Sister Elara stood frozen in absolute, paralyzed shock, her mouth hanging open as she stared at the thrashing senior clergyman.
Seraphina didn't waste a single second.
She reached up, grabbed Sister Elara's trembling hand, and gave it an urgent yank.
"Run, Sister Elara!" Seraphina squeaked, her voice perfectly pitched into a tone of panicked, childish terror. "The clumsy man is drowning the holy fish! We have to go back to my Papa!"
Snapping out of her shock, Sister Elara didn't hesitate.
She squeezed Seraphina's hand, lifted the hem of her novitiate robes, and bolted down the hallway, dragging the tiny Sovereign with her, leaving the cursing, spitting, soaking-wet pervert thrashing in the koi pond.
Back in the main nave of the Spire, Duke Kaelus von Nacht was currently glaring at the giant hourglass resting on the High Priest's altar.
Four minutes and thirty seconds.
