Michael walked back to the lobby, at a droning pace, and caught up with the others. A few moments later, they were walking on the way to the cathedral. After finding no leads or reliable sources for the quest, this seemed like a last resort for them.
Stefan smacked his shoulder. "What's wrong, kid? What's up with the frown?"
Mave glanced at him again. She most likely heard their entire argument through the bathroom door.
Ellis looked at the looming cathedral spikes in the distance, almost like the sight would never escape their eyes. No matter how far they strayed from Alaris, the place always welcomed them back as if it beckoned for them to return.
"I guess this is our last option," he said. "Seems like the other parties are enjoying their stay for the worthwhile, because none of them had left."
"Maybe it's cheaper to stay here," Stefan considered. "Finding new alternatives before their license gets revoked. Truly a story of an adventurer, right?"
"Not the one that I would prefer."
"So, what are we doing once we get there? Ask the holy god for guidance? Oh, my great lord and savior, doth thy know whereth the beasteth of mana—"
Ellis elbowed his stomach. "We're not asking, we're looking. Mave has a theory that the cathedral might be behind the reason why this town is under the quest."
"And what makes her say that?"
Mave stared ahead. "Because I don't believe in a god."
Stefan chuckled. "What do you believe in, then?"
"Fate."
"Fate? Is fate going to decide what breakfast I will have tomorrow?"
"Do you also want me to kick you in your stomach?"
"Is that what fate is telling you to do?"
Ellis stopped her before she could draw back her leg.
Some time later, they finally reached the front of the vast cathedral. It was still in the morning, watching the townspeople bustle through its entrance and trying to reserve a spot inside. Guards stood heavily on patrol, anticipating another possible attack from any crazed adventurers.
"Same as always," Ellis said. "It's just our turn, I suppose."
Stefan rubbed his chin. "Are you sure my way wouldn't work? I don't see how heading inside and singing along in their choir would make our quest any clearer."
"And what was your way?"
"Kidnap one of them, straggle them for information, you know, the old-fashioned route."
"Be serious for once, Stefan," Ellis scowled. "These people don't even look below the age of forty. One touch from you would crumble their bones."
"Mave assumed they were an evil organization, and I agree. I find no better methods than mine. If you want to join their creepy club, then I'm not going to stop you."
"They're just worshippers," he sighed. "Not every religion has to deal with demonic magic like you make it sound."
"Are we going to move?" Mave asked, watching the line grow short.
Ellis decided for the party that they would attend the morning gatherings at the cathedral, following in line before the tall wooden doors would close.
Michael stood behind Stefan in the line, hearing the low whispers from the followers behind them. His mind was still stuck between the argument with him and Evelyn, too immersed to realize that they had already made it to the front.
"I must stop you four," a man said with a concerned voice. "The cathedral of Zygos cannot permit any weapons further. If you wish to attend the service, you must submit them away."
"It's okay," Stefan patted the man on his shoulders. "My party and I swear to keep our hands tucked."
"No, it is not your decision," the man grew uncomfortable with Stefan's gesture. "After what one of your adventurers had done, there must be absolutely no space where steel could live."
"It's not like I'm trying to kill anyone, right?"
"Submit your weapons if you wish to attend the service, there is no more question."
Stefan noticed the creeping guards closing in on the party.
Ellis sighed, pulling his shortbow over his shoulder.
Stefan followed after, grumbling a few curses under his breath. "You guys better give it back, it's one expensive sword and I'm not kidding."
Mave did the same, unbuckling her silver longsword from her belt.
Michael trailed behind them before he was suddenly stopped.
"Your sword," the man coldly said. "The one on your back."
"Woah, wait," Stefan turned around before they went inside. "Can this kid be the exception? Just one time—"
"Would you have me alert the guards for another arrest?"
"But the kid loves his sword, I mean that literally, he can't go anywhere without it."
"The child must submit his weapon."
"I don't mind," Michael pulled his sling around his head. "I'll get it back, right?"
Stefan recoiled his face. "Kid, really? Are you sure? You can't just wait outside for us?"
"No, I'll just—I'll come back for it later."
Stefan blinked away. "Alright."
Michael handed away his ego sword before heading inside the vast cathedral.
