones who turned down the path of undeath. Even if they may look like people, people you once knew, they are nothing more than fragments of their former selves." Vitaliana said, switching gears quickly.
"Sister Fernia, I have encountered some vampire spawn. Though they appear to think they are still hidden."
"Oh? Hmm, I see, let me check their strength… You should be able to handle it with the forces there. I'm on my way to attack that Lord guy or whatever fancy title he gave himself."
"Good, I wonder if it's possible to torture his soul… LIke, for an eternity every second, forever."
"Oh, now that sounds like fun… Oh, don't go outside yet. Sisters are about to finish their creation. It is too dangerous for you."
"Understood sister. Happy hunting!"
"Pfft, you too little sis."
The head priestess released the woman from her arms and started to prepare spells. Her magic was special as it was all channeled power directly from Lady Eternia. It's generally better to have your own type of magic that you learned from the very beginning.
Though magic directly from Lady Eternia was special, it allowed any of her priestesses to use a portion of the deity's power. This served as a roundabout method to ensure someone could make it in life. It was a symbiotic relationship as well, because priestesses of Lady Eternia were all required to be like the goddess.
Being like Lady Eternia was, in short, impossible. No one could possibly make up the difference in power between them. But, this wasn't the likeness that was required. Rather, Eternia was the kind of goddess to be loving, caring and warm. She would bestow blessings upon her followers, answer prayers and even touch upon a woman to ensure fertility should they desire a child yet, have failed to conceive one.
Men could be touched in a similar way, however it always had a drastic consequence. That being the men are extraordinarily exhausted afterwards. A level of tired reaching past a couple of days even. They simply had a lot siphoned from them. Enough to ensure success. Being tired for a day or two after that is understandable.
Vitaliana was preparing for a fight as well…
I'm going to activate all of my skills… Heh heh heh…
Okay, that should do it…
I'm almost on par with the rest of the people here if they were to combine.
CREAK
"AHAHAHA! I SMELL BLOOD!" A ghoulish-vampire cackled as they opened a door.
"You know, for being walking cadavers… You'd fail horribly at the mage academy." Vitaliana bantered back. Basically announcing the fight was on.
"Huh? What's a little bitch bird doing here?" Another ghoulish-vampire asked, with their jaw hanging down.
"I don't know, and don't care. There are people in this building. And I want to taste their blood. My beautiful body was stolen from me so I'm going to get it back even if that means devouring women and sucking their bodies dry." Another ghoulish-vampire with a more feminine structure came into view.
The feminine vampire looked as though she had been one for quite awhile. So much so that her skin was falling apart piece by piece. Rather, the only real measure to tell she was actually a she was bone structure.
So they really do turn people. If they end up looking like this…
It won't matter how many life forms they feed on, the hunger will never be sated.
"Ralond, it's time to… Ralond, what's wrong?"
Ralond had been stunned cold. He wasn't injured in any way, so it seemed. He was trembling in place, clearly struggling with something, that's when he finally spoke.
"Lady Vitaliana, is it truly impossible to bring them back?" Ralond asked, holding back a tear.
Oh… That's what's going on…
"Do you doubt my mother, grandmother and both of their words?" Vitaliana said, making very clear she isn't in a position to comment either way. Even if she wanted to do so. So her only proper way to answer was to question Ralond's faith in Lady Eternia.
Ralond drew his sword slowly, heaving a long heavy sigh as he did so. And then stood at the ready. "Lady Eternia is the reason many of whom I cherish were even granted life to begin with. It would be a horrible sin to question her… So I beg forgiveness for the moment of weakness. It may not be right to make an excuse…" He spoke with a tender determination. "Two of my long time friends are among that crowd of disgusting creatures…" He continued, gritting his teeth.
"Then, in that case… I'll leave the freeing of their souls to you. Being freed from their torment by a friend would be, well… I…" Vitaliana started, then stopped as she witnessed Ralond preparing to pounce.
"Heh, you think pitiful humans can beat us? The one true god of death has granted us the greatest of powers." A new figure said, appearing from nowhere with an evil grin.