The priest opened his mouth, intending to deny it again, but under everyone's intense gaze, his resolve crumbled.
He exhaled deeply.
"The talisman… is real," he admitted.
The moment those words left his mouth, Tyler closed his eyes briefly, frustration evident on his face. "Then why did you lie?" he asked.
The priest hesitated before replying, "Because with that talisman… one can leave this cemetery safely."
Tyler frowned. "We can still leave with you here," he said.
The priest shook his head slowly, his expression grave. "From the moment I stepped into this place, I sensed something wrong. We cannot stay here for long."
His voice lowered.
"To survive longer… that talisman increases the chances."
Regret flickered in his eyes as he continued, "I lied because… the moment we started the ritual, I realized we might not have enough power to leave safely."
Those words drained the color from everyone's faces.
Emily's voice trembled slightly. "Then… what do we do now?"
