Seraphim.

Seeing the monumental glory of the gray cathedral, Veritas already felt peculiarity from within it. Just by standing in front of the great structure gave of the feeling of its eminence. Moreover, it was quite trifling to think that the stone cathedral hadn't succumbed to the pressure of the depths. 

Thus, Veritas decided to look around it.

It had been made from cobblestone, its height loomed over all of the buildings within the vicinity. With only a couple comparing to the great stature of the cathedral. It's gray monotone atmosphere almost seemed blinding to Veritas. 

After getting used to the gleaming golden land, it's gray look seemed out of this world. Veritas took note of some of the cathedral's appeal. He saw that there was a symbol of a sun at the middle of the cathedral. Within it, 8 massive rays could be distinguished. 

The symbol of the sun was massive yet it couldn't be compared to the size of the cathedral. This was no cathedral after all, it looked gothic and mundane, yet also looked ancient enough to be traced back from history.

The cathedral's appearance was quite the oddity when compare to the modernity of the buildings that were turned gold. In front, laid a large wooden door, it was too large for a human yet its grandiose could be explained as a use for aesthetics. 

Sharp miniature towers were located at the top of the cathedral, they were mighty stone that looked to pierce the skies. Outside the cathedral was also the multitude gothic windows that had distinguished patterns and designs. 

'Whoever made this was a master of their craft'

The patterns and the structural aesthetic of the cathedral were so much better than the pleasantries of Elrod. It seemed more ancient as if the greatest sculptor had worked on the cathedral. It really was out of this world.

Lastly, at the top of the cathedral was a mighty cross with pointed ends. It's ridges and complexity were very pleasing to Veritas' eyes, and the sharp edges of the cross enhanced this even more so.

With that, after scouting around and analyzing the structure of the cathedral, Veritas decided to finally go in. 

He walked towards the wooden door and used his strength to open them. It felt really heavy, heavier than the golden doors that he had encountered. 

Veritas used up all his might to even get the door to slightly tilt open. After a few moments of doing so, he had finally achieved an entrance wide enough for his human body to enter in. 

Squeezing through the tight space, Veritas very carefully entered the cathedral. 

However! Veritas was surprised due to the air inside the cathedral! There was no sign of flooding or water inside, only an empty sense of wind that resonated with him. He felt his soul getting rejuvenated.. 

He thought of it as weird, the unusualness of a mundane building that lie inside a golden landscape, and the winds that resided inside of it was refusing for any water to seep in. Veritas could only be amazed by the greatness of the cathedral.

'C-crazy!'

Inside the cathedral could only be explained as mythical. Patterns upon patterns of inexplainable luster shined amongst Veritas' eyes. He was beyond amazed, this was a spectacle that transcended human imagination! 

The first sight that he had entered was welcomed by the wide array of wooden chairs, there was an altar beside light candles at the front followed by pillars upon pillars. However, it had not been normal, every chair and pillar he saw were filled with majesty. Every time that he had gazed upon them, his eyes were filled with awe. 

'Amazing..'

One could only be amazed by such a sight, it is not common for an individual to be met with great aesthetic. Nevertheless, even with awe, Veritas kept moving forward in order to investigate the vestiges of the cathedral. 

Inside the main hall, there had been no records of individuals ever stepping upon this place. Veritas headed straight to the altar, and upon reaching it he felt solemn. As if the altar was dedicated to a loss of a loved one.. 

He gazed at the splendor of the carefully orchestrated beauty of the altar. He saw intricate patterns within it along a imagery of a beauty.. or a god. Veritas looked deeper into the supposed god. He saw the calming vigor that it had brought upon the surroundings, it looked so benevolent and kind, one such god could only be explained as great. 

Behind the god, was the 8 shining rays of sunlight, it looked like the same as the one front outside the cathedral. Thus Veritas came to a conclusion about the scenery.

"The Sun God!"

With his voice still imbued with Windsong, the moment he uttered his words changed the atmosphere of the surroundings. Once a graceful breeze, now turned into a more solemn one. It felt like the winds after a long shower of rain. 

Furthermore, Veritas investigated further deep within the altar. He saw that there were 8 candles that stood greatly beside it, they were unlit..

