The swamp serpent "Ur" was in bad shape.
Although it had been lying here for three days and the Avalon priests had been constantly purifying the poisoned blood in its body, the process was progressing very slowly. It wasn't because the priests weren't trying hard enough; they had never dealt with a situation like this before.
Watching as "Magical Murphy" miraculously calmed the enraged giant serpent, Mother Marianne stepped forward, full of wonder, and said to the vampire governor:
"The giant serpent clearly has powerful regenerative abilities. In theory, it should be able to heal its injuries through its own strength. But during the purification process, we discovered a special force in the wound on its back that's preventing it from healing.
"That's the main reason the giant serpent keeps growing weaker.
"I can tell that its injuries came from the Astral Plane. It must have been hurt by a powerful astral behemoth, which led to its current condition.
"If we continue purifying it, we may indeed be able to help it overcome this crisis, but it will take a very, very long time. Its condition is too poor right now; it might not survive."
"Its name is Ur. Stop calling it a giant serpent. It isn't a beast. In fact, its origins are far nobler than those of most life on this continent. It represents not only strength, but the past.
"A great age, now forgotten.
"They are the last shadows left behind by that age."
Murphy sighed and reached out to pat Ur's head.
Ur still couldn't be bothered with him. It kept its eyes closed, ignoring Murphy's attempts to "get close." But the fact that it let Murphy touch it without attacking showed that it no longer saw him as an evil vampire enemy.
If Murphy could