Some time apart wouldn't have hurt him, he thought, it was needed anyways.
When he stepped through the wooden doors, he had entered into another world.
The floor was spotless marble, the ceiling stretched high along the wide arches, and stone pillars seemed to hold up the skies. Across every arch were a tall panel of glass, a spectrum of colors, that beautifully reflected the morning sunlight through. There were many rows of seats, installed into the ground, all facing towards the colossal statue of a figure that looked to be a sculpted human.
The grand statue was a man with long hair, flowing against the invisible wind, and he was holding a stone torch high above. Instead of the flame, it was a crude sphere of crimson glass. As Michael looked harder into that strange shape, he caught the inside looking to burn like a spiraling inferno. He could have sworn it morbidly resembled a human eye, staring down at everyone else.
"Admiring the view?" Stefan smacked his shoulder.
Michael had forgotten to mention the statue was totally naked. He wasn't sure how any type of god would have a tradition to be fully transparent in front of the followers.
A few minutes later, they found empty seats at the rear of the cathedral. The murmurs and conversations began to fill the halls as Michael started a headcount.
There must have been at least eighty people, some commoners and others dressed in ceremonial cloaks, it was the most he had ever seen gathered in one place. Among them, he spotted some of the other adventurers that had split from the quest.
Felix, Veronica, and Omen's party stood in the front rows. The way they conversed with the other followers like regulars made him slightly uncomfortable. Ellis had recalled seeing them join the cathedral practically every morning.
Then a voice erupted through, turning their conversations stale. The bald, yet youthful, man stood below the naked statue at a marble podium. As he spoke, he managed to sway everyone's attention with his commanding tone.
Michael thought he was droning off again, ignoring whatever sermon that commanding, bald man had to say. It was somewhere in the lines of forgiveness, preservation, and being complacent. If Michael was missing anything important, he was already long gone through his own thoughts.
Another person approached them, politely holding a basket with an unsettling but smiling face. Inside the basket was gold and silver coins, small jewelry, and hand-made charms that looked crafted by children.
Stefan shrugged, reaching his hand inside. "Don't mind if I do—"
"You idiot," Mave smacked his hand. "You're supposed to put something inside, not take."
Ellis offered a single gold coin into the basket. Mave didn't give anything, only the gaze from her stormy-blue eyes. Stefan threw in a few empty shells of a walnut he had been snacking on earlier. As for Michael, he was still staring away into nothingness.
His heart was still aching. Whether it was some petty lie or utmost betrayal, he was trying to force himself to not forgive Evelyn. But he couldn't. The only person that seemed to actually care for him, he had the nerve to replace her.
How could he ever say that to Evelyn, he pitifully thought to himself, when she was the only anchor in his life?
Michael was the problem. He was the problem all along ever since he had formed their bond. He was embracing a husk of fragility because he was comfortable.
He bit his lip in a rush of frustration then pushed Stefan out the way, heading back to those double wooden doors where they had taken her.
"Woah, kid," Stefan called out to him. "Where are you going?"
Then they began to sing, completely filling the cathedral in an echoing choir of conjoined voices. Michael's ears were immediately infiltrated by their vocals, almost to the point where he had felt the inside of his head tremble.
He turned around, facing the colossal statue and the now shining ball of fire that was swallowing his perceived reality.
The strange sphere upon the stone torch was glowing, as if the sunlight peering through every single glass above was being drawn into it. And through that crimson reflection, the rays were being casted onto the people below.
Michael couldn't take his eyes off of it, even if he was on the edge of being blind. With his ears being filled by the deafening song, his thoughts were no longer independent. It was being turned upside-down, following the verse of their luring symphony. His body froze in place, unable to move and to decipher his own decision.
After what felt like an eternity, the voices suddenly stopped, like crashing waves had evaporated through thin air. The world finally resumed at its normal pace.
He blinked, wondering why he was in the middle of the aisle. The noble announcer came again to finish his sermon, spreading beautiful judgement to the people that had attended.
The double wooden doors opened behind him, with kind and respectful followers of Zygos giving farewells.
Michael's body had felt totally rejuvenated of every imperfection that was rotting inside him.
He walked out of the cathedral, ready to tackle the morning with a new and refreshing beginning.