Upon being satisfied with his investigation, Veritas moved to searched further inside the cathedral. There were a multitude of aisles that lead further inside the cathedral. Veritas took his time to explore them all.

Among the hallways of the cathedral were a number of statues of religious figures. He could not figure out who they were but knew that they had belong to a once ancient past. He saw shelves with intricate patterns, and doors that lead to more rooms that contained complex patterns and beauty. 

Then, Veritas came at a dilemma, he thought whether to climb to the upper floors first or descend down into the crypt. After a few moments of consideration, Veritas decided to climb atop the tower. 

He was greeted again by a long hallway filled with beauty and otherworldly patterns. Though the atmosphere had turned solemn from a while ago, Veritas was still at awe due to how heavenly some of the statues were. 

He ascended further up the floors and at the end, he saw a silver bell. It was shining in this mundane scenery of the cathedral, it had shone even brighter than the golden landscape of the city. 

He had not thought not to strike it, as dangers may come with it. However, his Soul thought otherwise, his Soul felt soothing when he was beside the silver bell. As if it was telling him to strike it with all his Soul. 

Objectively, thing could go very wrong easily in such situations. Yet subjectively, Veritas knew that this was key to making his Soul complete once more..

 So, he struck the bell, moving the clapper side by side inside the silvery beauty of the bell. 

Veritas expected it to have a loud noise but what greeted him was silence. The bell had not resounded in the physical world rather, it had echoed through the Souls of everything around it. Veritas had felt it too, he felt his Soul regenerating and restoring. 

Due to this, Veritas gazed upon his Soul once more. He had noticed that it had been restored to its former glory, white and pure. It almost seemed as pristine as the silvery bell beside him!

After a few seconds of scanning deep within him, Veritas was satisfied, his Soul had now returned! Now, he only had to learn about the mysteries of the Golden City, and leave.. although he did not know how to..

The bell was still echoing deep within him. With this, Veritas descended further down the stairs and headed for the crypt.

It had not taken him that long, once he remembered the way that he had traversed from, accessing the crypt was much easier. Thus, after a long intricate sightseeing, he had arrived at the eerie underground area of the cathedral. 

It was still a spectacle in his eyes. 

Veritas quickly explored the vicinity that lay in front of him. He saw the memorials and coffins of those that are fallen. He felt that the crypt was a place for rest, and place for solace. 

Veritas made his way through each of the rooms, investigating and learning of the fallen that had resided inside this crypt. He had explored them and learned of their history thoroughly..

He had learned sonder through each and every one of them. He knew that much of them were alike Veritas, they had a role of a higher position yet still lived to their own accord. Not all of them were pure though, some harbored deep darkness inside their souls. Alas, the stories that he had read through their inscriptions were still a major part of history.

They might not have all been known by everyone, but Veritas will remember them until his last breath.

Thus, Veritas only had one more area to explore, one more room until he had deprived the cathedral of its history. Veritas opened the smoothness of the door and was prepared to be met with another familiar scenery.

Yet.. what greeted him was something much more sinister.

Upon entering the room he saw an six-winged individual sitting down gracefully on the stone coffin inside.

Upon gazing towards the individual, Veritas' eyes, nose, and mouth began to bled. He had been forced to kneel at the sight, blood seeping out from his face. 

'A seraphim?!'

With those thoughts, the individual's voice echoed across the room.

"I welcome thee. O, lost one. Thou had searched for the truth and arrived at the beginning. Thou must be joyous, I applaud thee for coming thus far. May I know of thy name?"

Veritas was appalled by the majestic voice of the seraphim. He thought that when he open his mouth, his head would suddenly explode from the pressure. Yet, he somberly answered in return.

"My name is.. Veritas Alpas Elrod, Prince of Elrod."

With those words spoken, Veritas immediately felt winded, as if all the lungs in his body had gone out. 

"Ah.. Mighty Prince, Tis holy Seraphim commends thy efforts. Thy have done well. As for tis holy one's name-"

Immediately the pressure intensified, Veritas felt his insides shaking and his body shattering.

"I am Aurelium, the Seraphim of Gold."